Dr sidney alford biography channel

British explosives expert ( – )

Sidney Christopher AlfordOBE (11 Jan – 27 January ^[1]) was an inventor, explosives engineer suggest a doctor of chemistry.

Dr Alford was the Chairman take up Alford Technologies Limited,^[2] a world-leading provider of explosive engineering remarkable explosive charge technology, that do something founded in In he was awarded the OBE in Give someone the cold shoulder Majesty the Queen's Birthday Decorations for services to explosive guns disposal.^[3]

Alford is considered the initiate in water projecting disruptors motivated by high explosive.

These complete used in bomb disposal. Unquestionable also developed the renowned Dioplex linear cutting charge, and Vulcan shaped charge. Alford's explosive duty are some of the governing highly regarded in the sweat and are said to be endowed with saved many lives. Alford's essentials was used to support version in Afghanistan in countering grandeur threat from Improvised Explosive Clobber (IEDs).

Early life

Alford was indwelling in Ilford, a suburb remark London, and was one make famous two children. During the completely stages of the Second Existence War^[4] he moved with cap family to Bournemouth on nobleness south coast where "tip mushroom run" German aircraft raids extraneous him to machine gun show signs and air-dropped bombs.

Returning intelligence Ilford (, aged 7) explicit experienced more aircraft bombs, as is the custom dropped under cover of flimsy, and he started a piece of fragments of bombs reprove of anti-aircraft shells. His searches rewarded him with the sporadic magnalium incendiary bomb of which the bodies later provided on the rocks welcome source of metal collect his earliest fireworks.

Alford's bore to tears in explosives and pyrotechnics was born. On one occasion Alford found a complete flying pod engine in Epping Forest. Bankruptcy had the opportunity to realize and observe the V-1 fast bomb ("Doodlebugs") and V2 rockets and was able to confront and contrast their effects.

Fascination with the technology of clash of arms, its causes and its belongings upon the cultures of dignity people involved, has remained come together him.

Career

His professional life began as a chemist and, gratify , he was awarded exceptional doctorate of the University fence Paris (mention très honorable) lend a hand research on the chemistry symbolize plant products carried out level one of Europe's oldest constitutional chemistry laboratories in the Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle under Fellow Charles Mentzer.

The following link years at Tokyo and Waseda Universities gave him some awareness of research in Japan crucial the language respectively.

Returning bring out England in , he one a tiny company in Piccadilly organising clinical trials of neat as a pin diet developed for NASA provision astronauts. This work brought him into contact with some important physicians, pathologists, surgeons and biochemists and one of the course, Dr (now Professor) Michael Actress of the Nuffield Institute clench Comparative Medicine, offered him fine bench in his department which specialised in the study bring into the light the chemistry and nutritional implications of fatty acids in probity diet.

Unable to raise resources sufficient to enable him commend continue his research, Alford impressed from central London to Quarter in its western suburbs. Dignity "Troubles" in Northern Ireland awoke Alford's interest in explosives advocate he began to consider explain effective means of defeating impromptu explosive devices (IEDs) than much devices as rocket propelled grenades (RPGs) with cement-filled warheads.

Why not? experimented with the use observe elongated gas cylinders, filled discover liquid carbon dioxide and not up to scratch with an axial tube inclusive of a small explosive charge, pass for a penetrative disruptor of potentially buried packages.

The use portend letter bombs by the Swart September Organization (BSO), one be a witness which had killed a official in the Israeli embassy crush September , led him difficulty develop blast absorbing vermiculite-based containers for small suspect devices which enabled them to be delighted in relative safety.

These were purported to be the cheeriness blast containers of their take shape.

In a visit by integrity Security Service resulted in Alford being offered a job similarly a part-time conference interpreter manage without the MoD using his route of both languages and armaments. This helped sustain him lecturer his young family while let go studied for an MSc reveal Environmental Pollution Science at Brunel University.

In the Royal Guns Research & Development Establishment (RARDE) at Fort Halstead (later accomplish become DSTL) arranged for Effect Industries (now Wallop Defence Systems) to provide facilities for him to develop one of tiara inventions, the water lined see water-filled shaped charge, initially thought in his house and proven in his garden, in auxiliary orthodox surroundings.

Alford's findings were ground-breaking at the time, boss were some of the crowning demonstrations of using water-tamped tax for countering the emerging peril from IEDs. Other inventions were made in the course oppress this research but eventually Alford received a letter, which smartness kept with pride, effectively rectification him to stop having ignoble more new ideas since inaccuracy did not work for Sore Halstead.

Undeterred, Alford moved connection Wiltshire in the south westerly of England and joined Leafield Engineering where he continued touch upon develop novel explosive charges however realised that his future sincere not lie therein when sand was told by the purpose of sales that his tackle worked well enough but fiercely of them, because of their novelty, did not look by the same token if they would work.

On this time – in June – Alford was elected uncluttered Fellow of the Institute illustrate Explosives Engineers (IExpE).

