US Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal
EOD Forces in Support of
Operation ENDURING FREEDOM and
Operation IRAQI FREEDOM
The Acquisition Perspective
CDR Tom Green
PMS-EOD
Mine Warfare Association Spring Meeting
May 2003
SUMMARY OF EOD FORCES
Globally Dispersed Detachments
Whidbey
2 ASD
EODMU 6
Charleston
4 EOD MCM
BG/ATG
EMBARKED
EOD DETS
Norfolk
1 ASD
BG/ATG
EMBARKED
EOD DETS
BG/ATG
EMBARKED
EOD DETS
EODMU 3
Coronado
5 EOD MCM
EODMU 5
Sasebo, Japan
1 EOD MCM
Sigonella
1 ASD
EODMU 8
Bahrain
1 EOD MCM
Charleston
1 ASD
S.D.
1 ASD
NSCT-1
2 MMS MCM
1 VSW MCM
VSW MMS Platoon
Diver Platoon
UUV Platoon
BG/ATG
EMBARKED
EOD DETS
EODMU 6
Ingleside, TX
2 EOD MCM
EODMU 8
Sigonella
2 EOD MCM
BG/ATG
EMBARKED
EOD DETS
EODMU 5
Guam
1 EOD MCM
Dedicated EOD MCM DETs
(Enhanced MCM Capabilities)
Dedicated MMS/VSW DETs
(Specialized MCM Capabilities)
Dedicated Area Search DETs
(Limited MCM Capabilities)
Afloat EOD DETs
(Partial MCM Capabilities)
CHOKEPOINTS
Shore Support EOD DETs
(Limited MCM Capabilities)
EOD FORCES DEPLOYED
• Primary Missions:
• Mine Countermeasures (NSCT ONE,
EODMU 2, 3, 6, 8)
• Force Protection/Anti-Terrorism
(EODMU 3, EODMU 7)
• UXO Operations Ashore (EODMU 2, 6, 8)
• Shipboard DETs (CVBG/ARG)
• Areas Deployed:
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•
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Afghanistan
Umm Qasr
Bahrain
Rumaila Oil Fields
BACKGROUND
EOD Mission
ELIMINATE THE HAZARDS FROM UNEXPLODED ORDNANCE
(UXO) WHICH JEOPARDIZE OPERATIONS IN SUPPORT OF THE
NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY
EOD FUNCTIONS
DETECT/LOCATE
ACCESS
IDENTIFY
RENDER SAFE
RECOVER/EXPLOIT
DISPOSE
EOD THREAT AREAS
CONVENTIONAL ORDNANCE:
• SURFACE/AIR
• UNDERWATER
• CHEMICAL/BIOLOGICAL
• NUCLEAR
UNCONVENTIONAL DEVICES:
• IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE
DEVICES
• WMD (CHEM/BIO/NUCLEAR)
PROGRAM MANAGEMENT OFFICE
EXPLOSIVE ORDNANCE DISPOSAL
(PMS-EOD)
 PMS-EOD Provides Life Cycle Management of:
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Joint Service EOD Programs
Underwater EOD Programs
Marine Mammal Programs
Very Shallow Water MCM Programs
 Responsibilities include Budgeting, Development, In-service
Engineering, and Operation and Maintenance Support
 The EOD Mission Requires Specialized Systems and Equipment for:
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•
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Exploration and Reconnaissance MCM
Low Visible Operations
Low Signature (Magnetic and Acoustic)
Operation in Harsh Environments
Small, Mobile Deployed EOD Forces
TODAY’S BRIEF
 Will focus on a few PMS-EOD acquisition programs
that have been deployed ISO recent operations in
Afghanistan and the Middle East
 Some of these systems deployed in “operational
prototype” modes
 Only possible due to active engagement of users and
support from labs during the prototype development
stages
 Looking forward to hot wash-up and lessons learned
to determine how we can do better
Bottom line:
EOD Forces have a “tool bag” approach to their missions.
Our job is to keep the tool bag relevant and supported.
