Bomb disposal

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
(Redirected from
Explosive Ordnance Disposal
)

Pittsburgh Police using a bomb disposal robot to examine a potential bomb during the 2010 Pittsburgh Marathon

Bomb disposal is an explosives engineering profession using the process by which hazardous explosive devices are disabled or otherwise rendered safe. Bomb disposal is an all-encompassing term to describe the separate, but interrelated functions in the military fields of explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) and improvised explosive device disposal (IEDD), and the public safety roles of public safety bomb disposal (PSBD) and the bomb squad.

History

The first professional civilian bomb squad was established by Sir

Explosives Act, the first modern legislation for explosives control.[2] He also pioneered many bomb disposal techniques, including remote methods for the handling and dismantling of explosives.[1] His advice during the Fenian dynamite campaign of 1881–85[3] was officially recognised as having contributed to the saving of lives. After Victoria Station was bombed on 26 February 1884, he defused a bomb built with a clockwork mechanism which might have gone off at any moment.[4]

The

Mafia to intimidate immigrant Italian merchants and residents. It would later be known as the "Anarchist Squad" and the "Radical Squad" for its response to radical bomb attacks in the wake of the 1919 United States anarchist bombings.[5]

WWI: Military bomb disposal units

A British NCO preparing to dispose of an unexploded bomb during the First World War

Bomb disposal became a formalized practice during World War I. The swift mass production of munitions led to many manufacturing defects, and a large proportion of shells fired by both sides were found to be "duds".[6] These were hazardous to attacker and defender alike. In response, the British dedicated a section of Ordnance Examiners from the Royal Army Ordnance Corps to handle the growing problem.

In 1918, the Germans developed

unexploded bombs), pioneered by Herbert Ruehlemann of Rheinmetall, and first employed during the Spanish Civil War of 1936–37. Such delayed-action bombs provoked terror in the civilian population because of the uncertainty of time, and also complicated the task of disarming them. The Germans saw that unexploded bombs caused far more chaos and disruption than bombs that exploded immediately. This caused them to increase their usage of delayed-action bombs in World War II
.

Initially there were no specialized tools, training, or core knowledge available, and as Ammunition Technicians learned how to safely neutralize one variant of munition, the enemy would add or change parts to make neutralization efforts more hazardous. This trend of cat-and-mouse extends even to the present day, and the various techniques used to disarm munitions are not publicized.

WWII: Modern techniques

A bomb disposal team in 1940

Modern EOD technicians across the world can trace their heritage to the Blitz, when the United Kingdom's cities were subjected to extensive bombing raids by Nazi Germany. In addition to conventional air raids, unexploded bombs (UXBs) took their toll on population and morale, paralyzing vital services and communications. Bombs fitted with delayed-action fuzes provoked fear and uncertainty in the civilian population.

The first UXBs were encountered in the autumn of 1939 before the Blitz and were for the most part easily dealt with, mostly by

Phony War
ended, the British realized that they were going to need professionals in numbers to deal with the coming problem. 25 sections were authorized for the Royal Engineers in May 1940, another 109 in June, and 220 by August. Organization was needed, and as the Blitz began, 25 "Bomb Disposal Companies" were created between August 1940 and January 1941. Each company had ten sections, each section having a bomb disposal officer and 14 other ranks to assist. Six companies were deployed in London by January 1941.

The problem of UXBs was further complicated when Royal Engineer bomb disposal personnel began to encounter munitions fitted with anti-handling devices e.g. the Luftwaffe's ZUS40 anti-removal bomb fuze of 1940. Bomb fuzes incorporating anti-handling devices were specifically designed to kill bomb disposal personnel. Scientists and technical staff responded by devising methods and equipment to render them safe, including the work of Eric Moxey.[7]

The

Draper L. Kauffman (who would go on to found the Underwater Demolition Teams – better known as UDTs or the U.S. Navy Frogmen), created the Naval Bomb Disposal School at University Campus, Washington, D.C.

The first US Army Bomb Disposal companies were deployed in North Africa and Sicily, but proved cumbersome and were replaced with mobile seven-man squads in 1943. Wartime errors were rectified in 1947 when Army personnel started attending a new school at Indian Head, Maryland, under U.S. Navy direction. That same year, the forerunner of the EOD Technology Center, the USN Bureau of Naval Weapons, charged with research, development, test, and evaluation of EOD tools, tactics and procedures, was born.

Northern Ireland

ATO approaches a suspect device in Northern Ireland
.

