UK forces use explosives to save time, lives

Photo By Cpl. Brian Gabriel Jr. | British army engineers place an explosive charge on an obstacle barring their entry from a simulated enemy compound. British army engineers with the Brigade Advisor Group conducted a demolitions training exercise to keep their explosives handling skills up to date at Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, Feb. 1.  

CAMP BASTION, AFGHANISTAN

02.01.2011

Story by Cpl. Brian Gabriel Jr. 

Regional Command Southwest

CAMP BASTION, Afghanistan - British army engineers with the Brigade Advisor Group conducted a demolitions training exercise to keep their explosives handling skills up to date at Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, Feb. 1.

Although some of the engineers who participated in the exercise had prior experience working with explosives, a few soldiers were able to take part in the training for the first time. Cpl. Tony Hardy, a Brigade Advisory Group engineer with 23 Engineer Regiment, detonated his first demolition charges during the training, referred to by his sergeant major as “his first headaches.”

“Today we were practicing what we call EMOE, or explosive method of entry,” Hardy said. “It can be used in a variety of ways. One is entering compounds where the normal point of entry could be [improvised explosive device] trapped, or it’s just not possible to get in that way.”

The charges that Hardy detonated during the training showcased the value of using EMOE in the battlefield—the explosives made quick work of the obstacles blocking the engineers’ path. The Middlesbrough, England, resident explained that properly utilized demolitions not only aid the engineers in gaining entry to otherwise impassable areas, but also allow for easier exits.

“More recently in Afghanistan, it’s been used as a method of extracting casualties,” Hardy said. “If you gain a casualty, you can’t necessarily take him out the main entrance or exit. So what they’ve been doing recently is blowing holes in walls and getting the casualty out that way. It’s a much quicker way of getting a casualty out of danger.”

The engineers familiarized themselves with two different methods of detonating charges—the half bar mine and the crucifix methods. Hardy explained that the techniques have differing attributes and are meant to be used in specific circumstances.

“We used a half bar mine, which is the quicker way of doing it,” Hardy said. “We also used the crucifix method, which is a PE4 taped to the center and then four satellite packs of PE4. The crucifix method gives a bigger bang, but it’s a lot more labor intensive. Whereas the half bar mine method, it’s pretty simple and very effective.”

As an Afghan National Army mentor, the 32-year-old passes much of his engineering knowledge to Afghan soldiers. After further demolitions training, Hardy will be able to add advanced explosives handling to his repertoire, as well as give his Afghan counterparts an additional skill.

“I’m hoping to take the Afghan National Army and get them through some EMOE at some point,” Hardy said. “The end goal is to get them competent enough to use what we’ve used today and come away from it with no injuries.”

• Date Taken: 02.01.2011
• Date Posted: 02.01.2011 09:22
• Story ID: 64592
• Location: CAMP BASTION, AF