Red labeled Nobel's Explosive No. 808...

[WWIIBuff]

Hello Gentlemen,

Does anyone know if there is any difference between the red labeled Nobel's Explosive No. 808, and the more commonly found Green/Blue labeled Nobel's Explosive No. 808? See pictures attached.

Thanks

John

 

[WWIIBuff]

Unfortunately I did not receive any responses here, so I posted my question on Facebook too. According to the response I received there, the Green/Blue labeled Nobel's Explosive No. 808 is a LOW FREEZING formula. Had I paid attention to the box labels I have seen before, I should have picked up on that fact (see attached pictures).

The red labeled Nobel's Explosive No. 808 is the formula for STANDARD TEMPERATURE use. I have not seen a full box of these, or the labels for their box, so if anyone has one, please post a picture of it.

Thanks

John

 

[WWIIBuff]

Upon further research, I came across this chart in OP 1665 British Explosive Ordnance from 06.1946. According to this, the "red" labeled formula of Nobel's Explosive No.8 is "plasticized". I thought 808 was considered to be Plastic Explosive (gelignite), so I do not really understand the difference here.

Upon a re-review of the charge examples I posted above, the description on the blue/green labels state "Nobel's Explosive No.808", whereas the red label example states "Plastic 808". I do not have the red label example in hand yet, so I do not know if anything else is stated above that.

 

[AMMOTECHXT]

Perhaps the red label type was introduced before the blue, when perhaps British forces were unused to plastic explosives. The blue type may have had extra materials added to keep the explosive mouldable at low temperatures. It was either 808 or 852 or both that incorporated liquid Nitroglycerine and I guess that if you try to use that at too low a temperature you run the risk of increased friction when moulding the explosive: "Look Mum, no hands!"

 

[Houndsworth]

Some answers are in the 1945 manual
Field Engineering (All Arms)
Military Training Pamphlet
No. 30
Part VI - Demolitions

The early and apparently obsolete version of 808 was "rubbery" and "not so easily handled." Later version was plastic, like plasticine.


This talks about the color of the cartridges. I assume they mean the explosive, not the wrapper.

No mention of the stamp color on the paper but logically it was changed to make these quick to identify.

 

[Houndsworth]

Some answers are in the 1945 manual
Field Engineering (All Arms)
Military Training Pamphlet
No. 30
Part VI - Demolitions

The early and apparently obsolete version of 808 was "rubbery" and "not so easily handled." Later version was plastic, like plasticine.

View attachment 198683
This talks about the color of the cartridges. I assume they mean the explosive, not the wrapper.

No mention of the stamp color on the paper but logically it was changed to make these quick to identify.

 

[Houndsworth]

sorry, clicked the wrong buttons...

 

[Supervark]

Upon further research, I came across this chart in OP 1665 British Explosive Ordnance from 06.1946. According to this, the "red" labeled formula of Nobel's Explosive No.8 is "plasticized". I thought 808 was considered to be Plastic Explosive (gelignite), so I do not really understand the difference here.

Upon a re-review of the charge examples I posted above, the description on the blue/green labels state "Nobel's Explosive No.808", whereas the red label example states "Plastic 808". I do not have the red label example in hand yet, so I do not know if anything else is stated above that.

Hi there

I used the red-labeled 808 in the very early 1980s when we ran out of PE4. It was considered a plastic explosive at that time.

 

[Duson]

Here is the red label. Not mine.

 

[AMMOTECHXT]

Both 808 and 852 were still in British service when I joined in 1978, although I think they were considered obsolescent in favour of PE4. We still had a lot of stock from late in WW2. That was probably mostly destroyed around 1980 when depots were encouraged to make room for newer types of ammo. That said, we were still doing plasticity tests on 808 in 1981 / 1982.