tacticallightweight

obstacleclearance

system

PROVIDING A LINE OF CONFIDENCE

IEDs HOW DO YOU GET THROUGH

WHEN YOU CANNOT SEE THEM?

TLOCS PROVIDES HIGH-LEVEL ASSURANCE OF A SAFE LANE THROUGH AN AREA WHERE THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF PRESSURE PLATE IMPROVISED

EXPLOSIVE DEVICES, TRIP WIRES OR SHALLOW MINES.

An ISO9001 company fully homologated to CIP.

TLOCSThe Tactical Lightweight Obstacle Clearance system (TLOCS) provides high-level assurance of a safe lane through an area where there is a possibility of pressure plate improvised explosive devices, trip wires or shallow mines. TLOCs is a patented design (GB patent Application Number 1209127.8).

TLOCS - BackgroundThe project started as an UOR (Urgent Operational Requirement) for the UK MoD, the brief to develop a lightweight system capable of disrupting or destroying IEDs, tripwires etc. over a distance of 45 meters (150 feet). A Det Cord weight of 50 grams per meter was specified, after extensive testing by UK MoD. After supplying UK MoD with 1200 units we looked at ways to improve the design. TLOCS is the result of several improvements to the original design, offering greater versatility and increased performance. The system has now evolved, offering a choice of detonating cord, and the range it can be deployed at. Although potentially it is 3 times more powerful in terms of energetics it is still a lightweight, man-portable, completely self-contained system. That is fast and simple to deploy, with repeatability and accuracy, assured under all conditions. Brief History of the Spigot Mortar Spigot Mortars have existed for over 100 years, from early rifle Grenades to the Blacker Bombard, Piat and the OSS Spigot Gun of the Second World War era. Spigot mortars like the TLOCs, are a very different type of mortar, as compared to the standard tube mortars. They consist of a solid rod or spigot, onto which a hollow cylinder fits, inverting the normal tube-mortar arrangement. The advantage of the TLOCS spigot mortar is that it has no barrel in the conventional sense, allowing the projectile to tow a variable payload without changes to the propelling charge. It allows the user to alter the payload for specific missions, increasing energy or altering the range of the system.

TLOCS - How it worksThe projectile consists of a hollow cylinder with 1.5 grams of propellant contained within the piston, which sits on the spigot, at the top of the cylinder. The spigot mortar is triggered by a shock tube firing mechanism built into the spigot, with a fixed firing pin inside the top of the spigot.Firing the shock tube activates the firing pin, which ignites the primer and propellant. As the gases expand they are contained in the hollow tube, which drives the piston downwards onto the spigot, forcing the projectile off the spigot, towing the detonating cord.One of the advantages of the TLOCs spigot mortar is that it is near-silent in operation (55 decibels @100 meters). When the projectile is fired, the projectile is pushed off the spigot, by the piston, which is captive in the projectile. This traps the gases from the propelling charge and reduces the sound of the firing.

Rocket Systems - TLOCS removes all of the issues associated with Rockets

Almost all currently available line systems utilise rockets to tow the line of detonating cord. Rockets create several issues, not least of which

is the potential inaccuracy. The noise, heat and flame produced are another problem. It is impossible to use this type of system covertly, the noise alone from the rocket will advertise your position for miles around, add to this the risk of being able to see the path of the rocket, especially at night and even the risk of fires means opposing forces will have ample warning of your intentions. Should an area or path need to be cleared manually at a later stage, the metal debris from the rocket systems will hinder clearance operations. TLOCS leaves no debris even after detonation.

Projectile mounted on the spigot

Shock tube

IFD - Integrated Firing Device (detonator)

Sliding rail

Recoil foot

Spigot Mounting Plate

Waterproof seal

Why TLOCS - Tactical Lightweight Obstacle Clearance systemTLOCs is a complete fire once and discard system in one box, utilizing a non-electric firing and detonating system. It does not use a rocket to launch and tow the detonating cord thereby removing noise,heat and the flame signature during launching. TLOCs is unique in that it uses the principle of a Spigot Mortar, and offers many tactical advantages over rocket propelled systems.

Due to its design the gases from the propelling charges are captured and contained in the cylinder, thereby removing any flame or heat signature and reducing the noise to a minimum.After detonation the system is easily removed and leaves no metal components to hinder clearance operations and provides a clear visible path which is easy to follow.

