FM 34-54: Battlefield Technical Intelligence

APPENDIX C

EXPLOSIVE ORDNANCE DISPOSAL UNITS

INTRODUCTION

One of the most critical yet deadly sources of TECHINT on the battlefield is explosive ordnance. In order to safely exploit this ordnance, EOD units, in accordance with theater mission priorities--

º Provide EOD personnel to support TECHINT teams and units.

º Examine existing reports.

º Prepare reports on new and unusual items of explosive ordnance for TECHINT purposes.

This appendix describes the support EOD personnel provide to TECHINT elements and how they interface.

PROCEDURES

EOD personnel perform all RSP. As a result, their expertise and assistance are vital when explosive ordnance is being examined, moved, or evacuated. Their assistance is particularly critical when the ordnance is unidentifiable. In these cases, in addition to rendering the ordnance safe, the methods they use also may eliminate or reduce damage to the item.

When explosive ordnance is obtained, photograph it as completely as possible before and after it is moved. These photographs must show scale and indicate dimensions. When photography is not possible, make detailed drawings with accurate measurements.

After foreign explosive CB ammunition is rendered safe, it is forwarded through TECHINT channels to the designated chemical laboratory. There, samples of the agent filling are extracted. These samples are analyzed by the chemical laboratory and then forwarded to a medical laboratory for identification.

TECHINT units are particularly interested in exploiting known ordnance and weapons that may have been recently modified. The Threat often does this without making substantial style or body changes. When an unidentified item is uncovered it may indicate a major new threat capability or a modification to an existing capability. Often fragments of unidentified ordnance and weapons, retrieved at considerable risk, are the crucial element in the identification process.

The following guidelines apply to the recovery and evacuation of explosive ordnance:

º New or unknown types of foreign explosive ordnance recovered by EOD must be turned over to TECHINT units for disposition.

º Foreign nuclear weapons or components, including sabotage devices, are evacuated through TECHINT channels. Security classification of such items, once in evacuation channels, will not be lower than SECRET (RESTRICTED DATA).

º Security and technical escorts are required to provide safety controls for shipments of NBC and other hazardous items of explosive ordnance. The procedures used in peacetime to accomplish this may have to be modified in war due to resource limitations. At EAC TECHINT, personnel coordinate with the G2 staff to establish the requirement and arrange for escorts.

COLLECTION

The danger of fires, explosions, burns, and accidents always exists when dealing with explosive ordnance. This is because often ordnance is armed or booby-trapped and must be disarmed before it can be evacuated. EXTREME CAUTION MUST BE EXERCISED WHEN TAUT WIRE AND PULL RELEASES ARE ENCOUNTERED.

ONLY TRAINED WEAPONS AND MUNITIONS SPECIALISTS ANALYZE OR TEST CAPTURED MINES AND BOOBY TRAPS. Therefore, when this type of ordnance is discovered the unit should not attempt to disarm or move it. THESE PROCEDURES ARE PERFORMED ONLY BY EXPERIENCED EOD PERSONNEL. EOD personnel are responsible for the explosive components or hazardous materials associated with such devices.

Place requests for personnel to dismantle and strip fuses and other dangerous components through TECHINT and EOD staffs. Unusual mechanisms like booby traps are reported immediately by SALUTE report to the CMEC. This ensures that foreign explosive ordnance reports, of great interest to TECHINT personnel, are acted on quickly.

FOREIGN AMMUNITION

Foreign munitions are of great value to the intelligence effort. Samples of ammunition are important to Army R&D efforts and may also have immediate tactical significance. New and modified foreign munitions are of special interest, as well.

The markings and materials used may have strategic value; or the mere existence of certain items of ammunition is extremely important to know. At the tactical level, we need to know how the ammunition is used, its effectiveness, country of origin, and possible countermeasures. Duds, components, and fragments of ammunition often reveal the type of caliber of enemy supporting weapons.

Recovered sabotage or booby-trap devices provide valuable indications of probable enemy courses of action. Manufacturing methods and details of design are valuable to Army R&D agencies Some other types of information that are important to collect against are listed below:

º New items of enemy explosive ordnance.

º Design or changes in design of known explosive ordnance.

º Changes in manufacturing techniques.

º Quality and type of materials and explosive content.

º Packaging storage, and maintenance techniques.

º Place and date of manufacture.

º All documents relating to the foregoing, including sources or potential sources of information.

º All specialized explosive ordnance designed to simulate small arms, crew-served weapons, and artillery fire for covering and deception.

OPERATIONS

TECHINT personnel coordinate closely with EOD personnel when disposing or evacuating explosive ordnance. EOD PERSONNEL WILL DO THE ACTUAL HANDLING OF EXPLOSIVE ORDNANCE. Conversely, EOD units must notify TECHINT personnel of the types and locations of foreign materiel and munitions.

REPORTS

All information collected by EOD personnel on first-seen foreign explosive ordnance is reported immediately. EOD teams send reports through EOD control centers to EOD staff officers. Staffs place the reports in intelligence channels for distribution to all interested levels of command.

EOD personnel prepare a preliminary technical report (PRETECHREP) when they find explosive ordnance that may be of TECHINT value. They forward the report by the fastest means to the EOD control unit to other intelligence and EOD units.

Included in the report is a tentative RSP (for EOD use only). This is included whether it is necessary to disarm the item or not.

The PRETECHREP serves two purposes:

º It alerts TECHINT teams to go to the site.

º It provides other EOD units information on new items of explosive ordnance.

TECHINT personnel prepare COMTECHREPs Type B. EOD personnel also prepare these reports in the absence of a TECHINT team or when requested by G2s or their representatives. This report is as complete and detailed as possible. EOD personnel prepare and send this report by the fastest means through the EOD control unit to the TECHINT unit. These report formats are at Appendix E. Figure C-1 shows EOD support to TECHINT units.