The Swimmer Weapons System various equipment
The Sampan Retrieval Device (now the XM-1 Grapnel)
The retrieval device was designed to provide a recovery method for drifting or other water craft.
The device was fired from a M-16 rifle using a bullet trap system using a standard ball round of 5.56mm ammunitions. Something that was new during the Vietnam years but today is used in several rifle grenade systems.
The device had a 75 yard range at 45 firing angle, carrying a 3/16 diameter nylon rope.
The entire system consisted of the grapnel, bullet trap, line spool and blast deflector. When grapnel folded up it was 3 x 8. The spool was 4x6 and the deflector 1 dia. The system, less the line and spool weighed 1.5 lbs.
In the beginning 30 units were built, the propulsion system worked great but the grapnels of several designs had proven less satisfactory than anticipated against sampans. However the SEAL Teams found the device useful for throwing a line across flooded swollen streams.
The design problems were finally worked out. A few years later the XM-1 grapnel was introduced and still in use today. The XM-1 replaced the bullet trap system with a 40mm propulsion cart and a rocket system in the grapnel.
The Wax Pot
Equipment and supplies often were damaged if not destroyed by the wet environment. This was a big problem for cache sites. To address this problem China Lake looked at using a protective cover for boxes, cans, etc. They wanted a protective cover that would provide protection from water damage. They came up with the WaX Pot. The pot would melt blocks of wax (honey bee wax proved best) and then dip cardboard boxes and metal ammo cans into the pot. The wax would cover these items, and when dried provide great protection from the environment. Sometimes a steel wire would be placed along the box before it was inserted into the wax. The purpose of the wire was to help remove the wax when ready to gain access to the container.
No reports on how successful this was during VN, but I have used the concept more than a few times with very god results.
The Packout Locker
This locker was made of a hard plastic; several models were made depending on how many drawers were needed. The locker could also be configured to hold clothing on clothes hangars (normally dry suits) and secure position for weapons.
It measure approx 36 deep, 36 wide and just under 5 in height. The size was such that it could easily be moved from compartment to compartment of a submarine, then through hatches or underwater lockouts. The locker when secured was water tight; an electrical connection was also located on one side for an internal heater (to help keep equipment dry).
Wish I had a couple of these now.
The Sampan Retrieval Device (now the XM-1 Grapnel)
The retrieval device was designed to provide a recovery method for drifting or other water craft.
The device was fired from a M-16 rifle using a bullet trap system using a standard ball round of 5.56mm ammunitions. Something that was new during the Vietnam years but today is used in several rifle grenade systems.
The device had a 75 yard range at 45 firing angle, carrying a 3/16 diameter nylon rope.
The entire system consisted of the grapnel, bullet trap, line spool and blast deflector. When grapnel folded up it was 3 x 8. The spool was 4x6 and the deflector 1 dia. The system, less the line and spool weighed 1.5 lbs.
In the beginning 30 units were built, the propulsion system worked great but the grapnels of several designs had proven less satisfactory than anticipated against sampans. However the SEAL Teams found the device useful for throwing a line across flooded swollen streams.
The design problems were finally worked out. A few years later the XM-1 grapnel was introduced and still in use today. The XM-1 replaced the bullet trap system with a 40mm propulsion cart and a rocket system in the grapnel.
The Wax Pot
Equipment and supplies often were damaged if not destroyed by the wet environment. This was a big problem for cache sites. To address this problem China Lake looked at using a protective cover for boxes, cans, etc. They wanted a protective cover that would provide protection from water damage. They came up with the WaX Pot. The pot would melt blocks of wax (honey bee wax proved best) and then dip cardboard boxes and metal ammo cans into the pot. The wax would cover these items, and when dried provide great protection from the environment. Sometimes a steel wire would be placed along the box before it was inserted into the wax. The purpose of the wire was to help remove the wax when ready to gain access to the container.
No reports on how successful this was during VN, but I have used the concept more than a few times with very god results.
The Packout Locker
This locker was made of a hard plastic; several models were made depending on how many drawers were needed. The locker could also be configured to hold clothing on clothes hangars (normally dry suits) and secure position for weapons.
It measure approx 36 deep, 36 wide and just under 5 in height. The size was such that it could easily be moved from compartment to compartment of a submarine, then through hatches or underwater lockouts. The locker when secured was water tight; an electrical connection was also located on one side for an internal heater (to help keep equipment dry).
Wish I had a couple of these now.
