Ministry of National Defense Republic of Korea

[2nd Army Engineer Brigade] Building Confidence, Eliminating Fears

The 2nd Army Engineer Brigade had a warfighting experiment with live mines on different road types

Maximizing the combined combat capability, with the participation of neighboring infantrymen and gunners as well

“Voltage detection clear! Charging clear! Safety pin removed! Fire, fire, fire!”

We are at the air-land joint training site in Hwacheon-gun, Gangwon-do, on March 31. As soon as the command was heard, there was a blast and fragments scattered everywhere with a rumble and a roar, and in a moment only the shell of the vehicle on a speed bump was left.

This explosion was a warfighting experiment with live mines that the 2nd Army Engineer Brigade had arranged to test the effectiveness of mine deployment as suggested on the manual, as well as to provide field forces with an effective way to install them.

Involving approximately 200 soldiers including Colonel Woo Yeon-ryong, the 2nd brigade commander, the training, etc., which consisted of explosions of live mines, a field trip to mine set-up measuring samples, and more, proceeded for about one hour. Troops went beyond simple verification of the explosive power of the mines, as they had to consider the effects of changes in the operational environment, such as rapid urbanization and road pavements, etc..

Prior to this experiment, the brigade had a training ammunition trial with the combat experimentation department of the R.O.K. Army Engineer School to identify how to set a mine effectively and determine the quantity of mines needed, using the speed bump for one week.

During the training ammunition trial, the brigade carried out 2 types of tests. One was to lay a mine and install the speed bump on its top after drilling a road pavement, and the other was to utilize the modified speed bump so that the mine can be set inside the bump on the paved road.

Those 2 ways were compared in terms of concealment, economic efficiency, effectiveness, and achievement of operational goal, etc..

In addition to the types of speed bumps, other effective ways to install mines were suggested, considering interval of mine set-up by road type and contact area, etc..

Based on the result of this training ammunition, the explosion of live mines was conducted to determine which ways to set mines suggested from prior experiments during the warfighting experiment.

The brigade set M15 antitank mines in 4 ways, which were surface disguising, stone grave disguising, utilization of the existing speed bumps, and utilization of modified ones, then positioned 2 and a half-tons of scrap car on the mine in order to identify its power.

As well, M19 antitank mines were also installed from 3 and 6 meters away for verification of syspathetic detonation .

Participants were able to witness the power of a live explosion that they had previously only learned about through theory, and broadened their knowledge about minefield operation based on changes in the operational environment through this actual warfighting experiment with live mines.

The brigade also allowed infantrymen and gunners in Chuncheon and Hwacheon areas to watch the warfighting experiment, so that they could enhance their understanding of how to install a minefield and the power of antitank mines, and maximize combined combat capability between combined arms operations by exchanging opinions about tactical operations.

In addition, the brigade arranged thorough safety measures by cooperating with various supporting organizations including an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team, Hwacheon police station, Hwacheon 119 safety center, emergency stand-by team, etc.. and tried to prevent safety accidents through training control and securing a sufficient safe distance.

Brigade commander Woo said, “This warfighting experiment with live mines means a lot, as it went beyond a simple demonstration and has contributed to our operation ability in the changing battlefield environment. Through actual educational training, we’ll cultivate a sense of combat in our military engineers that will enable them to overcome all kinds of unfavorable conditions.”

By Seok-Jong, Lee < seokjong@dema.mil.kr >
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