CHAPTER 6 EXISTING DEMILITARIZATION EQUIPMENT AND METHODS

TM 9-1300-277

CHAPTER 6

EXISTING DEMILITARIZATION EQUIPMENT AND METHODS

2000) located behind a safety shield, where it is

6-1. GENERAL

clamped firmly into place. The machine separates the

projectile from the cartridge case. The free projectile is

a. Current conventional munition demilitarization

placed (usually by hand) into another clamping machine

processes have been standardized and use the same

where jaws grip and unscrew the fuze. Fuzes go down

type of equipment everywhere. The four major methods

one conveyor, defuzed projectiles down another, empty

for demilitarization are: washout/steamout, deactivation

cartridge cases down still another; and the dumped

furnace, open burning, and open detonation. The above

propellant powder is collected into a hopper by vacuum.

methods may require disassembly of some components

It is the reverse of an assembly line.

prior to processing by one of the four major methods

listed above.

c. The disassembly of smaller ammunition, such

as 20mm, is even more automated. Complete rounds

b. Current facilities and capabilities-in terms of

are fed by a conveyor belt, behind a safety shield, to a

locations, capacity, equipment, and techniques will be

breakoff wedge where the projectile is forced out of the

further described in this chapter.

cartridge case. The projectile drops onto a second

conveyor which takes it to a collection bin. The

c. Detonation capabilities, both above and below

cartridge cases drop into a tumbling barrel where the

ground, will be identified by location.

propellant powder is shaken out and collected in a

vacuum system. The cases finally drop into a third

6-2. MUNITION DISASSEMBLY LINES

conveyor which takes them to another collection bin.

a. The first step in most demilitarization/disposal

6-3. APE DISASSEMBLY EQUIPMENT

operation is the disassembly of munitions into

components suitable for ultimate disposal.

Fixed

The equipment components, as used on

artillery ammunition, for example, will have the

disassembly lines, are of a special design identified as

projectile pulled out of the cartridge case in a special

Ammunition Peculiar Equipment (APE). They are listed

Jig, the propellant powder dumped into a collection bin,

and described in detail in TM 43-0001-47, Army

and the primer removed from the cartridge case. The

Equipment

Data

Sheets

Ammunition

Peculiar

projectile will have the fuze, the supplemental charge,

Equipment, October 1979. Examples of APE used to

and the fuze well liner removed to expose the explosive

disassemble fixed artillery munitions are:

fill for removal. 30/50 caliber machine gun ammunition

will be separated from the purely mechanical belt

a. Vertical Pull Apart Machine (APE 10017, with

hardware. 20mm ammunition will usually, but not

proper accessories, is designed to pull apart fixed

always, have the projectile pulled, the powder dumped,

munitions 40 through 106mm at a production rate of 2

and the projectiles and cases collected in separate bins;

rounds per minute. The machine can be used to pull

whereas, smaller ammunition is usually left intact.

apart Navy ammunition; however, accessories would

Bombs, mines, and other large munitions will have the

have to be designed and tested.

explosive fill exposed in much the same manner as

large ammunition.

b. Vertical Pull Apart Machine (automated, APE

2000) is a rotary machine with cam operated

b. The above operations are typically carried out

mechanical drive to pull the rounds. It is equipped with

more or less remotely on automated disassembly lines

a pickoff mechanism to automatically remove the pulled

designed especially for the specific munition. Fixed

projectile from the machine and deposit it on a

artillery ammunition, for example, will be placed by hand

discharge

into a Vertical Pull Apart Machine (APE 1001 or APE

6-1