View Full Version : A two chemical....
I have a question, mostly to the SOG guys and maybe the SF guys in the 1970s too. I was reading about "Astolite" which is a two part liquid explosive with consistancy of motor oil on another site I belong too. I actually believe it is called "Astolite G"? Anyhow, the advertisement for it that I found talks about you mixing the two chemicals together and being able to pour both onto the ground and just by using a det-cap you can blow a pretty good size hole in the ground. In the advertisement they call it an "Instant Landmine" for the Army in the 60's.
Now what I have heard was that it was available to SOG and used to capture prisoners(?), but what I am looking for is if it ever worked like it was suppose too in the terrain in Laos, Cambodia, North Vietnam, and South Vietnam? :munchin
Mark
Ambush Master
09-01-2012, 08:34
Astrolite, not Astolite. And yes we used it.
A 12B4S former team-mate who experiemnted with it at Long Thanh claimed it was not very dependable and the results were erratic, so they didn't use it much.
Richard :munchin
AM, my apologies for misspelling. Can you tell me your usage and if it ever worked correctly?
Back in the days, it got some bad press after an accident in Germany, I found a link to the incident:
http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1987-07-05/news/0180140132_1_training-exercise-accidental-explosion-regiment
It may or may not have been Astrolite, I don't think it was officially confirmed, but the fact that liquid explosives existed caused a lot of discussion.
Regards
Michael
52:
The m180 cratering kit was mentioned by name in that article. It had some rocket motor components but i do not believe that astrolite was one of them. The m180 kits are widely believed to be unreliable to the point that they are not to be used they are mentioned specifically as ordnance to avoid in the 18C course.
Good times,
Blake
Sounds like the equivalent of the 18B's M202 Flash. Watch out, may explode when you pull the trigger.
Ambush Master
09-02-2012, 06:59
We had it available and used it. It was like "Invisible Det-cord"!! You did have to clear the surface, if it was applied on a multi layer of leaves and it went all willy-nilly-tither and yon, it was EXTEREMELY ineffective. On the other hand, if you prepped the ground down to dirt, it was unreal. All you had to do was run a stream of it to the other side of a trail, make a hole in the ground on each end, put a cap crimped to and doubled back & taped to det cord in the far hole,prime your demo then go back to your side of the trail and stick an electric cap in that hole. Demo-Ambush, blew the target right off of his feet and over you. Invisible det-cord!!
It came in a plastic squeeze bottle with a small tin can in the bottom and a can-opener built into the side of the bottle. You cut off the end of the spout, & squeezed the side/w the opener in until the tin was punctured. The liquid on top of the tin would go into it, you then put the cap on and shook it up. After mixing, you inverted the bottle and applied. There were cautions all over it about not eating/handling food or smoking after handling until you thoroughly washed your hands................Hydrazene I belive was involved.
Later
Martin
AM
yes Hydrazine was one and the other was AN. Hydrazine reads like the most toxic substance in the world. But, you would have to have bathed in it I am guessing. It was originall made as propellent for rockets that NASA used. From what I am also getting from another site is that their were two different strenghs made. One being Astrolite G and the less powerful Astrolite A. How effective was it for in a prisoner snatch or an ambush? Where you ever able to get a prisoner from it?
I guess it was as good as what they call "First Generation" explosives. The ones of which were: TNT and Nitroglycerine. I am finding out that PETN and RDX were much more powerful in brisance and velocity.
Was it also a foxhole maker? Also, if placed around a tree could it knock one down within reason?
Here is a page out of an SF book: Explains allot I believe?
www.bocn.co.uk/vbforum/attachment.php?attachmentid=69764&d=1329087548
x SF med
09-02-2012, 22:28
Sounds like the equivalent of the 18B's M202 Flash. Watch out, may explode when you pull the trigger.
ah, the old M202 Flash Bang... 4 tubes of instant death. If the first one don't getcha, you still have 3 more chances to take....:D