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With more power comes worse potential mistakes, and this applies totally to explosives. An idiot with a gun or knife can only do so much. An idiot with explosives can damage a large radius instantly. Most of these times, not even intentionally. As important it is to know how to use explosives, it is essential to recognize their presence and know precautions for handling them.
This article won't cover explosives recipes, which are wildly available and quite dangerous. It will cover their science, their modern employment, and their possible use in a zed-filled world. Check out the other pages for Common Pyros, and Strategic use of Explosives.
There are many compounds out there that are very potent, but also incredibly delicate - nitroglycerin can be detonated by a light impact. These have become largely obsolete with more stable explosives, but be aware that some can occur in natural settings - residual gas fumes a very deadly example of such.
Now, the key to this phase is "proper application." The consequences of improper application are pretty common sense. People have lost limbs accidentally dropping blasting caps. Explosives are force multipliers in the most pronounced way.
For construction, you will rely mostly on blast force. Usually directed force, in the form of shaped charges, which deflect the blast into a solid current that cuts through heavy material. This is also employed to punch through armored vehicles.
Methods of EmploymentExplosives can come in all shapes and sizes, specialized for a special purpose.Assuming you now have a purpose for your explosive, and made it to fit the purpose,you now need to figure out the manner of triggering your device.Now, returning to liability, this article will not describe in detail manufacturing an initiation device,but will list common types and some items used in these devices to illustrate how they work.Timer Devices--Devices using a time-delay mechanism to initiate explosion.Simplest of these is a regular lit, slow burning fuse.Some devices use analog devices like clocks, egg timers, etc.More sophisticated timer devices include things like digital watches, etc.Timer Devices are used for destroying things now, later, or anytime, if timing need not be perfect. What do I mean? I mean if you want to blow a hole in a wall, 10 second timer, place, run.If you want to use that pipe bomb as an impromptu grenade, stick a fuse in it, light, and throw.If you are baiting a mob and don't want to stick around, place the second bomb with a 20 minute delay.Want to take out a rival's safehouse after a raid, preferably after they're home? Set it to 45 minutesand if you don't care when, so long as blows up, put a bomb on something and set the timer for two hours.Wire Command DetonatedHard-wired to the ignition source, relying on electricity through the wire to detonate the device.Similar in function to Remote Command Detonation, though cheaper and easier to spot.Used when timing and observation are needed, such as triggering a planted device designed to take outpassing persons, crowds or vehicles.Remote/Radio Command DetonatedDevices detonate by a wireless device such as a wireless phone, RC remote, etc.More expensive, and complex than a wire, requires own power source, but more discreet.Similar to the above, but more sophisticated. No wires to hide, making it harder to detect.Save these when using against clever survivors, or when range makes wires impractical.Victim InitiatedOften tripwire devices, these require physical movement of some part to detonate.Often placed at narrow, high-traffic passages. VI devices are used to discourage pursuit or entry.You can place a device in a doorway after a raid as a nasty surprise, or as a more precise way to use a second charge after baiting a mob, or to slow down and discourage pursuers in an urban environment,or to slow down and discourage entry into a building or location.Tripwire devices sometimes have short time delay components to cause more casualties to a group.IR/LaserReally a victim-initiated device, uses a laser tripwire instead of a physical one to detonate.The laser tripwire is the most complicated device to set up and, as such, is reserved for special purposes.Harder to detect and disable than a regular tripwire device, this device is typically used against vehicles.Daisy ChainStringing of multiple devices via any above methods to a single firing device.While not technically an initiation method, I do believe it earns special mention here.If you have a tripwire device on a time-delay at the entrance of a building, daisy chained to other bombssituated throughout the rest of the building, anyone inside will likely be killed, and will likely contain morepeople, rather than just destroying the building with only one person in the doorway.Examples of Effective Explosives EmploymentExample 1Time: 20:00 (8:00 PM)Target: Rival Survivor SafehouseContext: Retaliatory attack against a group of hostile vandals as retribution for previous raids.20:00:00 2kg pipebomb with 4 liters petrol detonated 60 meters from target.20:02:30 While inhabitants away, supplies raided via rear safehouse entrance.20:03:30-20:04:30 Devices placed throughout building daisy chained to tripwire at front on 30 second delay.20:04:00 5kg satchel charge placed in bed of pickup truck on driveway of safehouse, with 1 min delay.20:04:30 Raiders clear out of property with supplies in hand.20:05:00 Satchel Detonates20:05:05 Inhabitants rush back to safehouse to investigate.20:05:43 Inhabitants enter, initiating tripwire device.20:06:13 Daisy chained devices explode, killing most inside and causing structural damage to safehouse.Example 2 Time: 11:30 (11:30 AM) Target: Officer of an extortionist local corrupt paramilitary groupContext: Corrupt officer coming to extort money from people known arriving via a particular street around 11:30.11:10:00 3kg charge w/ fragcase attached to Remote Control toy car as preparation for arrival of corrupt officer. 11:10:30 Cordless phone attached to detonator. 11:11:00 Car placed in bush next to known route of officer.11:15:00 1kg pipe bomb placed with 1 liter petrol, attached to a command wire.11:20:00 2-man team sets up on roof of building 60 yards away, with remote control, phone base, and binoculars. 11:32:16 Paramilitary convoy spotted, with officer spotted in open-top jeep.11:32:30 1kg device detonated 10 meters in front of convoy.11:32:35 Convoy stops. 11:32:40 RC car leaves camouflaged position and moves onto road. 11:32:45 RC car moves under officer's jeep.11:32:47 One of the two man team presses 'page' button on cordless phone base11:32:48 3kg charge detonates. 11:32:49 His own feet are the last thing that goes through the officer's mind. Example 3Time: 17:15(5:15 PM) Target: Group of zombies harassing allied survivor safehouse. Context: Relocation effort of small survivor group compromised by arrival of Zed horde. Sympathetic group assists. 17:05:00 Relocation effort interrupted17:07:00 Distress transmission goes out.17:08:00 Sympathetic group sets out with 2 SUVs, one with armed survivors and 1 Pickup, 17:13:00 Sympathetic SUVs and Pickup arrive at safehouse.17:13:05 Sympathetic SUVs set up perimeter with vehicles in front of safehouse. 17:13:10 Well-armed survivors exit SUV as pickup pulls in to driveway . 17:13:15 Armed Sympaths engage horde, while evacuees load supplies and personnel into empty SUV.17:17:00 Evacuees finish loading supplies.17:17:15 Evacuees leave in formerly empty SUV. 17:18:00 Sympaths retreat to remaining SUV and Pickup.17:18:30 Final Sympath jumps into bed of pickup.17:18:35 Sympath opens suitcase resting in truckbed, containing 15kg explosives with a cell phone detonator.17:18:40 Places alarming smoke detector in suitcase explosives.17:18:40 Pickup pulls out of driveway.17:18:50 Suitcase with explosives is pushed out the back of the pickup.
17:19:00 Suitcase is detonated as pickup speeds into sunsetGranted actual scenarios aren't quite this clear cut as these, but are merely here to provide youwith examples of effective employment of explosives.AfterwordThe above information, coupled with the internet, should give you all you need to effectively create your owningenious and unique ways of effectively deploying explosives in a post-apocalyptic zombie scenario.
This article won't cover explosives recipes, which are wildly available and quite dangerous. It will cover their science, their modern employment, and their possible use in a zed-filled world. Check out the other pages for Common Pyros, and Strategic use of Explosives.
Explosive Science
Explosives are substances that react and create gasses that expand very rapidly. Within this broad definition, there are two types of explosives. Low Explosive, and High Explosive.
Low Explosive is primarily propellant. It burns slower, perfect for launching projectiles such as rockets and bullets. It is also more sensitive. Most low-explosives can be set off by a static charge, open flame, or even a hard impact. Black powder and smokeless powder, the two most common firearms powders, are both low explosive.
