Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
car had a long straight run. The next factor to consider is controlling the
access of large trucks. Obviously, terrorists will prefer to use a truck when
possible as they can pack it with greater amounts of explosives. Also, the
more massive the vehicle, the lower the likelihood that it will be destroyed
upon impact with a barrier. Realistically, the worst possible type of attack
in the real world is more likely to be a very massive vehicle, 15,000 - 25,000
pounds attempting to drive through a barricade at fifty miles an hour.
However, there also numerous instances where the bombers actually chose
to use a car, rather than a truck, as their delivery device. Your perimeter
system must be able to handle either possibility.
The industry leader in the design, manufacture, and installation of
such security barricades is the Delta Scientific Corporation, a U.S.-based
firm with offices in California, Virginia, and England. Their extensive line
of barricades, gates, bollards and wedges are in use protecting sensitive
government facilities, embassies, military bases, and private corporations
throughout the world. The bollard itself may be fashioned from steel or
cement and should be placed in such a manner as to prevent a car or truck
bomb from being driven close to the structure. A sturdy barrier, improp-
erly placed, will do little good. The question of how much distance is
desirable is a difficult one to answer. A powerful explosive can do damage
from even a considerable distance. However, the further away the bomb
is placed, the less the resulting damage will be. Use as much distance as
the circumstances allow.
The bollards themselves must be capable of stopping even a deter-
mined attacker attempting to drive through the barricade on a suicide
mission. In addition, the bollard or barricade must maintain much of its
effectiveness even if it is not in the fully deployed position in the case of
movable barriers. This means the ability to stop a truck moving at high-
way speed, even if the bollard is only halfway deployed. This will not pre-
vent an explosion, obviously, but it certainly will reduce the potential
damage to life and property from the explosion by preventing the deto-
nation from occurring in close proximity to the protected facility. The
systems offered by Delta Scientific will do that and more (see Exhibit
12.4); they represent the state of the art in protective products. Contact
information for Delta is listed in Appendix B. Their systems can be oper-
ated mechanically as well as manually in case of a disruption in the power
supply or a pump malfunction. Strictly hand-operated systems are also
available; these are suitable for use with portable systems set up in
areas without a nearby power source. The normal speed of operation in
