title: Shaped charges and explosively formed penetrators: background for clinicians.
abstract: Shaped Charges (SC) have been used in High Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT) munitions and the mining industry since World War II. An explosive is used to propel a liner material of low mass at speeds in excess of 5 times the speed of sound. The subsequent projectile is capable of penetrating the steel of armoured vehicles and inflicting significant injury to any enclosed personnel. Explosively Formed Penetrators (EFP) are a variant of a SC, using higher mass at lower speed to deliver their kinetic energy. The Iraq conflict has seen the use of Improvised Explosive Devices utilising EFP (IED-EFP) by insurgent groups attacking military vehicles. The major wounding mechanisms are from fragmentation and burns. This article is a brief overview of the history and science behind SC and EFP.
authors.affiliation: E Squadron, 205 Scottish Field Hospital V, Claverhouse Training Centre, 8 Granton Square, Edinburgh. jonny_morrison@doctors.org.uk
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Morrison
authors.forename: P F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Mahoney
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hodgetts
mesh_terms: D001753:Blast Injuries; D053834:Explosive Agents; D006801:Humans; D008887:Military Medicine; D008889:Military Personnel; D006113:United Kingdom; D014857:Warfare; D054041:Weapons; D014950:Wounds, Penetrating
chemical_list: D053834:Explosive Agents