Lob bombs are improvised explosives made by filling a metal container with shrapnel and explosives, propelled by a rocket. They are easy to make and difficult to trace, posing a serious threat. They were first reported during the Iraq War and have since been refined for maximum devastation, targeting heavily fortified areas.
A lob bomb is a type of improvised explosive made by filling a large metal container with explosives and shrapnel, and then propelling it with the help of a rocket. Lob bombs are highly effective and extremely efficient. Because they are easy to make, they are a major concern for many military leaders, who are concerned about the potential devastation that bombs can cause.
Lob bombs, known as improvised rocket mortars (IRAMs) in military parlance, were first reported more widely during the Iraq War in the early 21st century. In this war, the first lob bombs appear to have first appeared in Baghdad in 2007, fired by Shiite insurgents. While the initial bombs weren’t very effective, it quickly became apparent that the insurgents would perfect the method, potentially creating weapons that could pose a serious threat, especially when combined with other improvised explosives.
A typical lob bomb consists of a propane tank or welding tank that is drained of fuel, sawn open, packaged, and then welded again. In some cases, the bomb is simply dropped from the side of a truck, with no rocket to launch it, in which case the insurgents have to get very close to their target. In other cases, flares or a remote detonator are used, allowing people to target a site from a distance.
Like other improvised explosives, the bomb is cheap to make and frustratingly difficult to trace. Many people have entirely legitimate reasons for carrying around welding and propane tanks, especially in a country where propane is the primary fuel source for stoves and stoves, and it’s not logistically possible to stop everyone from carrying such a tank. The great cheapness of the lob bomb means that insurgents can build large numbers of such bombs and may not worry about poorly constructed bombs or bombs, which can sometimes be even more dangerous than working bombs.
As with other weapons developed by insurgents in the Iraq War, the bomb bomb represents a creative use of available materials, coupled with a serious threat. The insurgents also use the experiences of previous lob bomb attacks to refine the design, looking for the most effective and devastating incarnation for the lob bomb, while also looking for better targets. The lob bomb’s explosive power makes it particularly suited to more heavily fortified areas and structures, such as those used to protect key government and military officers.
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