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U.S. Pound TNT Blocks

Anders

Anders

Ordnance Approved/premium membership
Ordnance approved
Can you help me with the timeframe for these boxes?
I believe that they are post W.W.II but I am not sure.
 

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Not sure when they went from the creme colored cardboard to the OD, but I've taken them out of cases marked during the war years. I've still got one of the cases somewhere, I believe its marked 1944. No lot numbers on anything?
 
Have seen "very similar" TNT blocks from Korean War era if that helps. I am pretty sure they changed to OD in the late 50's.....Dano
 
TNT Charges

I think it is going to be difficult to determine the era these items come from based on the colour. I have checked my manuals and most describe the 1/2 lb charge as yellow in colour.

TM 9-1946 Demolition Materials November 1955 - The 1/2 pound block is in a yellow container 1 7/8 inches square and 3 3/4 inches long. One end of the block contains a threaded cap well 2 1/8 inches deep to receive a priming adapter or a coupling base.

FM 5-25 Explosives and Demolitions May 1967 - Case - Cardboard with metal ends; threaded cap well. Colour 1/2lb yellow or OD. Size 1/2lb 3 3/4 x 1 3/4 x 1 3/4 in.

FM 5-25 Explosives and Demolitions March 1986 - Size 1 3/4 x 1 3/4 x 3 3/4 in. The 1/4 pound block is issued in a cylindrical waterproof olive drab cardboard container. The 1/2 pound and 1 pound blocks are issued in similar rectangular containers. All of the three charges have metal ends with a threaded cap well in one end. (I assume these would all be OD as the colour for the 1/2 and 1 pound is not stated)

NAVWEPS OP 2212 1 February 1962 - The charge consists of a 1/2 pound block of compressed TNT enclosed in a yellow water resistant fiberboard container having metal end closures. An activator well, which is not threaded, extends about 2 7/8 inches into one end of the block

There are some physical differences that may help narrow down when these charges were produced.
 
ammocat said:
I think it is going to be difficult to determine the era these items come from based on the colour. I have checked my manuals and most describe the 1/2 lb charge as yellow in colour.

TM 9-1946 Demolition Materials November 1955 - The 1/2 pound block is in a yellow container 1 7/8 inches square and 3 3/4 inches long. One end of the block contains a threaded cap well 2 1/8 inches deep to receive a priming adapter or a coupling base.

FM 5-25 Explosives and Demolitions May 1967 - Case - Cardboard with metal ends; threaded cap well. Colour 1/2lb yellow or OD. Size 1/2lb 3 3/4 x 1 3/4 x 1 3/4 in.

FM 5-25 Explosives and Demolitions March 1986 - Size 1 3/4 x 1 3/4 x 3 3/4 in. The 1/4 pound block is issued in a cylindrical waterproof olive drab cardboard container. The 1/2 pound and 1 pound blocks are issued in similar rectangular containers. All of the three charges have metal ends with a threaded cap well in one end. (I assume these would all be OD as the colour for the 1/2 and 1 pound is not stated)

NAVWEPS OP 2212 1 February 1962 - The charge consists of a 1/2 pound block of compressed TNT enclosed in a yellow water resistant fiberboard container having metal end closures. An activator well, which is not threaded, extends about 2 7/8 inches into one end of the block

There are some physical differences that may help narrow down when these charges were produced.
Click to expand...
Thanks Ammocat, great information.
 
Last edited:
The cap well will also accept the standard booby trap thread.
John
 
This is from a U.S. Army explosives and demolition manual 1971....Dano
 

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1/2 lb TNT

Hi Dano,

In Belgium, we found such cartridges in caches of older civilian fighters.
I'm sure they were used in WW II and probably before but that's not sure.

yoda
 
Grenademan2005 said:
Yoda, you found the green or the yellow ones? Have you ever found the 1 Pound green block?
Click to expand...

In general, we find the yellow ones. Remnants of WW II, hidden in the attic, sets with grenades, usually mills and Mk II, in case "they come back" !! Yes, yes, it's true !


Yoda
 
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