U.S. ARMY WWII EXPLOSIVES AND DEMOLITION TRAINING FILM BANGALORE TORPEDO FILM 16004

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“Explosives and Demolitions: Bangalore Torpedoes” is a War Department Official Training Film of the Army Service Forces from 1944. It is produced by the Army Pictorial Service in black and white. It is an instructional video on Bangalore torpedoes, which are primarily used to clear paths through wire obstacles and heavy undergrowth.
The film opens on a barbed wire fence, slowly panning towards soldiers crawling along the ground as they slide a Bangalore torpedo under the fence (0:42). A Bangalore torpedo is a thin metal tube packed with TNT (Trinitrotoluene), invented by the British at the Bangalore Cantonment in India. The soldier is seen lighting the fuse, then he runs for cover (1:19). The torpedo explodes in a wooded area, unleashing a small mushroom cloud of smoke.
Soldiers unpack a box containing torpedoes, removing one of them. A diagram describes the dimensions of the torpedo: 5 feet long, 2⅛ inches in diameter, weighs 14 pounds, with a waterproof case of 20 gauge sheet metal (1:38). It contains an explosive of 80/20 amatol with 4 inches of crystalline TNT at each end. The fragmentation of the metal case allows for the successful breaching of barbed wire.
Soldiers handle the torpedo, putting together sections attached by sleeves with spring clips, which prevent the sections from being pulled apart (2:04). They demonstrate trying to pull apart the torpedo. They place a nose sleeve on the end, preventing wires, brush, and other obstacles from catching on the front end (2:25). Viewers see the well at the end of a section, about three inches deep. Soldiers prepare an electric blasting cap and insert it in the well. The soldier secures it by creating a half hitch knot around the end of the section, fitting it securely. The soldier inserts a non-electric cap, time fuse, and fuse lighter, wedged into place with a small piece of wood (3:00). The soldier demonstrates threading the well (3:14).
Soldiers are seen on a field, carrying a torpedo in their sack (3:26). They set up primer cord on the field, in order to explode several torpedoes at once. They connect branch lines to the main primer cord line, place them in the wells of the torpedoes, knot the cord and wedge it with a piece of wood. They create an improvised torpedo, pouring explosives down a tube and packing it in. Viewers see a close-up of the soldiers packing the casing with broken TNT around the standard blocks (4:00). The primer is created with one block with three turns of primer cord. The soldiers use a wooden plug to keep it all in place, firmly packing it in (4:18). A soldier prepares detonating assemblies by crimping a non-electric cap to one end of the fuse (4:25). A soldier tapes about 18 inches of primer cord to the cap, carefully wrapping the tape to secure it in place (4:40). He inserts the other end of the fuse into the fuse lighter.
Three soldiers join sections using a wooden plug (5:20). After testing the stability of the sections, they walk off with the torpedo. A soldier snakes an improvised torpedo under barbed wire fence (5:46). They prepare to light the fuse, and one of the two quickly retreats. Viewers see a close-up of the second soldier tying a square knot to connect the primer cord lead to the detonator assembly (6:03). He pulls the lighter and quickly takes cover (6:08). Viewers see an explosion in a lightly wooded area.
Soldiers push a board with explosives latched to it under a barbed wire fence (6:26). A soldier prepares the fuse and runs for cover and another explosion is seen (6:46). Soldiers snake another torpedo under a fence (7:07). As one crawls away, the second looks at his watch, waiting for the last possible moment to fire. He lights the fuse and they both run for cover (7:28). The torpedo explodes leaving a cloud of black and gray smoke.
Soldiers charge forward, weapons in hand (7:45). The Bangalore torpedo leaves a 15 foot channel through any entanglement, and the ground is left uncratered. The soldiers are seen on a bridge, securing Bangalore torpedoes between sandbags to use in a bridge demolition (8:00). Soldiers demonstrate the use of the Bangalore when an elongated charge is needed. They stack the torpedoes upright against a concrete structure (8:24). Two soldiers hang a torpedo among brush, creating an anti-personnel mine (8:35). The soldier adjusts the igniter, then conceals it among the foliage (8:50). The film closes with a group of soldiers charging through a gap in a wire entanglement that had been created by a torpedo (9:01).
This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit www.PeriscopeFi...

[@casiofx85wa]

"Bangalores come in convenient boxes.." Neat, I'll pick some up next time I'm at the Super-O-Shoppe Center!

[@AffordBindEquipment]

I was thinking the same thing! and it was probably the only thing in the war that was convenient!

[@NikovK]

They're just packing TNT into a steel pipe with bare hands and a stick. Grandpa was a badass.

[@chaz8758]

Wooden stick is used to prevent possible shock concussion detonation if you used metal, bare hands..... Well rubber gloves not common, just wait for the headache later

[@mattberg6816]

It’s still done that way in demolition today

[@ffjsb]

Just don't lick your fingers...

[@remb9614]

Standard military issue stick

[@vocalpatriot]

@@ffjsb lol it actually absorbed through the skin and did the same as medical nitro- glycerin..gave a them nice headache

[@potgieterhuis1469]

Always crimp detonators to your side, facing the other direction. this atleast saves your eyes and face in the unlikely event the detonator goes off

[@Jonascord]

Or better, if you are wearing your helmet, align the crimping pliers, and hold the assembly over your head, and your helmet and THEN crimp it onto the fuse. Then you only lose fingers if you screw the pooch...

[@potgieterhuis1469]

@@Jonascord That does infact sound like a better procedure. Thank you for that

[@chaz8758]

Great idea, let's crimp a det without looking at it, after moving it around or your body, so risking pulling the safety fuse out of position, or you holding onto the explosive body part of the det.

[@potgieterhuis1469]

@@chaz8758 This was how the defence force thought it. just because you can't wrap your head around the concept does not make it an invalid one. I will pass on the message that lessons learnt the hard way are in fact incorrect according to chaz8758 from KZbin

[@johnsiders7819]

I have known guys that have lost fingers crimping dynamite caps !

[@dwightl5863]

Seems ironic that you "crawl/sneak-up" on the barbed wire line but get up and run like hell after you light the fuse.

[@TheMajorActual]

Crawling up to the wire, the enemy _will_ shoot _at you_ if they see you; this _might_ hit/cause your deceasement (this is GooTube).....Failing to run as fast as you possibly can after igniting the fuse _will_ cause your deceasement...usually into several hundred very small, damp pieces.

[@todaywefly4370]

Also a little ironic that it creates a traffic funnel where the enemy knows where you will be due to their attention being raised by a large bang. Workplace health and safety nightmare that.

[@muskokamike127]

@grumpy old fart yup, usually uses a bic lighter. They used to use matches until that one time stumpy didn't get away in time......

[@david9783]

Dude that is exactly what I was thinking!

[@altairprime7895]

Usually this is done at several places in the wire and the enemy is too busy keeping down and out of the way of artillery explosions and covering fire to notice a few more.

[@BarnDoorProductions]

My dad was with the 1st Canadian Division when they went ashore in Reggio De Calabria, Italy. He told me he had, in addition to his personal equipment, a half-dozen Bren mags, two cases of projectiles for the Piat mortar, a hundred feet of rope, a six-foot ladder and a 5-foot section of bangalore torpedo. Somehow, the ladder, the rope and the bangalore got lost over the side of the landing craft on the way in. Nobody ever asked him for any of them.

[@drussellu.s.1034]

Big thanks to your Dad for his service.

[@Charon-5582]

Everybody needs 100 feet of rope, I learned this from D&D.

[@Seveneleven44]

I literally watched saving private Ryan the other day and thought to myself “man I’d love to see a doc on those things.”

[@lilianahenry4572]

'literally'?

[@jeffreycrawley1216]

@@lilianahenry4572 Yes, it's allowed nowadays.

[@impCaesarAvg]

That film was the first time I ever heard of Bangalore torpedoes. I suppose Tom Hanks' company saw this film.

[@patmygroin]

"Bring up the Bangalores"

[@004Black]

Howard Pringnitz maybe write in emojis, they’ll understand.

[@MrKen-wy5dk]

I always knew there was something missing in my "Boy Scout Manual".

[@notreallydavid]

Was it porn, Ken?