The EOD Ashore UXO “Toolbag”
Tactical Integration of Small UGVs with EOD Forces
• Rapid UXO Clearance
• Reduce Risk to EOD Technician
• Stand-of Disruption
• Remote Identification/Inspection
• Multiple UXO Clearance Ops
JOINT SERVICE EOD
ROBOTIC PROGRAMS
MK 3 MOD 0 REMOTE ORDNANCE NEUTRALIZATION SYSTEM (RONS)
MISSION
• Complement/augment the EOD Technician when
Performing Reconnaissance, Access, Render Safe,
Pick up and Carry Away, and Disposal
During Hazardous EOD Missions
• Indoor/Outdoor
Capability
• IEDs/Conventional
Ordnance
Source: Air Force Link
Source: Air Force Link
JOINT SERVICE EOD
ROBOTIC PROGRAMS
MAN TRANSPORTABLE ROBOTIC SYSTEM (MTRS)
MISSION
• Complement/Augment the EOD Technician
when Performing Reconnaissance, Render
Safe, Disruption, Disposal During
Extremely Hazardous EOD Missions
• Indoor/Outdoor Capability
• UXO/IEDs
“While airborne robots, otherwise known as unmanned
aerial vehicles, first gained notoriety in Operation Desert
Storm, a treads-on-the-ground cousin, the ‘Packbot,’ has
now debuted in Operation Iraqi Freedom.”
“A robot was used to remotely look for enemy soldiers
thought to be hiding in an agricultural center building on
March 30th. The following day it was used to remotely
examine equipment left on an airfield before engineers
from the 101st Airborne cleared the runway for
humanitarian relief operations, according to Sgt. 1st Class
Tim South, special projects noncommissioned officer for
the Rapid Equipping Force.”
Excerpts from “Robots put “treads on the ground” in Iraq “
By Timothy L. Rider, Information Management Task Force
http://www.amc.army.mil/amc/pa/releases03/robots.html
The EOD Underwater UXO “Toolbag”
Tactical Integration of Small UUVs with Diver & MMS Forces
EOD & VSW
DIVER
Tactically integrate affordable,
small UUV systems into the
VSW & EOD toolbags to:
• Reduce risk to divers
• Improve effectiveness and
efficiency
• Sustain “small team”
concept in spite of
proliferating UXO threats
• Get man out of the
minefield where possible
MCM MARINE MAMMAL
SYSTEMS
FLEET
MARINE MAMMAL SYSTEMS
MK 5 MMS
MK 4 MMS
Mine
Countermeasures
MK 7 MMS
Mine Countermeasures
Object Recovery
System
MK 8 MMS
VSW MCM
MK 6 MMS
Force Protection
Swimmer Defense
MK 6 MARINE MAMMAL SYSTEM
Mission: Swimmer &
Diver Detection
Complement: Six Dolphins
Sensory Capability: BioSonar
Rapid Deployment Capability
Calls to Duty:
• Vietnam, 1970
• EARNEST WILL, 1987
• Republican Convention, 1996
• IRAQI FREEDOM
MK 6 MMS TOOL BAG
Design: 3-layer system
• Inner Waterproof Vinyl Liner
• Thermal Neoprene Bag Layer
• Exterior Nylon Protective Bag
MK 7 MARINE MAMMAL SYSTEM
Mission: Bottom Mine Hunting & Neutralization
Complement: Eight Dolphins
Sensory Capability: BioSonar
Rapid Deployment Capability
Enhancements:
• Shipboard Forward Deployment
• SW/VSW Amphibious Mine Hunting
Source: US Navy News
Calls to Duty:
• Republican Convention, 1996
• IRAQI FREEDOM
Source: US Navy News
MK 7 MMS VSW
A MK 7 MMS Product Improvement Program
• Work Boat Equipment and Tactics
Focus on Operations in VSW
Region (10-40 FSW)
• Operates in a Post Assault
Environment Against VSW
Anti-Invasion Mines
• Marker Station Keeping in Surge
Environment
• Reports Bottom or In-Volume
Mines
MK 8 MARINE MAMMAL SYSTEM
Mission: Advance Force & Pre-Assault VSW MCM
Complement: Four dolphins
Sensory Capability: BioSonar
Rapid Deployment Capability
Capabilities:
• Minefield exploration
and reconnaissance
• Detect and locate all
VSW mines
• Higher probability of
detection and
significantly greater
search rates than
divers
• Shipboard Forward
Deployed
Employment:
• Production Decision Oct 2001
• Several Fleet exercises in
conjunction with
developmental testing
Calls to Duty:
• IRAQI FREEDOM
MK 8 MMS
Source: AP News
Source: US Navy News
Source: US Navy News
NEW MARINE MAMMAL SECURITY SYSTEM
Product Improvement to
existing MK 5/6 MMS.
