Modernized Demolition Initiator update

Engineer: The Professional Bulletin for Army Engineers, July, 2002 by Jeffrey Sergeant First Class Venus

The Army is fielding the newest components to the Modernized Demolition Initiator (MDI) family--the M151 and M152 booster assemblies. These components are the materiel solutions for the restrictions placed on the MDI in 1998, which limited the operational uses of the M11 and M16 MDI shock tubes. The M11 and M16 will be phased out as they are replaced by the M151 and M152. The new MDI components will give our soldiers the most modem pieces of equipment in the demolition inventory and ensure that they have the competitive edge required on the battlefield.

Background

The MDI was initially fielded in 1996. But testing indicated, and field commanders confirmed, that there were serious shortcomings. The problems center on a simultaneity issue and the sensitivity of the high-strength blasting caps. In addition, field commanders raised issues concerning burying high-strength blasting caps and prepriming charges for transport to mission sites. Due to these shortcomings, on 3 December 1998, the Engineer School issued a Letter of Instruction that restricted the use of the M11 and M16 MDI components until these issues were resolved.

Description

The MDI is used for standard military demolition missions. When first type-classified in 1996, the MDI had a safety limitation that prohibited the priming of underground charges with devices containing sensitive primary explosives. The M151 and M152 booster assemblies overcome this limitation and the operational employment restrictions. The M151 and M152 consist of a booster, which contains only insensitive secondary explosives, and a length of low-powered detonating cord (5 grains/foot versus 50 grains/foot for high strength) with a high-strength booster in lengths of 10 feet and 30 feet respectively. As such, the low-powered detonating cord will not cut itself or other detonating cords if crossed.

The boosters at the end of the M151 and M152 assemblies look like blasting caps, but they are not blasting caps because they contain no primary explosives. Although the boosters have the same strength as #12 commercial caps, they can be treated like detonating cord because they contain only secondary explosives. The booster end piece (the part that looks like a cap) is added to the low-strength detonating cord to fit the system into standard military cap wells.

These new components provide the same functionality as the M11 and M16 blasting cap assemblies, but with expanded capabilities. The M151 and M152 have been fully tested in all primary missions, but there are no safety restrictions as there are on the M11 and M16. Also, when using the M151 and M152, it is safe to preprime and carry the demolitions.

New Equipment Training

The Maneuver Support Center (MANSCEN) Directorate of Training Development will ensure that all combat engineers receive new equipment training (NET), to include training on all MDI components and the M151 and M152 systems. Questions about NET should be directed to--

* Staff Sergeant Bob Watson, (573) 596-0131, extension 36299, watsonb@wood.army.mil

* Sergeant First Class Jeffrey Venus (Retired), (573) 596-0131, extension 37994, venusj@wood.army.mil

Future Demolition Modernization

Progress does not stop; therefore, the Engineer School continues striving to reduce the weight and volume of demolition systems to transition the Engineer Regiment to the Interim and Objective Forces. Future articles will describe the Demolition Modernization Plan for long-term Army requirements, which was presented in the Demolition White Paper sent to TRADOC and DA for approval. In the short term, improvements to the MDI will include versions of a new "minitube" system. The new components of the MDI will soon undergo developmental and operational testing. The target date for initial fielding of a new lightweight, low-volume minitube MDI system is the end of FY02.

The point of contact for information on demolition issues or to relay concerns from the field is Sergeant First Class Jeffrey Venus (Retired), U.S. Army MANSCEN, Directorate of Combat Developments, 320 MANSCEN Loop, Suite 141, Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri 65473-8929; commercial (573) 596-0131, extension 37994; DSN 676-7994, e-mail venusj@wood.army.mil.

Sergeant First Class Venus was a combat developer for demolition items at MANSCEN when he wrote this article.