The Threat

By far the main threat found in the project area is the Israeli No 4 and No 4A Anti-Personnel mine. These mines have in general been laid in ‘military pattern” rows and the Clearance Methodology developed for OES reflects this. They are laid in large quantities, employ a cocked striker mechanism and have proved difficult to clear with a mechanical flail.

At the beginning of the project mechanical flails were permitted as a primary clearance asset against these mines on a site specific basis. However, it very soon became apparent this was not effective and essentially created more problems than it solved. After flailing had taken place it was noted that mines were missed, disturbed, sensitised and broken up with detonators and explosive fill spread throughout. Mine Detection Dog (MDD) confirmation proved difficult if not impossible due the increased explosive residue and manual follow up proved even more dangerous due to mines having partially functioned or having been moved out of position.

As a result of this it was decided that mechanical assets would not be used as a primary mine clearance tool in any minefield or High Threat Hazardous Area (HTHA) containing mines fitted with a cocked striker.

Although no single mechanical asset solves all the mine / UXO threat problems, with good preparation and planning between all the assets in the clearance “Toolbox”, most areas can be effectively and safely cleared to international standards. Cooperation between all the agencies and contractors is also of paramount importance to achieve the set goals and targets, which is to return safe ground to the local population that they are confident to use.

The following equipments are accredited by the MACC SL to work within the Operation Emirates Solidarity theatre of operations.

ARMTRAC 100 Mechanical Flail

ARMTRAC 325 Mechanical Flail

Bozena 3 Mechanical Flail

Armoured Excavators, Strimmers and Sifters

Armoured Dozer

Within the MACC SL theatre, the ARMTRAC 100 is accredited to operate independently providing it has close support from a manual clearance asset and a Medic and ambulance. The ancillary equipment items are easily transported in a large stowage bin mounted on the rear of the tractor therefore the whole team is able to deploy rapidly and travel fairly quickly from site to site. It as been deployed within South Lebanon since May 2002 and has proved its durability time and again in an array of tough situations. As with other flail machines it does have limited capabilities in heavy rock and boulder-strewn areas, and this is a deciding factor when considering where to deploy it. However to aid the ARMTRAC 100 in such difficult areas an Armoured Bulldozer can be utilized to move large obstacles.

Typical ARMTRAC 100 Team composition

Operating independently, a typical team consists of:

ARMTRAC 100 & tool stowage bin
Ambulance
Support vehicle
Mechanical Supervisor
Operator / Mechanic
2 X Deminers accredited as Mechanical support personnel
1 x Medic
2 x Drivers

Accreditation

The ARMTRAC 100 has been trialled in country and has been accredited to achieve a 20cm cut depth in the harsh ground conditions of South Lebanon. As a result of this trial the equipment is accredited to conduct tasks as indicated in the table below. Note there is no accreditation for using this asset as a primary clearance tool.

For more information on this equipment visit the manufacturer’s website at http://gscs.sagenet.co.uk

Operating independently, a typical team consists of:

ARMTRAC 325, Trailer and Ancillaries
Ambulance
Support vehicle
1 x Mechanical Team Supervisor
1 x Operator / Mechanic
2 x Deminers accredited as Mechanical Support personnel
1 x Medic
2 x Drivers

Accreditation

The ARMTRAC 325 has been trialled in country and has been accredited to achieve a 20cm cut depth in the harsh ground conditions of South Lebanon. The table below outlines those tasks that the machine is accredited to do in South Lebanon, along with those it is not permitted to conduct.

For more information on this equipment visit the manufacturer’s website at http://www.gscs.sagenet.co.uk

The equipment is a radio controlled tracked mini flail that is operated remotely from a separate armoured cabin. As an alternative to this there is a facility that allows the operator to dismount from the cabin and control the machine on foot from a safe position. It is transported on a 4 wheeled trailer towed by a 3 ton truck which also carries the armoured cabin and ancillary equipment.

The fact that Bozena 3 and its entire support element can be rapidly vehicle-loaded and ready for transportation along with a dedicated crew, and the low machine “down time” makes it a versatile and cost effective asset.

Although versatile, it does have limited capabilities in heavy rock and boulder strewn areas, and this is a deciding factor when considering where to deploy it. However to aid the equipment in such difficult areas an Armoured Bulldozer can be utilized to move large obstacles.

