Explosive Weapon Effects: Final Report

by N.R. Jenzen-Jones (Editor), Samuel Paunila (Editor)

As part of their strategic mandate to improve human security, The Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD) launched the final results of their Characterisation of Explosive Weapons research project on 6 February 2017, which sought to describe and explain key types of explosive weapons and their destructive effects on humans and structures. The research is comprised of a final report of the two-year study in addition to five annexed explosive weapons studies and a terminology paper, soon to be supported by a simulator software tool. This research is intended to reduce harm to civilians by making a substantial contribution to the ongoing discussions on explosive weapons in population-dense areas.

ARES Director N.R. Jenzen-Jones and Samuel Paunila of GICHD served as the co-editors for the final report, which combines five technical studies on explosive weapon systems, each of them known for their use in contemporary conflict zones, widespread stockpiling, and use in populated areas. The five weapons systems reviewed in the study are the 122 mm multi-barrel rocket launcher, 81—120 mm mortars, 152—155 mm artillery guns, 115—125 mm tank guns and the MK 82 aircraft bomb. The report assesses the effects of these explosive weapons, their accuracy and precision, and characteristics of use. One of the report’s central contributions is filling the knowledge gap of the humanitarian consequences related to explosive weapon use.

The GICHD report contains some discussion of considerations to mitigate each of the explosive weapons’ impact on civilians, encourage further research on explosive weapons, and supports efforts by actors in the international community seeking to better understand the ramifications of using explosive weapons in populated areas.

147 pages, Paperback

Published February 1, 2017

About the author

N.R. Jenzen-Jones is a technical intelligence specialist, arms historian, and publisher. He is the Editor of Armax: The Journal of Contemporary Arms, the director of Armament Research Services (ARES), and the founder of Helios House Press—publishers of the Miskatonic Missives series of Lovecraftian epistolary readers and the Miskatonic Literary Society series of gothic horror tales. He is the creative director for Miskatonic Missives and the editor of the Christmas with H.P. Lovecraft anthology. Dr Jenzen-Jones holds a visiting fellowship at Nottingham Trent University. He previously held visiting fellowships at Staffordshire University and the University of Northampton, and was awarded the Buffalo Bill Center of the West’s 2022–2023 Resident Fellowship for his work with the Cody Firearms Museum.

In his professional life, Dr Jenzen-Jones maintains a broad focus on how weapons are selected, acquired, stockpiled, and employed. He is a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Gunmakers, a fellow of the Royal Asiatic Society, a life member of the Ordnance Society and the H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society, and a member of the Historical Breechloading Smallarms Association (HBSA), the Arms & Armour Society, the International Ammunition Association (IAA), the European Cartridge Research Association (ECRA), the British Institute for Libyan & Northern African Studies (BILNAS), and the Pike & Shot Society.