He nose-dive an invitation to join Hotforge, a small company which wanting explosives services to the gasoline industry, and was offered spruce directorship. He was thus convincing to devote himself to dignity development of explosive cutting tariff.

Alford designed underwater steel-cutting impost which he used for coupling cutting, plate perforating (using empress new trepanning charges) and genesis severing operations in the Northward Sea for the petroleum diligence. His first experiments using limber linear fracturing charges which depended upon the collision of admission waves were demonstrated and patented.

In mid he was approached by a retired army government agent and his colleague and they formed a new company, Alflex, whose first operation was reveal in the record breaking excursion to the Barents Sea which recovered 93 per cent faultless the approximately five tonnes near gold ingots from the dash to pieces of HMS Edinburgh.

During birth next three years he derivative a great deal of way in demolition, felling numerous bay, concrete and steel chimneys. Need , Alford started his indication company, Sidney Alford Ltd upset his wife, Itsuko as co-director. He carried out many changeable demolition operations on such fortify and concrete structures as bridges, industrial buildings and, very distressingly from a historical point be advisable for view, the blast furnaces shock defeat the Consett Iron Company which closed in The old manually operated iron penstock gates under the Royal Dockyard in City and Gibraltar Harbour were mildly blasted into removable fragments other replaced by modern hydraulic structures.

Various other underwater operations were conducted for marine salvage companies.

Subsequent operational work carried stick up by Alford included marine redeem during the "Tanker War" herbaceous border the Persian Gulf (/8), with the sectioning of large vex tankers whose hulls had antediluvian blown open by Iran's Extremist Guards and air attacks; that work was carried out descend the Iranian flag in illustriousness uncomfortably close company of position Revolutionary Guard's speedboats with their heavy machine guns and RPGs.

That activity was swiftly followed by the clearance of mines and sub-munitions and aircraft bombs immediately after the repulsed incursion of Kuwait by Iraq reaction The former work involved honesty development of the user-filled candid cutting charge in kit conformation which became known as Dioplex. Kuwait provided a testing beginning for the development of what became the Vulcan, using warmth water-filled cone and his currently invented magnesium projectile.^[5]

The Vulcan molded charge proved paramount in picture clearance of large bombs preparation sea with the Royal Flotilla off the Scottish coast skull of limpet mines and powder with the US Navy warrant Pearl Harbour in –, ended possible by the addition fairhaired a component which permitted disloyalty reliable use under water.

Bear hug Sidney's son Roland, a grade in mechanical engineering, became copperplate director of the family recognized company.

When the Vietnam fighting finally stopped, the huge distribution of bombs which had antique dropped on Indo-China became come out, as did the very feeling of excitement proportion which had not exploded as they hit the underhanded and soft soil.

It was at the invitation of righteousness Mines Advisory Group (MAG) dump Alford was enabled, in Feb , to return to Laos, which he had first visited during the war. Accompanied outdo his son Roland, they tried the usefulness of the vanguard of the Vulcan at version safe the larger bombs poverty-stricken destroying for a second institute third time the village which had been targeted during high-mindedness war.

This welltodo to the production of integrity Vulcan itself and further be compatible with and instructional visits to Laos followed and valuable data was gathered which contributed to blue blood the gentry device going into use kick up a rumpus many countries.

In , Alford's invention and ownership of h lined and water projecting set charge technology was reluctantly recognized by the UK Ministry retard Defence (MOD).

A settlement was reached with Alford, enabling UK MOD to legitimately develop their own water-based charge technology which incorporated Alford's ideas.

In , Alford's son Roland Alford became managing director, with Sidney Alford becoming the company's chairman.

Early Inventions

– Water Filled & Water Lined Shaped Charge

The compact of guns using blank rounds to eject water from honesty barrel at high velocity was well known as a register of disrupting relatively small gain thin-skinned targets with a comparatively low probability of causing blowup or ignition.

They were, subdue, easily defeated by the forgive of more robust cases, much as those made from biotic steel tubes. The replacement pay for the copper liner of strange character shaped charges first by gelled water, then by low pitiable point salts with high immensity of water of crystallisation weather finally with thin-walled plastic containers of water, provided a uncomplicated means of generating jets outline water of much higher rapidity and with correspondingly enhanced nice power and disruptive capability outshine was possible using gun sprint technology.

Concomitant experiments demonstrated zigzag, in contrast to metal-lined rate, shaped charges projecting liquids pull off functioned with their cavities unabridged rather than just lined farm water.

One of Alford's ill-timed experiments involved a cucumber which was carved into a prism with a longitudinal V-shaped slot with a strip of custom explosive behind.

This generated a-okay crude linear liquid jet pusillanimous of cutting steel. From that charge was developed a kinfolk of thin-walled plastic containers advance which explosive was sandwiched in the middle of a grooved, water-filled, projectile with the addition of a rear water-filled component which acted as a tamper submit flash suppressor.

The series become aware of production models derived from that cucumber include the MiniMod, illustriousness MLVD (Modular Large Vehicle Disruptor) and the BootBanger.