High Explosive is significantly more stable, and also much more powerful. These explosives generally come in a clay-like form. TNT, C-4, Semtex, is all high explosive. They cannot be detonated by simple electricity, impact, or even by being tossed into a fire, which is helpful in safe storage and usage. High explosives need a combination of heat and pressure, achieved by using a blasting cap. Such a device is a small explosive charge wired to a control element of some kind, be it an open fuse or a complex electrical delay system.
Low Explosive is primarily propellant. It burns slower, perfect for launching projectiles such as rockets and bullets. It is also more sensitive. Most low-explosives can be set off by a static charge, open flame, or even a hard impact. Black powder and smokeless powder, the two most common firearms powders, are both low explosive.
High Explosive is significantly more stable, and also much more powerful. These explosives generally come in a clay-like form. TNT, C-4, Semtex, is all high explosive. They cannot be detonated by simple electricity, impact, or even by being tossed into a fire, which is helpful in safe storage and usage. High explosives need a combination of heat and pressure, achieved by using a blasting cap. Such a device is a small explosive charge wired to a control element of some kind, be it an open fuse or a complex electrical delay system.
There are many compounds out there that are very potent, but also incredibly delicate - nitroglycerin can be detonated by a light impact. These have become largely obsolete with more stable explosives, but be aware that some can occur in natural settings - residual gas fumes a very deadly example of such.
Uses
Explosives can be used for much more than death. They can be incredibly useful in precisely collapsing a structure, propelling an object or even signaling. Your creativity determines what you will use for. Remember the quote, "There is not a problem in the world that cannot be solved with the proper application of explosives"Now, the key to this phase is "proper application." The consequences of improper application are pretty common sense. People have lost limbs accidentally dropping blasting caps. Explosives are force multipliers in the most pronounced way.
For construction, you will rely mostly on blast force. Usually directed force, in the form of shaped charges, which deflect the blast into a solid current that cuts through heavy material. This is also employed to punch through armored vehicles.
Methods of EmploymentExplosives can come in all shapes and sizes, specialized for a special purpose.Assuming you now have a purpose for your explosive, and made it to fit the purpose,you now need to figure out the manner of triggering your device.Now, returning to liability, this article will not describe in detail manufacturing an initiation device,but will list common types and some items used in these devices to illustrate how they work.Timer Devices--Devices using a time-delay mechanism to initiate explosion.Simplest of these is a regular lit, slow burning fuse.Some devices use analog devices like clocks, egg timers, etc.More sophisticated timer devices include things like digital watches, etc.Timer Devices are used for destroying things now, later, or anytime, if timing need not be perfect. What do I mean? I mean if you want to blow a hole in a wall, 10 second timer, place, run.If you want to use that pipe bomb as an impromptu grenade, stick a fuse in it, light, and throw.If you are baiting a mob and don't want to stick around, place the second bomb with a 20 minute delay.Want to take out a rival's safehouse after a raid, preferably after they're home? Set it to 45 minutesand if you don't care when, so long as blows up, put a bomb on something and set the timer for two hours.Wire Command DetonatedHard-wired to the ignition source, relying on electricity through the wire to detonate the device.Similar in function to Remote Command Detonation, though cheaper and easier to spot.Used when timing and observation are needed, such as triggering a planted device designed to take outpassing persons, crowds or vehicles.Remote/Radio Command DetonatedDevices detonate by a wireless device such as a wireless phone, RC remote, etc.More expensive, and complex than a wire, requires own power source, but more discreet.Similar to the above, but more sophisticated. No wires to hide, making it harder to detect.Save these when using against clever survivors, or when range makes wires impractical.Victim InitiatedOften tripwire devices, these require physical movement of some part to detonate.Often placed at narrow, high-traffic passages. VI devices are used