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Where each tour is well thought out to enhance the battlefield experience

Our next expert talk is on IED’s (Improvised explosive device) by Lt-General Jonathon Riley 

On Friday 5th March at 6.00pm : cost is £10 per person.

Many of Britain's wars since 1945 have revolved around counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism: in Malaya, Cyprus, Aden, Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan. Over the decades, the weapons used by security forces and insurgents alike have evolved as technologies produce new opportunities, measures and counter-measures. Since the 1970s, the favoured weapon of the insurgent and terrorist has been not the Kalashnikov, but the improvised explosive device, or IED. In itself it was not new even in the early days of this period, having been a feature of revolutionary activity since the mid-19th-century. What has changed dramatically has been the lethality and the means of initiation. IEDs have become the biggest single cause of death and injury in COIN campaigns, accounting for half the total - and their main victims are civilians, not soldiers or policemen.

This talk will focus on the use of IEDs in Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan and the counter-measures against them, drawing on the speaker's own personal experience in those theatres of war. The talk will also give some background information to illuminate the general subject of insurgency in order to provide context. The talk will look in detail at how IEDs are used and detonated, how they can be countered, and also address the vehicle bomb and the cruel suicide attacker. Lieutenant-General Jonathon Riley, Classic's senior military and historical adviser, served in the British Army for 40 years and commanded troops of many nations, at every level from platoon to corps, on operations around the world - in Northern Ireland, the Cold War, the Balkan wars, Sierra Leone, iraq and Afghanistan. He was wounded twice by IEDs and was intimately involved in the fight against the IED bombers and their networks. He was decorated for bravery and distinguished conduct by the British, US, Czech and Romanian governments. He also pursued a parallel academic life and has been awarded three degrees including a PhD. He is currently a visiting professor at King's College London and also develops and teaches war studies programmes for the US Army and Air Forces in Europe and Africa. He has published 27 books on military history and biography ranging from the 17th Century to modern times. These talks are open to anyone and please do pass on our details to anybody who you think would be interested.

To reserve your place and for login and payment details please contact: James Stewart-Smith on james@classicbattlefieldtours.com