EXPLOSIVES ON THE LATHE NEW METHODS OF WEAPONS CONSTRUCTION AND IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF EXPLOSIVE SUBSTANCES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78-03642A001200060024-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 24, 2011
• Sequence Number: 24
• Publication Date: February 8, 1956
• Content Type: FORM

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HEADQUARTERS
DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
OFFICE OF THE ASSISTANT CHIEF OF STAFF FOR INTELLIGENCE
WASHINGTON 25, D. C.
INTELLIGENCE TRANSLATION NO_ -697
INTELLIGENCE DOCUMENT BRANCH NO. 21465o4
TRANSLATION REQUESTED BY: OTIA
(FROM)
TRANSLATED 011kc O~
(III)
TRANSLATED BY: JM -D)_
SUBJECT: (FOREIGN TITLE)
SPREBti3TCP AU? ISR C
leue Wee In Waffen--3 u Und Ih Der Bntvieklung You Spren&orpern
SUBJECT: (ENGLISH TITLE)
EXPLt It ON TSB LAM
New Methods of Weapons Construction And In The Developtnt
of Explosive Substances
REFERENCES:
AUTHOR:
TITLE OF PUBLICATION: German article
PARTS TRANSLATED: (Continued tray No. 12/59)
PUBLISHER, DATE, AND PLACE OF PUBLICATION:
This document Is part of an Integrated
file. If separated from the file it must be
subjected to Individual systematic review.
ACSI FORM 13 9 JULY 59
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PAGE NUMBER.
1
REGISTRY N~E
EXPLOSIVES ON THE LATHE
NEW METHODS OF WEAPONS CONSTRUCTION AND IN THE
DEVELOPMENT OF EXPLOSIVE SUBSTANCES
(Following is a translation of an article in German
la.aguage,7
(Continued from No. 12/59)
The new explosive agent, which we mentioned in No. 12/59,
was also developed by Hispano-Suiza and is called Holtex in
honor of ?r. von Holt, who, toward the end of the second World
War, made a virtue of necessity and phlegmatised Hexogen, Nitro-
penta, and other superior explosives through mixing them with a
fdur times larger quantity of cheaper explosives and with excellent
results. With Dr. von Holt's research as a basis, Holtex was then
developed, which is, in every respect, a wonder explosive agent.
Holtex has the consistency of aluminum and is completely
fool.-proof. Its explosion can be activated only
by its own deto-
nator. Holtex can be hot-pressed and out, it can be drilled,
turned or out with band-saws at 220 rpm's without lubricants, it
can be fired at, whereby it merely crumbles (such firing experi-
ments were carried out with the Swiss carbine of caliber 7.5mm at
a range o:~L`15 meters), and it can be submerged unpacked in water
for weeks without its quality being impaired.
Holtex is completely impervious to pressure and tension.
As threads can be out directly into Holtex, tension tests were
conducted in which a steel hook was screwed into a piece of Holtex,
and not oily a full drum of gasoline was suspended from it, but it
even supported, in addition, a man who climbed onto the drum, with-
out the Holtex breaking.
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The following comparisons of the qualities of explosives
might be of interest:
Explosives
Calories
per EM
Velocity of detonation in
meters per second
TNT
950
6700
Nitropenta with wax
1180
7950
Holtex
1230
8000
At the present time, Holtex is still in the costly experi-
mental production stage, but, once mass production is begun, this
explosive will save much money, for, firstly, a kilogram of Holtex
will presumably cost only 5 EU to 6 T&, cared to about 7 DU for
Hexogen, and secondly, and that is more significant, the tradi-
tional engineer's charge of one kilogram can be replaced by a
Holtex charge of only 700 grams. And thirdly -- and this is the
sensational thing about this peculiar explosive - it will be pos-
sible to construct anti.-tank mines entirely of Holtex without metal
casings. concussion effect matters 4See Note7. (Note: This is a
printing error in the German text, appearing in the same place,
and also out of context.) It will be possible to produce anti-
aircraft rocket heads without casings if only demolition effects
matter, i,,. will be used as a fuse booster, and it will be possible
to produce hand grenades made entirely of this explosive without
endangering the thrower. (For defense purposes a ring of steel or
iron is screwed onto the body of the grenade.)
Another hand grade, which follows the trend toward greater
lightness in weight, substitutes plastic for metal and can be used
defensive..y by attachment of a threaded ring of spring steel, comes
from Spain as well and, what is more, from the firm Plasticas
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'INTELLIGENCE TRANSLATION
REGISTRY - N MBER
-W97 ,
PAGE NUMBER
3
Oramil in San Sebastian. The hand grenade, known in Spain by the
name P~W rAaists of a bakelite case with a charge of pressed
TNT. The bakelite is shock-proof, the hand grenade is provided
With a good safety device, and it can be thrown a distance of 30
meters evan by average troops and has avery effective detonation.
Without a fragmentation jacket it has a maximum effective range of
10 meters, but it is most effective 2meters from target; with a
Jacket, it has an effective range of30 meters, while single frag.
mente can travel `p to 100 meters.
This hand grenade requires intelligent or, at least, very
well-trailed troops who can accurately gauge the effects of a throw,
as the grenade has 2 fuses which the soldier must set according to
hia needs or the conditions of combat. One fuse is a highly sensi-
tive Impa.t fuse which is activated immediately on contact, the
other, a delayed-action fuse. By setting the impact fuse, the
grenade b irsts on contact with branches, window-panes, water, very
soft eart:a, dense vegetation, etc. 'If thrown with the impact fuse
aet, the soldier must have no obstacles for at least 15 meters in
front of :aim. During street fighting, when he might throw into a
house through a window, the delayed-action fuse is set.
