Editing Bomb disposal (section)

==Techniques==
Generally, EOD ''[[render safe procedure]]s'' (RSP) are a type of [[tradecraft]] protected from public dissemination in order to limit access and knowledge, depriving the enemy of specific technical procedures used to render safe ordnance or an improvised device. Another reason for keeping tradecraft secret is to hinder the development of new [[anti-handling device]]s by their opponents: if the enemy has thorough knowledge of specific EOD techniques, it can develop [[fuze]] designs which are more resistant to existing render-safe procedures.

Many techniques exist for the making safe of a bomb or munition. Selection of a technique depends on several variables. The greatest variable is the proximity of the munition or device to people or critical facilities. Explosives in remote localities are handled very differently from those in densely populated areas. The role of modern bomb disposal operators is to accomplish their task as remotely as possible. Actually laying hands on a bomb is only done in an extremely life-threatening situation, where the hazards to people and critical structures cannot be reduced.

[[File:Remotely controlled bomb disposal tool.JPG|thumb|right|[[Wheelbarrow (robot)|Wheelbarrow]] remotely controlled bomb disposal tool]]

EOD technicians have many tools for remote operations, one of which is the RCV, or [[remote-control vehicle]], also known as the "[[Wheelbarrow (robot)|Wheelbarrow]]". Outfitted with cameras, microphones, and sensors for chemical, biological, or nuclear agents, the Wheelbarrow can help the technician get an excellent idea of what the munition or device is. Many of these [[robot]]s even have hand-like manipulators in case a door needs to be opened, or a munition or bomb requires handling or moving. The first ever Wheelbarrow was conceived by Major 'Pat' Wilson Patterson RAOC and his team at the Bomb Disposal School, CAD Kineton in 1972 and used by ammunition technicians in the battle against [[Provisional Irish Republican Army]] bombs.

[[File:US Navy 071210-N-7286M-110 Sgt. Gilbert C. Punsalan attached to the 69th Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Team, Philippine Army, wears the SRS-5 light weight explosive protection suit while uses a long pole and disruptor on a.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Placing a disruption charge (a counter-charge<ref>Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, ''Modular Explosives Training Program: Instructor Glossary'', [https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/Digitization/60135NCJRS.pdf ATF P 7550.7 (3/76)], no date, page 6: "Counter Charge - in disposal of explosives, counter charge means placing one explosive charge against another for purposes of detonating the charges."</ref>) while wearing a protective suit]]
Also of great use are items that allow ammunition technicians to remotely diagnose the innards of a munition or bomb. These include devices similar to the [[X-ray]] used by medical personnel, and high-performance sensors that can detect and help interpret sounds, odors, or even images from within the munition or bomb. Once the technicians determine what the munition or device is, and what state it is in, they will formulate a procedure to disarm it. This may include things as simple as replacing safety features, or as difficult as using high-powered explosive-actuated devices to shear, jam, bind, or remove parts of the item's firing train. Preferably, this will be accomplished remotely, but there are still circumstances when a robot won't do and technicians must put themself at risk by personally going near the bomb. Technicians will don specialized [[Bomb suit|protective suits]], using flame and fragmentation-resistant material similar to [[bulletproof vest]]s. Some suits have advanced features such as internal cooling, amplified hearing, and communications back to the control area. This suit is designed to increase the odds of survival for technicians should munitions or bombs detonate while they are near it.

Rarely, the specifics of a munition or bomb will allow the technician to first remove it from the area. In these cases, a containment vessel is used. Using remote methods, the technician places the item in the container and retires to a remote area to complete the defusion. This procedure, called a Render Safe Procedure, can take a great deal of time. Because of the construction of devices, a waiting period must be taken to ensure that whatever render-safe method was used worked as intended.

Another technique is Trepanation, in which a bore is cut into the sidewall of a bomb and the explosive contents are extracted through a combination of steam and acid bath liquefaction of bomb contents.<ref name="Jane's">{{cite web |title=Van Trepan{TM} Mk 3 explosive trepanning tool for vehicles (United Kingdom), Equipment - EOD weapons |url=http://www.janes.com/articles/Janes-Explosive-Ordnance-Disposal/Van-Trepan-TM-Mk-3-explosive-trepanning-tool-for-vehicles-United-Kingdom.html |work=Jane's Explosive Ordnance Disposal |publisher=Janes.com |access-date=22 June 2010 }}</ref>

Although professional EOD personnel have expert knowledge, skills and equipment, they are not immune to misfortune because of the inherent dangers: in June 2010, construction workers in [[Göttingen]] discovered an Allied 500 kilogram bomb dating from [[World War II]] buried approximately 7 metres below the ground. German EOD experts were notified and attended the scene. Whilst residents living nearby were being evacuated and the EOD personnel were preparing to disarm the bomb, it [[detonated]], killing three of them and injuring 6 others. The dead and injured each had over 20 years of hands-on experience, and had previously rendered safe between 600 and 700 [[Iron harvest|unexploded bombs]]. The bomb which killed and injured the EOD personnel was of a particularly dangerous type because it was fitted with a delayed-action chemical [[fuze]], which had become highly unstable after over 65 years under ground.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,698245,00.html |title=Spiegel.de |newspaper=Der Spiegel |publisher=Spiegel.de |date=2010-06-02 |access-date=2013-07-07}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/10212890.stm | work=BBC News | title=World War II bomb kills three in Germany | date=2010-06-02}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/germany/7795709/Three-dead-as-Second-World-War-bomb-explodes-in-Germany.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/germany/7795709/Three-dead-as-Second-World-War-bomb-explodes-in-Germany.html |archive-date=2022-01-12 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Three dead as Second World War bomb explodes in Germany |publisher=Telegraph.co.uk |date=2010-06-02 |access-date=2013-07-07 }}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dailyexpress.co.uk/posts/view/178648/Bomb-kills-German-explosive-experts/ |title=Bomb kills German explosive experts |publisher=Dailyexpress.co.uk |date=2010-06-02 |access-date=2013-07-07 }}</ref>