Self-Defense Forge: Chronicles of Self-Defense, Analysis of Situations

Color me stupid, but I thought the purpose of Claymores was to minimize the defensive load on a position from certain angles. I had assumed claymores would be layered and that they would automatically trip via a trip wire or laser trip and blow, and that training would dictate you stay out of the way of the dadgummed claymore.

Not only does yelling put you at risk, but it takes a rifleman out of the fray... right? I mean, to detonate it, you have to stop firing, correct? You have to monitor the firing, correct?

On the other hand if you get an explosion from something tripping the claymore behind you, you know they're closer than you thought (obviously you have to monitor to not get outflanked).

Or am I way off base here?

And can a mod please split this out of the thread?

You are right in stating the use of the claymore. You can have them detonated via trip-wire (defense) or detonated manually at a precise time (offense). They are a very effective weapon in certain situations.

If you set up an ambush, you blow the claymore(s) into the main mass of the enemy patrol, for example, as you begin your ambush. Definitley a force multiplier. I couldn't imagine beginning an ambush without them.

However, I was trained under the old VietNam/Cold War tactics.
Tactics + situations in the sandbox are different.

Yeah, you can't use Claymores on people you're trying to make friends with, I understand.

Did you use them traditionally going IN during the invasion?

You can use a claymore as an offensive weapon just as you would any small-arms weapon.

If you are certain (via solid intel) that an enemy force is likely to be coming through a certain area (especially if pretty much forced to via geography) and have the need for a successful ambush with minimum risk, it would make sense to set up manually triggered claymores synchronized with your heaviest machine gun fire.

It's basically the sucker-punch before the beating, to use one analogy.
It's the kick in the nuts so you can finish them off with the multiple kicks to the temple.

During PLDC and other combat training we were trained pretty extensively in their use and application. Keep in mind, I'm not a grunt, and tactics are constantly changing with the conditions.

I have a healthy respect for claymores. We got to set a bunch off in TBS in the 1990s. I don't remember if we fired them simultaneously or not, but I do remember being in a pretty substantial bunker when we tripped them and they made a hell of a noise and concussion. I'd rather not be in the open near one when it went off (not behind one and certainly not in front of one).

This thread is only a couple of years old and clearly shows them mouned on an M113-series vehicle manned by wing wipers.

Oh indeed - you might as well juggle hand grenades. Good Lord with constantly changing positions and angles, claymores would be an accident waiting to happen.

Anyway, when I was in Army basic the range NCO's did a live claymore demonstration. DAMN! They set it up facing some think brush. It dug a veritable trench through the brush - I wish I could have gotten a bird's eye view of that blast - a pie-shaped wedge instantly missing in front of the claymore! Imagine if that were a squad of soldiers! It got our attention, that's for sure.
The best was crawling around at night with mortar simulators going off while live M-60 rounds zipped over your head, breaking off branches of the big trees behind you!

Now that you mention it - this ol' timer still isn't used to having a cell phone - I could just keep circling the town and call 911 from the car. Lead the fucker chasing me right TO the cops.

You gotta realize, I'm 53, grew up with permanently-attached wall phones, have no kids, have no actual use for a cell phone, and rarely even remember they exist. I have one in the car just for emergencies, but I never carry one around. I actually have thought of that tactic before, but it kinda faded from my mind. Although I've been chased by road-ragers about 5 times, it has been a long time since anyone chased me. I'm sure it would spring back to mind if I got chased again.

You don't ahve to make the thread depressing.

I'm sure there are whole swaths of merry old England that have no crime because they are "nice" areas.

Wanker.

And what do you do when they "comply" by pulling out AK's?

I hope you've built some machine guns into the car.

Good work Apostle.....

You played it right.

Wouldn't happen around here.
Yes, they all have an AK....but don't know what "comply" means!

Quick anecdote. I was accompanying some friends driving into Manhattan for a Trek convention. Frank was driving his cool black Monte Carlo. Bryan, in the shotgun seat, was a warrant squad cop. We came to a red light, and a bum started toward the car with his windshield washing kit. Frank hit his car alarm, which was an actual siren, and Bryan (as if they'd worked it out in advance) flashed his badge. The bum almost pissed himself.

Forbin.....WTF? You drove to Manhattan for a Trek convention?

Why not just beam yourself there?
Damn unions...I bet the Transporter Workers were on strike again!

BTW I am a card-carrying Transport Workers Union member, but my job has zero to do with transport workers...it's a long story.

I didn't drive, I rode.

I hate riding versus driving. The trip seems shorter when you're driving. Plus every one else's driving scares me - I always feel I could do it better.

I'm a pretty impatient driver. I flat-out refuse to drive in Manhattan. I'll only go if someone else is driving.

For some reason I actually don't mind super-crowded city driving as long as there are actual traffic signals. You know, definite red you are stopped, green you go lights.

What grinds my gears (patience wise) is suburban driving.....where there is an endless stream of cars coming by at 45 or 55 MPH, and you have to turn left so you sit...and sit...and sit waiting for an opening.

^That's me every morning at my corner.

And the traffic light at the exit ramp on my way home doesn't help, because there's another light 50 yards away, and the traffic is always backed up past the exit ramp. So the ramp light may turn green, but I'm still staring at a wall of cars in front of me until the next light turns.

Because in theory (the most hated words on the planet) there should never be that many cars waiting on the light to cause a backup.

Planners + engineers live in a fantasy world where everything works on paper. It's like the Driving Regulations booklet - none of their perfect world scenarios consider overwhelming traffic density - because when the rules were devised 50 years ago there weren't that many cars in relation to road surface.

So far hands-down the worst place I ever had to drive was Phoenix Arizona. You think the heat makes Phoenix hellish? Sorry, it's the traffic.

There's more! Even if I manage to get into that wall of traffic and the next light is green, there's almost always someone waiting to make a left into the stores there, having to wait out the traffic coming the other way, holding us up. I almost never make that next light.

That's why I always (when possible of course) try to plan everything around making as many right-hand turns as I can.

My dream is to never have to drive again - to live within walking distance of everything, or live where they have public transportation.

I may have to retire for real (20 more years!) for this to happen, but that is my goal.