TM 9-1375-213-12
common being 12 feet. lead wires are shorted by being
twisted together or by being crimped in a shunting tube
a. Caps, Blasting. Blasting caps are the main ele-
to prevent accidental initiation by static electricity. Elec-
ments used to initiate high explosive. They function by
tric blasting caps require a minimum of half an ampere of
translating a small signal, either a flame or a pulse of
electricity passing through their wires for ignition. The
electricity, into a detonation wave. They are classified
military M6 cap require s 1.5 amperes for reliability.
by type of ignition and strength Military electric blast-
Misfires can result from mixing electric caps of different
ing caps are instantaneous ignition. Commercial electric
characteristics in a series circuit-one type cap fires before
Wasting caps can be delay or instantaneous ignition. No.
the others, breaking the circuit before the others have
8 strength delay caps are normally used since they are
been given enough electrical energy to fire. With the ex-
compatible with military dynamite. Delay caps are used
ception of the M6 cap, electrical characteristics of caps
primarily in quarrying, tunneling, and making relief-
can vary greatly, even from lot to lot made by one man-
faced craters. The blasting caps listed below (both elec-
ufacturer. For this reason, different type commercial
tric and non-electric) are recognized as interchangeable
caps and even different lots of the same type made by the
within NATO. The recognized NATO term for blasting
same manufacturer should never be put together in a
cup is detonator.
blasting circuit.
Country of Origin
Detonator
(b) Cap, blasting,: electric, M6. Electric blast-
US
Cap, blasting, electric, M6
ing cap, M6, an instantaneous-ignition, No. 12 strength
US
(Cap, blasting, nonelectric, M7
cap, is the standard Army electric blasting cap. It ini-
Italy
Electric detonator
tiates any standard demolition charge. Blasting caps M6
Nonelectric detonator E T 4
Italy
are electrically uniform. For this reason, any lot of M6
Netherlands
Detonator No. 1
caps may be mixed with any other lit of M6 caps in a
Belgium
Ordinary PRB detonator
blasting circuit without fear of misfires resulting form
France
BRISKA detonator
different characteristics. Electric blasting cap M6 is re-
Germany
DM 11 detonator
placing electric blasting cap J-2. Electric blasting caps
M6 are packed 6 caps per carton, 1 carton per waterproof
(1) Caps, blasting: electric.
bag, 25 bags per fiberboard, container, 6 containers (900)
caps) per waterproof lined wooden box. The weight of
(a) Description. Electric blasting caps (fig. 1-
the box with contents is 114 pounds.
Figure 1-10a. Shaped demolition charge Mk74, Mod 1