Prototype Deployed to
Bahrain ISO Operation
IRAQI FREEDOM.
Source: US Navy News
Source: US Navy News
Source: US Navy News
Source: US Navy News
EVOLUTIONARY VSW MCM UUV PROGRAM
Small UUV Systems for Search-Classify-Map UUV Mission
• Developed Cadre
of Small UUV Experts
• UOES Completed
150 missions/
Over 200 hours
UUV mission time
• Vehicles traveled > 700 NM
through water
• Developed SOP and draft
CONOPS for integration into
MCM Force
• Interim capability:
3-vehicle system
(MK 18 MOD 0 SCULPIN)
Exercises:
• Kaho’olawe Survey
• Full Mission
Profiles, Camp
Pendleton
• Exercise Bank
Calls to Duty:
Shot, North
• San Diego Bay Carrier Pier Search
Carolina
(Post-9/11)
• RIMPAC-02, Hawaii• Deployed to C5F for ATFP Operational
• FBE-J, Camp
Demonstration – ASU BAHR
Pendleton
• Umm Qasr, IRAQI FREEDOM
EOD ATFP UUV PROGRAM
Post - 9/11 Defense Emergency Response Fund (DERF) Initiative
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Limited Deployment Capability for Rapid
Object Localization Tactics With Small UUVs
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Fielded Prototype REMUS UUVs at two
EOD Units (1 East Coast/1 West Coast)
within 10 Months of Funding Start
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FY03/04 Initiative
> 30 Missions Per Unit to Date
Ship Berthing Area Surveys
Mine Relocation at Ingleside
Fleet feedback continues – Feeding
Requirements Refinement for FY 2004 EOD
UUV Program
Shorter Tactical Timelines and Reduced
Risk to Diver Search in Harbors and Under
Hulls
ROV Rapid Procurement Ongoing to Assist
in Under-hull Tactics
ONR Technology Efforts Ongoing for Under
Hull UUV Applications
Change
Detection
Bridge Pilings
Operation IRAQI FREEDOM
OPERATIONAL STATISTICS:
• Four Teams of Specialized Underwater Operators to Include:
• US Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit Six (DETs 2, 6, and 8)
• US Naval Special Clearance Team One
(with a UUV Platoon, a Diver Platoon, and
2 Dolphin DETs)
• UK Fleet Diving Group, and
• Australian Clearance Dive Team
SOME SPECIFIC STATISTICS:
• 913 Nautical Miles of Water Space
Cleared (Coalition MCM Ships,
Helos, Coalition Divers, UUVs, and
Mammals)
• 237 Mine-like Objects Discovered/
Investigated
• 90 Mines Recovered/Interdicted
• 11 Mines Destroyed
Source: US Navy News
Source: US Navy News
EOD FORCES
Operation IRAQI FREEDOM
UMM QASR EOD FORCES
 Coalition forces conducted land and water clearance operations in the Port of
Umm Qasr
 U.S. Navy EOD Teams disposed of 4,962 items for a total net explosive weight of
35,937 lbs UXO
 Coalition divers conducted a total of 174 dives for a total bottom time of 110 hrs
and 20 min
 Cleared 21 berths and all land areas in new and old ports
1 MEF/CFLCC EOD SUPPORT
 U.S. Navy EOD Teams assigned to U.S. Marine Corps:
• Assigned to Marine Engineering Group (MEG SERT) providing land and
riverine IED, UXO and landmine clearance support (cleared 27 caches, 24
neighborhoods, train station and a hospital)
• Assigned to Fuel Line Teams and maneuver element providing land, IED,
UXO and landmine clearance support
 Disposed over 800,000 items for a total net explosive weight of over 330,000 lbs
UXO
EOD FORCES
Operation IRAQI FREEDOM (cont’d)
CFLCC RESTORE IRAQI OIL EOD SUPPORT
 U.S. Navy EOD assigned to Restore Iraqi Oil (RIO) mission in Southern and
Northern Rumaila Oil Fields escorting LOGCAP
 Cleared GOSPs in southern fields, GOSPs and pump stations in northern
fields, GOSPs and pump stations and IPSA in Az Zubayr
 Cleared 402 oil wells and over 2 square miles for firefighting and media
 Located and disposed of 21 weapons and ammo caches with total N.E.W. of
approximately 11,000 lbs.
