Municiones

C4

Also known as
  • Composition C-4
  • Composition C4
  • explosivo C-4

El C4 es un explosivo plástico moldeable basado en RDX, usado para demolición, reducción de obstáculos y apertura explosiva de brechas. Los registros del Army lo vinculan con el bloque de demolición M112, mientras que fuerzas gubernamentales filipinas lo usaron en Marawi para abrir boquetes entre edificios fortificados durante operaciones de despeje urbano cercano.

C4, Explosivo plástico de demolición, Municiones
Image source: M112 Demolition Charge.jpg

Role in Conflicts

2017 Battle of Marawi
Side
Philippine government forces
Role in conflict
Apertura de brechas urbanas y boquetes entre edificios

Las fuerzas gubernamentales filipinas usaron explosivo plástico C4 durante la batalla de Marawi de 2017 para crear boquetes entre edificios mientras se adaptaban al despeje urbano denso.

Documented Service Forms

Los registros del Army describen el C4 menos como material suelto a granel y más como relleno de carga integrado en paquetes normalizados de demolición.

FormaDetalle documentadoCosto unitarioFuente
Bloque de demolición M1121,25 lb de Composition C4; el libro de portafolio del Army lo fecha en marzo de 1989 y lo llama la principal carga de demolición en bloque actualmente en uso.No listado en esa instantáneaPEO Ammunition 2017 Portfolio Book
Partida de adquisición del FY 2002Los materiales presupuestarios de munición del Army listan CHG DEMO BLK COMP C-4 1-1/4 LB M112 como partida activa.Aproximadamente 14,76 dólares cada unoFY 2002 Army Ammunition Budget Justification

Fuentes: PEO Ammunition 2017 Portfolio Book; FY 2002 Army Ammunition Budget Justification.

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
Estados Unidos
Type
Explosivo plástico de demolición
Service note
Explosivo de la Guerra Fría que sigue usándose en funciones modernas de demolición y apertura de brechas militares
Designer
Programa de desarrollo de explosivos del ejército estadounidense
Designed
Década de 1950
Unit cost
Aproximadamente 14,76 dólares por bloque de demolición M112 en materiales presupuestarios del Army para el año fiscal 2002.
Produced
Década de 1950-presente
Number built
Producido en grandes cantidades para cargas militares de demolición

Specifications

Composición
Aproximadamente 91 por ciento de RDX y 9 por ciento de plastificante no explosivo en la formulación estadounidense descrita por la GAO
Forma
Material semiplástico, similar a masilla, que puede moldearse en un amplio intervalo de temperaturas
Velocidad de detonación
Aproximadamente 26.400 pies por segundo
Efectividad relativa
Aproximadamente 1,34 veces tan efectivo como el mismo peso de TNT, según un manual de campaña del U.S. Army citado por la GAO
Forma principal de servicio
El bloque de demolición M112 usa 1,25 lb de C4
Variants
  • Bloque de demolición M112
  • Composition C4 a granel
Carried Explosives

C4 appears inside the Claymore body as the mine's internal explosive layer.

CarrierCarrier typeCarriage evidence
M18A1 Claymore mine, Directional fragmentation anti-personnel mine, MunitionsM18A1 Claymore mineDirectional anti-personnel mine

ODIN notes that the M18A1 Claymore mine contains a layer of C-4 explosive behind the fragmentation face.

Sources: M18A1 Claymore American Anti-Personnel Mine

Carrier Systems

Army records place M112 C-4 demolition charges inside the M183 demolition charge assembly.

CarrierCarrier typeCarriage evidence
M183 Demolition Charge Assembly, Satchel charge assembly, MunitionsM183 Demolition Charge AssemblySatchel charge assembly

The Army portfolio book says the M183 assembly consists of 16 M112 C-4 demolition charges and four priming assemblies.

Sources: PEO Ammunition 2017 Portfolio Book

Line Charges

Army fact sheet material ties C4 to the M58 line charge used by MICLIC.

CarrierCarrier typeCarriage evidence
M58 Mine Clearing Line Charge, Linear demolition charge, MunitionsM58 Mine Clearing Line ChargeLinear demolition charge

The MICLIC fact sheet says the M58 linear demolition charge is 350 feet long and contains 700 C4 block charges in three 100-foot sections and one 50-foot section.

Sources: MICLIC Fact Sheet

Sistemas de lanzamiento

La antología del Marine Corps describe a MICLIC lanzando C4 durante la brecha de Now Zad.

LauncherLauncher typeLaunch evidence
M58 Mine Clearing Line Charge, Linear demolition charge, MunitionsM58 Mine Clearing Line ChargeSistema de apertura de brechas con carga lineal explosiva propulsada por cohete

La antología dice que MICLIC lanzó 1.700 libras de C4 en Now Zad.

