Bomb disposal - not a job for the faint-hearted

[Batgirl]

Personnel from the UK military school that teaches bomb disposal have been demonstrating some of their techniques to the local media. The Defence Explosive Ordnance Disposal School (DEODS) is a tri-Service training establishment that is part of the Defence Explosives, Munitions and Search School (DEMSS).

The school, based in Lodge Hill, Chattenden near Rochester in Kent, provides training to all personnel from the Royal Engineers, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force in the techniques and skills needed to work in bomb disposal, more correctly-termed Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD).


An instructor at Shoeburyness demonstrates to a group of students how it should be done. [Picture: Allan House]


Captain Paul Hardon of the Royal Engineers gives instructions to students at Shoeburyness. [Picture: Allan House]


A detonation as seen through one of the monitors at Shoeburyness. [Picture: Allan House]

One of the school's larger training areas, at Shoeburyness in Essex, is a 35,000 acre site that is perfect for teaching bomb disposal techniques.

Projectiles may be recovered and examined once fired as well as accurate monitoring of munitions at, or immmediately prior to, their point of impact. The site has been used as a gunnery testing range for over 150 years. The range also conducts test and evaluation work incluing large calibre weapons testing, static trials and environmental testing of munitions. This testing is vital to ensure that they can be handlled and used safely and effectively during military operations.

Captain Paul Hardon from the Royal Engineers explained the value of the training facilities at Shoeburyness:

"The EOD school trains at Shoeburyness to carry out live munitions disposal training under the direction of operationally experienced directors. Shoeburyness is ideal for the training because it's close to our base, so travelling time is reduced. The facilities are ideal because the demolition areas themselves are so large. We also get great support from the QinetiQ personnel with lifting the heavy equipment, especially the careful handling of the EOD items.

"This specialised training allows students to see the bomb disposal process from start to finish – by setting up the munitions and the detonation wires, pressing the button and then being able to go down after the all clear to see the after effects."

The demolitions conducted by EOD operators involve the destruction of metal objects filled with high explosive (such as bombs). This means that there is a high danger of shrapnel and flying metal fragments for up to several hundred meters from the explosion. Shoeburyness is a massive site with large open spaces, essential for this type of training.

DEODS runs a number of courses for officers and Senior Non-Commissioned Officers. The principal course is the Officers' and Senior Non-Commissioned Officers' Advanced EOD course. Students on this eight-week course have usually been in the Army, Navy or Air Force for some time and have decided to move into this specialised area of service.

During the course students are given tuition on advanced demolition techniques, land and sea mine clearance, clearance of land weapons such as rockets and mortars, booby trap clearance, the disposal of air-delivered weapons such as bomblets and large bombs and the clearance of hazardous weapons such as chemical and biological munitions.

On successful completion of the course students may find themselves on the frontline in Iraq, Afghanistan or the Balkans. Their job is to make the environment safe both for UK Armed Forces and for local people. Those based in the UK may be part of one of many units around the country that have responsibility for clearing unexploded ordnance from the Second World War.

MoD News