Improvised Munitions Handbook (Improvised Explosive Devices or ...

made by hooking the wire through holes in the exposed corners of the plates. The battery is now ready
for use.
Note: If battery begins to fail after a few firings, scrape the plates and wires where connections are made
until metal is shiny.
7.14 Armor Materials
The following table shows the amount of indigenous materials needed to stop ball type projectiles of the
5.56 mm, .30 caliber, and .50 caliber ammunition fired from their respective weapons at a distance of 10
feet (3 m).
Indigenous Material
5.56
mm
Thickness of Materials
Inches Centimeters
.30
caliber
7.62
mm
.50
caliber 5.56
12.70
mm
mm
.30
caliber
7.62
mm
Mild steel (structural) 1/2 1/2 3/4 1-1/4 1-1/4 2
Mild aluminum (structural) 1 1 2 2-1/2 2-1/2 5
Pine wood (soft) 14 22 32 36 56 82
Broken stones (cobble gravel) 3 4 11 8 11 28
Dry sand 4 5 14 11 13 36
Wet sand or earth 6 13 21 16 33 54
.50
caliber
12.70
mm
Note: After many projectiles are fired into the armor, the armor will break down. More material must be
added.