# Can you activate IED's with a stick? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 19, 2017, 10:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-activate-ieds-with-a-stick/777534 "2017-01-19T10:35:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2017, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-activate-ieds-with-a-stick/777534/21 "2017-01-20T22:45:48Z")
My ‘Bat-pager’ went off. > [@JakeRS](#): > > Assuming that you’re not a trained engineer, but just a average soldier that has almost no knowledge about mines, what other ways would you have to disable/destroy mines in case you stumble up on one and there are no specialists in vicinity? You’d have far, _far_, better chances of survival by poking a napping Grizzly bear cub with a sharpened stick in front of it’s Mama. I can answer your final question with a real-life conversation, but more on that in a moment. . . > [@40below](#): > > I don’t think you realize how big most IEDs are. Poke it with a stick and you will completely cease to exist. This. Unless you have a 500’ stick, or telekinetic powers. > [@Kelevra](#): > > He said they told him him IEDs need more than 2.2 lbs of pressure to explode so he has to press at less than 2 lbs. Flat f\*cking wrong. In a broad-brush sense, all you need is enough pressure to contact two wires. I’ve pulled up enough that took about a pound. There are Soviet-manufactured cluster munitions that only take a few ounces. I will admit, I’ve used garden rakes on the end of ropes to try to drag up command wires (they too can be booby-trapped), but normally it’s a robot or some nifty ropework I can use to “remote move” a device. The entire point is to be nowhwere near the thing should it decide to function. Your Private Joe Bag O’Donuts poking it with a stick violates ever rule and sort of common sense in the book. So, what do you _do_ you do if you’re not a trained engineer, but just a average soldier that has almost no knowledge about mines, but have found something anyway? [Cue real-world dialog:] **Friendly:** (sounding panicked) "_EOD, EOD, this is Taco Four Three, requesting immediate IED support on Route Manhattan at Grid Location 12345 67890; how copy over?_ **Me:**"_Taco Four Three, this is Enchilada Six; closest team already at work, but will be making way in 45 mike. What’s up?__kssshhhhhk_ **Friendly:** “_Enchilada Six, we are on priority supply run to FOB Queso-Blanco. We need to get this moving. I need a team now!_” **Me:**"_Taco Four Three, look around you–is there anything blocking your left-and-right lanes?"_ **Friendly:** (10 second pause) “_Negative, Enchilada Six, it looks clear. What are we going to do?_” **Me:** “_Taco Four Three, can you_ go around _it?!?_” **Friendly:** (another pause) “_Rog, we can. . ._” (I can hear the light bulb go on) **Me:** “_Then there is your answer. Good day._” _kssshhhhhk_ [/Cue real-world dialog] Tripler Locations and callsigns changed to protect those that are . . . ‘special’ forces. ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2017, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-activate-ieds-with-a-stick/777534/22 "2017-01-20T22:49:01Z")
> [@Patch](#): > > The TV series _Bomb Patrol: Afghanistan_ ( from 2011), followed bomb disposal teams blowing up and defusing IEDs. It was a great series. If I recall correctly, that was a set of US Navy teams. High on drama and lots of hair gel. I was in country when they were filming it. Tripler I am retired Air Force–I had a leather bomber jacket and white scarf on my calls. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2017, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-activate-ieds-with-a-stick/777534/23 "2017-01-20T22:53:26Z")
> [@Tripler](#): > > My ‘Bat-pager’ went off. > > You’d have far, _far_, better chances of survival by poking a napping Grizzly bear cub with a sharpened stick in front of it’s Mama. > > I can answer your final question with a real-life conversation, but more on that in a moment. . . > > This. Unless you have a 500’ stick, or telekinetic powers. > > Flat f\*cking wrong. In a broad-brush sense, all you need is enough pressure to contact two wires. I’ve pulled up enough that took about a pound. There are Soviet-manufactured cluster munitions that only take a few ounces. > > I will admit, I’ve used garden rakes on the end of ropes to try to drag up command wires (they too can be booby-trapped), but normally it’s a robot or some nifty ropework I can use to “remote move” a device. The entire point is to be nowhwere near the thing should it decide to function. Your Private Joe Bag O’Donuts poking it with a stick violates ever rule and sort of common sense in the book. > > So, what do you _do_ you do if you’re not a trained engineer, but just a average soldier that has almost no knowledge about mines, but have found something anyway? > > [Cue real-world dialog:] > **Friendly:** (sounding panicked) "_EOD, EOD, this is Taco Four Three, requesting immediate IED support on Route Manhattan at Grid Location 12345 67890; how copy over?_ > **Me:**"_Taco Four Three, this is Enchilada Six; closest team already at work, but will be making way in 45 mike. What’s up?__kssshhhhhk_ > **Friendly:** “_Enchilada Six, we are on priority supply run to FOB Queso-Blanco. We need to get this moving. I need a team now!_” > **Me:**"_Taco Four Three, look around you–is there anything blocking your left-and-right lanes?"_ > **Friendly:** (10 second pause) “_Negative, Enchilada Six, it looks clear. What are we going to do?_” > **Me:** “_Taco Four Three, can you_ go around _it?!?_” > **Friendly:** (another pause) “_Rog, we can. . ._” (I can hear the light bulb go on) > **Me:** “_Then there is your answer. Good day._” _kssshhhhhk_ > [/Cue real-world dialog] > > Tripler > Locations and callsigns changed to protect those that are . . . ‘special’ forces. This all goes to crap as soon as the bad guys get the smarts/time/resources to set up the REAL IED offroad, just where you’d have to go to avoid the OBVIOUS IED. But I’ve never heard of this happening, so mebbe they don’t have the smarts/time/resources. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2017, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-activate-ieds-with-a-stick/777534/24 "2017-01-20T23:01:05Z")
I used to know some EOD guys when I worked as a US Navy contractor. Really smart and slightly crazy. I used to mow the lawn around their office and they’d joke about avoiding anything metal or with wires coming out of it. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2017, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-activate-ieds-with-a-stick/777534/25 "2017-01-20T23:15:10Z")
> [@gnoitall](#): > > This all goes to crap as soon as the bad guys get the smarts/time/resources to set up the REAL IED offroad, just where you’d have to go to avoid the OBVIOUS IED. But I’ve never heard of this happening, so mebbe they don’t have the smarts/time/resources. Obviously they put “tells” out on the road to try to divert traffic onto where the real IED is placed, but regular RCPs (and some fine Intelligence work from the MI guys) were able to validate the real ones from fictional ones before any supply traffic needed to get through. That conversation was taken from a known ‘hotspot;’ a culvert that frequently got “tells” placed in it. It was like a small overpass in a floodplain. There was plenty of room for 250 yards around that culvert to travel. Happened often enough. . . Tripler Dammit, now I’m hungry. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2017, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-activate-ieds-with-a-stick/777534/26 "2017-01-20T23:33:01Z")
> [@Tripler](#): > > Dammit, now I’m hungry. Craving Mexican? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2017, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-activate-ieds-with-a-stick/777534/27 "2017-01-21T00:14:32Z")
> [@Tripler](#): > > My ‘Bat-pager’ went off. Yay! > [@](#): > > [Cue real-world dialog:]… > **Me:**"_Taco Four Three, look around you–is there anything blocking your left-and-right lanes?"_ > **Friendly:** (10 second pause) “_Negative, Enchilada Six, it looks clear. What are we going to do?_” > **Me:** “_Taco Four Three, can you_ go around _it?!?_” > **Friendly:** (another pause) “_Rog, we can. . ._” (I can hear the light bulb go on) > **Me:** “_Then there is your answer. Good day._” _kssshhhhhk_ > [/Cue real-world dialog] A sensible military would use that to divert the convoy into a pre-prepared ambush, right? ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2017, 9:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-activate-ieds-with-a-stick/777534/28 "2017-01-21T09:44:27Z")
I don’t have any technical expertise about IEDs I’ve just been around them a lot. A hallmark of the Iraqi insurgency was their use of multiple IEDs in a single attack: they would set off one IED, then another one to get the people fleeing the first one. Some colleagues of mine were in traffic in Baghdad when an IED went off up ahead, they got out of their car and ran; asecond IED went off right next to their car and absolutely shredded it. Had they stayed in the car, they would have been dead; we had the car towed back to the office were it sat for a couple of weeks (that’s a demoralizing to see first thing in the morning). I remember one attack were in Baghdad when an IED went off in a market then another went off to get the people fleeing and then a third went off ten minutes later to get the ambulances transporting people from the scene. There used to be an insurgency TV channel on satellite tv in Iraq and it would show videos of attacks, often set to music, some of the attacks were very well thought out, fake IEDs diverting people, etc. A friend of mine who was in the national guard was killed by an IED when his unit was disarming one IED when a second went off where the military was stopping traffic; he was on crowd control holding people back when the IED went off killing him and a number of Iraqis. The Taliban never showed the same creativity with IEDs, in general their terrorism has never been as effective or sophisticated as in Iraq. Iraq did have a very well educated population from which to draw personnel, I guess. Those of us who spent a lot of time in Iraq didn’t see the Taliban as threatening as the Iraqi insurgents who were absolutely terrifying. ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2017, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-activate-ieds-with-a-stick/777534/29 "2017-01-21T15:30:10Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > A sensible military would use that to divert the convoy into a pre-prepared ambush, right? That route, IIRC, was patrolled/cleared regularly with overhead CAS pretty close by. And that spot had a _lot_ of latitude for clearance on all sides. It was chosen because there was a lot of open space. The alternate route would have taken them through some gulches and had plenty of ‘keyhole’ spots for the Talibanners. The HHQ had taken their time to choose routes with options for escape. I also drew a distinct point between the Taliban and Iraqi IEDs. I hadn’t spent really any time in Iraq but I got to see the reports. The ‘more civilized’ country had a lot more components to work with–Afghanistan was what you would call ‘parts poor.’ Tripler Mmmm, breakfast burritos. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2017, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-activate-ieds-with-a-stick/777534/30 "2017-01-21T20:21:56Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > Yay! > > A sensible military would use that to divert the convoy into a pre-prepared ambush, right? Sure, but that’s a different department. It’s like tech support. Tripler has solved their IED problem. They need to call someone else to help with their ambush problem. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2017, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-activate-ieds-with-a-stick/777534/31 "2017-01-21T21:43:26Z")
Don’t worry; the USAF is standing by to solve their ambush problem subject to certain conditions: [USMC Answering Machine - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m78RpfCj3S0) 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2017, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-activate-ieds-with-a-stick/777534/32 "2017-01-22T15:42:31Z")
I have to tell this story. When I was in Panjwai District at Masum Ghar, I could see up into the Aghrandab river valley. There were two A-10 Warthogs swarming down on a ground target in what I can only call a ‘Ballet of Death’. One would swoop, fire and pull up; the other would swoop down fire and pull up. Each 'Hawg had his Figure-Eight going on that rained pure hate, hell and discontent down on whatever godforsaken souls were on the receiving end. Sickly, I thought it was a beautiful thing. And I watched it go on for 10 minutes. That memory stays with me. But that’s why I like A-10s and AH-64s. I had a chance to tour the Apache factory in Mesa, AZ when I was a kid, never realizing that having one over my shoulder would be a blessing 25 years later. Tripler It’s good to have angels on your shoulders. ---
**Author:** ![Weisshund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ba8739/32.png) [@Weisshund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weisshund)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2017, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-activate-ieds-with-a-stick/777534/33 "2017-01-22T23:31:42Z")
> [@JakeRS](#): > > When you are in a city that you captured from a enemy, you’re probably going to find mines and booby traps somewhere in some house, so, would it be possible to activate them using a simple long wooden stick or something like that? > > Assuming that you’re not a trained engineer, but just a average soldier that has almost no knowledge about mines, what other ways would you have to disable/destroy mines in case you stumble up on one and there are no specialists in vicinity? Can i ask… …Why in the bloody blue blazes are we contemplating randomly poking an unknown explosive device with a stick? Unless we subscribe to the tune “Suicide is painless” If you are untrained, you do nothing to try to dismantle the device, you mark it, you call it in, you leave it the hell alone. And you better damned well carefully check the rest of your situation Unless you fancy having the full experience of having your arm ripped off your body at extreme velocity? And that would be a minor consequence, most likely consequence is your mama get delivered a ziplock sandwich baggie containing whats left of you. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-activate-ieds-with-a-stick/777534.md?page=1)