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PENETRATION OF THE WARRIOR ARMOURED PERSONNEL CARRIER (APC) BY SHAPED CHARGE IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICES (IED) – EMERGING INJURY PATTERNS

For 20 years the Warrior APC has been the workhorse of the British Army Infantry. Attacks have been focused on the weak point between the body and the turret resulting in injury to the commander, gunner and driver, but not the passengers. From December 2006 to February 2007 there were 3 IED incidents involving the Warrior APC in which the main armour and the body was breached. This resulted in significant injury patterns and casualty numbers.

Cases:

1. In late December 6 casualties were admitted to the Field Hospital (6xT3), all suffering from thermal and/or fragmentation injures.
   
2. In mid-January, 4 casualties were admitted (1xT0, 1xT1, 1xT2, 1xT3). Injuries sustained included traumatic amputation of the lower limb, thermal, and lower limb fragmentation injuries.
   
3. In early February 6 casualties were seen in the Field Hospital (1xT0, 2xT1, 1xT2, 2xT3). Again injuries sustained included traumatic amputation of lower and upper limbs, thermal and fragmentation and blast injury.
   

In each case the IED was deployed at distances of approximately 30ft and consisted of a homemade shaped-charge of approximately 32kg. Its detonation was via a short command wire and fired at an angle of 0–45°. Three injury patterns emerged – 1) Thermal, 2) Blast and 3) Ballistic – with worsening severity if suffering from one, two or all three types. The average number of casualties per incident was 5.3, higher than seen in data collected in 2006 (2.3, Ramasamay et al).

The use of improvised shaped-charges has resulted in significant injuries to the passengers of the Warrior APC. These have been a combination of thermal, ballistic and blast, often resulting in traumatic amputation. Due to the confined space of the APC an increase in casualties per incident has been observed and subsequent increase demand on medical resources.

Correspondence should be addressed to Major M Butler RAMC, Princess Elizabeth Orthopaedic Centre, Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, Exeter, Devon.

Correspondence should be addressed to Major M Butler, CSOS, Institute of Naval Medicine, Crescent Road, Alverstoke, Hants PO12 2D