The

321 EOD Unit (later 321 EOD Company, and now 321 EOD & Search Squadron RLC part of 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Search Regiment RLC), was deployed to tackle increased IRA violence and willingness to use bombs against both economic and military targets. The unit's radio call-sign was Felix. All units in Northern Ireland had a callsign to be used over the radios. 321 Company, a newly formed unit, didn't have such a callsign, so a young signaller was sent to the OC of 321 Coy. The OC, having lost two technicians that morning, decided on "Phoenix". This was misheard as "Felix" by the signaller and was never changed. The other possible reason is that the callsign for RAOC was "Rickshaw"; however, the 321 EOD felt it needed its own callsign, hence the deliberate choice of "Felix the Cat with nine lives". 321 Coy RAOC (now 321 EOD & Search Sqn RLC) is the most decorated unit (in peacetime) in the British Army with over 200 gallantry awards, notably for acts of great bravery during Operation Banner (1969–2007) in Northern Ireland.[12]

British Ammunition Technicians of 11 EOD & Search Regiment RLC were requested by the US Forces commanders to operate in support of the US Marine Corps in clearing the Iraqi oilfields of booby traps and were among the first British service personnel sent into Iraq in 2003 prior to the actual ground invasion.

Low intensity conflicts

U.S. Marines conducting a controlled detonation of improvised explosive devices in Afghanistan

The eruption of

Wheelbarrow or armored bulldozers evolved. Many nations have developed their own versions such as the D7 MCAP and the armored D9R
.

U.S. Navy
explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) divers

Besides large mine-clearing vehicles such as the Trojan, the British Army also uses small remote controlled vehicles such as the Dragon Runner and the Chevette.[13][clarification needed]

During the

Israeli Border Guard
Gaza-area EOD team.

In the

suicide bombers
, were a major cause of casualties in Iraq.

In Spain's autonomous

Policia Nacional, Guardia Civil, and Ertzaintza
. The Ertzaintza handle general civilian threats, while the Policia Nacional and Guardia Civil maintain capabilities mainly to defend their own assets and personnel. In other parts of the country, the Guardia Civil and Policia Nacional develop their tasks within their own abilities.

Fields of operations

EOD

Disposal of a British 4,000 pound blockbuster bomb dropped by the RAF during World War II. Found in the Rhine near Koblenz, 4 December 2011. A linear shaped charge has been placed on top of the casing.

In the United States, Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) is a specialized technical area in military and law enforcement.[14][15][16]

In the United Kingdom, EOD operators are held within all three services. Each service has differing responsibilities for UXO, however they will often work closely on operations.

VIPs
, help civilian authorities with bomb problems, teach personnel from all three services about bomb safety, and a variety of other tasks.

The Royal Engineers of 33 Engineer Regiment (EOD) provide EOD expertise for air dropped munitions in peacetime and conventional munitions on operations, as well as battle area clearance and High Risk Search in support of improvised explosive device disposal.[18]

Royal Engineers provide search advice and assets,

provide Improvised Explosive Device Disposal (IEDD), Conventional Munitions Disposal (CMD) and Biological, Chemical Munitions Disposal (BCMD). They also provide expertise in Advanced IEDD and in the investigation of accidents and incidents involving ammunition and explosives, where they are seen as Subject Matter Experts (SMEs).

Bomb suit of Bomb Disposal Squad of the Indian Army

Weapons Intelligence is supplied by Royal Military Police, Intelligence Corps and Ammunition Technical Personnel who tap into the Combined Explosive Exploitation Cell (CEXC) units of the US.

All prospective Ammunition Technicians attend a gruelling course of instruction at

Felix Centre
, United Kingdom. The time frame for an RLC Ammunition Technician to complete all necessary courses prior to finally being placed on an EOD team is around 36 months. Whereas the Engineer EOD training period although shorter in total is spread over a number of years and interspersed with operational experience, RE personnel may be posted to core trades such as carpentry or bridge building within their time as engineers.

Improvised Explosive Device
Disposal) teams as well as the disposal of conventional munitions. Royal Navy personnel spend their entire service working with and around explosives, and associated sciences. As such are given responsibilities relevant to their roles when it comes to conventional weapons;

  • Royal Navy: Anything of an explosive nature found below the high water mark or deemed to be of a naval origin.

