Accession Number:

ADA167816

Title:

Antifratricide Protection for Palletized Chemical Rockets during Shipment.

Descriptive Note:

Final rept.,

Corporate Author:

ARMY BALLISTIC RESEARCH LAB ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND MD

Personal Author(s):

• Lyman,Ona R.
• McLaughlin,John T.

Report Date:

1986-02-01

Pagination or Media Count:

30.0

Abstract:

The US Army has a large number of M55 chemical rockets in storage which it needs to destroy. The maximum credible event MCE for moving pallets of these rockets is the spontaneous detonation of one rocket on a pallet, with a sympathetic detonation of another rocket warhead, and massive leakage of agent from the remaining 13 rockets. The Ballistic Research Laboratory BRL was asked to consider the use of antifratricide techniques to reduce the magnitude of such an accidental detonation. Several antifratricide techniques were tried to prevent propagation of reaction between a detonated donor warhead and adjacent acceptors. Insertion of rockets into 9.5 mm wall thickness aluminum tubes separated 275 mm on centers with 41 mm diameter thinwall electrical conduit between warhead provides excellent protection. Prevention of initiation of the donor motor is a much more difficult task, and these tests could only be accomplished by modifying the rocket. Keywords Demilitarization, Chemical munitions, Munitions transport, Munitions safety.

Descriptors:

• *CHEMICAL ORDNANCE
• *DEMILITARIZATION
• *SHIPPING
• *ROCKETS
• MOTION
• TRANSPORT
• SAFETY
• AMMUNITION
• STORAGE
• MOTORS
• PALLETS
• SYMPATHETIC DETONATIONS
• DETONATIONS
• WARHEADS
• ROCKET WARHEADS
• ACCIDENTS

Subject Categories:

• Safety Engineering
• Rockets

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE