Types of devices

[edit] By warhead

The Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms (JCS Pub 1-02) includes two definitions for
improvised devices: improvised explosive devices (IED) and improvised nuclear device
(IND).[20] These definitions address the Nuclear and Explosive in CBRNE. That leaves chemical,
biological and radiological undefined. Four definitions have been created to build on the
structure of the JCS definition. Terms have been created to standardize the language of first
responders and members of the military and to correlate the operational picture.[21]

Improvised explosive device

A device placed or fabricated in an improvised manner incorporating destructive, lethal, noxious,

pyrotechnic, or incendiary chemicals and designed to destroy, incapacitate, harass, or distract. It
may incorporate military stores, but is normally devised from non-military components.

Improvised nuclear device

A device incorporating radioactive materials designed to result in the dispersal of radioactive

material (a dirty bomb) or in the formation of nuclear-yield reaction. Such devices may be
fabricated in a completely improvised manner or may be an improvised modification to a nuclear
weapon.

Improvised chemical device

A device incorporating the toxic attributes of chemical materials designed to result in the
dispersal of these toxic chemical materials for the purpose of creating a primary patho-
physiological toxic effect (morbidity and mortality), or secondary psychological effect (causing
fear and behavior modification) on a larger population. Such devices may be fabricated in a
completely improvised manner or may be an improvised modification to an existing weapon.

Improvised biological device

A device incorporating biological materials designed to result in the dispersal of vector borne
biological material for the purpose of creating a primary patho-physiological toxic effect
(morbidity and mortality), or secondary psychological effect (causing fear and behavior
modification) on a larger population. Such devices are fabricated in a completely improvised
manner.

Improvised radioactive device

A device incorporating radioactive materials designed to result in the dispersal of radioactive

material for the purpose of area denial and economic damage, and/or for the purpose of creating
a primary patho-physiological toxic effect (morbidity and mortality), or secondary psychological
effect (causing fear and behavior modification) on a larger population. Such devices may be
fabricated in a completely improvised manner or may be an improvised modification to an
existing nuclear weapon. Also called a Radiological Dispersion Device (RDD) or "dirty bomb".

Improvised incendiary device

A device making use of exothermic chemical reactions designed to result in the rapid spread of
fire for the purpose of creating a primary patho-physiological effect (morbidity and mortality), or
secondary psychological effect (causing fear and behavior modification) on a larger population
or it may be used with the intent of gaining a tactical advantage. Such devices may be fabricated
in a completely improvised manner or may be an improvised modification to an existing weapon.
A common type of this is the molotov cocktail.

[edit] By delivery mechanism

[edit] Car bomb/vehicle-borne

Artillery shells and gasoline cans discovered in the back of a pick-up truck in Iraq

Vehicles may be laden with explosives, set to explode by remote control or by a

passenger/driver, commonly known as a car bomb or vehicle-based IED (VBIED, pronounced
vee-bid). On occasion the driver of the car bomb may have been coerced into delivery of the
vehicle under duress, a situation known as a proxy bomb. Distinguishing features are low-riding
vehicles with excessive weight, vehicles with only one passenger, and ones where the interior of
the vehicles look like they have been stripped down and built back up. Car bombs can carry
thousands of pounds of explosives and may be augmented with shrapnel to increase
fragmentation. The U.S. State Department has published a guide on car bomb awareness.[22]

[edit] Boat-borne

Boats laden with explosives can be used against ships and areas connected to water. An early
example of this type was the Japanese Shinyo suicide boats during World War II. The boats were
laden with explosives and attempted to ram Allied ships, sometimes successfully, having sunk or
severely damaged several American ships by war's end. Suicide bombers used a boat-borne IED
to attack the USS Cole, US and UK troops have also been killed by boat-borne IEDs in
Iraq.[16][23]

[edit] Animal-borne
Monkeys and war pigs were used as incendiaries around 1000 AD. More famously the "anti-tank
dog" and "bat bomb" were developed during WW2. In recent times, a two-year old child and
seven other people were killed by explosives strapped to a horse in the town of Chita in
Colombia[24]

[edit] Collar bombs

IED strapped to the neck of farmers have been used on at least three occasions by guerrillas in
Colombia, as a way of extortion.[25][26] American pizza delivery man Brian Douglas Wells was
killed in 2003 by an explosive fastened to his neck, purportedly under duress from the maker of
the bomb.

[edit] Suicide bombers

Suicide bombing usually refers to an individual wearing explosives and detonating them in order
to kill others including themselves, a technique pioneered by LTTE (Tamil Tigers).[27] The
bomber will conceal explosives on and around their person, commonly using a vest and will use
a timer or some other trigger to detonate the explosives. The logic behind such attacks is the
belief that an IED delivered by a human has a greater chance of achieving success than any other
method of attack. In addition, there is the psychological impact of terrorists prepared to
deliberately sacrifice themselves for their cause.[28] Suicide bombers in Iraq are common in
marketplaces and where Iraqi army and police recruits frequent.

[edit] Platter charges

A form of IEDs being used in Iraq are platter charges, which are rectangular or circular pieces of
flat metal (usually steel) weighing a few kilograms with plastic explosives pressed onto one side
of the platter.[29] The amount of explosive used is usually equal, by weight, to the weight of the
platter. The explosives propel the platter into the target with an approximate velocity of
6,000 feet per second (1,800 m/s).[30] The effective range can be as far as 50 meters, limited by
the accuracy.