to discourage pursuit or entry.You can place a device in a doorway after a raid as a nasty surprise, or as a more precise way to use a second charge after baiting a mob, or to slow down and discourage pursuers in an urban environment,or to slow down and discourage entry into a building or location.Tripwire devices sometimes have short time delay components to cause more casualties to a group.IR/LaserReally a victim-initiated device, uses a laser tripwire instead of a physical one to detonate.The laser tripwire is the most complicated device to set up and, as such, is reserved for special purposes.Harder to detect and disable than a regular tripwire device, this device is typically used against vehicles.Daisy ChainStringing of multiple devices via any above methods to a single firing device.While not technically an initiation method, I do believe it earns special mention here.If you have a tripwire device on a time-delay at the entrance of a building, daisy chained to other bombssituated throughout the rest of the building, anyone inside will likely be killed, and will likely contain morepeople, rather than just destroying the building with only one person in the doorway.Examples of Effective Explosives EmploymentExample 1Time: 20:00 (8:00 PM)Target: Rival Survivor SafehouseContext: Retaliatory attack against a group of hostile vandals as retribution for previous raids.20:00:00 2kg pipebomb with 4 liters petrol detonated 60 meters from target.20:02:30 While inhabitants away, supplies raided via rear safehouse entrance.20:03:30-20:04:30 Devices placed throughout building daisy chained to tripwire at front on 30 second delay.20:04:00 5kg satchel charge placed in bed of pickup truck on driveway of safehouse, with 1 min delay.20:04:30 Raiders clear out of property with supplies in hand.20:05:00 Satchel Detonates20:05:05 Inhabitants rush back to safehouse to investigate.20:05:43 Inhabitants enter, initiating tripwire device.20:06:13 Daisy chained devices explode, killing most inside and causing structural damage to safehouse.Example 2 Time: 11:30 (11:30 AM) Target: Officer of an extortionist local corrupt paramilitary groupContext: Corrupt officer coming to extort money from people known arriving via a particular street around 11:30.11:10:00 3kg charge w/ fragcase attached to Remote Control toy car as preparation for arrival of corrupt officer. 11:10:30 Cordless phone attached to detonator. 11:11:00 Car placed in bush next to known route of officer.11:15:00 1kg pipe bomb placed with 1 liter petrol, attached to a command wire.11:20:00 2-man team sets up on roof of building 60 yards away, with remote control, phone base, and binoculars. 11:32:16 Paramilitary convoy spotted, with officer spotted in open-top jeep.11:32:30 1kg device detonated 10 meters in front of convoy.11:32:35 Convoy stops. 11:32:40 RC car leaves camouflaged position and moves onto road. 11:32:45 RC car moves under officer's jeep.11:32:47 One of the two man team presses 'page' button on cordless phone base11:32:48 3kg charge detonates. 11:32:49 His own feet are the last thing that goes through the officer's mind. Example 3Time: 17:15(5:15 PM) Target: Group of zombies harassing allied survivor safehouse. Context: Relocation effort of small survivor group compromised by arrival of Zed horde. Sympathetic group assists. 17:05:00 Relocation effort interrupted17:07:00 Distress transmission goes out.17:08:00 Sympathetic group sets out with 2 SUVs, one with armed survivors and 1 Pickup, 17:13:00 Sympathetic SUVs and Pickup arrive at safehouse.17:13:05 Sympathetic SUVs set up perimeter with vehicles in front of safehouse. 17:13:10 Well-armed survivors exit SUV as pickup pulls in to driveway . 17:13:15 Armed Sympaths engage horde, while evacuees load supplies and personnel into empty SUV.17:17:00 Evacuees finish loading supplies.17:17:15 Evacuees leave in formerly empty SUV. 17:18:00 Sympaths retreat to remaining SUV and Pickup.17:18:30 Final Sympath jumps into bed of pickup.17:18:35 Sympath opens suitcase resting in truckbed, containing 15kg explosives with a cell phone detonator.17:18:40 Places alarming smoke detector in suitcase explosives.17:18:40 Pickup pulls out of driveway.17:18:50 Suitcase with explosives is pushed out the back of the pickup.
17:19:00 Suitcase is detonated as pickup speeds into sunsetGranted actual scenarios aren't quite this clear cut as these, but are merely here to provide youwith examples of effective employment of explosives.AfterwordThe above information, coupled with the internet, should give you all you need to effectively create your owningenious and unique ways of effectively deploying explosives in a post-apocalyptic zombie scenario.
