| Place | Asia: Afghanistan, Uruzgan Province |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | REL46113 |
| Collection type | Technology |
| Object type | Explosive device component |
| Physical description | Metal, Wood |
| Maker |
Unknown |
| Date made | Unknown |
| Conflict |
Afghanistan, 2001-2021 |
Improvised explosive device : high metal content pressure plate
Description
High metal content pressure plate consisting of a rip saw blade and a timber base with a thin sheet of metal.
History / Summary
Australian engineers uncovered this pressure plate while searching a vulnerable point of road in Mirabad in March 2011. If the metal strips came into contact by being stepped on or driven over, it would send a charge to the detonator and trigger the Improvised Explosive Device (IED).
IEDs have caused more casualties to Australian service personnel in Afghanistan than any other weapon. They usually consist of four principal components arranged in an electrical circuit: a trigger or switch, a power source, a detonator, and a main explosive charge. The main charge often contains metal fragments to increase the blast effect.