Question for the combat grunts...

[82Rigger]

In infantry AIT (1968) when we were doing claymores, they taught us to ALWAYS
take the squeezer with us when we set them out.

They also taught us that Chuck liked to turn that claymore around (back at ya) when he could, or even steal it.

So, how did you prevent that? Did you always set them so that you had a visual on them, or set them with noisemakers or something?

[39mto39g]

On guard duty at a base camp, firing a weapon or setting off a high explosive was not an option. And the disappearance of a claymore was not happening also. at a Fire base or a LZ things were a little different. Many nights I would fire a M-79 all knight long and at 05:00 the claymores would be blown, weather they needed it or not.
In the field we would booby trap our Claymores so that they could not be retrieved.
You messed with one of our claymores in the field and you die, simple.
If they were still there in the morning a M-79 round would disable them.

People in different units did stuff differently so what I say may not apply.

Ron

[DMZ-LT]

Never had one turned around. We used a lot of claymores in an automatic ambush, attached to a battery so you didn't need the clacker

[39mto39g]

Yea, I forgot about the battery . The trip wire would complete the circuit in a PRC 25 battery which was hooked to the blasting cap in a claymore.

Ron
__________________
1st bn 35th inf 3rd brg 4th inf div

[exlrrp]

Steve
Ideally, you put your trip flare wires out, say across a trail, and then used the Claymores to cover that area. The trip flare went off, KABOOM!!!! Then you go pick up what was left in front of the Claymore with a flat stick.
I heard of some people using glows-in-the-dark tape on the back but that seemed kind of foolish to me--easier to spot and I think whoever was clever and bold enough to creep up and turn a Claymore around would be clever enough to put the tape on the other side. In the lrrps, we'd keep the wire wound up on a 10" or so board or stick so we could unwind it easy and fast, in case you were being chased.
I don't remember doing anything special otherwise. Of course you'd cammo it as much as possible. A lot of times they were put out at night by tired men so you'd just hope for the best. when the Claymore goes off, you want to be as flat to the ground as possible in ANY case--Ask me how I know this.
I never saw anyone do it with batttery, batteries woud go bad but the claymore clickers always worked and--believe me!--- when a claymore goes off, yr not worried about the clicker noise!
hate to say it but I broke apart a lot more Claymores for C4 to heat food and coffee than I actually fired---sure hope this wasn't what lost the war.

[39mto39g]

The New Battery was used with a trip wire if you didn't want to be around when it went off.
Those little guys had a nasty habit of coming after you if you set off one with a cord. They have a very distinct sound like a grenade does or an M-16.
I can recall one time a peace of white tape was used, but there wasn't any real point unless it was daytime.
I set off 5 of these at one time.
The electric cap in one end and det cord connect from one to the other.
On top of the Claymore was an in and an out. A screw type blasting cap from a grenade or smoke could be screwed in here or a push in for a electric cap. No cap needed if det cord was used.

Ron

[82Rigger]

I was always impressed by the claymores more than the TNT blocks and other stuff.

700 steel balls moving at 4,000 feet per second.

Daaaaaayummm!

In training they taught us how to set them, booby trap them, and all the different fuses that would screw into the fuse wells.
But we never got to see one blow. They said they couldn't get them 'cause they were needed "elsewhere".

So, in an LZ or an FSB where you had wire strung, where did you put the claymores...inside or outside, or both?

[39mto39g]

82
I don't understand the question, inside or outside? of what
Claymores at a base camp, Fire Base, or LZ were all placed in the wire, depending on what kind of field of fire was used and what was in those fields of fire.
Ron

[82Rigger]

Ron,

You answered my question.

Was wondering where the claymores were placed in relation to the concertina.

Thanks!

[82Rigger]

James,

when the Claymore goes off, you want to be as flat to the ground as possible in ANY case--Ask me how I know this.

I know WHY...but I wanna hear the story.

So, how do you know this?