I S S U E T W O Explosive Ordnance Digest T H E Q U A R T E R L Y N E W S L E T T E R F R O M T H E L E A D I N G U K B O M B D I S P O S A L C O M P A N Y Welcome to the second edition of EOD, the quarterly Ramora UK newsletter. In this issue... In this issue, you will find news of some of the most significant operations that we have undertaken recently, as well as stories about an important safety initiative we have recently launched and our commitment to giving something back to society. Plus, there is all the fun of our Time Out section! We feel sure that you will find plenty here to interest you and we hope that it will provide you with a bit more of an insight into the realities of Bomb Disposal and the world of Ramora UK. Don t forget, if you have any comments or ideas for stories that you think we should include in future issues, we would be delighted to hear from you. Please let us know at marketing@ramorauk.com Ramora UK removes WWII mines found on Isle of Wight A brief history of the Mills Grenade David Welch MIExpE, MIABTI, FCIM Managing Director Ramora UK Ramora UK helps out Lomond Mountain Rescue Team P R A C T I C A L S E R V I C E S l T R A I N I N G l E M E R G E N C Y R E S P O N S E C E N T R E l E Q U I P M E N T S O L U T I O N S l C O N S U LTA N C Y
EOD news... Ramora UK removes WWII mines found on Isle of Wight Since the last newsletter issue, we have successfully removed two mines that had been buried for some 60 years under ground that currently forms part of the BAE Systems site at Cowes on the Isle of Wight. The site was previously occupied by RAF Somerton during WWII and it is believed that the mines known as pipemines were laid in order that the airfield could be rendered unusable in the event of an enemy invasion. Most of them were removed by MOD bomb disposal teams when the airfield was decommissioned but the two mines that remained appear to have been missed at the time. It was only when BAE Systems undertook geophysical surveys in order to prepare the land for commercial sale that the existence of the remaining two came to light. it bowed significantly in the middle. As a result, further ground works were undertaken before it was also successfully and safely detonated during overnight operations on 29th/30th June. Ramora UK and BAE Systems worked closely with Hampshire Constabulary and the Isle of Wight Council in both the planning and execution of both operations to ensure that all necessary safety measures were in place. These included a 200 metre radius cordon, which was manned by the Police throughout and some local road closures around the Somerton roundabout junction with Newport Road, Saunders Road and Three Gates Road. All those affected by the road closures were given at least four weeks notice and diversion signs were deployed. The local media were also kept informed. The first mine, which was located close to the Island s main gas pipe, was detonated safely during the early hours of Sunday 20th May. During excavations to deal with the second mine, it was discovered that it was approximately two metres larger than expected and that All of the work was undertaken by highly trained Ramora UK staff, including former military personnel, using a proven bomb disposal methodology. The success of these operations demonstrates how expert commercial operators, working closely with the relevant authorities, can safely undertake work that has previously been carried out only by the military. We are confident that this has set a strong precedent for new ways of tackling all forms of bomb disposal in the future. David Welch, Ramora UK Staff News... Appointment of Faye Palmer We are delighted to welcome Faye Palmer who joins us as Sales Coordinator. Focusing on a number of our key market areas, including Defence, Aviation, Aggregates and Renewable Energy, Faye will have a particular responsibility for promoting the Ramora UK name globally. In recent months, we have experienced a significant increase in demand for our services from the Renewable Energy and Oil and Gas sectors and as part of her new role, Faye will be promoting Ramora UK at all the relevant international events and exhibitions. Ramora UK wins Best Business Award for Innovation On 25th May, it was announced that Ramora UK had won a Best Business Award for Best Innovation which we will now hold for one year. The Best Innovation category is designed to recognise those organisations that have identified new products or services and successfully brought them to market or adapted an existing product for a new market. Our entry was based on the launch last year of our EOD Diving Service. thereby offering considerable time and cost savings to clients. The launch of this service made us the first and only organisation in the UK providing this level of reactive UXO capability outside of the armed forces. Comprising former Royal Navy Clearance Divers, the team provides a truly global service, including operations in past and present conflict zones and is able to deploy as a stand-alone, fully self-contained unit from a range of vessels, 2
