How the claymore mine changed the battlefield forever

Yeah. Really cracked me up the first time I saw one. Made me wonder just how dumb they thought we were . . .

After I'd been out for over a month they made me responsible for our squad's "mechanical ambush" when we set up our NDP. I carried three claymores, a one-and-a-half-volt battery and 150 yards of det cord plus a trip device made with nylon fishing leader, the handle from a C-ration spoon, and a couple of metal holders for M16 ammo rigged so that when you tied the fishing leader off and ran it across a trail and inserted the end of the spoon handle between the metal clips you had your detonating device. The ends of the metal clips were attached with electrical wire to the battery. When someone hit the line across the trail and pulled the spoon handle out from between the metal clips--Voila! A most satisfying boom quickly followed. . . .

MAJ Dale E.Wilson,Ph.D.- Quite the elaborate setup for employing Claymores I must say,our unit was on extended operations,usually three weeks or more in the boonies,a few days rest in artillery fire bases then back out,we did not stay in one location for more than two nights,so our company perimeters were set up quick and dirty,LPs ,night ambushes pre registered artillery fires etc, Welcome Home Brother.