[@jeffreycrawley1216]

The British Army now have an improved version called the Bangalore Blade. During tests an original Bangalore cleared a path 3m/10ft wide through triple razor wire. The Blade which is made from aluminium and locks together rather than screws (so doesn't clog as easily) cleared a path 10m/30ft wide. It also disturbs the ground to a depth where landmines are commonly laid.

[@codyblea3638]

Isn't that one a square body with thicker corners? Like so thick that the internal hole is circular with the thinnest parts at the flats?

[@TheAir2142]

Jeffrey Crawley Dont they now have a Bangalore cable of sorts attached to a rocket and mounted on vehicles? I saw a video a year back where they launched a rocket trailing an explosive cable that was detonated once it hit the ground effectively clearing mines and barbed wire for 100 ft.

[@jeffreycrawley1216]

@@codyblea3638 That's it, the corners shear off like cutting blades. A few years ago I attended a demonstration where they were showing the effects of shaped charges and the like. they strapped a variation on this around a 300mm square reinforced concrete column and it sliced it like paper cutting scissors.

[@jeffreycrawley1216]

@@TheAir2142 I know there was talk of a rifle launched cable system but the group I was with were more interested in civilian applications - best "bangs" display since I was invited to family bonfire night at Fort Halstead at Sevenoaks!

[@codyblea3638]

@@jeffreycrawley1216 thanks brosef

[@skyhiker9669]

Ever since I saw “The Longest Day” I’ve wondered about Bangalore Torpedoes.

[@Hopeless_and_Forlorn]

How do I go about ordering a convenient box containing ten sections of Bangalore torpedo? Amazon?

[@mikesweeney5244]

Acme.

[@kingwiththeax6880]

Apparently, from the “improvised” portion of the video, all you need is some downspout pipes, a crap ton of TNT, a “wooden plug” from a tree branch, and some cannon fuse. Add in huge testes from the greatest generation and you too can cut all the barbed wire in sight. Also, won’t make a crater in soft dirt but will destroy a bridge? Sounds suspicious...

[@kirra9152]

Destructive device. Atf wanna know your location.

[@johnbattista9519]

Kingwiththeax , placing sand bags on top will deflect the shockwave downwards.

[@zelts]

@@mikesweeney5244 Beep beep!

[@billd.iniowa2263]

Gotta love these training films. Puts you right in the chair next to all them boys who were watching them back then.

[@makeracistsafraidagain]

Bill D. in Iowa All through High School dozens of us who didn't like PE sat in ROTC watching these old movies. And then we entered service as E- 3s.

[@sixstringedthing]

I bet there's no line in the Army field manual which states "first, find yourself a small sliver of wood as you're going to need it later"....

[@codyblea3638]

Hey man, you need a "Rock or something" to prop up your MRE and FRH to uncle Sam's approved level.

[@steveej1558]

@@codyblea3638 every time i had an MRE, i liked to imagine some very hungry officer searching the ground for 3 days because the instructions originally only said "use a rock"...so the Army had to add "or something" to keep butter-bar LT's from starving to death.

[@johnkaiser353]

@@steveej1558 You should try K-rations and one P-38 (can opener) for every 5 boxes of K-rats. The bayonette came in quite handy when you didn't have a P-38. Num-nums.

[@valentinius62]

Generals always imagine they're fighting in Europe deep down inside. Oh, and fighting WW II over again. Other terrains are merely a side show to them.

[@bb54321abc]

I trained with these but when they told me the life expectancy of a pioneer/engineer was about 90 seconds in action, I wasn’t so enthusiastic

[@nyssfairchild2244]

I'm not surprised.

[@ronaldrobertson2332]

The movie "Big Red One" kinda demonstrated them using it on D-Day.

[@douglasstrother6584]

"The Longest Day", too.

[@hastyone9048]

Saving Private Ryan too.

[@LvL_99_Red_Chocobo]

Big Red One gave an opinion on how to reward the inventors of the Bangalore.

[@halo3odst]

That they did chocobo.

[@Kevin-qn2kw]

You can use them on a neighbor too

[@keithnaylor1981]

So that's what Robert Mitchum and the guys were using on the beach in The Longest Day! Now I see! Very interesting.