PSBT

FBI agent in a bomb suit
performing a training mission

US EOD covers both on- and off-base calls in the US unless there is a local PSBT or "Public Safety Bomb Technician" who can handle the bomb; ordnance should only be handled by the EOD experts. Also called a "Hazardous Devices Technician", PSBTs are usually members of a police department, although teams are also formed by fire departments or emergency management agencies.

To be certified, a PSBT must attend the

Felix Centre. This school helps them to become knowledgeable in the detection, diagnosis, and disposal of hazardous devices. They are further trained to collect evidence in hazardous devices, and present expert-witness testimony in court
on bombing cases.

UXO

Before bombing ranges can be reutilized for other purposes, these ranges must be cleared of all unexploded ordnance. This is usually performed by civilian specialists trained in the field, often with prior military service in explosive ordnance disposal. These technicians use specialized tools for subsurface examination of the sites. When munitions are found, they safely neutralize them and remove them from the site.

Other (training, mining, fireworks)

In addition to neutralizing munitions or bombs, conducting training and presenting evidence, EOD Technicians and Engineers also respond to other problems.

EOD Technicians help dispose old or unstable explosives, such as ones used in quarrying, mining, or old/unstable fireworks and ammunition. They also assist specialist police units, raid and entry teams with boobytrap detection and avoidance, and they help in conducting post-blast investigations.

The EOD technician's training and experience with bombs make them an integral part of any bombing investigation. Another part of an EOD technician's job involves supporting the government intelligence units. This involves searching all places that the high ranking government officers or other protected dignitaries travel, stay or visit.

Bomb disposal vehicle demonstration in Tokyo, 2016

Techniques

Generally, EOD render safe procedures (RSP) are a type of tradecraft protected from public dissemination in order to limit access and knowledge, depriving the enemy of specific technical procedures used to render safe ordnance or an improvised device. Another reason for keeping tradecraft secret is to hinder the development of new anti-handling devices by their opponents: if the enemy has thorough knowledge of specific EOD techniques, it can develop fuze designs which are more resistant to existing render-safe procedures.

Many techniques exist for the making safe of a bomb or munition. Selection of a technique depends on several variables. The greatest variable is the proximity of the munition or device to people or critical facilities. Explosives in remote localities are handled very differently from those in densely populated areas. The role of modern bomb disposal operators is to accomplish their task as remotely as possible. Actually laying hands on a bomb is only done in an extremely life-threatening situation, where the hazards to people and critical structures cannot be reduced.

Wheelbarrow remotely controlled bomb disposal tool

EOD technicians have many tools for remote operations, one of which is the RCV, or remote-control vehicle, also known as the "Wheelbarrow". Outfitted with cameras, microphones, and sensors for chemical, biological, or nuclear agents, the Wheelbarrow can help the technician get an excellent idea of what the munition or device is. Many of these robots even have hand-like manipulators in case a door needs to be opened, or a munition or bomb requires handling or moving. The first ever Wheelbarrow was conceived by Major Robert John Wilson 'Pat' Patterson RAOC and his team at the Bomb Disposal School, CAD Kineton in 1972 and used by ammunition technicians in the battle against Provisional Irish Republican Army bombs.

Placing a disruption charge (a counter-charge[19]) while wearing a protective suit

Also of great use are items that allow ammunition technicians to remotely diagnose the innards of a munition or bomb. These include devices similar to the X-ray used by medical personnel, and high-performance sensors that can detect and help interpret sounds, odors, or even images from within the munition or bomb. Once the technicians determine what the munition or device is, and what state it is in, they will formulate a procedure to disarm it. This may include things as simple as replacing safety features, or as difficult as using high-powered explosive-actuated devices to shear, jam, bind, or remove parts of the item's firing train. Preferably, this will be accomplished remotely, but there are still circumstances when a robot won't do and technicians must put themself at risk by personally going near the bomb. Technicians will don specialized protective suits, using flame and fragmentation-resistant material similar to bulletproof vests. Some suits have advanced features such as internal cooling, amplified hearing, and communications back to the control area. This suit is designed to increase the odds of survival for technicians should munitions or bombs detonate while they are near it.

Rarely, the specifics of a munition or bomb will allow the technician to first remove it from the area. In these cases, a containment vessel is used. Using remote methods, the technician places the item in the container and retires to a remote area to complete the defusion. This procedure, called a Render Safe Procedure, can take a great deal of time. Because of the construction of devices, a waiting period must be taken to ensure that whatever render-safe method was used worked as intended.

