m. Bangalore torpedo. (1) General description. This is the standard bangalore torpedo (fig. 205) for the Japanese Army. It has a pull type delay fuze and is threaded at each end to permit an indefinite number of tubes to be attached end to end. Because of the type of fuze, it may be used in a booby trap, with the igniter string tied to a trip wire.
![[Figure 205. Bangalore torpedo.]500x100](https://www.lonesentry.com/manuals/handbook-japanese-military/pics/205-bangalore-torpedo.jpg "Figure 205. Bangalore torpedo.")
Figure 205. Bangalore torpedo.
| Over-all length (one tube) | 46 inches (approximately). | |
|---|---|---|
| Diameter | 2 inches. | |
| Weight (one tube) | 10 pounds. | |
| Fuze delay | 6 to 7 seconds (approximately). | |
| Charge composition | TNT 36 percent. Cyclonite 64 percent. |
(3) Operation. (a) Remove plugs, screw together the selected number of tubes, remove the bullet shaped cap from fuze and place on one end. Screw fuze in place. When ready to detonate the bangalore torpedo, pull out the safety pin, and pull the lanyard (requires about a 13-pound pull). The fuze delay will be approximately 6 to 7 seconds.
Note. Another bangalore type land mine which may be an antitank mine has been found. Its characteristics are as follows:
| Length | 36 inches. | |
|---|---|---|
| Width | 3.5 inches. | |
| Height | 2 inches. | |
| Charge | 6 pounds picric acid. | |
| Form | Oval cross section. | |
| Color | Olive drab. | |
| Fuze | 4 pressure type shear wire fuzes inside base—pressure about 300 pounds. |
(b) For additional information concerning Japanese Bangalore torpedoes see chapter 10, section V, paragraph 5b.
Cylindrical charges.
| Length | 4.6 inches. | |
|---|---|---|
| Diameter | 1.2 inches. | |
| Weight | Picric acid and TNT .22 pound. Toluol cheddite .20 pound. |
There are several containers for these small charges. One zinc can, wired for an electric detonator, has the following specifications:
| Length | 8.2 inches. | |
|---|---|---|
| Width | 2.2 inches. | |
| Thickness | 3 inches. |
This can contains three of the block charges mentioned in (1) above and is very widely used.
b. Large charges. In addition to the bangalore torpedo described in section IV, much larger demolition charges in this form are used by engineers. One large bangalore torpedo consists of 4 sections and a detonator. Each section contains 10 of the cylindrical charges described in a(2) above. The assembled torpedo is 34 feet long and weighs 225 pounds. Other large charges are assembled in various forms as needed, with the addition of plastic explosive when necessary. TM 9-1985-4; Bangalore Torpedo and Igniter