America's North Shore Journal

Nestled along busy routes filled with innocent, unsuspecting Iraqi citizens and caring little who unfortunately cross their path, explosively formed penetrators wield mammoth destructive power and the potential to violently kill or maim with a single ignition. “Once a device detonates, it doesn’t know or care what it hits,” said Staff Sgt. Eric Loar, Multi-National Division – Center Explosive Ordnance Disposal integrator. “Fragmentation is indiscriminate.” First developed during the World War II, EFPs are a type of shaped charge created with a specific goal in mind – destruction. Since June, there have been 16 EFP strikes in the MND-C area of operations in Iraq, each posing a risk of destroying lives and property. “EFPs are devices that use explosives to focus a weighed piece of metal, designed solely to defeat armor,” said Loar. “Typically … Read entire article »