[@johnkaiser353]

My Mom and Dad told me what they were when we watched the movie on the tube, some 50+ years ago.

[@inufan5]

I wanna see them blow up the bridge and tank trap tho

[@burntorangeak]

I miss hearing Paul Harvey in the morning. 'and now: page two!'

[@makeracistsafraidagain]

burntorangeak I turned on the radio at noon for years just to hear him.

[@jeffreyprice2982]

Lowell Thomas is the narrator of this film.

[@burntorangeak]

@@jeffreyprice2982 I stand corrected. Thank you.

[@VTPSTTU]

I have a feeling that many of these ideas were thought up by the soldiers who were using them before this training film suggested other uses.

[@vocalpatriot]

of course...

[@demonprinces17]

Believe early ones were on a long stick with a long fuse

[@sixstringedthing]

If you believe the mythology, there's nothing on earth more ingenious and resourceful than a wartime soldier trying to a) avoid getting himself killed or b) fill his belly. Everything else is of secondary importance.

[@homelessEh]

did you know when they built wooden cabins in the 1800's all the tools were cordless and needed no batteries.. and 1 tool always did 100 other things amazing

[@razpootis5802]

It's a literal boomstick.

[@chinnu3388]

Thanks to the Periscope Film for this documentary on "Bangalore Torpedo", this equipment was produced in Bangalore, The Bangalore city which is now capital of state of Karnataka in India.

[@kannadarecipes-6626]

@Dennis Young *Yes*

[@divyamansinghsen2912]

Hope with the new privatization of our defense supply sector we will continue the legacy of Bangalore how they helped the Allied Forces to defeat the Axis powers in Normandy Beaches

[@chinnu3388]

@@divyamansinghsen2912 Kingdom of Mysore had a good relation with british, So mysore was ahead compared to other kingdoms in india

[@chinnu3388]

@@divyamansinghsen2912 Mysore is the first city in asia to use electricity

[@tfranken1561]

What do they think wooden plugs grow on trees?

[@muskokamike127]

they actually do....find the right size branch and cut to length with a rope saw or similar. Did you ever go camping or were in the boyscouts? The woods are full of tools and materials.

[@jeffreycrawley1216]

@@muskokamike127 Er, woosh?

[@daveroberts6884]

Fence posts. Firewood. Branches, small trees. Yup, they grow on trees.

[@reddevilparatrooper]

Loved training with these during live fire exercises..

[@rogerhuber3133]

I'm 74 and have watched countless WWII movies but recently watched 2 that mentioned these. I had to find out WTF they were talking about.

[@johnberryhill8106]

I still find gravel and bits of wire in my legs from a blast from a Bangalore Torpedo detonation 1978.

[@maxn.4616]

The army always expects that there’s a little piece of wood every where you go...

[@williammawk1720]

The wood plugs comes in the box with them.

[@johnkaiser353]

Improvise. Adapt. Overcome.

[@harry9392]

Invented by Captain McClintock of the British army in bangalore in Bengal India

[@floridagator1765]

Watching the Longest Day!!!

[@Absaalookemensch]

Lt. Checkov says, "Bangalore torpedo avay...."

[@ProjecthuntanFish]

Believe it or not the US Marines had WW2 bangalor torpedos in Desert Storm

[@johnkaiser353]

A lot of older ordnance was used in Desert Storm.

[@Badumtss2468]

Ah, now I know why it sounds like the city I live in. It was actually made in Bangalore.

[@jonmajarucon51]

Wow. Those things pack a punch. I never realized how powerful they were. Those guys setting up the weapon under fire had iron balls.

[@MrJoeGarner]

I'm prior service from the early 90's and I enjoy watching these old military videos.

[@homelessEh]

lol warning not to be confused with the Tent poles lol .

[@johnhopkins6260]

G.I. crimping tool same as/similar to Klein Tools PWC-26 or J1005 ? (I use the -26 daily, for hundreds of crimps... excellent tool!)

[@barryhopesgthope686]

The tool to use is a Gerber SOG survival knife.

[@johnhopkins6260]

@@barryhopesgthope686 for crimping?

[@bharathj4615]

Iam from Bangalore, never had thought of a weapon named after my city !