SALVAGE
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Conducted salvage/recovery operations in support of coalition forces
Recovered 2 SH-3 UK helicopters and 6 of 7 deceased aircrew
Recovered A/V-8 A/C
Disposed/scuttled 2 partially submerged Dhows (hazards to navigation)
Salvage of 2 sunken Patrol Boats in Ports of Umm Qasr and KorAzubahr
EOD FORCES
Operation IRAQI FREEDOM (cont’d)
EOD FP DIVES
 Conducted 482 EOD Force Protection Dives in support of C5F, MPS,
APS, and MSC shipping.
 Kuwait - Port of Ash Shuaybah and KNB: 46
 Qatar - Port of Mesaieed: 35; Seychelles: 11; Djibouti: 7
 Bahrain - Mina Sulman: 117
 UAE - Jebel Ali/Fujiara: 251
 Oman - Salalah: 15
EOD FORCES
Operation IRAQI FREEDOM (cont’d)
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“The arrival of a relief ship laden with emergency
supplies at the port of Umm Qasr on Friday
followed several days of allied mine clearing
efforts… in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
The operation marked…the initial operational
launch of Navy unmanned underwater vehicles,
according to Rear Adm. Paul Ryan, Commander
of Mine Warfare Command.”
Inside the Navy, 31 March 2003

“It’s [NSCT-1 UUV Platoon] done a wonderful job
for us over there in the Umm Qasr vicininty and
we are looking forward to the end of the conflict
to be able to tell the full story of the first
operational deployment of UUVs.”
RDML Paul Ryan, CMWC
Inside the Navy , 31 Mar 2003

“…[UUVs] gadgets were the main workhorses of
the mine clearing effort… if one got blown up in
the process, the relatively cheap price meant it
would be no big deal.”
LT Richard Haas, USN
OIC, NSCT-1
Inside the Navy ,31 Mar 2003
EOD FORCES
Operation IRAQI FREEDOM (cont’d)
 COMLANTFLT endorsement to a
COMEODGRU TWO ltr outlining requirement for
small UUVs for Navy EOD underwater UXO
operations.
•
“UUVs will allow divers to focus on the more
complex and arduous task of neutralization, in
place render safe operations and exploitation
intelligence gathering.”
Paul Ryan
RDML, USN
CLF N8
 Post 9-11 REMUS Employment in Carrier
Basin/San Diego.
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“Search and reacquisition of targets
consumes an inordinate amount of available
mission time using current technologies. UUV
employment will act as a force multiplier and
allow EOD technicians and divers to use their
limited bottom time rendering safe underwater
ordnance or conducting salvage operations
vice conducting extensive search operations.”
W. E. Wright,
CAPT, USN
COMEODGRU ONE
SUMMARY
 PMS-EOD responsible for the majority of the UUVs and
UGVs fielded in DoD.
 PMS-EOD remains closely engaged with sponsor and
end-users in accelerated acquisition projects for small
UUVs and UGVs.
 Tactical integration of these tools with EOD forces, their
TT&P, and with other tools in their toolbag is key to
successfully countering UXO in the operational
environment.
 Leveraging technology investments of other larger UUV
and UGV programs and technology investments remains a
key element of our strategy.