TLOCS - VariantsLine Charge - The weight of the detonating cord can be altered by the user, due to the unique removable cassette design. Cassettes containing different cord lengths and weights can be supplied with the units, allowing operators to make changes to the system based on mission requirements. The system can be used with RFDs, (Remote Firing Devices). TLOCS - Cassette The cassette is removable from the Tactical Pack and also has different size fingers to allow different diameter and weight of detonating cords to be used. The TLOCS is supplied as a complete unit in one box. Additional cassettes can be supplied with different detonating cord weights allowing a trained user to change the cassettes.

The det cord has a unique det bed attached to it to allow a detonator to be inserted without the need for tape and ensure it has intimate contact with the det cord for reliable ignition.

Projectile mounted on the spigot

Detonating Cord

Unique finger design to prevent det cord tangling

Removable cassette

Securing pins

Tough rugged lightweight housing

Shock tube projectile firing deviceTLOCS - Unique Advantages

• Compact, robust and lightweight. Under 11kgs • One man portable• No flash or flame • No Rockets = No Flash• No Rockets = No Noise• No Rockets = No smoke• No Rockets = No Danger of Fires• No Rockets = No Thermal Signature• No Rockets = No Advertising Your Tactical Intention

Temperature Operating Range -41°C to +71°C -41 °F to + 160 °F

Maximum length of Lane Clearance 50m Detonating cord weight of 50 grams

Maximum width of Lane Clearance 200 -300mm Dependent on cord weight

Dimensions (L)535mm x (W)380mm x (D)200mm Fits in a standard Bergen

Gross Weight 10.48kg up to 14.4kg 23lbs / 31lbs

Detonating cord Net Explosive Content 2.76kg up to 6kg 6lbs / 13lbs

Detonating Cord PETN or RDX 14lbs

Detonating cord -NEC per meter/yard 50gms / 240gms 1.75 ounces / 8.5 ounces

IFD Detonator Safety Stand off up to 30m 32.8yds

TLOCS - Technical Details

TLOCS - Variants Continued

(Below) TLOCS clearing a safe passage. (Right) Cleared path.

TLOCS Packed by hand

to ensure a perfect launch

everytime

TLOCS - Operator usage and set up Full instructions are downloadable from our website.

7 - Retire to a safe distance and detonate

the cord.

8 - The blast leaves a highly visible & safe

path for troops to move through.

5 - Fire projectile to deploy det cord.

6 - Return to set the detonator from IFD.

3 - The lid is latched to give launch angle.

Projectile is then aimed.

4 - Retire to safe distance, whilst unspooling the

firing device.

1 - Operator opens thebox and removes the IFD firing

system and packaging.

2 - The recoil foot position is then set.

• 0 kph - 10 kph Full value wind aim 2/3 meters off target into wind

• 10 kph - 20 kph Full value wind aim 3/4 meters off target into wind

• 20 kph - 30 kph Full value wind aim 5/6 meters off target into wind

TLOCS - Key Technical Features

• Variable weight and length of detonating Cord.

• Complete system in one package.

• Designed to fit into a day sack.

• Fast to set up and deploy (takes under 2 minutes).

• No metal debris left in the field to hinder later clearance efforts.

• Completely self-contained in one box.

MAXIMUM LENGTH OF CORD METERS

WEIGHT OF DETONATING CORD KGS

GRAMS PER METER

50 2.50 50

40 4.00 100

25 6 240

TLOCS - Variants Detonating CordTLOCS - Set Up

• Can be deployed in under 2 minutes.

• Accurate, precise and reliable.

• Simple and easy to use.

• Almost silent in operation.

• Safe and versatile in operation.

TLOCS - Aiming

The system is exceptionally accurate and repeatable. Allowing for wind the projectile can be aimed very precisely, with limited training and practice.

TLOCS - The Future

The design has already been scaled up to tow even heavier detonating cord. Tests have shown that a larger version

(approximately 25 kilograms) will safely and reliably deploy detonating cord at over 300 grams per meter and can

tow the detonating cord over 40 meters. This could either be a 2 man carry system or vehicle mounted.

EPA Manufacturing Ltd

Building 154

Faldingworth Base

Spridlington Road

Faldingworth

Lincolnshire

LN8 3SQ

Sales +44 (0)1777 871310

Manufacturing +44 (0)1673 866200

www.epgroupuk.com

info@epgroupuk.com

Visit our website www.epgroupuk.com for more information and all technical leaflets

TLOCs is a patented design (GB patent Application Number 1209127.8).