Typical Bozena 3 Mechanical Team composition

Operating independently, a typical team consists of:

Bozena 3 Flail
Support vehicle and trailer carrying, armoured cabin and ancillaries
Ambulance
1 x Mechanical Supervisor
1 x Operator / Mechanic
2 x Deminers accredited as Mechanical support personnel
1 x Medic
2 x Drivers

Accreditation

The Bozena 3 has been trialled in country and has been accredited to achieve a 10cm cut depth in the harsh ground conditions of South Lebanon. As a result of this the equipment is accredited only to conduct the Tasks indicated as “Yes” in the table below.

The Armoured Excavators employed, are “off the shelf” Caterpillar 215 and 225 tracked excavators that have been “beefed” up by the addition of enhanced protection for the equipment operator. They are not a mine clearance tool and are not allowed to work inside the High Threat Hazardous Area (HTHA). Deployment of the excavators within the MACC SL theatre is carefully monitored by both the MACC SL and by the clearance contractor. They are essentially used in a “ground preparation” role as they would on many construction sites; digging trenches, removing obstacles, dismantling bunds, spreading soil and cutting tracks. The advantage of being “tracked’ is that they can gain access to almost any area regardless of the terrain and topography whilst maintaining a relatively low ground bearing pressure.

Essentially the strimmer is a horizontal flail with cutting chains that rotate at high speed. Therefore safety distances must be maintained and this may limit the use of other assets working on the same task.

In addition to this a primary factor, prior to the strimmers’ deployment, must be the thorough briefing of the operator as to his tasking. Ideally, ground penetration should be avoided during strimming operations because it may affect the follow up work by manual and MDD assets. e.g. excessive ground disturbance may well put back MDD follow up work by two to seven days, thereby delaying the continuance of work on the task.

Sifting systems aren’t unique to the MACC SL theatre however they have become a valuable and very cost effective method of clearing soil heaps, bunds and areas identified as containing deep buried mines etc. The two systems in use within MACC SL were designed in country and fabricated in workshops using local materials. These systems are currently accredited to sift anti-personnel mines. They are relatively easy to produce and maintain and are deployed fairly rapidly from the primary motive unit.

The bucket generally absorbs the blast from any detonation that occurs with the Operator protected in his cab. The time saved by using this method on these difficult areas has greatly increased productivity. The system has also proved far safer to employ than attempting to manually clear these areas. The equipments mobility has enabled the bucket sifter to be deployed almost anywhere in this theatre of operation.

Although no exact details of the rate of area sifted is currently available, a “rule of thumb” is approximately 1 tonne per every 15 minutes, allowing for the hardness of the mound(s) and the amount of items that require removal from the table grill.

Main tracked equipment 215/225 Caterpillar
Ambulance
Support vehicle
Mechanical Supervisor
Operator / Mechanic
Mechanical accredited deminers x 2
Medic
Driver x 2
Low loader (hired locally on an as required basis)

Accreditation

Within the OES project, Excavators, Strimmers and Sifters are accredited as clearance tools for the clearance of contaminated earth spoil containing anti-personnel mines only. They can also be used as a clearance tool to clear deep buried AP mines on a site-by-site basis.

They are not used for excavating or sifting AT mines or UXO.

For more information about Caterpillar equipment visit http://www.cat.com

Basically this is an “off the shelf’’ commercial bulldozer which has been modified by adding armoured protection in particular to the cabin area which is necessary to protect the driver/operator. Those in operation in South Lebanon within the OES project are based on the Caterpillar 977L crawler tractor / loader.

The bulldozers are also deployed to spread out soil heaps and bunds etc in preparation for clearance by MDD or other mechanical assets, for example the ARMTRAC or the Bozena 3 flails. The bulldozers adhere to SOP’s and TSG’s as do all other mechanical assets. They have their own dedicated support team who are experienced deminers accredited for their role. They perform, as with all mechanical assets, visible checks of the machine when it is leaving a hazardous area, and before moving to a low threat area.

Although a durable piece of equipment; ground conditions are a main concern when thinking of deploying the bulldozer, and in fact all plant machinery. If deployed upon a steep incline in wet (or snow covered) ground a bulldozer may have a tendency to slide sideways down the hill, and with the weight of the machine it will be impossible to stop and possibly recover. In addition care must be taken that the operator doesn’t bulldoze mines away with the spoil when making access routes as this could further complicate clearance of the area.

Accreditation

Within the OES project, bulldozers are not accredited as a clearance tool.
However it is the MACC SL intention to accredit the machine in the future for moving of contaminated spoils to assist with sifting/crushing operations

Below, is a table outlining the mine action functions the armoured bulldozers have been accredited for within the OES Project. The ‘No’ column are tasks they are not permitted to conduct.