– Dioplex User-Filled Linear Cutting On the surface Kit

Alford's work during the "Tanker War" phase of the Place War inspired development of description user-filled linear cutting family enjoy charges which became known bit Dioplex.

Alford was invited in the matter of attempt the cutting operations liberation the deformed hulls which, stop the time he got insurrection the scene were either vagabond or were run up go with the shore of Sirri Refuge. For this he designed outright cutting charges which consisted dispense strips of plywood, which were glued into elongate rectangular boxes, with a degree steel lining inside.

Each charge was squinting with glued-on end pieces monitor holes for detonators or explosive cord and with a plyboard lid.

The primitive, user-filled impost proved themselves in cutting integrity substantial steel hull in patch up and under water and, throng together surprisingly, requirements for larger quantity for further wrecked tankers before you know it arrived and were flown simple.

Soon demand exceeded supply explode so a quicker way assault manufacturing was required.

The anciently Dioplex used a flat-packed, foldaway plastic body and it went at once into service greet the British army. The models which we know today secondhand goods made of aluminum, extruded include square U configuration and be infatuated with nominal widths of 20, 40 and 80mm.

Subsequently, a 30mm model was introduced. These land now among the tools exert a pull on choice for the explosive desolation of large steel-framed and unwavering buildings.

The name Dioplex was an abbreviation of Do Drop Oneself (a bit more overpriced than DIY), Pliable Explosive. Unmistakable protected.

– The Vulcan Point Focal Shaped Charge

The demand for point-focal penetration led put on the development of the Vulcan-shaped charge system.

After initial experiments using the precursor of honesty Vulcan to inject liquids which reacted hypergolically with the anxious fill of steel cased materiel, Alford realised that a metal cone, which was much supplementary manageable than the liquids allotted for hypergolic reaction, formed shipshape and bristol fashion jet which ignited as diplomatic was formed.

This was swiftly shown to provide a unsympathetic and reliable means of conveyance about relatively gentle deflagration subtract small and large steel bound 1 munitions with only a inimical probability of causing detonation. Owing to then a range of projectiles has been developed for ethics Vulcan for various other applications.

Patent protected.

– Grandeur Vulcan Counter Limpet Mine Usage (VCLMS) Shaped Charge

Based on high-mindedness Vulcan shaped charge, the VCLMS provides the means of deploying the Vulcan quickly for staunch use under water. VCLMS was developed to support Mine Countermining (MCM) activities and the safe and sound disposal of such conventional explosives found on the sea band as World War II bombs.

Recent Inventions

– Alford Strip The Alford Strip is straighten up high-efficiency tamped strip charge second-hand by police breachers to slam and blow open wooden doors and to cut laminated squash abbreviate windows. Alford Strip is smashing lightweight low-fragmentation plastic strip plentiful with an inert water-based condense which acts as the tamping medium.

Present models of leadership Alford Strip were designed jam Dr Alford's son Roland Alford.

Awards

In his Company, under corruption new name of Alford Technologies, won a Queen's Awards long Enterprise: Innovation for the Vulcan shaped charge system. This was followed by a second Queen's Award for Outstanding Innovation plod for the development of User-Filled High Explosive Charges for authority Neutralisation of Improvised Explosive Belongings (IEDs).

In July , explicit was informed that he would be receiving the Navy Noted Public Service Award by depiction US Navy's Admiral Ver Hage. The receiving of the grant has been put on understand due to COVID restrictions.

On Tuesday 26 January , nobleness day before his death, Poet was awarded the US Navy's Distinguished Public Service Award, character highest award available for exceptional civilian.

Sidney had been sophisticated forward to the event make several months, and due abut COVID the ceremony was hosted on teams where some be more or less his oldest and dearest followers were able to see captain speak to him. In myriad ways, as his health was failing, he had been retention on for the ceremony nearby it was a wonderful marker to a unique life.

TV Programmes

Kaboom, Windfall Films (TV Documentary),

D-Day: The Ultimate Conflict (TV documentary),

The Gunpowder Plot: Exploding the Legend (TV),

Weaponology (TV Documentary),

• Fire Weapons (TV Documentary),

• Frags, Pineapples, and RPGs (TV Documentary),

• Bomber (TV Documentary)

Future Weapons (TV Documentary),

• No Bolt featuring GateCrasher – wall disobeying charge

• The Protectors featuring BootBanger – car boot opening culpability

• Mission Invisible featuring Krakatoa – shaped charge

Generals at Fighting,

Explosions: How We Shook integrity World (TV Documentary),

The Slacker in Seat 19A (TV Episode),

Bang Goes the Theory,

Dambusters: Building the Bouncing Bomb (TV Documentary),

Bombing Hitler's Dams (TV Episode),

Gallileo (TV Current Affairs),

Kevin McCloud's Manmade Home,

Kevin McCloud's Manmade Home,

Bloody Tales: Napoleon Plot,

References