‘FOLLOW THE SAPPER’ – DEVELOPING BATTLEFIELD INFRASTRUCTURE
By Julian Nettlefold, Editor, BATTLESPACE
This is the second in our series ‘FOLLOW THE SAPPER’ – DEVELOPING BATTLEFIELD INFRASTRUCTURE, By Julian Nettlefold, Editor, BATTLESPACE
The development of out-of-area operations and fast-moving and fluid warfare techniques have led to the development of new battlefield infrastructure techniques to meet these requirements. Whilst in days gone by barracks would be built to last years for the garrisons of invading or peace keeping troops, now, given that timescales have been reduced, lighter more deployable systems have been developed to provide instant ‘tented cities.’
HESCO Bastion
The development of the Camp Bastion barracks was pioneered by U.K. specialist Hesco Bastion whose‘instant protected barracks’ spring up from the desert, as if by a miracle.
HESCO Bastion Concertainer® has been a key component in providing Force Protection since the 1991 Persian Gulf War, and is used by major military organisations around the world.
HESCO Concertainer® is a prefabricated, multi-cellular system, made of galvanised steel Weldmesh and lined with non-woven polypropylene geotextile. It is delivered flat-packed on standard timber skids or pallets. Units can be extended and joined using the provided joining pins and filled with available material using minimal manpower and commonly available equipment.
HESCO Concertainer® can be installed in various configurations to provide effective and economical structures tailored to the specific threat and level of protection required. It is used extensively in the protection of personnel, vehicles, equipment and facilities in military, peacekeeping, humanitarian and civilian operations.
HESCO Concertainer® is used extensively in the protection of personnel, vehicles, equipment and facilities from the effects of weapons. Structures built from HESCO Concertainer® provide protection by enhancing the mass and characteristics of the fill material, and have been subjected to testing with charges up to 20,000lbs.
The primary advantage of HESCO Concertainer® over other force protection systems is its ability to utilise locally available fill material to rapidly construct defence walls and other structures with minimal manpower and resources.
Typical Applications Include:- Perimeter Security and Defence Walls; Equipment Revetments; Ammunition Compounds; Personnel and Material Bunkers; Observation Points; Defensive Firing Positions; Guard Posts; Explosives and Contraband Search Areas; Highway Checkpoints; Border Crossing Checkpoints
Protecting Existing Structures; Highway Traffic Management
CINTEC Waterwall
The Waterwall™ range of rapidly deployed water based blast mitigation structures developed by Cintec International, was launched on 17 May 2007.
Waterwall™ is the world’s first rapid deployment blast mitigation system, which harnesses the high mass of water to dramatically reduce the effects of explosions. Depending on size, Waterwall™ structures can be inflated in minutes and folded away when not in use. Minimal training is necessary. It comprises a range of self-inflating, water filled structures capable of providing a high level of protection to people and property against terrorist devices from a car bomb down to a shoesized device, including those containing chemical, biological and radiological agents. Tests have demonstrated that Waterwall™ minimises collateral damage by over 80%.
“This new product for the first time enables organisations with responsibility for the safety of people on their premises to provide protection against explosive devices, in the same way that the seat belt or the fire extinguisher became standard technology to protect people,” says Peter James, Managing Director, Cintec International.
The British Army’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal Regiment is currently procuring additional Waterwall™ bins for handling conventional explos