Accession Number:

ADA210765

Title:

DoD Insensitive Munitions Program

Descriptive Note:

Corporate Author:

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE WASHINGTON DC

Personal Author(s):

• Heaston, Robert J.

Report Date:

1987-06-18

Pagination or Media Count:

30.0

Abstract:

The Department of Defense DoD Insensitive Munitions IM program essentially began with an edict by the Chief of Naval Operations in May 1984 that all Navy munitions would have less sensitive components by 1995. This action was triggered by fires on aircraft carriers over 20 years that had taken over 200 lives and cost nearly 200 million. There were existing programs on low vulnerability ammunition and increasing emphasis on 1.3 propellants at the time but these efforts lacked top level focus. The Navy decision created a strong top down motivation that did not go unnoticed by a small cadre of technologists who were ready to assume a strong bottom up group that had been languishing for funding that was prepared to fill this need.

Descriptors:

• *SENSITIVITY
• *PROPELLANTS
• *AMMUNITION
• DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
• MARINE CORPS
• DECISION MAKING
• NAVY
• VULNERABILITY
• COSTS
• SAFETY
• LOW LEVEL
• NAVAL OPERATIONS
• MOTIVATION
• COOK OFF
• DETONATIONS

Subject Categories:

• Ammunition and Explosives

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE