Tom,
The mechanical ambush was actually a booby trap made with our claymores.
We would set them up with trip wires on trails like the enemy did for us. The
only difference was, we could dismantle ours and take them with us when we left
an ambush site. So while they were in use we were always in the area to monitor
them and always took them with us when we left so friendly's couldn't be hurt
later. Thus, they weren't considered booby traps and against the Geneva
convention. Hence the term "mechanical ambush" .
They might have improved them later in 1970-1971 but the first ones we
made consisted of trip wire, claymore, battery, clothes pin (the spring type
pin) and the plastic spoon handle out of our c-rations. As you know, it took
only three volts to set off a blasting cap that ignited the claymore. So a small
battery was used for the current, you would cut the claymore wire and wrap the
exposed wires around the tips of the clothes pin. Then use the plastic handle of
your c-ration spoon for your trip wire. Put the spoon between the wires of your
clothes pin and sting your trip wire across a well used trail. Always hooking
your battery up last from a safe position. When anyone came down the trail and
walked into your trip wire it would pull the plastic spoon handle out of the
clothes pin letting the two wires touch completing the circuit and the claymore
would explode. Usually resulting in a body count, they were very effective as
you can see from the sit rep on the LZ Buff site. We got creative as time went
on and was making larger mechanicals by hooking more claymores together with
primer cord. Hope this explanation was helpful.
Jim
Thank you Jim