Presented at the 2010 NOAA International Corrosion Workshop. Provides an overview of sites that may have munitions, distribution of munitions at the sites, how munitions are constructed, and studies on corrosion of munitions.

1. Introduction to and Scope of the
Underwater Munitions Issue
1
October 2010
Geoff Carton
CALIBRE Systems, Inc/Support Contractor
Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for
Environment, Safety and Occupational Health

2. 2
Highlights
• Terminology
• