HIGH METAL CONTENT (HMC) PRESSURE PLATE IED
HMC pressure plates use separated electrical contacts made from metal. The action of the victim exerts pressure that causes these contacts to come together, allowing current to flow in the circuit and the detonator to function. If opposing groups do not use metal detectors to mitigate against IEDs then this type of device can be extremely effective.
Pressure plate with weatherproofing
Main charge
Pressure plate without weatherproofing
Image 1. Image showing an example of a pressure plate IED (HMC)
LOW METAL CONTENT (LMC) PRESSURE PLATE IED
LMC pressure plates use low or non-metallic electrical contacts in a similar manner to how an HMC pressure plate uses high metal content electrical contacts. Two of the most commonly encountered materials for these LMC contacts are strands of copper wire and carbon rods. Frequently, the battery is the only component with significant metal content and is therefore either remoted from the pressure plate and plastic main charge, or deeply buried.
Doorway
Remoted battery
Pressure plate IED (LMC)
Image 2. Image of a pressure plate IED (LMC) located in a doorway with a remoted battery
IED tactics
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