How Dangerous is an M107 Projectile?

A single unexploded M107 projectile, containing about 15 pounds of TNT, presents a significant risk, even to a bomb disposal expert wearing a full EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) suit.

These suits are designed to provide substantial protection, but their effectiveness against an explosion of this magnitude, especially at close range, is limited.

Here are some key considerations in such a scenario:

1. Blast Force: The primary blast effect from 15 pounds of TNT can generate a powerful shockwave. An EOD suit offers some protection against blast overpressure, but this amount of explosive at close range could exceed the suit’s protective capacity.
2. Fragmentation: High-velocity fragments from the forged steel shell casing can pose a lethal threat. EOD suits are reinforced with materials like Kevlar to mitigate fragmentation risks, but the effectiveness is limited at point-blank range.
3. Thermal Effects: The heat from the explosion could cause severe burns. While EOD suits offer some thermal protection, a direct explosion from a shell like the M107 could be overwhelming.
4. Proximity: The survival chances in a blast largely depend on the distance from the explosion. In this scenario, the technician is in immediate contact with the explosive device, which significantly reduces the likelihood of the suit providing adequate protection.
5. EOD Suit Limitations: While EOD suits are designed to protect against shrapnel and reduce the impact of blast overpressure, they are not infallible. Their primary purpose is to increase the likelihood of survival and reduce injury severity, not to provide complete immunity from explosions.

In conclusion, if an unexploded M107 projectile detonated as a technician, even one fully outfitted in an EOD suit, the likelihood of severe injury or fatality would be high. This scenario underscores the extreme risks bomb disposal experts face and the limitations of even the most advanced protective gear in the face of powerful explosives. There is even more risk to the children of Gaza climbing about the rubble of buildings destroyed by US-made M107 Projectiles.

The primary strategy in EOD operations remains careful handling, disarming, or controlled detonation from a safe distance, rather than relying on protective gear to survive a direct blast. Maybe the primary strategy should be preventing M107 Projectiles from reaching the Middle East.