[edit] Explosively formed penetrators

Improvised explosive device in Iraq. The concave copper shape on top is an explosively formed
penetrator.

IEDs have been deployed in the form of explosively formed penetrators, a special type of shaped
charge that is effective at long standoffs from the target (50 meters or more). These are
especially problematic to counter because they can be placed far from their intended targets.[31]
An EFP is essentially a cylindrical shaped charge with a concave metal disc (often copper) in
front, pointed inwards. The force of the shaped charge turns the disc into a high velocity slug,
capable of penetrating the armor of most vehicles in Iraq.

[edit] Improvised Rocket Assisted Mortars

Main article: Lob bomb

In 2008, rocket-propelled IEDs, dubbed Improvised Rocket Assisted Mortars (IRAM) by the
military, came to be employed in numbers against U.S. forces in Iraq. They have been described
as propane tanks packed with explosives and powered by 107 mm rockets.[32] They are similar to
some Provisional IRA barrack buster mortars.

[edit] By trigger mechanisms

Command wire improvised explosive device (CWIED)

An IED utilizing and electrical firing cable which affords the user complete control over
the device right up until the moment of initiation.[28]
Radio controlled improvised explosive device (RCIED)
The trigger for this IED is controlled by radio link. The device is constructed so that the
receiver is connected to an electrical firing circuit and the transmitter operated by the
perpetrator at a distance, A signal from the transmitter causes the receiver to trigger a
firing pulse which operates the switch. Usually the switch fires an initiator; however, the
output may also be used to remotely arm an explosive circuit. Often the transmitter and
receiver operate on a matched coding system which prevents the RCIED from being
initiated by spurious radio frequency signals.[28] An RCIED can be triggered from any
 number of different mechanisms including car alarms, wireless door bells, cell phones,
pagers and encrypted GMRS radios.[28]
Cell phone RCIED
A radio-controlled IED incorporating a cell phone which is modified and connected to an
electrical firing circuit. Cell phones operate in the UHF band in line of sight with base
transceiver station (BTS) antennae sites. Commonly, receipt of a paging signal by phone
is sufficient to initiate the IED firing circuit.[28]
Victim-operated improvised explosive device (VOIED)
These are designed to function upon contact with a victim; also known as booby traps.
VOIED switches are often well hidden from the victim or disguised as innocuous
everyday objects. They are operated by means of movement. Switching methods include
tripwire, pressure mats, spring-loaded release, push, pull or tilt. Common forms of
VOIED include the under-vehicle IED (UVIED) and improvised landmines.[28]

[edit] Infrared

The British also accused Iran and Hezbollah of teaching Iraqi fighters to use infrared light beams
to trigger IEDs. As the occupation forces became more sophisticated in interrupting radio signals
around their convoys, the insurgents adapted their triggering methods.[33] In some cases, when a
more advanced method was disrupted, the insurgents regressed to using uninterruptible means,
such as hard wires from the IED to detonator; however, this method is much harder to effectively
conceal. It later emerged however, that these so-called "advanced" IEDs were actually old IRA
technology. The infrared beam method was perfected by the IRA in the early '90s after it
acquired the technology from a botched undercover British Army operation. Many of the IEDs
being used against coalition forces in Iraq were originally developed by the British Army who
unintentionally passed the information on to the IRA. [34] The IRA taught their techniques to the
Palestine Liberation Organisation and the knowledge spread to Iraq.[35]

[edit] Detection and disarmament

A U.S. Marine in Iraq shown with a robot used for disposal of buried devices
Israeli armored Caterpillar D9 bulldozer, which is used by the IDF Engineering Corps for
clearing heavy belly charges and booby-trapped buildings.

Since these devices are improvised, there are no specific guidelines for explosive ordnance
disposal (EOD) personnel to use to positively identify or categorize them. EOD personnel are
trained in the rendering safe and disposal of IEDs. The presence of chemical, biological,
radiological, or nuclear (CBRN) material in an IED requires additional precautions. As with
other missions, the EOD operator provides the area commander with an assessment of the
situation and of support needed to complete the mission.

Military forces and law enforcement personnel from around the world have developed a number
of render safe procedures (RSP) to deal with IEDs. RSPs may be developed as a result of direct
experience with devices or by applied research designed to counter the threat. The supposed
effectiveness of IED jamming systems, proven or otherwise, has caused IED technology to
essentially regress to command-wire detonation methods.[36] These are physical connections
between the detonator and explosive device and cannot be jammed. However, these types of
IEDs are more difficult to emplace quickly, and are more readily detected.

Military forces from India, Canada, United Kingdom, Israel, Spain and the United States are at
the forefront of counter-IED efforts, as all have direct experience in dealing with IEDs used
against them in conflict or terrorist attacks. From the research and development side, programs
such as the new Canadian Unmanned Systems Challenge, will bring students groups together to
invent an unmanned device to both locate IEDs and pinpoint the insurgents.[37]

Technological countermeasures are only part of the solution in the effort to defeat IEDs;
experience, training and awareness remain key factors in combating them. For example, there are
visual signs that may suggest the presence of an IED, such as recently turned-over soil or sand by
a road, or an abandoned vehicle beside a road. Recognizing these telltale signs may be as
valuable as having sophisticated detection equipment