Summary
On the last day of the Mian clockmaker’s competition, we entered as a small team with the intention not to outlast the competition, but rather to clear the town of the improvised explosive traps and surrender the remaining entrants.
In doing so with minimal casualties, the team were able to secure the three entrants remaining in the town buildings, and interviewed them on their different bomb-making techniques. They learned about tripwires, pressure plates, and motion sensor cameras, used as triggers for pipe bombs, and plastic bottle IEDs in various different configurations.
However, on their return, they discovered their vehicles had been rigged to blow by a final competitor, who had circumvented the rules by targeting entrants’ vehicles directly. He detonated a first vehicle from atop a rock where he was hiding, and was captured after his attempted escape. Unfortunately, he bled out while in custody, so the team were unable to question him about other charges. When his detonator was subsequently moved, it triggered a second charge, hidden in our other vehicle, leaving the team stranded.
Another squad, having scouted Zaranj extensively while the Mian competition progressed, were engaged and so moved in to clear the town. After a tense fight with some squirrely hostiles and their own experience of houses rigged with IEDs, they returned to base and dispatched their vehicle to assist the Mian team.
On exfiltrating the town, the team narrowly escaped a roadside IED blast, indicating that the roads into the town were likely all rigged. On arrival back at base, they were greeted by a cameraman and journalist from ENN, a local outlet who were providing coverage of the event. After a short TV interview we were awarded the prize money.