Explosive ordnance rounds

However, because many old shells—whether unexploded on a range or buried—have rusted, they may be difficult to assess as paint and markings are gone. Some ranges and many burial sites may have both chemical and high explosive ordnance. Wearing a chemical suit under Kevlar may be the best practice. Where only explosive ordnance is likely to be encountered, but chemical rounds are still possible, a charcoal-lined suit is a good choice under the Kevlar. 

In 2004, a homeowner in the US state of Delaware noticed an object in his clamshell driveway which turned out to be a 75 mm artillery round (clam shells are commercially dredged partly for use as filler for driveways to homes in the region). An air force explosive ordnance disposal unit removed the shell and detonated it. Believing that it was conventional explosive round, the unit was somewhat surprised by the shell s weak explosion. The unit also noticed the presence of a dark liquid the colour of coffee surrounding the remnants of the shell. However, the unit did not consider that the shell might have been a chemical round until one of the members woke up in his home several hours later because of a severe and deep burning sensation. Classical sulphur mustard blisters soon formed and the samples taken from the fluid of the blisters confirmed that the person had been exposed to sulphur mustard. The shell had originally been dumped by the US off the east coast. 

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... 

However, dud ammunition is not the only source of enemy supply. Carelessly discarded ordnance of all sizes and In any quantity Is collected by enemy salvage teams. Mortar rounds, rockets, LAAW s, grenades, and small arms ammunition abandoned to lighten the load (or Improperly secured and lost by fast-moving Marines) have value as the explosive element in boobytraps. Even a single M16 round ejected to clear a stoppage can be used by the enemy ... 

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