[@sumyunggai6500]

You should credit the Madras Sappers, Bangalore Torpedo was made by them (but designed by a Brit officer)

[@MrLordwrecker]

Saving Private Ryan used these in the beach scene

[@johnkaiser353]

Same in "The Longest Day" where we see Capt. Christopher Pike (Star Trek Pilot) AKA Jeffery Hunter bite the big one.

[@Nighthawke70]

One of the best examples in the movies is the Bangalore relay on Omaha Beach in The Big Red One, with Lee Marvin and Mark Hamill.

[@personalfunfest]

This does NOT look like a fun game to play ☹

[@oceanhome2023]

I wonder how it works with the new Razor wire ?

[@AsymptoteInverse]

I'm very grateful to have so many period films so that I can understand the mechanics of the old wars better.

[@Daledavispratt]

Yet another nifty use for bamboo!

[@davidpounder1967]

The British 8th Army tank unit - the 1st Assault / Scorpion Regiment used what they called 'snakes' in the Desert Campaign and in Sicily and Italy. My dad told me that a 'snake' was a much longer Bangalore Torpedo which was attached to the front of a Sherman tank and pushed into barbed wire, next to pill boxes, minefields etc to clear them. They were very effective but hell for the tank crew when they exploded. He was left with red cheeks due to blast damage to his capilliaries. Thanks for posting - it brings back memories of my dad's war stories.

[@kpkndusa]

Low crawl to the target that is covered by machine guns, place the torpedo, then get up and run.

[@johnkaiser353]

Don't forget to serpentine.

[@krishnajirao5011]

India has come a long way from Mysore Rockets to Bramhos and Agnis to become third most powerful nation in the world

[@anythingbutcash]

"Bangalores come in convenient boxes.." It seems that, that is the only thing convenient about it.

[@Lockbar]

Sounds like the narrator is Lowell Thomas. He mostly narrated news reels. Didn't know he did these during the war.

[@jamesanderton344]

Lockbar ya, it sounded like a newsreel

[@tfranken1561]

It's all fun and games until someone looses an arm

[@petewood2350]

Ah ya have a spare one.

[@johnkaiser353]

That's loses, not looses.

[@freddymarcel-marcum6831]

Background music=explosive

[@kotahurt]

Should never run from an explosive the fuse should be long enough to walk away, cause if you trip whilst running you might sprain your ankle and then you gotta crawl or limp

[@fakshen1973]

Make sure you're not hung up on the barbed wire before igniting the fuse.

[@omkr0122]

I am from Bangalore and I approve of this video!

[@blameusa7082]

FK i just watched Classified US military video!! says so!!

[@jamesslick4790]

And a complete outsider claims COPYRIGHT on a film that U.S. TAXPAYERS already PAID FOR!

[@PlasmaCoolantLeak]

Pinky swear you won't tell anyone what you saw!

[@ronaldrobertson2332]

World War II.

[@alansutton9388]

Alledgely designed by Indian Army sappers from the Bangalore Armoury in WW1 to blow up entangled barbed wire

[@douglasstrother6584]

Introducing the "Clutter-B-Gone"!

[@MonthlyCramps]

How to use Pipe Bombs for fun and profit. Just remember to run like hell.

[@penyamunx8581]

7:31 - Crawling to the front, and running back exposed themself to sniper / MG but the job done

[@jamesbeemer7855]

Never trained for this . But I saw a movie , only once , of some troops using it . Each man caries a part of it . Cool as hell when they used it .

[@stalag14]

Watch the fun. Hilarious 😂😂

[@namulit]

'Vipera Bofors' was an explosive rope propelled forward by a rocket to achieve the same effect...

[@meltedplasticarmyguy]

The bangalore is good and all, but I prefer the M58 MICLIC for obstacles.

[@theoldar]

Don't you get shot when you stand up to run away?

[@Kevinterell]

I came here because I was wondering what it did in the Beach landing scene in Saving Private Ryan!

[@barryhopesgthope686]

We used 2 U- shaped pickets, 8' long. 4 blocks of C-4 several feet of det cord and a blasting cap, held together with duct tape. It has been at least 30 years since I have done any Cbt Eng work.

[@david9783]

You Engineers had all the fun!

[@justa.american8303]

@@david9783 Or is that steroids on a pipe bomb🙃

[@-Fritz-]

Star pickets and gelignite for us, ironically held together with fencing wire.

[@chaz8758]

6 foot angle iron pickets windlassed together was our most common improvised version.

[@andyf4292]

could have been a linear shaped charge,,, would have been a bit better

[@steveandrushko75]

Wire cutters seem a little easier that's such a big production just to cut barb wire

[@controlledchaos8851]

Jesus what a video , now John what do you say we go out tonight with the birds we met last week aye

[@thevijayraj34]

This must be one of the first few inventions of DRDO, india team.

[@kylesmithiii8365]

I played with these while with 2nd CEB at CAX.

[@scifimom42]

After seeing these used in movies it’s good to know how they are actually implemented.

[@lronhubbard305]

Look out mountain.

[@thanglengoc2366]

What if my Bangalore hit the mine under the wire?

[@thehoodedteddy1335]

Basically, a pipe bomb, with more pipe

[@oceanhome2023]

Bang Galore I had a girl friend who was called that

[@XReflexian]

Then run for cover and watch the fun ......

[@michaellangston271]

Great tool for wars we no longer fight, lets hope.

[@BETTERWORLDSGT]

Bring up the Bangalore's!!!!!

[@rboes208]

FYI amanol is TNT and amonium nitrate

[@pramodhh1534]

Bangalore, love to listen my city's name in world war movie.

[@ami2evil]

Where shitting in the streets is common...

[@gameaddict2744]

Bangalore = giant pipe bomb/ied

[@homelessEh]

gonna need to know this for 2022 boogaloo

[@BrettonFerguson]

If these were civilian products, they would need to print "For external use only" on the tubes. I wish this were only a joke.

[@davidpounder1967]

Not to be used by children under 14!

[@bearmerica6668]

Anyone have a wooden plug?

[@arkantos006]

I lived in Bangalore for 3 months

[@cramcrud]

how were the torpedoes?

[@XxBloggs]

It’s a sewer.

[@Dunstire]

All looks like a breeze until you try under enemy fire

[@makeracistsafraidagain]

andy d Like pretty much everything.

[@robertbelcher5068]

sweet. Ive been looking for this.

[@jerrycampbell9376]

Bang! Galore!

[@Mikey300]

“The Bangalore Torpedo was 50 feet long and packed with 85 pounds of TNT, and you assembled it along the way-by hand. I’d love to meet the asshole who invented it!”

[@robertdeen8741]

I wonder if it worked on Omaha beach as well as it did in the movie, The Big Red 1 ?

[@mikemcmikemcyeahok4977]

Robert Deen yes it did

[@barryhopesgthope686]

Jeffery Hunter used them on " The Longest Day". Robert Mitchum made him a 2Lt for all of 5 mins.

[@markhugo8270]

Sky hiker! I just watched the longest day for the first time in my life. Ditto! It led me to this particular video. History going back to World War 1 wow.

[@littlemoo52]

they used this on the beach in Saving Private Ryan. My kid was just playing Rogue Company and asked me what a Bangalore is?

[@HamburgerMolester]

That convenient box was cutting-edge technology at the time. Not many know this, but that's what won the design contract. Everyone else had their bangalores just rolling around on the floors of vehicles as their transport method.

[@omkr0122]

Any Kannadigas here?

[@mohammedasif6322]

I'm from Bangalore

[@coffee637]

They are a blast to touch off. thankfully we just went right out to the range to learn about them and bypassed this kind of snore inducing film.Still, now that I'm retired this is kinda fun to watch.

[@iskandertime747]

Thanks for the upload. I remember reading about these in a book but I couldn't really picture what they were talking about.

[@georgespeck2289]

I remember using it at fort Leonard Wood during ait In combat engineer school In 1969.

[@elixir4487]

Having watched "The big red one" some 20 years ago, I finally know what´s up with those BANGalores.

[@david9783]

Where do you find a piece of wood on a beach? Oh,yeah...DRIFTWOOD.

[@chevyvet69]

That was an awesome video extremely informative You think Ace Hardware has any down there lol