Section II. DEMOLITION OF MATERIAL TO PREVENT ENEMY USE
4-3. General
When capture or abandonment of the frame-
type, lightweight tent is imminent, the respon-
sible unit commander must make the decision
either to destroy the equipment or to render it
inoperative. Based on this decision, orders are
issued which cover the desired extent of de-
molition. Whatever method of demolition is em-
ployed, it is essential to destroy the same vital
parts of the tent and all corresponding repair
parts. When the lack of time or personnel pre-
vents complete destruction of the equipment,
the following priorities will be used in the de-
molition of essential parts. Priorities for de-
molition:
Priorities
Parts
1
Fabric
2
Frame
4-4. Demolition to Render the Equipment
Inoperative
Use sledge hammers, crowbars, picks, axes, or
any other heavy tools which may be available.
4-2
4-5. Other Demolition Methods
a. Scattering and Concealment. Remove all
easily accessible parts and wiring, and scatter
them through dense foliage, bury them, or
throw them in a body of water.
b. Burning. Pack rags, clothing, or paper
under and around the tent. Saturate this pack-
ing with gasoline, oil, or diesel fuel and ignite.
c. Submersion. Completely submerge the tent
in a body of water to provide water damage and
concealment, Salt water does greater damage to
metal parts than fresh water.
4-6. Training
All operators should receive thorough training
in demolition. Refer to FM 6-25. Simulated
demolition using all of the methods listed above
should be included in the operator-training pro-
gram. It must be emphasized, in training, that
demolition operations are usually necessitated
by critical situations when time available for
carrying out demolition is limited. For this rea-
son, operators must be thoroughly familiar with
all methods of demolition of equipment and
must be able to carry out demolition instructions
without reference to this or any other manual.
