1971 US Army Vietnam War OPERATORS ... - Survival Books

WWW.SURVIVALEBOOKS.COMTM 9-1330-200-12/TM 1330-12/1A1-6. Grenade, Launcher, Smoke:Screening, RP, UK, L8A1, L8A3a. General. Provides a self-screening smokecapability for armored tactical vehicles.(1) Screen vehicles from enemy direct fireweapons when immediate counter-engagement cannotbe accomplished.(2) Conceal vehicles caught out in the openwhich cannot rapidly find a defilade position.(3) Screen vehicles caught out in the openduring retrograde.vehicle.(4) Extricate the crew from a disabledb. Description. The L8A1 grenade (fig. 1-5) and theL8A3 grenade (fig. 1-5a) are used with M239 andsimilar grenade launchers. The grenades are filled witha red phosphorus/butyl rubber mix. Each grenade isapproximately 2-5/8 inches in diameter, 7-9/32 incheslong, and weighs approximately 1-1/2 pounds.c. Functioning. The L8A1 and L8A3 grenades arepropelled from the launching device when electricalcurrent at the firing clip activates the electrical squibtypefuze which ignites the propellant charge. Pressurebuilds up in the metal base, escapes through thepropulsion holes, ignites the delay composition, andpropels the grenade from the launching device. Duringflight of the grenade, the delay composition burns for 3/4of a second for the L8A1 and 1 second for the L8A3grenade, and ignites the burster charge. The burstercharge ignites the red phosphorus/butyl rubber smokecomposition and ruptures the rubber grenade body. Theignited smoke composition disperses to produce a whitesmoke cloud within two seconds after firing atapproximately 98 feet (30m) from the launching device.When functioned, the L8A3 grenade generates a smokecloud faster and more dense than the L8A1. The smokecloud lasts for more than 2 minutes for both the L8A1and L8A3 grenades.1-6.1. Grenade, Launcher, Smoke: IRScreening, M76a. General. Provides a self-screening infraredsmoke capability for armored tactical vehicles.(1) Screen vehicles from enemy direct fireweapons when immediate counter-engagement cannotbe accomplished.(2) conceal vehicles caught out in the openwhich cannot rapidly find a defilade position.(3) Screen vehicles caught in the open duringretrograde.vehicle.(4) Extricate the crew from a disabledb. Description. The M76 grenade (fig. 15b) isused with M250 and similar grenade launchers. Eachgrenade is 2.59 inches in diameter, 9.3 inches long, andweighs approximately 4 pounds.c. Functioning. The M76 grenade is propelledfrom the launching device (discharger) when electriccurrent at the firing contact activates the electricalmatch. The electrical match ignites the propellant whichlaunches the grenade and ignites the pyrotechnic timedelay. Launch acceleration causes the setback lock todisplace aft, out-of-engagement with safe and armslider. When the slider/bore rider clears the launchtube, it moves into the armed position which aligns theexplosive lead with the delay detonator and the boosterlead. When the grenade reaches the desired range, thedelay detonator ignites the explosive train whichdetonates the central burster. The IR composition isscattered which creates the brown obscuring cloud.1-6.2. Grenade, Launcher, Smoke:Simulant Screening, M82a. General. Provides a self-screening trainingcapability for armored tactical vehicles.(1) Screen. vehicles from enemy direct fireweapons when immediate counter-engagement cannotbe accomplished.(2) Conceal the vehicles caught out in theopen which cannot rapidly find a defilade position.(3) Screen vehicles caught in the open duringretrograde.vehicle.(4) Extricate the crew from a disabledb. Description. The M82 grenade (fig. 1-5c) isused with M250 and similar grenade launchers. Eachgrenade is 2.6 inches in diameter, 9.3 inches long, andweighs approximately 3.1 pounds.c. Functioning. The M82 grenade is propelledfrom the launching device (discharger) when electriccurrent at the firing contact activates the electricalmatch. The electrical matchChange 14 1-11