Sources: U.S. Marines in Afghanistan Anthology

Timeline

C4 Key Events

  1. El portafolio del Army fecha el bloque M112 en marzo de 1989

    El libro de portafolio del Army lista el bloque de demolición M112 como la principal carga de demolición en bloque actualmente en uso y le asigna una fecha MR de marzo de 1989.

    Sources: PEO Ammunition 2017 Portfolio Book

  2. El presupuesto del Army mantiene el bloque C4 M112 en adquisición

    Los materiales presupuestarios de munición del Army listan CHG DEMO BLK COMP C-4 1-1/4 LB M112, lo que muestra que la carga seguía siendo una partida recurrente de adquisición.

    Sources: FY 2002 Army Ammunition Budget Justification

Media

C4 Videos

C4 Images

C4, Explosivo plástico de demolición, Municiones - view 1
Source: C4 plastic explosive.jpg
C4, Explosivo plástico de demolición, Municiones - view 2
Source: C4 explosive.jpg
Related Weapon Systems
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Counter Rocket, Artillery, and Mortar system / C-RAM, Land-based close-in weapon system, Air DefenseAir DefenseCounter Rocket, Artillery, and Mortar system / C-RAMLand-based close-in weapon systemCounter Rocket, Artillery, and Mortar system (C-RAM), also known as the Land-Based Phalanx Weapon System, is a U.S. close-in air-defense and force-protection system derived from the Navy Phalanx gun mount. Army and CJTF-OIR sources document LPWS/C-RAM use protecting bases and high-value sites in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria, while the shipboard Phalanx lineage also appears in Red Sea close-in missile defense.
Weaponized civilian bulldozer or front loader, Combat engineering bulldozer/front loader, Armored VehiclesArmored VehiclesWeaponized civilian bulldozer or front loaderCombat engineering bulldozer/front loaderWeaponized civilian bulldozers and front loaders are heavy construction machines adapted for combat engineering, barrier breaching, demolition, and protected route work. The Israeli Caterpillar D9 family is the best-documented armored example, appearing in Gaza operations in 2008, 2014, and 2023 and in the July 2023 Jenin operation, while Hamas-led attackers also used construction equipment for barrier breaching on October 7. Remote-control and autonomous conversions such as Panda and RobDozer reduce crew exposure during IED, obstacle, berm, and demolition tasks.

Sources

Urban Warfare Case Study #8: 2017 Battle of MarawiPublisher: Modern War Institute at West Point | Note: Supports 2017 Battle of Marawi direct-use context: C4 was used by Philippine government forces to make mouseholes during urban clearing. | Accessed: 2026-06-21Defense Inventory: Production, Distribution, and Storage of C-4 ExplosivePublisher: U.S. Government Accountability Office | Note: Supports C4 background, composition, physical form, detonation velocity, relative effectiveness, common demolition-charge weights, and named producers. | Accessed: 2026-06-21One Step No Waste Composition C-4 ProductionPublisher: SERDP & ESTCP | Note: Supports Department of Defense background for Composition C4, hand-moldable M112 demolition blocks, production context, and C4/M112 performance qualification references. | Accessed: 2026-06-21PEO Ammunition 2017 Portfolio BookPublisher: U.S. Army Program Executive Office Ammunition | Note: Supports the M112 demolition block's March 1989 MR date, its 1.25-pound Composition C4 fill, and its description as the primary block demolition charge presently in use. | Accessed: 2026-06-27M18A1 Claymore American Anti-Personnel MinePublisher: U.S. Army ODIN Worldwide Equipment Guide | Note: Supports the Claymore mine identification and the note that the mine contains a layer of C-4 explosive behind the fragmentation face. | Accessed: 2026-06-27FY 2002 Army Ammunition Budget JustificationPublisher: U.S. Army Assistant Secretary of the Army (Financial Management and Comptroller) | Note: Supports the recurring Army procurement line item CHG DEMO BLK COMP C-4 1-1/4 LB M112, the FY2002 about-$14.76 unit cost, and the budget-document context for continuing M112 management. | Accessed: 2026-06-27M112 Demolition Charge.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance for an M112 demolition charge; file page identifies a U.S. Air Force source and public-domain U.S. government-work status. | Accessed: 2026-06-21C4 plastic explosive.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance for U.S. Navy and Republic of Singapore divers packing C4 charges; file page identifies U.S. Navy authorship and public-domain U.S. government-work status. | Accessed: 2026-06-21C4 explosive.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance for a C4 explosive photograph; file page lists Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 and GNU Free Documentation License reuse terms. | Accessed: 2026-06-21MICLIC Fact SheetPublisher: U.S. Army | Note: Supports the M58 linear demolition charge as a C4-filled MICLIC line charge used in breaching operations. | Accessed: 2026-06-27U.S. Marines in Afghanistan AnthologyPublisher: United States Marine Corps History Division | Note: Supports the Now Zad account describing MICLIC launching 1,700 pounds of C4 during the breaching operation. | Accessed: 2026-06-27