The Dangers Associated with Munitions

1. The Dangers Associated with Munitions Safety Information for Soldiers 1

2. What Are Munitions • Munitions include: • Artillery rounds • Bombs • Grenades

3. Munitions Components Fuze – contains the most sensitive explosives • Arms a munition allowing it tofunction as intended • Can, of itself, cause death orserious injury Booster – contains a slightly less sensitive explosive, can be hazardous Main Charge – explosive, chemical, other • Explosive produces a blast wave and fragments • Chemical may include toxic chemical agents Body – encases all the components of the munition, usually made of metal 3

4. What Are UXO • UXO stands for unexploded ordnance. • Unexploded ordnance (UXO) are military munitions that failed to function properly upon use.

5. Munitions • May be hard to identify • Come in many shapes, sizes and types, even small munitions can injure or kill • Include “simulators” and “practice” munitions, which are also dangerous • Can be dangerous regardless of age

6. Which Are Most Likely UXO? 1 3 2 4 5 6 7

7. Projectile New Used

8. Rocket New Used

9. Encountering Munitions Munitions can be encountered almost anywhere such as: • Active military installations • Weapons and/or munitions test sites • Formerly Used Defense Sites (FUDS) • A home, as part of a souvenir collection • Tactical areas

10. Encountering Munitions WWI training site that is now in a residential development in Washington, DC. UXO from live-fire using the same kind of weapon shown above.

11. The DANGER is real! • Souvenirs recently collected or purchased and brought home or even Civil War cannon balls and artillery projectiles can be: • Kept for years without incident, until they detonate • Believed, incorrectly, tobe harmless, until they are proven otherwise • Deadly

12. The 3Rs of Explosives Safety When you encounter a munition outside DoD’s military munitions management system: • Recognize – that munitions are dangerous • Retreat – do not approach, touch, disturb or move it, but leave the area • Report – call 911 or tell your chain of command what you saw, and where you saw it Call911

13. Recognize • Munitions may: • Not look like a projectile, rocket or bomb • Look harmless, but they are dangerous • Be shiny or rusty • Be clean or dirty • Even though a munition may not have been moved for yearsor has been moved dozens oftimes, it may still explode. • Leave it alone!

14. Retreat • Do not go near, touch, move or disturb a munition or suspect munition. • Carefully, leave the area, the same way you entered it.

15. Report • Report what you saw and where you saw it to: • Military police or local law enforcement • Your chain of command • Trained explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) personnel will dispose of the item. 15

16. Be Safe • Remember, munitions can kill! • Leave them alone • Get away from them • Report them to law enforcement or your chain of commend immediately • Keep yourself and others safe.

17. Remember, if you encounter or suspect you have encountered a munition: www.denix.osd.mil/uxo