TOP tips Hedgehog WWII Anti Submarine Weapon The Hedgehog (also known as an Anti-Submarine Projector) was an anti-submarine weapon developed by the Royal Navy during World War II. The weapon was deployed on convoy escort warships such as destroyers to supplement the depth charge. The weapon worked by firing a number of small spigot mortar bombs from spiked fittings. Rather than working on a time or depth fuse like depth charges, the bombs exploded on contact and achieved a higher sinking rate against submarines than depth charges did. The Hedgehog received its name because when unloaded the rows of empty spigots resembled the spines of a hedgehog. Spigot Mortar Projectile UK 7.2 in Description The weapon fires a salvo (simultaneous discharge of artillery or firearms) of 24 bombs in an arc, aimed to land in a circular or elliptical area about 100 feet (30 m) in diameter at a fixed point about 250 yards (230 m) directly ahead of the attacking ship. The mounting initially was fixed but was later replaced by a gyro-stabilised one to allow for the rolling and pitching of the attacking ship. The overall length of the weapon was 39 inches, with a body length of 19 inches, tail tube of 16 inches plus fins four inches long, fitted on the front of the weapon is an arming vane. The firing system is to impact inertia, always acting, mechanically armed nose fuze. The charge was either 13.6 kg of TNT or 15.4 kg of Torpex. The launcher had four cradles, each with six launcher spigots. The firing sequence was staggered so that all of the bombs would land at about the same time. This had the added advantage of minimising the stress on the weapon mountings, so that deck reinforcement was not needed and the weapon could easily be retrofitted to any convenient place on a ship. Reloading took about three minutes. Hedgehog anti-submarine weapon, British WWII 3
TRAINING update Ramora Training Our company training portfolio of courses has been further increased with a range of search and security courses, details of which are as follows: Search and Security which is a 15 day course designed to educate students in the practices required to conduct efficient search operations. High Risk Search designed to train techniques and philosophy required to enable search operations in areas with elevated security risks. High Risk Search Advisor a 20 day programme designed to deliver the skills necessary to plan complex search operations in vulnerable areas. For further information on any of our training courses please do not hesitate to contact us on 08454 608911 or contact our sales team at: sales@ramorauk.com 4
Time Expired Pyrotechnic (TEP) Stores Excellence is Our Commitment Ramora UK has developed a range of stores for the storage of Time Expired Pyrotechnics (TEPs) that are capable of storing mixed loads of TEPs at a reduced explosive Hazard Type 4 (HT4) by eliminating any projection hazard. This means that setting up your site for the legal storing of TEPs is both cost efficient and hassle free. Miscellaneous Pyrotechnic Store (MPS) Our MPS comes in two different sizes and has been designed to store TEPs at a reduced explosive hazard type, dramatically decreasing any required separation distances and increasing safety. KEY FEATURES Up To 74kg NEQ Storage Stores TEPs at HT4 Explosive Hazard Type 4 3 Secure Locking Positions Minimal Site Restrictions Secondary Transport Mitigation Cage (STMC) Our STMC comes in two different sizes and has been designed to transport TEPs at a reduced Hazard Division of 1.4G, for enhanced safety during road transportation. KEY FEATURES Up To 5kg NEQ Storage 2 Secure Locking Positions Light weight Transports TEPs at 1.4G Segregation Unit (SU) Our SU is a tested bespoke frame that can secure both sizes of STMCs for the storage of damaged TEPs. The SU has been primarily designed to separate damaged TEPs away from the MPS. KEY FEATURES Up To 12kg NEQ Storage Stores TEPs at HT4 Explosive Hazard Type 4 1 Additional Locking Position Stores damaged TEPs For further information, please contact our sales team by either telephone or email 08454 608911 sales@ramorauk.com Ramora UK Trafalgar House 223 Southampton Road Portsmouth Hampshire PO6 4PY United Kingdom Ask the Experts. 5 www.ramorauk.com
TECH CORNER H I STO RY O F T H E M I L L S G R E N A D E The Mills hand grenade underwent numerous modifications. The No. 23 was a variant of the No. 5, with a rod base plug which allowed it to be fired from a rifle. This concept evolved further with the No. 36, a variant with a detachable base plate to allow use with a rifle discharger cup. The final variation of the Mills grenade, the No. 36M, was specially designed and waterproofed with shellac for use initially in the hot climate of Mesopotamia in 1917, but remained in production for many years. By 1918 the No. 5 and No. 23 were declared obsolete and the No. 36 (but not the 36M) followed in 1932. Sectional View of a Mills Hand Grenade The Mills was a classic design; a grooved cast iron pineapple with a central striker held by a close hand lever and secured with a pin. Although the segmented body helps to create fragments when the grenade explodes, according to Mills notes, the casing was grooved to make it easier to grip and not as an aid to fragmentation. The Mills was a defensive grenade: after throwing, the user had to take cover immediately. A competent thrower could manage 15 metres (49 feet) with reasonable accuracy, but the grenade could throw lethal fragments farther than this. The British Home Guard were instructed that throwing range of the No. 36 was about 30 yards with a danger area of about 100 yards. At first the grenade was fitted with a seven-second fuse, but during combat in the Battle of France in 1940 this delay proved too long giving defenders time to escape the explosion, or even to throw the grenade back and was reduced to four seconds. The heavy, segmented bodies of pineapple type grenades result in an unpredictable pattern of fragmentation. After WWII, Britain and the US adopted grenades that contained segmented coiled wire in smooth metal casings. The No. 36M Mk.I remained the standard grenade of the British Armed Forces and was manufactured in the UK until 1972, when it was completely replaced by the L2 series. The 36M remained in service in some parts of the world such as India and Pakistan, where it was manufactured until the early 1980s. Ramora UK regularly dispose of Mills No 36 hand grenades which have the potential to be hazardous. When the Mills grenade is discovered without the pin and fly off lever, it should be treated with extreme caution as this means it may function if knocked or dropped, causing the striker to hit the initiation cap, an example of this is in the picture below, which is essentially a blind munition. Fly Off Lever Detonator Central Striker Percussion Cap Delay Fuze Pictures show No. 36 Mills Hand Grenades 6
WORKING with... Ramora UK chosen to dispose of WWII mine located close to North Sea pipeline In July, Ramora UK was tasked to carry out the removal and safe disposal of a British moored mine from WWII located immediately adjacent to the FLAGS pipeline in the North Sea. The mine, containing up to 500lbs of explosive, was located immediately adjacent to the pipeline about 100km out from St Fergus at a depth of 100 metres. The British made mine was first discovered in 1993 during an annual ROV inspection and was identified as Unexploded Ordnance (UXO). Since the decision was made to undertake the removal operation, Ramora UK worked closely with subsea engineers and teams within Shell to design the technology which reduced the potential risks and delivered a safe solution for disposal. Despite the challenges posed by depth, pipeline proximity and age of the UXO, Ramora UK successfully completed this project as planned and without incident. Being selected to carry out an operation of this scale is particularly gratifying for us as it highlights the extent to which our full EOD capabilities are being recognised. David Welch, Ramora UK 7
SAFETY first Ramora UK launches major new safety initiative NESS In May of this year, we launched the National Explosive Safety Scheme (NESS). Having already helped to develop and implement official explosive related procedures which are accepted as best practice throughout the industry, Ramora UK now offers its expertise 24 hours a day through NESS. The scheme equips companies with the knowledge and capability to be prepared for any incident involving explosives, through advice, training and the delivery of practical EOD/ bomb disposal services by our specialist teams. There are three levels of NESS Membership - Bronze, Silver and Gold - each designed to accommodate the specific EOD requirements of individual clients. But all levels offer a discount on a range of services, including training, access to our 24/7 Emergency Response Helpline and Time Expired Pyrotechnic (TEP) storage and a number of other free-of-charge offers. An additional option for those who join the Scheme is the NESS TEP Storage Rental Solution which provides everything you need to store TEPs safely and legally. This includes licensing, training and access to an easy-to-use online Miscellaneous Pyrotechnic Accounting System (MPAS). We believe that NESS represents a significant initiative for our industry. The threats posed by UXO affect businesses across a wide range of industries, but accessing the services they need to prevent and/or deal with the problems is not always as easy as it should be. NESS is really going to help them do that. David Welch, Ramora UK SAFETY tips Military ammunition, bombs, projectiles, mortars, rockets, grenades and landmines are all classed as ordnance. Ordnance, by its nature is designed to kill, injure or cause damage, therefore when encountering ordnance, either accidently or deliberately can create a dangerous dilemma. All items of ordnance are identifiable by their shape, design and function, according to type. However, if items are degraded, damaged or incomplete, they may not be recognisable, therefore adding to the danger that they present. Most items of ordnance will contain some form of explosive substance and, depending upon its circumstances, may contain a fuze (the mechanism which will initiate the item). Therefore the shape, size, condition and location of ordnance, when found, create problems and danger to yourself and others. Remember ordnance has been designed to kill, injure or cause damage. Advice for encountering suspected ordnance is standard, although items Fig. 1 may be in excess of 70 years old they still have the potential to cause injury and kill. Only competent trained and experienced personnel hold the required skill sets to assess and deal with Explosive Ordnance (EO). Anyone encountering suspected ordnance should not touch or move the items. A reference point should be taken as to the position of the item or a marker placed close to the item. The area should be kept clear and the Police informed, DO NOT MOVE THE SUSPECT ITEM. Move yourself and others. The following advice may be advantageous to follow during evacuation: Use buildings as hard cover; try to direct people to the evacuation point using other buildings as a buffer from the suspect item. Evacuation areas should be sited out of the line of sight of the suspect item. Consider secondary hazards blasts will send glass and debris in all directions. In the past ordnance has been ignored due to it not being recognised. On a building site in Wiltshire some years ago, a small black plastic cylindrical object was not recognised as a hand grenade, therefore it was just kicked to the side of the site car park and luckily it was not armed (fig 1). It was not until another object of similar size was found that one worker recognised it as being a Mills type hand grenade (fig 2). Upon arrival of the EOD team to deal with the Mills hand grenade, the other grenade was identified. Both items were found to be live and were destroyed by controlled explosive means. Fig. 2 8
GIVING something back... Ramora UK helps out Lomond Mountain Rescue Team When distress flares reach the end of their lives, the explosive material they contain can become unstable and potentially dangerous they become officially classified as Time Expired Pyrotechnics, or TEPs, and need to be disposed of by experts authorised to carry out the work. When the Lomond Mountain Rescue Team found that no fewer than 130 of its flares including handheld flares, parachute rockets, mini flares and buoyant life smoke flares were out-of-date, we were quick to offer our services free of charge. The Ramora UK personnel were met by Jan Millar at the Mountain Rescue Team s new, purpose-built base in the village of Drymen, gateway to the east side of Loch Lomond and some 10 miles from Balloch. The flares were all inspected to ensure they were safe for transportation and then removed from the base with the minimum of disruption. We are so grateful to Ramora UK for removing these old flares for us. It saved us time and money, both of which are precious commodities for a voluntary organisation like ours. Jan Millar, Deputy Team Leader, Lomond Mountain Rescue Team The volunteers of the Lomond Mountain Rescue Team do a fantastic job and, like us, sometimes have to face potentially dangerous situations. So we were only too pleased to have the opportunity to help them out. David Welch, Ramora UK 9
TIME out D T H S S H M T B C R O V L I D N E A R D E X S S W C S V S E M J A Q P A L K A S A I P Q T R A I N I N G N D W S I U E O I H G F S I F O A I P P X F N S A O A V K C R O E J V F G A C Z P S N C E N M C L S D E T N A L Y I N M I W A H U M T O H R K S E L N R D O E V X E R R D R S B E E I R N B D Y T E F A S S X N N E S S B L I D Z Q P S L I O K S Z A M E N I M U A A N D C P A I N J K G N I X H S I E D R E D R O W O L Caption competition! All you have to do is send in your witty caption for our choice of picture and the best entry will be shown in the next issue. To enter, please send your caption to marketing@ramorauk.com. Just enter Caption Competition in the subject field. SEMTEX DETONATOR TRAINING NESS EOD OFFSHORE TEP LOWORDER MINE PIPEMINE ROV HAZARD DIVISION AWARENESS SAFETY IED EXHIBITION ROUND-UP Marine Operations Offshore Wind Operations, 25-26 September 2012 London Gas Tech 2012, 8-12 October 2012 London Renewable UK 2012, 30 October - 1 November 2012 Glasgow Counter Terror Expo 2013, 24-25 April 2013 Seaworks International 2012, 11-13 June 2013 Offshore Europe 2013, 3-6 September 2013 Aberdeen Last month s Caption Competition Winner... Jo McClean who submitted the caption below: You need to rub harder than that to make fire. Mystery Object? Last edition s Mystery Object was a blowing mechanism from a British Mark 8 Torpedo. Congratulations to all those who participated and those who guessed correctly. Just for fun, we will include a Mystery Object in every issue. All you have to do is guess the object pictured and what it is used for. Keep In Touch Do not forget that we are keen to hear your views and ideas. Contact us at marketing@ramorauk.com 10