OPEN DETONATION GROUNDS

TM 9-1300-277

flammable materials within a radius of 200 feet from the

Army

Airspace

Representative

through

the

point of destruction will be removed.

Firefighting

Administrator, Federal Aviation Agency (FAA).

equipment for combating grass fires will be kept readily

Reference may be made to AR 95-50 for additional

available and, if practicable, the ground at the point of

information.

destruction should be wetted down with water at the

d. The quantity of material to be destroyed at one

close of each day's operation. Burning shall not be

time will depend upon local conditions. This quantity will

repeated on previously burned-over plots within 24

be carefully determined by starting with a limited

hours unless the burning area has been soaked

number and then gradually increasing that number until

thoroughly with water and an inspection by competent

the maximum which can be destroyed without damage

personnel has been made to assure the safety of

to surrounding property or causing disturbance to

personnel during subsequent burning operations. The

civilian areas is attained.

use of concrete mats for burning or detonation is not

e. In the absence of specific regulations or

permitted.

information covering the phase of the destruction of

explosive material, instructions will be requested from

6-9. OPEN DETONATION GROUNDS

the Commander, U.S.

Army Armament Materiel

Readiness Command, Rock Island, IL

61299 or

a. Open detonation is a very economical method

Commander, U.S. Army Missile Command, Redstone

of demilitarizing munitions. Disposal by detonation may

Arsenal, AL 35809.

be accomplished on the surface or in a pit or trench.

Procedures vary greatly due to the size of the item,

6-10.

CHEMICAL MUNITION DEMILITARIZATION

amount and type of explosive contained in the item,

METHODS

amount and type of explosive charge necessary to

ensure complete destruction, method of priming, etc.

a. Chemical demilitarization can only be

b. The selection of a site for destruction of

accomplished at a limited number of facilities.

ammunition by detonation is based on the same

Chemical Munitions are generally processed through the

principles as used in selecting a burning ground site.

following principal items of equipment:

Such a site should not be less than 2,400 feet from

(1) Furnaces for explosive deactivation,

public highways, public railways, inhabited buildings,

chemical decontamination of metal parts, and

magazines, and operating buildings.

Where this

incineration of small quantities of chemicals.

distance cannot be attained, a pit or trench shall be used

(2) Afterburner.

to limit the range of fragments. The pit or trench should

(3) Quencher.

be a minimum of four feet deep and materials being

detonated should be covered with at least two feet of

(4) Electrostatic precipitators to remove

earth. The 2400 foot limitation does not apply where

particulates.

substantially constructed deactivation furnaces are used

(5) Packed tower scrubbers.

for the destruction of small quantities of fuzes, primers,

(6) Discharge stack.

small arms ammunition, etc. When demolition charges

(7) High capacity ventilation systems to

are to be covered with earth, the charges should be

maintain negative pressures.

fitted with detonating cord leads of such length that the

b. A flow diagram of the system is shown in figure

leads will protrude through the earth cover into the open.

6-6. A detailed description of the process is as follows:

c. Another factor that must be considered, when

(1) Deactivation furnace.

Deactivation

selecting a site for the destruction of explosives and

furnace is an oil fired APE 1236 ammunition disposal

ammunition, is determining that the proposed site does

retort equipped with an over-pressure control system

not conflict with existing or proposed airways.

and bearing cooling system. The internal helix keeps

Clearance for the proposed site will be obtained from

furnaced materials moving

the appropriate

6-12