I E D   T

A S K

  F

O RC E

   

N

E W S L E T T E R

 

I E D  T a s k   F o r c e   F i e ld   T e a m  
B u i l d i n g   1 0 0 ,  C a m p   V i c t o r y  
B a g h d a d ,  I r a q  
C o m m e r c i a l :  7 0 3 - 6 2 1 - 6 5 4 3  
D N V T :   3 0 2 - 5 5 0 - 2 1 1 9  
W e b s i t e :  h t t p :/ / i e d t a s k fo r c e . a r m y . s m i l . m i l  

EOD recently responded to a re-
port of two mutilated cows with 
possible wires leading from the 
carcasses to a drainage gate 
placed in the middle of a road.   
On arrival at the scene, EOD 
cleared the area around the car-
casses and identified the point of 
detonation and recovered compo-
nents of an improvised pressure 
switch.   Fragmentation recovered 
from the scene was consistent 
with a thin cased munition such 
as a 80-120mm rocket warhead.  
The point of detonation was lo-
cated on the edge of the road 
near the pressure plate that was 
initiated by one of the cows.  The 
incident is believed  to be linked 

to a rocket attack where the point 
of origin (POO) was located ap-
proximately 300m away.  The 
road where the Victim Operated 
IED (VOIED) was emplace is the 
only route leading to the POO 
which makes it highly probable 
that the VOIED was emplaced to 
ambush coalition forces during 
their immediate response to the 
rocket attack.  Coalition Forces 
must use extreme caution when 
investigating the POO of a rocket 
or mortar attack.  To prevent from 
becoming predictable, it is recom-
mended to avoid the obvious 
routes, and to vary the routes if 
the enemy continues to conduct 
attacks from the same location. 

V o l u m e   1 ,  I s s u e   1 3  

L

E A D

  S

T O R Y

  H

E A D L I N E

 

1 6   A u g u s t   2 0 0 4  

S

H A R IN G

  S

O LD IE R

  K

N OW LE D GE

 

I E D   T

I C K E R

 

 

N  

2 6 / 1 8        

N C    

6 7 / 5 9        

W    

5 1 / 3 4        

B

A G H D A D

   

4 9 / 9 4        

C S    

2 / 5      

S E  

1 / 3

 

 

* Number of IED Events for Week Ending 7 Aug 04 / Week Ending 14 Aug 04. 

VO I E D  E

M P L A C E D

 

O N

  R

OA D

 

L

E A D I N G

 

T O

  P

O I N T

 

O F

  O

R I G I N

 

POO  

300m 

VOIED 

 

 

Don’t be 

predictable 

 

 

Avoid the 

obvious routes 

 

 

Vary your 

routes 

 

 

Pressure Switch 

I E D   T a s k   F o r c e   N e w s l e t t e r  

A patrol recently investigated a 
tire they spotted on their route 
that they considered to be suspi-
cious and found two 100mm pro-
jectiles with a garage door opener 
initiator.  As they cordoned the 
area, they discovered an impro-
vised rocket launcher (IRL) at-
tached to a tree pointed towards 
the location of the primary device.  
The IRL was 100m north in a 

palm grove along a trail that ran 
perpendicular to the patrolled 
route.  The device consisted of a 
57mm High Explosive Anti-Tank 
(HEAT) round in a steel pipe that 
was affixed approximately 4 ft 
high to a palm tree with a nylon 
strap, and a pager initiator.  This 
incident highlights the importance 

of sweeping 360 degrees around 
suspected IEDs when cordoning 
the area.  If the security element 
had not searched the area to the 
north of the road, the IRL would 
not have been found and may 
have killed the EOD soldiers re-
sponding to clear the primary IED.   

 

 

The Bait and Trap is an attempt by AIF to in-
flict casualties by drawing Coalition Forces 
into a desired kill zone, while maintaining 
maximum survivability with planned escape 
routes.  In past issues, IED TF Newsletters 
have  highlighted other Bait and Trap scenar-
ios that were recently seen but beware that 
AIF will continue to refine this TTP. 

The Bait and Trap TTP has been used by Anti-
Iraqi Forces (AIF) for quite some time but has 
been a noticeable increase in the last few 
weeks.  The use of this TTP is a clear indicator 
that AIF are observing and studying the TTPs 
being used by our patrols, QRF, and EOD to 
include routes being used, security and cordon 
procedures, and IED disarming techniques.  

P a g e   2  

I

M P R O V I S E D

  R

O C K E T

  L

A U N C H E R

 

A S

 

A

  S

E C O N DA RY

  D

E V I C E

 

Scan for 

secondary 

devices 

 

 

Sweep the area 

360 degrees  

 

 

Search high 

and low 

B

A I T

 

A N D

  T

R A P

  T T P

S

 

Initiator 

IRL 

Primary IED 

in Tire 

IRL 100m North