Pressure-Triggered Bombs Worry U.S. Forces

[ckramer]

But the technique used to trigger many of the bombs has U.S. officers here concerned. Until recently, most roadside explosives in this area were triggered remotely by an insurgent using a cellphone, doorbell or other wireless device.

This bomb was detonated by a pressure switch that activates when a vehicle drives over it. The incident means that U.S. forces here, who have improved their ability to spot remotely triggered bombs, now have a different type of weapon to worry about.

"The new weapon out there is the pressure-detonated IED," Col. Steven Salazar, commander of the Army's 3rd Brigade Combat Team, warned company commanders during a recent battle briefing. "It's a very dangerous tactic."


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[saigon68]

1. now have a different type of weapon to worry about

its a guerrilla war ---YOU KNOW

[Bernardo de La Paz]

2. Wouldn't it be EASIER to see a pressure trigger than a cellphone trigger?

[endarkenment]

3. Easier yes, more accurate no.

The observer triggered device provides a way to make more sure that the target is actually an intended target rather than a random vehicle.


The escalation of violence continues. We developed sensors and counter measures to detect and disable remote triggered devices, so they started using these new triggers. And on it goes...

[Freedomfried]

18. Cell phone triggers are inaccurate

The exact connection time cannot be calculated, quite easily letting the target vehicle pass thru the kill zone. Pressure rigged or command detonated devices would be needed for a kill on an armored vehicle.

[MADem]

11. Yes, because you do not have to wait around at a distance

waiting and watching to effect the explosion.

The other kind that are dangerous are the ones that are hidden under a dead dog, donkey, cow or whatever, where when you move the animal to check to make sure there isn't anything dangerous underneath it, the release of the weight causes the IED to go off.

But hey, this is what we make our service personnel go through. Drive around aimlessly, at top speed, screeching to a halt anytime you see trash in the road or anything suspicious on the shoulder...poor bastards.

[formercia]

4. It's called a land mine.

doh.

[northzax]

6. well, as the world's largest producer of land mines

you'd think we'd know.

[Skidmore]

8. Jargon and doublespeak--like the IEDs (improvised explosive

devices). They are effin' homade bombs, already.

[bleedingheart]

13. that's what I thought...

[formercia]

16. Iraq has plenty of anti-tank mines

that the insurgents were able to get away with. The non-metallic Italian 10 kg is one that is common and popular, and won't go off if a light vehicle or pedestrian steps on it. So you dig a big hole, throw in a bunch of old artillery shells and such, put the 10 kg on top and cover it over. Force multiplier.

If the Marquis de Rumsfeld had allowed more troops in the initial assault, the Iraqi ammo dumps could have been secured and the insurgents demied the material to make these deadly IED's

[Brundle_Fly]

5. doubt these roads are travelled

by too many Iraqi's, too many checkpoints and risks for locals.

[midnight armadillo]

10. The pressure could be set high

If it was set to a few tons of pressure it would only detonate under heavy armored vehicle...

[HereSince1628]

17. That was my thought. Selective automated detonation.

The bad guys can be miles away.

Cell-phone detonated devices really only make sense in an ambush, where the detonation stops an enemy column which is then subjected to direct attack.

If you are trying to be disruptive, demoralilize, and generally make your enemy over-cautious, then pressure sensitive land-mines are a wonderfully appropriate weapon.

[Karenina]

7. WHAT is the point?

WHY are Americans standing by while their loved ones, roped into the military for whatever reason, are being told unequivocally by the indigenous population, GO THE FUCK HOME???

[Village Idiot]

12. Awww...they don't really mean it, though...

The US government says so. They want USAsian-supplied FREEDOM and DEMOCRACY, and that's what they will get...if the USA has to kill every last Iraqi to supply it!!!

[ckramer]

14. What's USAsian-supplied Freedom and democracy?

just be curious...

[Ezlivin]

9. Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we.

"They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we,” Bush said.

[Loonman]

15. You can turn almost any munition into being pressure sensitive

Just have as much knowledge about making remote detonated munitions. Takes a little more work and electronic know how, like soldering. The only problem is setting it without being spotted or setting it off yourself.

Highly motivated and well trained guerillas the world over have often employed their enemy's tactics and weapons against them. A real popular one in Vietnam was an improvsed Claymore mine using a typical US fragmentation grenade, a couple soup cans and fishing line.