Cavity Charges

Stock Charges: The 5-oz. Stock Demolition Charge Mk I and 7-oz. Stock Demolition Charge Mk II are excatly the same, except that the latter is 2 in. longer than the former. The 5 oz. Charge Mk I is a small, linear cavity charge, consisting of a tin outer casing 6 in. x 1-5/16 in. x 2 in. with an 80° angled copper arch fitted so that the apex is 1 3/8 in. above the base. The charge is designed to cut 1 in. of steel. Two Cordtex leads are led through a groove in the top of the charge, above a series of primer pellets, and are held in place by four straps soldered to the outer casing. About 4½ in. of the Cordtex project from either end of the charge as lead. A 10-in. tinned copper wire is soldered to each corner of the charge to provide a method of fixing the charge, or of connecting two or more charges together.

Beehive Charges

6-in. Beehive Demolition Charge No. 1 Mk III – The 6-in. Beehive Charge No. 1 Mk III is a tenpound cavity charge containing 6¾ lbs. of Pentolite. The charge measures 6 in. in diameter and 7 in. in length, with three 4½ in. legs attached to the base to give the pro-per stand-off distance. An 80° sheet steel cone is fitted to give a cavity-charge effect. A removable cap on top of the container covers a primer tube containing the primers into which the detonator is inserted.

From time to time, other sizes of Beehives have been used by British Army, as follows:

16 - 25-lb. Demolition Charge No. 6 Mk I

30-lb. H./C. Demolition Charge Mk I (Nesting)

60-lb. Demolition Charge No. 8 Mk I

75-lb. H./C. Demolition Charge No. 4 Mk I

Arched Charges

25-lb. Arched Demolition Charge No. 2 Mk I (General Wade) – This charge is an ar-ched liner charge, containg 26 lb. of Pentolite. The container is made of tin-plate and measures 9 in. x 12¾ in. x 6 3/8 in. The container is semi-cylindrical, with 2¼ in. radius arch fitted into the bottom to give the cavity-charge effect. The charge is designed to be a general purpose charge, combining some of the advantages of the coned type of charge with those of the ordinary contact type. It is thus adequate to effect serious da-mage against the majority of targets likely to be encountered by assault troops, i.e., against reinforced concrete and armor plate up to 2 in. in thickness.

26-lb. Arched Demolition Charge (M.S. Shape) – This charge is a slight adaption of the General Wade; see page 445. The thickness of the explosive at the top has been redu-ced to 2½ in., and the base pressure charge has been increased by about 50%, giving the following dimensions, 9 in. x 17 in. x 5 in.

Hayrick Charges

15-lb. Hayrick Demolition Charge No. 3 Mk I – The Hayrick charge is a linear cavity charge designed to cut the tension reinforcing bars of reinforced concrete structures. It consists of a mild steel body containing the H.E. filling, with a blast plate fitted internally to provide the cavity-charge effect. The body is rectangular in shape, measuring 11¼ in. x 6 in. x 17½ in. One end is open and formed with flanged end plates, while the opposite end is shaped to an apex and carries two detonator sleeves, a sealing plate, and the fuze support. About 15 lb. of Pentolite make up the H.E. filler, bringing the total weight of about 27½ lb.