Tha cylindrical hand grenade, that almost resembles a small
thermos b)ttle, weighs only 300 grams, has a diameter of 5.5 cm.,
and ,a height of 12.5 cm. The charge weighs 45 grams. J-ote:
Title of Lllustration reads: The PCMI hand grenade of Bakelite
(attack grenade )j
The PCIILI becomes armed only after reaching adistanee of
about 10 meters from the thrower. The delayed-action fuse iiarmed
after 4.5 seconds. In the ease of duds, there is no danger of ex-
plosion when the time of 4.5 seconds has passed. However, they are
to be removed by trained personnel only.
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INTELLIGENCE TRANSLATION
REGISTRY NUMBER
Y..6697
III
PAGMBER
The PCMI can even be fired from a rifle by using a grenade
cup, a spacial cartridge, a stabilizing device and a special safety
ring. Nevertheless, it will not be able to compete with actual
rifle gre:oades. For here as well, 2 firms have opened new paths:
There are already available today
RIFLE GRENADES WITH ROCKET PROPELLANTS
One was built by Hispano-Suiza, the other by Instalaza, and
both firms have not only developed high-explosive projectiles, but
armor-piercing hollow charges as well, which are very accurate and
of high penetrating power. Hispano began its construction by reason
of psychological considerations. This firm's excellent rifle grenade
had a ran7e of 150 meters, which did not impress Hi.speno. The firm
consid :v: this ballistic performance entirely insufficient. The
greraac < _ )u ic. have been shot farther only by using a stronger
cartr:'L.aq,e. would have increased the recoil so greatly, how.
ever, as he rifleman pain and, thereby, a reluctance to
use the The use of a shook absorbing stand would have made
use of th? grenade too complicated. The firm found the solution to
this problem it a rocket propellant that now easily carries the
grenade t:) distances from 200 to 300 meters.
The most interesting thing about this rifle grenade is the
electricaL firing. By means of the firing recoil, a magnet is
driven through a spool, produces an electrical impulse onto a con-
denser which is discharged by contact with the primer, whereupon
ignition follows. The primer is situated in the back so as not to
form a"hindrance for the hollow charge blast.
The Instalaza firm has developed a simple rifle grenade de-
vice which can be mounted on practically every rifle.
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INTELLIGENCE TRANSLATION
REGISTRY NUMBER
R-6697
PAGE NUMBER
5
(Note: 4 illustrations follow the preceding paragraph, captions
Instalaza 88.9mm launcher in carrying position.
5. Hollow-charge grenade
6. This high-explosive gr
enade for the Instalaza launcher,
with propellant, weighs 5100 grams, the projectile weight alone
-1 L
is 3100 grams, of which 900 grams are explosive. The grenade it..
salf has a caliber of only 88.6mm, is 663zam in length, and has a
muzzle velocity of 130 meters per
second, with a range of. 1350
Instalaza 88.9 launcher in
Until the present time,
firing position.
experiments have been carried out
with the Spanish and.the German
with the submaohinegun Cetlie and
user, with the Garand M-1, and
Armalite AR-l0. The various
calibers of these weapons, 7.62mm
results. With this device, IL-111W
and 7.92mm, did not effect the
.4piereing hollow charges, high.
precision'high-explosive projectiles, rocket-propelled high-
explosive projectiles, and tear
The 64= hollow charge ant
a shells can be fired.
i-tank projectile weighs 625 grams,
has an explosive charge of 330 grams, a muzzle velocity of 63 meters
per. second, can penetrate 26cm of
has a range of 300 meters, and is
a range o' 125 meters. The fuse
dance of fit least 20 degrees.
At a range of 125 meters
armor-plating and:70cm of concrete,
most effective against tanks at
is effective at angles of inci-
the dispersion pattern is 90cm X
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INTELLIGENCE TRANSLATION
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The 2 high-explosive projectiles have a caliber of only
50cm. The high-precision high-explosive projectile weighs 625
grams, the effective nose weighs 520 grams, the TNT explosive
charge 150 grams, and the maximum range is 750 meters. 10 rounds
fired at a vertical target gave a dispersion pattern of 60cm X
The rocket propelled projectile weighs 900 grams, the ef-
fective nose weighs 700 grams, the TNT charge 180 grams, and maxi-
mum range is 750 meters. Recent firing trials conducted outside
of Spain, produced a rectangular dispersion pattern of 30 meters
X24 meters at a range of 750 meters. At a range of 3,50 meters
lateral dispersion was only one meter.
The tear-gas shell of caliber 55mm weighs 520 grams, does
not fragmentate on impact, but only gives off its tear-gas content
of 148 grams, and has a maximum range of 300 meters. In trials it
filled a space of 48,000 cubic meters to a degree of insufferability.
The rocket-propelled projectile is armed only when at least
30 meters from the muzzle. The rifleman is, thus, always out of
danger of suffering burns. Special precautions are not necessary.
With its electrical firing, the Hispeno-Suiza rocket-propelled
rifle grenade is superior to the Spanish grenade in one respect: it
bursts at every angle of incidence and ist4already effective at an
angle of incidence of only 3 degrees. At a smaller angle the hollow
charge blast is ineffective. The Spanish grenade, on the other
hand, has a superior range.
5951 - END -
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