Explosive ordnance military explosives

N.E.C. is the major manufacturer with a complete range of explosives and accessories, with factories in Scotland, Wales and England. Explosives and Chemical Products Ltd., with factories in England, is the other manufacturer of explosives for sale. The major commercial manufacturer of ammunition is Imperial Metal Industries (Kynoch) Ltd. at Witton near Birmingham. The British Government has of course a number of Royal Ordnance Factories and establishments to cover all aspects of military explosives. 

Until the end of the First World War the main filling for mass ordnance was TNT and its mixtures with ammonium nitrate known as Amatols. During this period improved methods for the manufacture of RDX enabled its inclusion in munitions, usually in formulation with TNT in the form of the Cyclotols. RDX and its mixtures are still the most widely used explosives for military use. 

During die period 1920—1941 extended research was conducted by the Ordnance Department to develop small arms explosive bullets. No round was developed which functioned with complete satisfaction in a hot machine gun barrel, the decomposition temperature of all known military explosives is lower than the temperature encountered in the combat firing of small arms machine guns. The nearest approach to a satisfactory explosive cartridge was the TI Pomeroy type... 

Stein M.E.Pollack, "Development of an Improved Rifle Bullet Impact-Sensitibity Test , PATR 2247(1956) 17)Anon, Ordnance Proof Manual , OPM 10-86. Aberdeen PG, Md(1957),p 2 (Bullet impact tests for bombs) 18)H.Will G.Silvestro, "Development of Method for Determining the Sensitivity of Explosives to Bullet Impact , Instrumentation Rept No TR 681-58, PicArsn, Dover, NJ(1958) 19)W.R. Tomlinson, Jr, "Properties of Explosives of Military Interest , PATR 1740, Revision 1(1958) by O.E.Sheffield 20)O.E.Sheffield, "Properties of Explosives of Military Interest , PATR 1740, Supplement No l(1958)(Conf) 21)W.H. 

Refs l)Anon, "Handbook of Japanese Explosive Ordnance , OPNAV 30-3M(i945), 29 2)Anon, "Military Explosives", TM 9 1910 (1955), 212 3)R.P.Antonelli, OTIA, "Encyclopedia of Explosives", OrdnLiaison Group-Durham, NC(1960), 28-9... 

Refs l)K.Van Keuren, "A Procedure for Chemical Analysis of Composition A-3 , NAVORD Report 1781, US Naval Ordnance Laboratory, White Oak, Md. (1951) la)S.M. Kaye, PATR 1936 (1953) (Nonaqueous titration method for detn of RDX content in Comp A-3) 2)Anon, Military Explosives , TM 9-1910 (1955), 271 (Identification of Composition A-3) 3)Purchase Description X-PA-PD-940 (1956) (Karl Fischer moisture detn) 4)Federal Test Method Std No 141 (1958), Method 4082 (Karl Fischer moisture detn) 4a)C.C.Jamison, "Determination of Nitrogenous Coumpounds of Ordnance Interest by Chromous Chloride Reduction , PicArsn, FRL TechMemo ACS-3-60 (I960) 5)U.S. 

Bomb Fuzes, Land Mines, Grenades, Firing Devices and Sabotage Devices), TM 9—1985— 4(1953) 78)Anon, "Japanese Explosive Ordnance (Army Ammunition, Navy Ammunition), TM 9-1985-5(1953) 79)Anon, "Italian and French Explosive Ordnance, TM 9—1985—6 (1953) (Same info as in Ref 44a) 80)R.R. Sharpe, "Rifle in America, Funk Wagnalls, NY(1953) 81)R.Pichene, "Les Mines, Charles-Lavauzelle, Paris(1953) 82)E. Tunis, "Weapons, A Pictorial History, The World Publg Co, Cleveland,Ohio(1954) 83)Anon, "Elements of Armament Engineering, US Military Academy,West Point,NY(1954)... 

Joint Service Safety and Performance Manual for Qualification of Explosives for Military Use, Prepared by Joint Technical Coordinating Group for Air Launched Non-Nuclear Ordnance, Working Party for Explosives, Picatinny Arsenal, Dover, N.J., 1971. 

Although TNT is a widely used military explosive, it is no longer manufactured in the United States. Crystalline XACs are, however, very persistent in soils, so continue as a contaminant source long after production has ceased. Large chunks of explosives present a detonation hazard. New environmental releases are more likely associated with packing/storage facilities or unexploded ordnance. 

OB/OD remains a useful disposal option. For example, a military team working with explosive ordnance devices may recommend using OD to dispose of chemical munitions that are believed to be in a dangerous condition, either because the fuze is armed and shock sensitive or because the munition has seriously deteriorated. Using OD, the munition need not be moved because it can be disposed of in place. 

State and local governments must realize at the outset that the military lacks experience in many aspects of environmental remediation and even in munitions clearance. For example, until 1994 there was a moratorium on the excavation of chemical weapons. UXO technicians may also be unfamiliar with residual contamination from chemical and explosive weapons. Even with explosive ordnance, mistakes can occur. Recently a scrap metal worker was killed when an ordnance item that was hidden among other ordnance scrap metal exploded while being cut up for scrap with a torch. Another area where the military lacks ordnance experience is in World War I and older ordnance and in experimental ordnance. The database of the U.S. Army Engineering and Support Center in Huntsville, Alabama, is often incomplete in these areas. 

From the historical documents, the military experience at other ranges, and the fact that UXO have already been discovered on-site, unexploded and buried chemical and high-explosive ordnance is certain to remain at Spring Valley. Although quick and commendable efforts were done to check 53 key areas and to remove ordnance accidentally discovered, the... 

Aromatic nitro compormds, primarily 2,4,6-TNT, have long use as military explosives and commercial application in cast boosters to initiate insensitive blasting agents. In the laboratory, TNT maybe encountered as prills, flake, or a cast solid ranging in color from light yellow to brown. Acetone solutions of TNT slowly develop a pink color and red is produced with ethanolic KOH. Numerous TLC systems have been described for the identification of TNT, usually with visualization by alcoholic KOH. TLC or GC-MS identification of minor products, other isomers of TNT or DNT, provides information to establish a potential common source. The use of isotope ratio MS is now being explored for this purpose. GC or LC-TEA readily identifies TNT. Combinations of TNT and NH4NO3, known as Amatols , have been used as military explosives to conserve TNT and could be encountered in old military ordnance. 

Response force— The people who respond to an act of aggression. Depending on the nature of the threat, the response force could consist of gnards, special reaction teams, military or civilian police, an explosives ordnance disposal team, or a fire department. 

CHEMTREC s Emergency Services specialists are people with extensive experience in civilian and military emergency response. The current staff of 14 Emergency Services specialists includes active and retired firefighters, former U.S. Coast Guard personnel, retired military explosive ordnance disposal personnel, and a chemist. 

---