The 3801 Swimmer Weapons System 308 Devices
In early 1968 China lake Naval Weapons Center started a project for use by Special Forces personnel in Vietnam. The project was called the 3801 Swimmer Weapons System, part of that system was the 3801-308 Special Devices. These special devices were prepared pre-loaded booby-traps that were used with or built into the following items:
1 qt US plastic canteen
Standard issue Army flashlight
An instamatic camera
M-16 magazines
AK-47 magazines
and special firing device that was fitted with spacers and collars so that it fit under a gas cap on a military type truck.
The devices were designed for field application by special operational forces. Most of the devices were used to make a booby-trap of an item normally considered a battlefield souvenir. The devices would be left behind after a fire fight, placed along a trail (as if they it had been lost) or planted in a NVA Base Camp. The devices were never deployed in the same area twice (or at least within a 6 month period). It is worth noting that when one of these devices did function as designed there was little left to point a finger at what had happened.
These items were never employed in South Vietnam; every one deployed was used in North Vietnam or in Laos along the Ho Chi Minh trail. Training was provided to a select few Special Forces and SEAL personnel. The training reportedly took place at Camp Long Thanh, a facility used to train various SOG personnel and other SOG members, both navy and army. These devices were declassified somewhere around 2006, however with all the tails about MACVSOG, their equipment and books the secrecy of these devices were kept. Records are hard to find and those found hard to read, but it appears that approximately 75 of each were made, the number actually deployed is questionable, but in 1979 the last ones left in the inventory were destroyed. This author was witness and part of the team that accomplished this demil. But what is known somewhere around 2001 the EODP for these devices was released to the Vietnamese and Laotian EOD program as part of the UXO/mine removal program in those countries. Thus more proof that these devices were in fact deployed.
All of the devices were basically used the same electronic circuit, were armed the same way and fired either by fired the same way. The electronic circuits were resistor capacitor time arming, with capacitor discharge to an electric blasting cap.
Each of the devices had a white sticker is affixed to the side of the body with the nomenclature, serial number, manufacturing date, and an operating caution stamped in black. This sticker was removed prior to use.
Following are identification and use of the 308 devices, that were deployed.
FIRING DEVICE 308-21
This is an electronic, pressure-release-activated device. It was designed to booby-trap fuel (gasoline) tanks of motor-driven vehicles both on land and water. The device used a military electric blasting cap and normally a small C4 charge or an incendiary booster.
This device was made up of capacitors, resistors, a battery, a microswitch, a spring-loaded plunger, and an adjustable adapter. It is normally installed in the fuel tank-filler opening of
the booby trapped vehicle. The adjustable adapter permitted installation in virtually any size tank-filler opening.
The device was armed by replacing the cap to the fuel tank. This applies pressure to the plunger which in turn depressed the microswitch connecting the battery to the capacitor circuit. After approximately 1 minute, the device was armed. When the cap from the filler opening was removed, pressure was removed from the plunger allowing the microswitch to open. The opening of the switch allowed the capacitor to discharge to the blasting
cap, initiating the C4 or incendiary booster.
FIRING DEVICE 308-11
This also was an electronic, pressure-release-activated, boobytrap-initiator usually installed in a canteen booby-trap.
This device armed by screwing on the cap of the canteen. This pressed the plunger down, closing the microswitch which connects the batteries to the capacitor circuit. After approximately 1 minute, the device was armed. When the top of the canteen was unscrewed, pressure is released from the plunger which opens
the microswitch, discharged the circuit to the electric blasting cap, initiating the C4 that would have been packed into the canteen.
FIRING DEVICE 308-12
This was an electronic, pressure-release-activated device with a built-in trembler switch (anti-disturbance). The device was primarily designed to be used in a plastic military canteen as a side-loaded boobytrap. The device could also be used in any object in which it would be completely hidden and in which pressure could be continuously applied to the press-on, release-off/fire switch, such as a D-cell flashlight. Unlike the pervious devices this one had a microswitch and a trembler switch for firing.
This device was armed by pressure on the plunger, either from the weight of the boobytrapped object or pressure from a screwed-on cap. This closed the microswitch which started the arming process as described in the devices above. The device would detonate the boobytrap by either of two means. Any disturbance of the boobytrapped object causes the trembler switch to discharge the capacitor circuit through the blasting cap. Any action which released the pressure from the plunger opened the microswitch, again causing the capacitor to discharge to the blasting cap.
FIRING DEVICE 308-14
The Firing Device 308-14 was installed in a cartridge loading camera boobytrap. It used the same type of capacitor arming firing circuit as its brother devices.
The device was armed when the safety ring was removed and the back of the camera closed and latched. This caused the film advance drive wheel to depress the microswitch, connecting the battery to the capacitor circuit. After approximately 1 minute, the device was armed. When the latch on the back cover was released, the film advance drive wheel is pushed away from the device, releasing the microswitch, which discharges the capacitor circuit to the blasting cap.
FIRING DEVICE 308-16 AND 308-17
Firing Devices 308-16 and 308-17, respectively, are electronic, pressure-release-activated boobytrap devices. The Firing Device 308-16 was a bobbytrapped M16 magazine, and the 308-17 was a boobytrapped AK-47 magazine. There were no special markings on these devices. The boobytrapped magazine appeared identical to a normal magazine.
If no cartridges were in the magazine, the microswitch was visible on the top of the magazine follower.
All electronic components are contained internally, and consist of capacitors, resistors, a battery, and a microswitch.
The devices were armed by inserting a cartridge in the device. More than one cartridge could be inserted, normally no more then 4 or 5. This depressed the microswitch which connects the battery to the capacitor circuit. After approximately 1 minute, the device was armed. When the last round was removed from the magazine, pressure was removed from the microswitch. This releases the switch which allowed the capacitor to discharge to the electric blasting cap.
Sometimes I think this device was confused with the AK47 cartridges that were boobtrapped as part of the Project Eldest Son program.
In early 1968 China lake Naval Weapons Center started a project for use by Special Forces personnel in Vietnam. The project was called the 3801 Swimmer Weapons System, part of that system was the 3801-308 Special Devices. These special devices were prepared pre-loaded booby-traps that were used with or built into the following items:
1 qt US plastic canteen
Standard issue Army flashlight
An instamatic camera
M-16 magazines
AK-47 magazines
and special firing device that was fitted with spacers and collars so that it fit under a gas cap on a military type truck.
The devices were designed for field application by special operational forces. Most of the devices were used to make a booby-trap of an item normally considered a battlefield souvenir. The devices would be left behind after a fire fight, placed along a trail (as if they it had been lost) or planted in a NVA Base Camp. The devices were never deployed in the same area twice (or at least within a 6 month period). It is worth noting that when one of these devices did function as designed there was little left to point a finger at what had happened.
These items were never employed in South Vietnam; every one deployed was used in North Vietnam or in Laos along the Ho Chi Minh trail. Training was provided to a select few Special Forces and SEAL personnel. The training reportedly took place at Camp Long Thanh, a facility used to train various SOG personnel and other SOG members, both navy and army. These devices were declassified somewhere around 2006, however with all the tails about MACVSOG, their equipment and books the secrecy of these devices were kept. Records are hard to find and those found hard to read, but it appears that approximately 75 of each were made, the number actually deployed is questionable, but in 1979 the last ones left in the inventory were destroyed. This author was witness and part of the team that accomplished this demil. But what is known somewhere around 2001 the EODP for these devices was released to the Vietnamese and Laotian EOD program as part of the UXO/mine removal program in those countries. Thus more proof that these devices were in fact deployed.
All of the devices were basically used the same electronic circuit, were armed the same way and fired either by fired the same way. The electronic circuits were resistor capacitor time arming, with capacitor discharge to an electric blasting cap.
Each of the devices had a white sticker is affixed to the side of the body with the nomenclature, serial number, manufacturing date, and an operating caution stamped in black. This sticker was removed prior to use.
Following are identification and use of the 308 devices, that were deployed.
FIRING DEVICE 308-21
This is an electronic, pressure-release-activated device. It was designed to booby-trap fuel (gasoline) tanks of motor-driven vehicles both on land and water. The device used a military electric blasting cap and normally a small C4 charge or an incendiary booster.
This device was made up of capacitors, resistors, a battery, a microswitch, a spring-loaded plunger, and an adjustable adapter. It is normally installed in the fuel tank-filler opening of
the booby trapped vehicle. The adjustable adapter permitted installation in virtually any size tank-filler opening.
The device was armed by replacing the cap to the fuel tank. This applies pressure to the plunger which in turn depressed the microswitch connecting the battery to the capacitor circuit. After approximately 1 minute, the device was armed. When the cap from the filler opening was removed, pressure was removed from the plunger allowing the microswitch to open. The opening of the switch allowed the capacitor to discharge to the blasting
cap, initiating the C4 or incendiary booster.
FIRING DEVICE 308-11
This also was an electronic, pressure-release-activated, boobytrap-initiator usually installed in a canteen booby-trap.
This device armed by screwing on the cap of the canteen. This pressed the plunger down, closing the microswitch which connects the batteries to the capacitor circuit. After approximately 1 minute, the device was armed. When the top of the canteen was unscrewed, pressure is released from the plunger which opens
the microswitch, discharged the circuit to the electric blasting cap, initiating the C4 that would have been packed into the canteen.
FIRING DEVICE 308-12
This was an electronic, pressure-release-activated device with a built-in trembler switch (anti-disturbance). The device was primarily designed to be used in a plastic military canteen as a side-loaded boobytrap. The device could also be used in any object in which it would be completely hidden and in which pressure could be continuously applied to the press-on, release-off/fire switch, such as a D-cell flashlight. Unlike the pervious devices this one had a microswitch and a trembler switch for firing.
This device was armed by pressure on the plunger, either from the weight of the boobytrapped object or pressure from a screwed-on cap. This closed the microswitch which started the arming process as described in the devices above. The device would detonate the boobytrap by either of two means. Any disturbance of the boobytrapped object causes the trembler switch to discharge the capacitor circuit through the blasting cap. Any action which released the pressure from the plunger opened the microswitch, again causing the capacitor to discharge to the blasting cap.
FIRING DEVICE 308-14
The Firing Device 308-14 was installed in a cartridge loading camera boobytrap. It used the same type of capacitor arming firing circuit as its brother devices.
The device was armed when the safety ring was removed and the back of the camera closed and latched. This caused the film advance drive wheel to depress the microswitch, connecting the battery to the capacitor circuit. After approximately 1 minute, the device was armed. When the latch on the back cover was released, the film advance drive wheel is pushed away from the device, releasing the microswitch, which discharges the capacitor circuit to the blasting cap.
FIRING DEVICE 308-16 AND 308-17
Firing Devices 308-16 and 308-17, respectively, are electronic, pressure-release-activated boobytrap devices. The Firing Device 308-16 was a bobbytrapped M16 magazine, and the 308-17 was a boobytrapped AK-47 magazine. There were no special markings on these devices. The boobytrapped magazine appeared identical to a normal magazine.
If no cartridges were in the magazine, the microswitch was visible on the top of the magazine follower.
All electronic components are contained internally, and consist of capacitors, resistors, a battery, and a microswitch.
The devices were armed by inserting a cartridge in the device. More than one cartridge could be inserted, normally no more then 4 or 5. This depressed the microswitch which connects the battery to the capacitor circuit. After approximately 1 minute, the device was armed. When the last round was removed from the magazine, pressure was removed from the microswitch. This releases the switch which allowed the capacitor to discharge to the electric blasting cap.
Sometimes I think this device was confused with the AK47 cartridges that were boobtrapped as part of the Project Eldest Son program.
