OPEN STORAGE OF AMMUNITION

TM 9-1300-277

shelters are not available, personnel shall be withdrawn

(3) Magazines, open storage sites, or loading

to places at inhabited building distances from the

docks not equipped with approved lightning protection

hazardous locations.

systems, and vehicles and railroad cars containing

explosives and explosive-loaded ammunition on

e. Personnel in direct charge of railroad trains and

ungrounded tracks, and locations not providing

motor trucks containing explosives should, when

protection equivalent to unbarricaded intraline distance

possible, move the equipment to a predesignated

of such, and within magazine distance of such

location, but in no case less than approved magazine

structures, sites, vehicles, or cars.

distance before retiring to designated bomb-proofs or

change houses.

(4) Locations (with or without lightning

protection) where operations involving electro-explosive

2-11. OPEN STORAGE OF AMMUNITION

devices are being performed.

a. Open storage is a temporary expedient and

b. When personnel are to be evacuated from

should not be used in lieu of standard methods for long-

explosives operations, the operations should be shut

term storage.

down, windows and doors closed, and electric switches

b. Earth covered (igloo) storage should be used

thrown to the off position.

wherever possible. In comparison with other methods, it

c. A responsible and qualified person should be

provides a higher degree of protection and safety for the

empowered with the final decision as to the necessity for

ammunition and surrounding targets, greater physical

evacuation. Where operations are of such nature as to

security, and reduced maintenance of the ammunition.

require advance warning of shutdown, volunteer

c. Examples of permitted open storage of

observers or an electronic static detector may be used.

ammunition would be:

d. In an operating line, evacuated personnel shall

(1) Bombs slated for demilitarization stored in

be retired to approved, suitable, protective shelters

revetted pads between igloos.

located in intraline distance from operating buildings or

(2) Item size or quantity preclude storage in

other hazardous locations. In a magazine area,

magazines.

evacuated personnel shall be retired to approved

(3) Material located in outside storage at time

shelters or to empty earth covered magazines at

of suspension from issue, movement, and use.

intraline distance from class 1.1, and at magazine

distance from class 1.2 - 1.4 ammunition. When such

2-9