CENTAF EXPLOSIVE ORDNANCE DISPOSAL REPORT, FREEDOM

File: 970729_aadeu_02.txt
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               AFTO Form 358 Fl152X-000l Continuation
    
    The EOD team arrived in Kuwait without much difficulty once transportation
    problems had been worked out by HQ CENTAF/D05E. There were a few problems
    that came to light once we were on the ground at Kuwait International
    Airport.
    
    Number one, once all of the cargo was placed safely on the ground the EOD
    team had no way of transporting it to the Ministry of Education where we to
    be housed. The largest vehicles we deployed with where HUMMWVs and our
    equipment required at least several trips with a 2.5 ton truck. The EOD
    team chief, Capt Olson, contacted several agencies for assistance but there
    was none to be found. Finely a Reserve Army Transportation Company was
    found and offered to help transport our equipment to the Kuwait Ministry of
    Education. Once there. Capt Olson inquired on how the other EOD units
    transported thier equipment and found out they deploy with their own trucks
    because there is usually no support available at the deployment locations.
    We later found out that we needed 2.5 ton trucks just to do out- day to day
    "askings. The wit- Force needs to consider a larger vehicle deployment
    package for such EOD operations as the restoration of Kuwait. In addition
    to proper vehicles the maintenance and spare parts were a problem. We were
    unable to procure enough spare tires through the supply system for our
    vehicles. All we had was one spare tire for our entire HUM~WV fleet and no
    spares for larger vehicles The supply system at Riyadh for example, was
    only geared for one to one exchange on tires not for spares. Once we were
    in Kuwait we did not have any U5AF supply to go through. This was a big
    problem and caused excessive vehicle down time.
    
    The next problems We encountered were with the equipment set themselves.
    Generator power was our primary source of electricity at the initial onset.
    As we unpacked the equipment sets one new generator was found to have been
    stored (one to two years earlier) with water in the gas tank which corroded
    the fuel filter and the complete carburetor rendering it useless. That put
    us down one generator and then we found out that we did no't have the proper
    adaptors for 220 volts or enough extension cords. Some ingenious EOD
    technicians were able to make some electrical connectors and cords out of
    salvaged materials which served our purpose. Suggest that in the future
    EOD equipment sets be supplied with universal electrical connectors and
    extension cords for worldwide deployment.
    
    Upon inspection of the M-14 SMUD rifles, several discrepancies were noted.
    All of the Scope mounts were lose, some stocks were cracked, one scope was
    improperly mounted binding the variable power adjustment, most of the hand
    guards were broken lose, several stocks had not been properly relieved to
    allow the barrels to be free-floated and none of them had been sighted in.
    These rifles were all carried as serviceable. Not all of the problems
    would cause the rifles to be unset-viceable but the team chief found a lack
    of training on the part of the personnel to determine serviceability. A
    closer examination of the M-14s will be performed at a later time. It is
    imperative that EOD personnel be trained in the full maintenance and repair
    of the M-14 rifles. When you are deployed to a remote location there are
    no CATM personnel to be found and it is not practical to send the rifles
    back to the weapons shop at Lackland AFT. Suggest an EOD M-14 training
    program be properly developed by knowledgeable personnel such as members of
    the USAF High Power Shooting Team who are intimately familiar with M-14s
    and their capabilities. It is evident that more training is required.
    
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