WW II UK Hidden explosive charge

[Bonnex]

Dave,

There were basically two types of SOE concealed devices: those that contained explosives etc. and camouflaged just for transit (I'll call these K devices); and those that were a ready to use camouflaged sabotage store - like the rat (I'll call these S devices). In the picture is a complete consignment for operations containing a total of 125 lbs of plastic explosive. There are:

3 rubber tree covers (K) for covering a drop container to make it look like a tree trunk.
24 Rats (S)
7 One litre tins (S) marked Shell Oil in French
3 pairs of clogs (S)
11 pieces of coal (S)
4 One gallon tins (S) marked KVIETE TRAN NVP Oslo and on the side VOLLWERTICES SCHMIEROL FUR SCHWERMOTORE
6 Engineer's Oil Cans (S)
2 Thermos Flasks (K)
1 Paint Can Container (K)

 

[turpin42]

This is great stuff!
Been a while since i posted anything but do check in now and again...
I have a question about the Engineers oil can.

I got a hold of one similar (1/2 pt. hope it's the correct size) to an example on show at the resistance museum in Oslo.
From the descriptive catalogue it states "...a small liquid container built around the oil filling well..." (to look like the can was full of oil) and "...enclosed in a close fitting metal container with which is embodied a guide tube leading to the spout...." (container for primer and time pencil)
Does anyone have drawings or pictures of these?
Would be fun to make up a cutaway

All the best
T42

 

[nicklebomb]

You can see the real thing in Paris in the army museum"les invalides".Good idea;nobody is going to touch a dead rat;so you can leave it vissible laying around.

 

[Bonnex]

[...]I have a question about the Engineers oil can.

[...]Does anyone have drawings or pictures of these?
[...]

All the best
T42

As requested:

 

[turpin42]

Thank you Bonnex!

All the best
T42

 

[sudelmuk]

Found these ones in a booklet "Enemy Sabotage Equipment, War Office, May 1945".



Seemingly the thermos flasks were not only used for transit purposes, but also as prepared charges.



This little handicraft I do like particularly. :bigsmile:

 

[Bonnex]

Yes, the Germans produced the Thermos Flask as a sabotage device. The booklet mentioned is well worth getting hold of. It is billed as Enemy Sabotage Equipment but it also includes British material (as per the Engineer's Oil Can*) presumably because we gave the Germans quite a lot to recycle! Despite the War Office annotation the publication was actually the work of Lord Rothschild's counter sabotage department B1c at MI5.






* In the captions to the photographs German devices are identified by the use of a "G."

 

[StuartBrown]

I see that Rothschild was awarded a George Medal for "dangerous work in hazardous circumstances" and that he is listed in the London Gazette as an Administrative Assistant at the War Office.

SWB

 

[ordman]

So thats what RDX stands for Rat Disguised eXplosives