How often are terrorist bombs complex devices with many wires?

[GusNSpot]

Tripler & company are da bomb… Oh … wait…

Way back when I was at a range where a few F-105’s were doing some bomb drops. The bomb squad was lead by a Major. The range control was just outside of where the range boundary started. The bomb squad was using binoculars to see where the bombs hit that did not go off. They had to go blow them right after the range went cold because the ‘locals’ would swarm the ranges to get the scrap metal and blowing the civilians up when they got around to messing with unexploded ordnance was not very political correct.

Anywho, Everyone thought that the runs were all done. I was beside this ground controller for the jets when he asked if anyone had extra fuel for another pass. Two said they did. All the spectators were 2/3’s of the way up a mountain just to the left of the track of the attacking aircraft so when making their runs, we were actually above them.

They came swooping done with the controller talking them in. The 105’s came from behind us and from high, throttled way back & going into a dive that got so low that they had to climb a bit to clear us which meant they would be directly over head. ( you can see where this is going ) The bomb guys were intent on making sure they had all the ‘duds’ marked on their map while the 105’s were sneaking up behind them.

The 105’s did it perfect, they came right up the side of the mountain, pointed themselves to the perfect angle that pointed the engines right at our little flat spot on the side of the mountain, and went right to full power with after burner.

Can you say, “Earth shaking boom!!” ?

Wow !!!

Every body except me and the radio dude had no clue… All of them jumped to impossible heights.

They looked like they were what exploded, they went so high, that by the time they came down, they had seen the 105’s, spun in the air and noted the only two guys who not been surprised and were just sanding their laughing.

Rut Row !!! :eek:

There were about 5 guys that out ranked the radio guy, everybody out ranked me.

We lucked out that every body had a good sense of humor & after much cussing about the Air Force, me & the radio man, they finally got amused themselves.

Most of us stayed to watch them do their job & blow up the duds.
As soon as they left the range, we could see the swarms of civilians racing to get the metal that was scattered around.

Since they only took only the stuff that they were able to carry by hand, they were left alone. Win win for every body.

This was long long ago. ** Tripler**, how would you react if this happened to you in a place that you knew was a safe range in a safe country?

[Digital_is_the_new_Analog]

@Tripler

There was also that one where I graduated, and a few others, including a different thread where another bomb tech, BomTek immediately follows up. We’ve even had our own Dope Shin-Dig in Afghanistan (smaller than a 'Fest), and we have the picture to prove it.

Yeah…well…I can’t do ALL the research for you guys!
Digital is the new Analog
Nice to see the same jokes in the other threads

[Habeed]

Tripler, so if you were stuck in a concrete room with a hacksaw and a time bomb, as well as a chain around your leg (think the movie saw), you’d just give up if you managed to get close enough to the bomb to try to disarm it?

Handjamming may not be a good idea, but surely most bombs can be disarmed this way.

[Tripler]

@Habeed

Tripler, so if you were stuck in a concrete room with a hacksaw and a time bomb, as well as a chain around your leg (think the movie saw), you’d just give up if you managed to get close enough to the bomb to try to disarm it?

You’re involving Hollywood into the equation, which doesn’t make for realistic questions. Having worked exercises simulating bombs strapped to/affixed around necks, yes there are time when you may have to get up close and personal. . .[sub]and really, really, really trust that Marine with the Sawz-All an inch away from your ear.[/sub]

Handjamming may not be a good idea, but surely most bombs can be disarmed this way.

No. Not “most”. Many UXOs for example, are threaded in and mechanically tightened on an Ammo processing line. I can’t just go up and start working surgery on it because of the torques involved. I have remotely operated power tools to help me ‘render safe’ things for transportation to their ultimate disposal. Also, that kid down the street making pipe bombs? Black powder on the inside threads have what I call the “scritch-boom” effect. During transport, it’s totally possible black powder weaseled its way into the threads–I go hand-turning caps, scratch the powder against the threads, and boom. I’d even seen some IEDs that were so sensitive (found after the fact) that messing with it up close and personal would have gotten you killed. Until you died from it.

So no, not “most” bombs. Some? Sure. And even if they could, why would you want to accept that risk? Handjamming a device had better be your last and ultimate Og-damned option. If you really, really want me to play Cary Elwes in that concrete cell, then yes, I’d go do a manual entry on that ticking bomb.

Tripler

• Rocket surgeon.

[busterpickle]

Here is an Afghanistan Ordnance Identification Guide. I always found this stuff interesting and I have seen some actual Navy EOD manuals (when I was in the Navy as an ET and they were onboard).

I’ve seen some pre-made PCBs that just need to be populated, point-to-point PCB types where you solder wires across the pads, and some other point-to-point type stuff that is really basic. But, these are “improvised” devices. I noticed that the PCBs where designed around parts that could be ripped from common items like cordless phones (for the DTMF decoder, etc). Diesel timers and others.

Also, the pressure sensors they have developed out of found materials is also impressive.