Aug-Sep 2013, Issue 174 - Royal New Zealand Navy

fleet progressAdventures onBomb IslandBy LSA Megan Polglase, HMNZS MANAWANUI“FIRE IN THE HOLE, FIRE IN THE HOLE, FIRE IN THE HOLE.” That’ssomething I never thought I would get to say, as I pushed the remotedetonator setting off about 50kgs of explosives and destroyingaround 20 M58 projectiles.The day had started like any other at anchor around the SolomonIslands—waking to blue skies and a scorching 28 degree morning.The United States Explosive Ordinance Disposal team, ADR TePumautanga Campbell and I packed the RHIB full of detection gear,explosives, water and lunch.After a few reconnaissance missions with the guides, we droppedhalf our team at the beach to fill sand bags, while the rest of us wentto a previously located site filled to the brim with M58s. LT DanMcDonald had by this time brought most of the projectiles to onespot and piled them carefully on top of each other. I was surprised tosee they were in all kinds of conditions. Our next task, tramp themthrough 500 metres of dense jungle, climbing fallen trees, dodginglow lying branches and avoiding all the creepy crawlies to get themto the ditch where they were to be blown up.Luckily by this time we had rendezvoused with the others who hadfilled their sand bags and were here to give us extra muscle power,allowing the M58s and sandbags to be hauled to the designatedspot a lot quicker. We prepped the projectiles and loaded them upwith explosives and sand bags over the top, then took ourselves toa safe distance in the boat ready to make it go BANG. After somebrief instruction I was handed the detonator and called the infamous“FIRE IN THE HOLE, FIRE IN THE HOLE, FIRE IN THE HOLE.” Wesaw the massive cloud of smoke before we heard it go bang, butbang it did go!After all the heat and excitement of the day it was essential tocool off and although Bomb Island was our last official call we hadto ensure no pretty little creepy crawlies followed us home. Westopped off at a pretty little reef full of beautiful but sharp coral andapparently a small shark too, for a sneaky snorkel before returningto ship and retiring for the day, tired but happy.Above top left: Explosives ordnance with Plastic explosive andDet cord.Above top right: Unexploded ordnance, Bomb Island.Above bottom right: US EOD Team, Bomb Island.30 fleet progress