Another technique is Trepanation, in which a bore is cut into the sidewall of a bomb and the explosive contents are extracted through a combination of steam and acid bath liquefaction of bomb contents.[20]

Although professional EOD personnel have expert knowledge, skills and equipment, they are not immune to misfortune because of the inherent dangers: in June 2010, construction workers in

detonated, killing three of them and injuring 6 others. The dead and injured each had over 20 years of hands-on experience, and had previously rendered safe between 600 and 700 unexploded bombs. The bomb which killed and injured the EOD personnel was of a particularly dangerous type because it was fitted with a delayed-action chemical fuze, which had become highly unstable after over 65 years under ground.[21][22][23][24]

EOD equipment

Bomb disposal vehicle

A bomb disposal vehicle used by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

A bomb disposal vehicle is a vehicle used by bomb disposal squads to transport equipment and bomb disposal robots, or to store bombs for later disposal. They are often vans or trucks, typically with at least one bomb containment chamber installed in the rear of the vehicle, and ramps to allow bomb disposal robots to access the vehicle. Bomb disposal vehicles are generally not explosive-resistant and are only used for transporting explosives for disposal, not actively disposing of them.

Portable X-ray systems

EOD training and material testing. A 105 mm shell is radiographied with battery powered portable X-ray generator and flat panel detector.

Portable X-ray systems are used to radiograph the bomb before intervention. The purpose is for example to determine if a chemical charge is present or to check the status of the detonator. High steel thickness requires high energy and high power sources.

Projected water disruptors

Boot Banger water charge disrupts simulated bomb.
Bottler Lite against a small suspect device.

Projected water disruptors use a water-projectile shaped charge to destroy bombs, blasting the device apart and severing any detonating connections faster than any fuse or anti-tampering device on the bomb can react. One example is the BootBanger, deployed under the rear compartment of cars suspected to be carrying bombs.[25] Projected water disruptors can be directional, such as the BootBanger; or omni-directional, an example being the Bottler.[26]

Pigstick

Pigstick is the British Army term for the waterjet disruptor commonly deployed on the

remotely operated vehicle
(ROV). These factors make it an effective way to render IEDs safe. It is not a panacea, however: it cannot deal with IEDs packed in hard containers such as industrial gas bottles or beer kegs, and other disruptors have been designed to deal with those and a range of other situations including car bombs.

The name pigstick is an odd analogy coming from the verb meaning "to hunt the wild boar on horseback with a spear."

The device was developed by the scientists Mike Barker MBE and Peter Hubbard OBE at

ATO died in Northern Ireland attempting to render safe the first IED in the theatre to contain anti-handling devices.[29][30]

They started with a prototype equipment designed to disrupt

George Styles and his team.[31]
The Pigstick prototype was re-engineered by a member of Hubbard's team, Bob White MBE, down from its original 20 kg to its current 2.95 kg form but its internal ballistic design remained true to the original.

...in the period 1972–1978, and taking into account machines which had been exported, over 400 Wheelbarrows were destroyed while dealing with terrorist devices. In many of these cases, it can be assumed that the loss of a machine represented the saving of an EOD man's life.

ZEUS

The

ZEUS-HLONS
was developed for surface land mines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) neutralization by the U.S. Naval Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technology Division (NAVEODTECHDIV). It uses a moderate-power commercial solid state laser (SSL) and beam control system, integrated onto a Humvee (HMMWV), to clear surface mines, improvised bombs, or unexploded ordnance (UXO) from supply routes and minefields.

Bomb containment chamber

A bomb containment chamber.

There are a wide range of containment chambers available. The simplest are sometimes danger suppression vessels that merely contain some of the fragments generated by the explosion. The other end of the spectrum features top-of-the-line gas-tight chambers that can withstand multiple shots while remaining able to contain chemical, biological, or radioactive agents. Containment chambers of all types may be fitted onto towed trailers, or specialised EOD vehicles.

EOD suits

There is a long history of IEDD within the UK and protection for this role has evolved over the years. Starting with the Mk1 in 1969, in response to the Maoist Terrorist threat in Hong Kong, through to the Mk 2 in 1974, in response to the IRA threat in Northern Ireland (NI), with further developments of the Mk3 in 1980 to include a new helmet. The Mk4 EOD Suit, introduced into service in 1993, combines fragmentation and blast protection that is prioritised over the most vulnerable parts of the body (head, face and torso). The current system, MKV/VI, was introduced in 2004, and was a combined MOD/NP Aerospace project. The only part of the body that has no protection at all is the hands.[33]

In popular culture

The 2008 film The Hurt Locker follows a U.S. Army EOD team who are targeted by insurgents during the Iraq War, and shows their psychological reactions to the stress of combat.

