Ammunition handling

Ammunition Handled on National Level ntinentalStations ond —----Existing Supply Chonnels— Ammunition. 

Concerned mainly with the security of explosives and restncted substances. Applicable to the acquisition, keeping, handling and control of explosives, e.g. blasting explosives, detonators, fuses, ammunitions, propellants, pyrotechnics and fireworks. 

Modern materials handling techniques in US Army Ammunition Plants are detailed in the Refs given under Modernization Engineering Project for US Army Ammunition Plants in this Vol, A study of materials handling at the Louisiana Army Ammunition Plant, carried out under the above project, is reported in Ref 6. The principal objectives of this study were to develop recommendations to modernize materials handling in a cost effective and safe manner. 

The most famous explosive is trinitrotoluene, or TNT, which was mainly used in warfare in both world wars, as well as in mining and building. TNT is still widely used and produced. Most of the current problems with TNT and nitroarene compounds are found in sites where ammunition was handled, stored or manufactured. TNT is a persistent contaminant, but its microbial degradation is possible both aerobically [63] and anaerobically [64]. 

The contamination of the environment by explosives, especially by nitroesters and nitroaromatics (NACs), is a worldwide environmental problem since enormous amounts of these compounds were produced during World War I and II. Most contaminated sites are located at ammunition factories and other places where these compounds were handled. This involved open detonation and burning of explosives at army depots, evaluation facilities, artillery ranges, and ordnance disposal sites (Rodgers and Bunce, 2001). 

MSER covers the manufacture, storage and handling of all explosives (e.g. ammunition and blasting explosives) and there is specific reference to fireworks, fusing fireworks and assembling fireworks displays from components. 

Fuzes contain safety devices that tend to prevent functioning until after the fuze has been subjected to centrifugal and setback forces, after the round is fired. In the so-called bore-safe fuzes, the path of the explosive train is interrupted so that, while the projectile is still in the bore of the weapon, premature expln is prevented should any of the more sensitive fuze elements (such as primer and/or detonator) start to function. Interruption is usually achieved by inserting out-of-line components or interrupter blocks or slides. Although this leaves the fuze in an unarmed position, it would not be considered safe in handling or shipping, unless the fuze was not provided with safety devices such as safety wires or cotter pins. These outside devices must be removed prior to inserting the fuzed round of ammunition into gun barrel, but the fuze will still be unarmed because some of its inside parts are not free to move to their proper positions so that the fuze may operate in its intended manner... 

The main requirements for initiating explosives are 1) sufficient sensitivity to heat, flame or impact etc that they can be readily detonated, but not so sensitive as to make them unsafe to handle and transport 2) sufficient stability at elevated temperatures that they will not decompose while stored in ammunition, thus rendering it unusable. Brisance, power and velocity of detonation are of secondary impor- tance in these explosives... 

Field Testing of Explosives. When unexploded ammunition is found in the field, it is usually required that it be destroyed or rendered inett. It is necessary to know how sensitive the charge is in order to know how to handle it. This can be determined if the various expl components are identified directly in die field it is advisable to carry a magnifier. 

Safety Precautions. Fixed and Semi-fixed ammunition should never be dropped, rolled or thrown, and as long as this is observed, there is little danger in handling it Refs 1) US Army Chief of Ordnance, "Safety and Storage Manual for Explosives and Ammunition", OO Form No 5994, Washington,... 

Volatility or readiness with which a substance vaporizes, is an undesirable characteristic for military explosives. Explosives must be no more than slightly volatile at the temperature at which they are loaded or at the highest storage temperature. Excessive volatility often results in the development of pressure within the rounds of ammunition and separation of mixtures into their constituents. Volatility also affects chemical composition of the explosive resulting in the marked reduction in stability leading to an increase in the danger of handling. 

All personnel who handle explosives or ammunition should always remember that a high degree of care is to be exercised since even the slightest degree of negligence may lead to accidents. 

In conclusion, it is not possible to prevent all accidents. It is therefore prudent to follow the precautionary measures outlined in the preceding section and also the cardinal principle of safety while handling explosives or ammunition and allied chemicals [36]. 

Dynamite Heart. An outbreak of heart disease at the Badger Army Ammunition Plant in Wisconsin has shown that workmen who handle NG can develop a dangerous dependency on it. They can suffer heart pains and even death when denied exposure to NG. Suffering usually occurs on weekends and in order to relieve pain doctors prescribed NG pills used medicinally for heart conditions Refs 1) Time, July 12, 1971, p41 2) Ex-... 

Ammunition Inspection consists of tests to determine the current degree of serviceability or deterioration of ammunition as affected by the various conditions of manufacture, storage, handling, maintenance and renovation. 

Up until 1950 it was known as Army Ordnance Department. The Dept was created by an Act of Congress. 14 May 1812. Prior to this, in colonial days, the colonists used ammunition and weapons seized from the British either on land or seas and originally the Quartermasters Corps handled supply problems. Some muskets were produced by locksmiths imported from France and West... 

In a large variety of detonators, in which LA has been loaded into brass containers, cuprous azide is formed on the surface of containers stored under hot and humid con ditions. Extreme care should be exercised in handling cuprous azide or any components of ammunition in which it may be formed... 

Barricades in Explosives and Ammunition Instal lotions. Barricades are required for protection of inhabited buildings, factories, magazines, railroads, highways, bridges, etc from explosions in installations in which expls or ammunitions are manufd, handled or stored. A barricade can be either natural such as a hill or timber of sufficient density) or artificial(s ich as a sand- or earth-filled embankment with a min width of 3ft... 

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