Car Bombs vs. Human Beings (…and the physics and physiology thereof.)

Tech Central Station ^ | March 18, 2003 | Ralph Kinney Bennett

[quidnunc]

This is a short, unpleasant article. It's just to remind our readers about the brutal physics of car bombs.

We pointed out in TCS last year (here) the problems these insidious weapons pose in this war. But in a way we all become somewhat inured to "another car bombing," like the one that just occurred at that little hotel in Baghdad.

Indeed, television coverage has a kind of pro forma discretion about these bombings. We see a series of images — flames against the sky, the flashing lights of the rescue vehicles, the smoking rubble laced with rescue workers searching for victims, walking wounded, blood and dust on their faces, making their way from the scene. We may still watch with a grim fascination but we've seen it all before.

So perhaps it would be useful to take these things down to the level of a single human being so that we can refresh ourselves on just what words like "terror" and "murder" really mean.

This latest car bomb appears to have been a large one. There were estimates within hours that it must have been "a thousand pounds of explosives." And American troops found evidence that at least one 155 mm artillery shell may have been part of the bomb.

But car bombs don't have to be large to be devastating. The type of explosive used (different explosives have different DVs or detonation velocities), the shape of the explosive itself and the type of casing in which it is placed are all factors. The structure of the car used and the position of the bomb in or on the car also help determine lethality. The terrible car bombing in Bali last year reportedly used slightly over 200 pounds of explosives, but it killed 191 people, injured scores and destroyed a lot of property.

-snip-

[Travis McGee]

ProPing.

[Johnny Gage]

Not only that, it doesn't take that large of a vehicle.

I watched a Homeland security video on explosives and they easily got about 500lbs of ANFO (if I remember correctly) into a car about the size of a Ford Taurus.

[IronJack]

Fascinating info for the pyros among us.

[Arpege92]

I wonder if the victims actually experience any kind of pain in that few seconds after the bomb explodes. I sure hope not.

[river rat]

Many in this forum could comment on how easy it is to secure the necessary materials and detonators necessary to build a very large and very effective car or truck bomb...

It is NOT necessary to commit suicide or "ride the bomb" to detonation.... Everyday devices are available that would allow one to detonate from quite a distance --- at the appropriate time..

It would not be wise to discuss in this forum..

Suffice to say - this country would be the world's most difficult to occupy and rule against the wishes of millions of previously trained and currently armed veterans.

I think it is for this reason -- that most of our enemies recognize that to beat us -- they must destroy us.

Semper Fi

[archy]

I wonder if the victims actually experience any kind of pain in that few seconds after the bomb explodes. I sure hope not.

Afraid so. Sometimes, at least.

[Travis McGee]

Bastards. Put em all against a wall and shoot em. At least.

[Travis McGee]

most of our enemies recognize that to beat us -- they must destroy us.

That's why we need to "extinct" them first.

[Travis McGee]

A little sick EOD humor...

[Squantos]

LMAO........Kewl part of that pic is that it is seriously staged . We don't wear a BBS-3 when we worked a GP iron bomb. Moot point as the suit hindered vs protected in the case of anything greater than a small IED.

But none the less a funny pic !!

Stay safe !!

[Travis McGee]

Yeah, I figured that. Say, didja get that Chechnya IED video download?

[Squantos]

Nope.............didn't get it. Send me a link if ya will.

[archy]

Bastards. Put em all against a wall and shoot em. At least.

That may be required for some others as well. They've outlined some of their current plans, and don't seem inclined to quit before the hostilities commence.

[Travis McGee]

BTTT While I go read the link.