Explosives Experts Please

[OzMan]

I'm doing some research for a book about counter-terrorism, and I'm looking for people who are experts with explosives, breaching doors in particular. I'm not looking for amatuer pyros, I'd like to get some info from some real professionals, with experience.

I'm trying to find out what kind of explosive chemicals/ingredients would be used to make breacher charges, a brief explanation of how their made, and how they are made to direct the backblast. I mean how you direct the energy back out of the room, as to not harm the hostages on the other side. I've heard of this technique before, and I'm looking for some more info about it.

Thanks.

[USMA Pistol]

shall I include a detailed explanation on making pipe bombs? How about a chapter from the Anarchist's Cookbook? :roll:

Eagle, not trying to flame ya, but I don't think anyone (particularly experienced breachers) is going to give you any info on how to build explosives or how they work.

[venture160]

there's really NO need to know that sort of information, find it on your own if you really want to.

[Duke]

This post makes my head spin and skin crawl, Im thinking of Oklahoma and the first Trade bombing. Yes, there are open source info on explosives, but DONT POST THEM HERE.

[hood]

:) I remember reading the recipe for making a fertilizer bomb, including boiling it in oil and the drainage instructions etc, when I was 12 off some BBS long before the Internet was a reality. The instructions were extremely dangerous, because at any point if anything was hit by a spark, your whole garage would be in splinters. There's always some kid who reads this type of thing on an internet site and burns himself beyond recognition.. The dangers and risks outweigh any possible benefit for this type of thing. It brings up an interesting question though. A friend of mine's a locksmith. He had mentioned at one point that he's not allowed to teach me the trade unless I registered with some state or government agency as knowing how to do that stuff. Does the same thing apply to people who make explosives?

[Apogee]

Even better than posting it in on a website would be putting it in a book so even more loonies can read it. And start blowing the doors off banks, stores, ex-girlfriend's houses, ect.....

[Breacher]

here's the long awaited answer to your question........
1) Become a Marine and go '03'
2) Find yourself a quota to the 'Breachers Course'/ Advanced Breachers Course'
4) If you can't obtain your quota...wait till it's time to re-up, make a lat move into the glorious field of EOD......get assigned to the DAP, and hit up Breachers from there.

Your question may seem harmless to you, but if you don't understand why your not getting much feedback on this matter it's due to the fact that the few that may frequent this site who HAVE been taught how to breach structures are NOT going to share that info. Plus you would have no comprehension of the mechanics thats involved. There's alot more to setting a charge on a door, wall, frame, etc than meets the eye............

[Duke]

Im pretty sure that the Breacher's course is only open to EOD, 8654 and 1371 not 03XX. Since they are the only Marines authorized on Goettge.

[OzMan]

Ok, bad idea. That's my fault. Sorry about that. :cantbeli: I'm really sorry I wasted your time and space here. I'll be sure to keep this in mind for future reference. I just want to get it right so I don't sound like too much of a dumbass or a Tom Clancy when I'm finished with it.

Sorry.

[...]

Just wondering, your a sophmore in high school and writing a book? What is it about? (besides CT)

[Breacher]

8654 and 1371 not 03XX. Since they are the only Marines authorized on Goettge.


The MOS for EOD is 2336.....The course is geared toward any Marine in the position of being selected for the DAP, CQB or where D.E. is or may be required...I.E. EOD Techs, 03's with Security Forces, Recon bubba's,etc..... A '1371' is nothing more than a worthless Engineer, who doesn't rate to step foot near ANY of the SOTG Coplexes run by the Marine Corps....East, West or over on Hansen!

NEVER PLACE THEM OR MISTAKE THEIR DUTIES WITH EOD. If the military could get away with it, they'd train monkeys to blow **** up. Till that day they are forced to use Engineers.

[globe]

Breacher,
I was an Army Engineer. What's your problem? What do you mean by 'worthless Engineer' and "If the military could get away with it, they'd train monkeys to blow **** up. Till that day they are forced to use Engineers."
I know we aren't high speed and all that glamorous stuff but I happen to think we play an essential role in combat service and support. Somebody's got to do the dirty work of building bridges, camps, showers, etc and ensure ammo, food and supplies are able to get to the front. You are calling us worthless?
Your disdain for those whom you consider 'lesser' than you is disgusting! I hope you are a one-man-army.

[Ichhabe]

I second that globe...

Hopefully it was just a joke he made.

Myself, I'm proud to call myself a Engineer-soldier. Noone can take that away from me.

[Breacher]

My lengthly experience with having to deal with Engineers is far from memorable as far as Demo Ops are concerned. Engineers are great for building, constructing and keeping CSS Elements going, but that's where I draw the line....Now with that being said, "If the shoe fits.....", after you reach the end of this you'll have a better understanding to why I said what I did.

1. During 5 different occasions in just the past 16 months I had to stop Engineers while performing simple demo setups due to the fact that there was a complete and total disregard for safety involving caps. 3 of which were "senior-experienced" Engineers doing work ups while junior troops and even boots were present. Later that week I had a troop talk to me on the side saying he accidentally had a couple caps in his cargo pocket (just bouncing around for a half a day), and they ended up going through the washer. Accountability???????

