Centurions train with demolition

Courtesy Photo | Baltimore, Md. native Sgt. Douglas Stewart, a team leader assigned to Company C, 1st Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, assists his squad in putting a water impulse charge in place during an urban breaching training exercise, Feb. 15. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Krystal Curl)  

CAMP BUEHRING, KUWAIT

02.15.2012

Courtesy Story

1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division

CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait – Demolition is a combat skill that can be traced as far back as the 13th Century when black powder was first used to destroy buildings. Infantrymen would often call on engineers for urban breaching and the need to precede obstacles on the battlefield.

“Any problem on earth can be solved with the careful application of high explosives,” Col. Mertz Von Quirnheim, an officer in the German Army and co-conspirator of Adolf Hitler’s assassination.
Today, engineers specialize in demolitions to quickly and efficiently move the infantry forward.

“The combat engineer is the most versatile fighting force on the battlefield,” said Kailua Kona, Hawaii native, Pfc. Joshua Tobias, a combat engineer assigned to Company C, 1st Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division.
The engineers typically use four types of breaching; mechanical, ballistic, explosive and thermal.

Sappers specialize in explosive demolitions which is what the engineers trained on at their demolition range, Feb. 15.
“Demolitions are the combat engineer’s bread and butter – it’s the reason we do what we do,” said Carson City, Nev. native, Sgt. 1st Class Joshua Johnson, a platoon sergeant for Company C.

“The [noncommissioned officer]’s task is to ensure training is conducted safely, while Soldiers use their leadership capabilities to lead their teammates and breach buildings,” said Baltimore, Md. native, Sgt. Douglass Stewart, a team leader in Company C.

Each soldier has the opportunity to engage in a different role while executing the mission.

To begin, the teams were issued an operations order explaining to them the situation, what type of obstacle stood in their way and how much time they were given.

The soldiers have five minutes to put together a plan and list of materials needed.

During the training, the first soldier places the charge while another ties the blasting cap in and a third runs the initiator along the shock tube used to ignite the blasting cap. A fourth soldier initiates the charge prior to the team clearing the room or overtaking an obstacle.

Next, they build their charge and execute the mission.

The soldiers move tactically through the battlefield to the obstacle. Once there, they quickly and quietly put the charge into place, connect their modernized demolition initiator and move safely outside of the blast area.

After the blast is initiated, the soldiers put their plan into action.

Today, the soldiers built a number of different charges.

The first two are the flex linear charge and the silhouette charge. These charges are typically used to breach a wooden door or wall.

The next charge is the water impulse charge made from two intravenous bags and explosives. This charge is used for metal doors and dense materials and has to have enough power to blow metal doors off their hinges.

A third common blasting technique they qualified on is known as the grapeshot, consisting of a metal can filled with Composite C, scrap metal, and a detonation cord. Once the charge is initiated, all metals explode into the direction it is pointed. This charge is used for suppressing the enemy and denying them free will of movement.

The final charge used is the Bangalores. These charges have been used since World War I to breach obstacles such as mine fields, wire obstacles and road blocks that were put in place to deny U.S. Forces freedom of movement.

Demolitions have always been a successful tool on the battlefield and these Soldiers love doing what they do.

“We are renaissance men. We have a unique skill set that is required everywhere on the battlefield,” said Sacramento, Calif. native, Sgt. Robert Velasquez, a team leader assigned to Company C. “No matter where you go on the battlefield, engineers will always be there to lead the way.”

• Date Taken: 02.15.2012
• Date Posted: 02.25.2012 02:43
• Story ID: 84331
• Location: CAMP BUEHRING, KW
• Hometown: BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, US
• Hometown: CARSON CITY, NEVADA, US
• Hometown: KAILUA KONA, HAWAII, US
• Hometown: SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA, US