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| Army Home Page / Army News Home / Year 2006 |
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Broadband
When is an earth mover not just an earth mover? When it’s been specially adapted to remove bombs, mines and other explosives. Royal Engineers from 33 Regiment, 49 Field Squadron EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) have been field testing some of the latest remotely controlled equipment on a real task to clear a disused airfield of mines laid during the Second World War.
In the early 1940s there were fears that German forces would invade and capture airfields and other military sites in southern England. The bases most at risk were rigged with explosive devices to deny their use if captured, including HMS Daedalus at Lee-on-Solent in Hampshire. The establishment, which is close to the Isle of Wight, was home to the Fleet Air Arm. In total around three hundred ‘pipe mines’ were laid in a grid square pattern.
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Each mine was made out of a twenty metre length of metal pipe packed with explosive. Most were removed at the end of the war by Canadian engineers, but it was believed that some were still in place. The base, now closed was recently sold to the Coastguard Agency, which is redeveloping it. It called in specialists to find any of the remaining mines and safely dispose of them.
A team from the Defence Logistics Organisation, (Environmental Services Group) using a towed array surveyed the base. Their equipment measures small disturbances in the Earth’s magnetic field caused by buried metal objects. A number of sites of possible mines were identified and then a team of Royal Engineers was called. |
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Despite being in the ground for half a century, the explosives could still be highly dangerous. In the past such work has been done vary cautiously by hand, and with earth moving equipment. Now it can be done without any risk to EOD team members with the latest remotely controlled excavators. The system involves a computer controls system developed by QinetiQ which taps directly into the digger’s hydraulic system. The operator controls the equipment from up to 1000 metres via live video cameras. Sound is also provided so that the operator can hear the engine and any other sounds, so allowing more precise control. |
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Major John Ridge (OC 49 Field Squadron, EOD) said "It has been tremendously successful. The equipment has massive safety benefits, and has really proved itself.I’d expect that the Army will now go ahead and introduce this equipment becauseof how well its worked here."
The project, which was known as Operation Crabstick, is being viewed as a field trial for the equipment, and with its successful conclusion, means the MOD is likely to buy the system for use by its EOD teams. In the case of HMS Daedalus, twenty-one mines were located, many still contained traces of explosives, although only one was found with its original full charge. This was destroyed in a controlled explosion.
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