2. NUMEROUS instances where Engineers felt they knew what they were doing and didn't need EOD to sweep an impact area.....HMMM....there's something about F**KING Off and throwing **** aroud in an impact area that just doesn't sit right. Much less picking up **** that they have no clue to what it may belong to, as well as potential hazards. Supervision?????

3. Engineers taking it upon themselves and going down on DUD grenades in groups of 4-5 to show each other how 'They can handle it." STUPIDITY???

4. Engineers firing off a Line Charge ON TOP OF A Line Charge THAT FAILED TO FUNCTION. HMMMM, lemme think about this. 1750 lbs has a blast distance of its own. Using ANOTHER 1750 lbs to counter charge the initial main charge might increase the standoff a lil.....Correct me if I'm wrong! So why would they still be at the INITIAL SAFE AREA with about 3500 lbs about to go off????? I dont know either.

5. Being confident is fine. Having pride in what it is that you do is fine as well. But when you are arrogant, don't heed the warnings, don't use COMMON SENSE, UNNECESARILY PUT PEOPLES LIVES AT RISK and end up doing nothing than making an ass of yourself and your community....Something is wrong!

.......If I had kept a list of all the idiotic things I have seen done in the past, you yourself wouldn't be as proud as you are now.

Like I said gentlemen, "If the shoe fits..." or you can relate it to an instance(s) you have witnessed, you will see why I said what I did.

[Ichhabe]

I'm still proud.

[globe]

Hey we all make mistakes and have done stupid things in our lives! What's new? Engineers aren't as well trained as the EOD when it comes to handling explosives and demolition work, that's why they have you guys, the EOD, to do these things. Once, we were suppose to be trained in the disposal of UXO, guess what the whole company ended up doing? Maybe you've guessed it. We ended up filling thousands of sand bags and the only thing we learnt was that we were actually quite good at building sand bag walls in a short time. With your experience in such training incidents, maybe you should go tell TraDoc or something. Make it constructive.
I got through fine. I'm alive and well. All my friends are in one piece. I've not witness a single demolitions training related injury. I'm quite sure if you dig hard enough, you'll fined some **** in very unit. The shoe sounds like it might fit, but it still doesn't change how I feel towards the engineers, because I already know that such incidents happen.
There's more to combat engineering then blasting things to bits, we build too. What you see is just one aspect of the Engineer Corp. I've always been in a bridge company and I take pride in what we do. At the end of the day, it's great to be able to see tangible results of your hard work, the nice bridge and the projection of forces across. It's great!
I understand why you will consider engineers as being inept at demolitions compared to you, but we aren't as well trained and as experienced as the EOD! Calling us worthless is just too much and very rude. The monkey thing was uncalled for, unless you happen to be that well trained monkey doing all the blasting. ;) Every one in the army has a role to play, be it big or small, to keep the whole military machine running, even that REMF that processes leave forms in an aircon office.

[Duke]

Watch your tone, mister, that's right mister.

[Dave.mil]

The British Royal Engineers are some of the most professional troops I ever worked with (I was Armoured Corps) so the comment abouts caps fitting applies to all branches of all armies including EOD "everybody makes mistakes" just that some people get away with it.

[Breacher]

Well, it seems that enough feathers were ruffled. After careful consideration, I have decided that the 'Monkey' comment still stands as far as Demo is concerned. I have several friends, not just aquaintances, that are Engineers....they are well experienced and have seen such incidents. I respect the job that Engineers are tasked to do, from running ROPU's to construction.

In NO way am I placing EOD in a 'Holier than Thou' position. As I said before, it's good to have pride in what you do, but when that dangerous mix of complacency, arrogance and cockiness is present bad things happen...and most of the time good people are involved. All of those above traits hold NO place in EOD, thus the greater understanding and appreciation of explosives, UXO, IED's, and any other kind of explosive hazard. I'm sure we've all heard the storyand seen the pictures about the Engineer who attempted to crimp the M7 with his teeth.....

The EOD Community ( all 4 services) doesn't walk around with their nose in the air just because they rate to wear a 'Crab'. Every Tech past, present and future knows that you can know ALOT, but it is impossible to know everything. And the day you think that, is the day you need to get out of the EOD field.

If your still sore about the previous comments, well good on you. Atleast you still maintain loyalty to your field. But as far as I'm concerned, I'm done with this post. All it'll turn into is one big pissing contest and I don't have the time to keep entertaining it.

Semper Fi All!

[Ichhabe]

Eeeeh! Sorry to say Breacher,... But the only one that have pissed in this so called contest,... is you!
Everybody else have just said that they were proud of being Engineers.

[Royal]

I'm sure we've all heard the storyand seen the pictures about the Engineer who attempted to crimp the M7 with his teeth.....

Hate to say it breacher, but that phot was a Ranger...

Got to agree with Ichhabe, you're the only one to have pissed. Every military needs a full spectrum of trades and abilities. My respect to all Sappers and EOD Tech's.