The British television series

Metropolitan Police
Expo unit countering terrorist threats throughout London.

See also

References

Notes
  1. ^ .
  2. ^ London Gazette, 2 July 1895
  3. ^ Armitage, Tom; 'Bombing trains is nothing new - it is what 19th-century anarchists did', The New Statesman, 8 August 2005
  4. ^ "Death of a Distinguished Officer". 25 June 1898. p. 3 – via Papers Past.
  5. ^ Fahim, Kareem (2 May 2010). "Bomb Squad Has Hard-Won Expertise". The New York Times. Retrieved 21 May 2010.
  6. ^ Payne, David. "Duds on the Western Front in the Great War". westernfrontassociation.com. The Western Front Association. Archived from the original on 5 September 2006. Retrieved 10 November 2006.
  7. ^ "The Work of RAF Bomb Disposal Squads in the UK and Germany During the Second World War".
  8. ^ Foster, Renita. "Unit kept one step ahead of enemy". Monmouth.army.mil. Archived from the original on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 22 June 2010.
  9. .
  10. ^ Frontline Battle Machines with Mike Brewer, X2 Productions, 2010
  11. ^ "Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Specialist (89D)". goarmy.com. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
  12. ^ "Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician Careers". navy.com. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
  13. ^ "Albuquerque Police Department: Special Services Bureau Otders: SOP 6-7 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit (Bomb Squad)" (PDF). cabq.gov. 20 July 2017.
  14. ^ 11 EOD Regiment - British Army Website Archived January 18, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
  15. ^ UK Joint Doctrine Publication 2-02 - Joint Service Explosive Ordnance Disposal Archived June 8, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  16. ^ Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, Modular Explosives Training Program: Instructor Glossary, ATF P 7550.7 (3/76), no date, page 6: "Counter Charge - in disposal of explosives, counter charge means placing one explosive charge against another for purposes of detonating the charges."
  17. ^ "Van Trepan{TM} Mk 3 explosive trepanning tool for vehicles (United Kingdom), Equipment - EOD weapons". Jane's Explosive Ordnance Disposal. Janes.com. Retrieved 22 June 2010.
  18. ^ "Spiegel.de". Der Spiegel. Spiegel.de. 2 June 2010. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  19. ^ "World War II bomb kills three in Germany". BBC News. 2 June 2010.
  20. ^ "Three dead as Second World War bomb explodes in Germany". Telegraph.co.uk. 2 June 2010. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  21. ^ "Bomb kills German explosive experts". Dailyexpress.co.uk. 2 June 2010. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  22. ^ "Boot Banger{TM} Mk4 Projected Water Disruptor (United Kingdom), Equipment - EOD weapons". Jane's website. Jane's Information Group. 15 February 2010. Retrieved 31 August 2010.
  23. ^ "Omni-Directional Disruptors". Alford Technologies website. Alford Technologies Ltd. Archived from the original on 1 October 2011. Retrieved 31 August 2010.
  24. ^ "Pigstick Disruptor". Chemring EOD. Retrieved 27 February 2013.
  25. ^ Hubbard, Peter, OBE. the Exploding Kind (PDF). Peter J. Hubbard. pp. 1 to 6.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  26. – via Google Books.
  27. ^ "Cahill freed after brief stay in Dublin jail". The Glasgow Herald.
  28. ^ Hubbard, Peter, OBE. the Exploding Kind (PDF). Peter J. Hubbard. p. 5.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  29. ^ Department of the Official Report (Hansard), House of Commons, Westminster (21 October 1998). "House of Commons Hansard Debates for 21 Oct 1998 (pt 17)". Publications.parliament.uk. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  30. ^ Development of UK Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Systems, PASS 2004, The Hague


Bibliography
  • Sherwani, Major Saadat, ATO; UXO! An Unperceived Threat (unpublished manuscript) ca. 2007
  • Leatherwood, Jeffrey M.; Nine from Aberdeen: Colonel Thomas J. Kane and the Genesis of U.S. Army Bomb Disposal in World War II, [Master's Thesis], Western Carolina University, Department of History, ca. 2004
  • Ransted, Christopher; Bomb Disposal and the British Casualties of WW2, ca. 2004

Further reading

External links