Azuma Aura, or Flames in the Magazine
Recently, Judge George Preston, former MN2, wanted to know the story behind the scuttlebutt about someone striking a cigarette lighter in Magazine #2 on Azuma. He had heard that an aura of blue flame appeared on the overhead and wanted confirmation. The following is documentation of the comments I received.
"Will the guy who lit a cigarette lighter in Magazine Two at Azuma please come forward and describe the Torpex gas ignition along the overhead. This actually happened in 1953. He can remain anonymous but I want to hear the details."
G. Preston, MN2, Scottsdale, Az.
Many responses have been received. Among them are the following:TORPEX is an explosive based on trinitrotoluene (TNT) that gave a greater blast than TNT, but was more sensitive. It was replaced by HBX or HBX-1 later in WWII. Torpex is RDX/TNT/Aluminum/Wax desensitizer. It was used in several types of torpedoes and mines. Due to it sensitivity to bullet impact, the first weapons loaded were ones for which there would be the least possibility of rifle bullet and fragment attack, namely, submarine delivered mines and torpedoes. The loading stations were advised that they must take adequate care in mixing and loading and in the handling of the loaded items. It was declared that the British had been able to handle it without incident for 2 years and that the risk was worth the advantage gained in its underwater power.
Turns out some of the real old mines had TNT or Torpex xpl charges; & they weren't all sub-laid, e.g., Mk13,16,18, & 19.Maybe the event at Azuma (1953) triggered the requirement at Subic (1955/56) for only EOD to check mag-temps.Read that Torpex was 50% more powerful that TNT.However, we were taught by UERD in order to double the damage radius of an UNDET the warhead weight must be quadrupled/400%. Working on an example. But whether you got a kill or not was very important in wartime, so if the range difference was only a few feet it would be worth it to have Torpex vice TNT. You don't just want to make them mad, you want to kill 'em.I reported of a similar incident that happened in a NAVMAG, Subic magazine in 1955/56 & the guy who used the cigarette lighter was of all things a second class EOD tech. At that time & at that place only EOD could take magazine temps. See my NAVMAG, Subic article.
Don Jones---------------------------Derick, just happened to be on when this came in. When I got to the rock in '61 or so several people mentioned the FLASH TEST that was accidentally conducted in the near past. I do not remember if names or possible initiators of the FLASH TEST were mentioned by the hands who had been to the Rock on previous tours, Seems Mine Assembly was the place but so long ago. Must of been interesting.Phil Beckwith---------------------------The scuttlebutt I heard was that it was an officer that did it.Chin Sing---------------------------Derick, I don't think Mr. Preston will get any takers on that scenario but I have been wrong before.Jack A. Powell---------------------------I would like to know his name so I can steer clear of him.Dick Schommer---------------------------It was MN3 Bondich. MN3 Trueblood was also there. It was a real crazy bunch between 1949 and 1952. It happened between 1951 and 1952 and a cigarette lighter was usedCliff Bartyzal---------------------------Ron Swart said it all when he said:Minemen never cease to amaze me!----------------------------
Finally, the last word comes from Wayne Evans:
"MN3 Thompson is the person who lit the cigarette lighter in that Azuma magazine, NOT BONDICK. I served with THOMPSON again as a MN1 in Atsugi, 1954-55. He was the one! No one got too upset at that time."
MORE
SCUTTLEBUTT
Derick S. Hartshorn -
©2009-present
Last Modified:
