Original U.S. WWII US Army “10 Cap” Blasting Machine For Manual Firing of Tank Main Gun in Case of Mechanical Misfires

Original Item: Only One Available. This is an original Vietnam War U.S. Army “10 Cap” Blasting Machine, complete with the original handle. The design is very similar to the WWII examples. During World War II, many of these were used by demolition crews on D-day to destroy the many obstacles on French beaches that had been set up during years of German occupation. The paint of this particular example indicates it was actually intended to be used inside of the various tanks the US had fielded during the Vietnam War. While this can be used as a 10 Cap blasting machine, this was used for the main gun of the tank. In the event that the firing system failed, causing a mechanical misfire, this blasting machine could be attached to a certain connecting point and with a twist of the handle the round would be fired.

The blasting machine was painted white with the handle painted red. This was the correct configuration for blasting machines used for Manual tank fire for the aforementioned reasons.

The Data plate reads:

U.S. ARMY
BLASTING MACHINE
FIRING INSTRUCTIONS: CONNECT LEADS
TO EXTERNAL CIRCUIT, TWIST
HANDLE VIGOROUSLY TO THE RIGHT.
CAUTION
THIS MACHINE MAY LOSE CAPACITY
TEMPORARILY. TO RESTORE: DISCONNECT
LEAD WIRES, TWIST HANDLE VIGOROUSLY
A FEW TIMES.
ORDNANCE PART NO. 11599606
SERIAL NO. 5209
COVE INDUSTRIES CARLE PLACE, N.Y. 11514

This is a very scarce piece of Vietnam War Tanker’s equipment in great shape. The white paint is heavily worn but the red is still very solid. A great example, ready for further research and display.