Satchel charge
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A satchel charge is a powerful, man-portable explosive device used by infantry and airborne forces.
In World War II, combat engineers used satchel charges to demolish heavy stationary targets such as rail, obstacles, blockhouses, bunkers, caves, and bridges. The WWII-era U.S. Army 'Kit, Demolition, M37' contained 8 blocks of high explosive, with 2 priming assemblies, in a canvas bag with a shoulder strap (a satchel). Part or all of this charge could be placed against a structure or slung into an opening. It was usually detonated with a pull igniter.
The later U.S. 'Charge Assembly, Demolition, M183' contained 10 pounds of C-4 plastic explosive in each satchel and could be used with a timed fuse. In the Second Battle of Fallujah in Iraq, U.S. M2 20 pound assault demolitions were used to collapse houses being used as fighting positions by insurgents, instead of infantrymen clearing the houses room by room.
Special forces use customized satchel charges that are designed to destroy their mission's objective.
[edit] In video games
In Call of Duty 3, the sergeants can throw satchel charges; they pack a stronger punch than grenades, but cannot be thrown as far.
In Company of Heroes, the paratroopers carry satchel charges and can use them to destroy vehicles or buildings.
In Delta Force: Black Hawk Down, satchel charges are used to blow up bridges, generators, and other targets; in multiplayer they are used by the attacking team to destroy targets in a game of attack and defend.
In Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, satchel charges can be collected in the alleyway by the Inside Track Betting Shop in Dillimore, Montgomery or Blueberry, and can be detonated with a remote.
In Half-Life, satchel charges can be collected and thrown to disable both enemies and tanks; they are more powerful than grenades, but cannot be tossed as far.
In Myth II: Soulblighter, satchel charges are laid by dwaves as powerful anti-personnel devices. They can be set off by fire arrows, Molotov cocktails or other explosives.
In Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45, the 10 lb Satchel Charge is issued to combat engineers, known as the Sappers for the Allies and as the Sturmpionieren for the Axis, to be used as an anti-tank weapon and to demolish objectives.
In Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory, Covert Ops uses satchel charges to destroy objectives such as foot bridges, assault ramps, machine gun emplacements, pillboxes and command posts.
In World War II Online, the 5 kg Satchel Charge is used to demolish defensive structures, bridges and tanks.