99 ChemAware Chapter 03

STOCKPILE COMPONENTSAND THREAT: 

CA31 STOCKPILE COMPONENTS AND THREAT

OBJECTIVE: 

OBJECTIVE CA32 Describe the types of munitions stored in your vicinity and the potential for an off-site release

STOCKPILE COMPONENTS: 

STOCKPILE COMPONENTS Characterized by form of munitions type of agent packaging and storage requirements maintenance requirements potential threat of accidental release CA33

TYPES OF MUNITIONS: 

TYPES OF MUNITIONS CA34 Rockets Cartridges Projectiles Bombs Land mines One-ton Containers (Spray Tanks not shown; not to scale)

ROCKETS: 

ROCKETS CA35 All obsolete and declared hazardous waste Contain approximately 10 lbs of GB or VX in extruded aluminum warheads Warhead includes explosive charge (burster) and fuse to initiate charge Solid propellant contained in a steel motor that is threaded onto warhead M55 rocket

ROCKETS: 

CA36 ROCKETS Stored in fiberglass shipping and firing containers with aluminum ends 15 shipping/firing containers per 1 pallet Always stored in igloos pointing toward earth-covered concrete wall In unlikely event of accidental ignition, rocket should not escape the igloo Rocket pallets inside storage igloo

ROCKETS: 

CA37 ROCKETS No scheduled handling or maintenance since obsolete Checked routinely for leakage Checks made of interior of igloo and inside shipping and firing container Any leakage discovered is promptly contained using approved overpacks M55 rocket

ROCKETS: 

ROCKETS Army tests established that if 2 rockets exploded, 13 other rockets would leak forming an agent puddle occurs inside igloo no off-post liquid threat low concentration of agent vapors likely to pass installation boundaries CA38

CARTRIDGES: 

CARTRIDGES CA39 2 types 1 fired from howitzer containing approximately 2 – 3 lbs of GB or HD 1 fired from mortar containing approximately 6 lbs of HD or HT Rarely, but sometimes, have all elements needed to be fired encased in fiberboard container includes propellant, bursting charge, fuze 2 fiberboard containers to 1 wooden box 12 to 36 wooden boxes per 1 pallet GB cartridge

CARTRIDGES: 

CA40 CARTRIDGES All cartridges stored in igloos Normal maintenance includes rewarehousing, handling and inspecting for defects and leakage if leakage detected, probably would be vapor for GB and liquid for HD and HT effects would be confined to igloo Army has determined if one cartridge explodes no other cartridge in igloo would detonate no cartridges can spontaneously explode external force such as fire or accident must occur to cause cartridge to explode

PROJECTILES: 

Heavy, thick-walled metal shells of 1- or 2-piece construction Filled with GB, VX, H, HD, or HT between 2 and 14 lbs of chemical warfare agent Most projectiles not fuzed most projectiles do not have burster explosives loaded into shell Propellant charge required for firing shipped, stored, and issued separately CA41 PROJECTILES GB projectile

PROJECTILES: 

CA42 PROJECTILES Packaged 6 or 8 to 1 pallet All stored in igloos Normal maintenance includes rewarehousing, handling and inspecting for defects and leakage Illustration of a projectile pallet

PROJECTILES: 

CA43 PROJECTILES If leakage detected, probably would be vapor for GB and liquid for H, HD, HT, or VX effects would be confined to igloo Army has determined if one projectile explodes no other projectile in pallet or igloo would detonate no projectiles can spontaneously explode external force such as fire or accident must occur to cause projectile to explode

MINES: 

CA44 MINES Contains 10.5 lbs of liquid VX Contains explosives used to burst mine open and spread its chemical warfare agent payload 3 mines per 16-gallon, waterproof, metal drum All mines stored in igloos Normal maintenance handling and inspecting for defects and leakage leaks would be primarily around base of mine and in side fuze well VX land mine

MINES: 

CA45 MINES Leakage easily detected because of dissolved portions of packing supports and missing paint on mine body Liquid and vapors confined to vapor-proof container Army has determined if one mine explodes other mines in drum would detonate mines cannot spontaneously explodes external force such as fire or accident must occur to cause mine to explode Cut away of a land mine

BOMBS: 

CA46 BOMBS 3 types Contain 105 to 350 lbs of GB depending on type of bomb No bombs stored with explosives Bomb bodies are steel or aluminum alloy GB 500 lb bomb

BOMBS: 

CA47 BOMBS All bombs stored in igloos Aluminum bomb packaged individually in vapor-proof container Other two older steel body types usually stored 1 or 2 to 1 pallet unit GB 500 lb bomb

BOMBS: 

CA48 BOMBS Normal maintenance includes rewarehousing, handling and inspecting for defects and leakage Leakage would probably be vapor seeping from welds on upper portion of bomb GB 500 lb bomb

BOMBS: 

CA49 BOMBS Since no explosives involved, worst possible event is a liquid spill of entire contents has never happened if it did, liquid confined to storage structure if weak concentrations of vapors reached off-site, would likely be too weak to pose hazard to civilian population GB 500 lb bomb

ONE-TON CONTAINERS: 

CA50 ONE-TON CONTAINERS Industrial metal containers manufactured for storage of bulk liquids No explosives involved Capacity ranges from 1500 to 1800 lbs depending on chemical warfare agent stored One ton containers stored at Newport Chemical Depot, Newport, IN

ONE-TON CONTAINERS: 

CA51 ONE-TON CONTAINERS 2 valves located on 1 end of container 6 plugs 3 plugs evenly spaced on bulkhead ends Valves and plugs made of brass or steel Containers stored in igloos, metal storage buildings, or outdoor storage yards depending on chemical warfare agent and location One ton containers stored at Newport Chemical Depot, Newport, IN

ONE-TON CONTAINERS: 

CA52 ONE-TON CONTAINERS Normal maintenance includes painting of containers stored outside, replacing all brass valves and plugs with stainless steel ones, and inspecting for defects and leakage Leakage would be from the plugs or valves any liquid released would be confined in storage area Maintenance inspection of valves and plugs at Deseret Chemical Depot, Tooele, UT

SPRAY TANKS: 

CA53 SPRAY TANKS Contain 1365 lbs of liquid VX Constructed of 1/8-in stainless steel 1 tank overpacked to a large metal, vapor-proof, modified jet engine container Spray tank in overpack container

SPRAY TANKS: 

CA54 SPRAY TANKS Stored in igloos and metal storage buildings Normal maintenance includes handling and inspecting for defects and leaks Vapor leaks never detected No liquid leakage has occurred in unlikely event of liquid leaks, liquid would be confined to vapor-proof container

LEAKING CHEMICAL WARFARE AGENT: 

LEAKING CHEMICAL WARFARE AGENT CA55 Leaking liquid or vapor is controlled and contained until leaking item can be disposed of properly leaker is sealed in approved container as soon as possible if vapor-proof container leaking due to defective gasket, gasket is replaced if gasket cannot be replaced, container is replaced if no serviceable containers are available, item is overpacked in larger vapor-proof container or chemical warfare agent contents are transferred to another container Packing leaker in vapor-proof container

LEAKING CHEMICAL WARFARE AGENT: 

CA56 LEAKING CHEMICAL WARFARE AGENT Contamination promptly neutralized Storage structures are sealed and equipped with air filters during leaker containerization operations Rockets filled with GB cause greatest concern due to design and large numbers less than 1/10th of 1% of rockets have developed leaks Army has developed 2 specially designed vapor-proof overpacks leaking rockets have been stored in these leaker containers (overpacks) and monitored for further leakage with excellent results