Munitions Demilitarization

Introduction 

           Each week, units go to ammunition supply points to pick up munitions for training, and conduct exercises. Soldiers handle munitions on vehicles, in containers, and various other locations to shoot and train with on ranges. There will be unavoidable fair wear and tear that causes ammunition to become unserviceable. The turned back munitions cannot stay in storage indefinitely, and there must be some manner of disposition. Unlike normal property turned into Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Disposition Services, munitions are not processed the same and must be retrograded back to an Ammunition Depot in the Continental United States (CONUS) that have facilities to demilitarize munitions. Demilitarization is the act of eliminating the functional capabilities and inherent military design features that requires certification and verification, to keep out of enemy hands.

Stockpile

            Unserviceablebility is just one of the reasons that munitions may require demilitarization. Serviceability is determined and assigned by the Quality Assurance Specialist (Ammunition Surveillance) (QASAS) personnel. An example that would require demilitarization is the assignment of condition code H. The munitions which have been determined to be unserviceable and does not meet repair criteria. The report of unserviceable munitions is on the automated Ammunition Condition Report (ACR) in the Munitions History Program (MHP). The final approved report in MHP provides disposition instructions that are actional upon receipt from Joint Munitions Command (JMC). An ACR would not be completed for other reseasons that require demilitarization, such as an ammunition item being obsolete or excess.

Obsolete ammunition items are those from weapon systems that are no longer in service or when enhanced munitions replace older ammunition.

Examples are ammunition for weapons such as the M18 recoilless rifle and M1 Bazooka Rocket Launcher. And more recently, the replacement of Trinitrotoluene TNT explosives. Excess munitions are those that exceed the operational demand, and it would cost more to store, maintain, and retrograde than to conduct demilitarization.

The initial step in most demilitarization operations is the disassembly of munitions into components suitable for ultimate disposal. Directorate for Ammunition Equipment (D/AE) located at Tooele Army Depot, Joint Munitions Command (JMC) specifiy all Ammunition Peculiar Equipment (APE); that supports disassembly and final disposal. Technical Manual 9-1300-277, General Instructions for Demilitarization/Disposal of Conventional Munitions, provides detailed information about demilitarization/disposal operations, including procedures with APE and open burning/ detonation operations.

Washout/Steamout

A standard APE 1300 system is the Washout Plant, designed and specified in detail by the U.S. Army. It is about a 4500 square foot building containing a water heater, wash racks, explosive reclamation, and packaging sections, and water reclamation facilities. The synopsis of the operation is that hot water, approximately 1800-2050F, is injected under pressure into the cavity of an opened and up-ended projectile or bomb, melting out the fill and washing the metal case. The steamout process is an alternate method of removing explosive fillers. Steamout essentially melts out TNT fillers from large-caliber projectiles, bombs, and other munitions. Steamout is limited to TNT-only fillers, and there is less water to dispose of from the steam out process than washout.

Deactivation Furnace

Normally, small arms with explosive items are demilitarized in the deactivation furnace. The APE 1236 Deactivation Furnace is a steel rotary kiln having an overall length of 30 feet and a diameter of four feet. The main body is a horizontal retort that is four 60 inch sections bolted end to end with side walls about 2-1/4 inches thick or a center retort wall 3-1/4 inches for newer models. The APE has a spiral internal element with a screw-like conveyor, moving materials through the unit as the retort slowly rotates. The newer models can process individual munitions containing 800 grains of explosive. The furnace provides the capability for the thermal destruction of explosives contained in ammunition.

 Figure 1. Furnace Room Inside enclosure – feed end, APE 1236 Deactivation Furnace. Source. USACE Report ERDC/CERL TR-07-5, Public Release.

Open Burning/ Open Detonation

Open grounds provide the capability for open burning of propellants and explosives, and other unserviceable combustible materials common to ammunition operations. The burning process is a quick method of disposing of munitions such as solid propellants for artillery. Like open burning, Open detonation usually conducted by Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) technicians is another quick method of demilitarizing munitions. Procedures differ greatly depending on the amount and explosive contained in the item. The explosive charge necessary to ensure destruction may differ along with the method of priming. The explosive safety standards are used for the selection of a site for the destruction of ammunition by the detonation. 

Figure 2. An open detonation at Letterkenny Munitions Center.

Conclusion

There are various ways to dispose of ammunition, not just the washout, deactivation furnace, and denotation. They include technologies such as Cryofracture and Cryocycling. Future research into Laser Cutting and Machining of explosives for easier disassembly may offer better Resource, Recovery, and Recycling (R3) techniques. With funding shortfalls, the pace of demilitarization has to keep up with stockpiles of unserviceable, obsolete, and excess munitions that continue to grow throughout the Department of Defense inventory.