2014-04-03 21:38:30
More than 70 years after the WWII Polish sappers have about 30 missions per day
World War II ended in Poland, as in other countries, in 1945. However, the front went through the Polish territory since 1939 at least three times. Despite the large sapper operations in the first years after World War II, in the land and docks there were very large amounts of unexploded ordnance. On the 2nd of April 2014, Polish sapper patrols did 26 operations during which they secured 30 hand grenades, 150 artillery shells, four missiles, two aerial bombs, one mine and 300 rounds of ammunition.
EOD teams received specialist cars Topola-S (on the chassis IVECO).
Polish Armed Forces are obliged to remove unexploded ordnance during the 72 hours from the notification. In cases of urgency, the time is reduced to 24 hours. After the acquisition of dangerous finds, they are usually planted on military training grounds.
In the continuous disposal there are 39 patrols sustained, and 2 groups of divers-sappers. The teams are spread throughout the country and operate within the existing military units. The composition of the patrol is usually 8 soldier-specialists. Their professionalism is demonstrated by the fact that, despite the dangerous daily service for many years, there wasn't any accident involving soldiers EOD teams.
Sometimes, especially in Warsaw, you can find something like a 660 mm round from German mortar named Karl .
In recent years, sapper patrols received modern equipment. Until now, their means of transport were Polish-made jeeps Honker and trucks Star 266. Starting in 2013, the EOD teams received specialist cars Topola-S. A total of 44 pieces were ordered for an amount close to 50 million PLN (16 million USD). The most important feature is its special compartment adapted to secure the explosion up to 3.5 kilograms of TNT. Special trailers with containers adapted to secure the explosion even 10 kilograms of TNT are also bought.
Annually, about 300 soldiers from EOD teams takes 7-8 thousand missions related to the liquidation of the explosive danger. These tasks are already performed by another generation of sappers and it does not seem to be the last.
Dziennik Zbrojny
