Large Scale HEAT and APERS Munitions Disassembly Safety
Abstract
Demilitarization of munitions has primarily involved open detonation and open burning. Due to environmental concerns and public pressure, demilitarization has been making a gradual shift from disposal operations to resource recovery, including recovery of explosives. As the effort to disassemble munitions on a large scale continues, special attention needs to be made to disassembly and explosives safety, which are significantly different from safety concerns for assembly and munitions storage operations. This paper describes the specific differences in safety for two different munitions types, one a high explosive anti-tank (HEAT) cartridge and the other an anti-personnel (APERS) cartridge. The differences are cataloged through ammunition assembly, including a review of original assembly procedures, ammunition storage procedures, and finally the new safety concerns generated with large scale disassembly operations. This paper will provide a reference to document the changes and specific safety areas for the three different cycles of munitions life, production, storage, and disassembly.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 1994
- Accession Number
- ADA507378
Entities
People
- David W. Ling
- Joe E. Shannan