Marines develop new breaching system.

• Author: Williams, Robert H.
• Position: Tech Talk - Brief Article

A lightweight anti-personnel obstacle breaching system is able to clear a 2-foot wide path through 150 feet of treacherous minefield in 2 minutes flat.

This recent advance, which was developed by the Marine Corps Systems Command program manager for ammunition, is contained in two, 60-pound backbacks. It allows combat engineers from a safe, standoff position to fire a rocket with a line charge composed of 108 grenade-like explosives across the area in question.

Called APOBS, this new system does the work of a squad deploying three Bangalore torpedo kits weighing 450 pounds. An official points out...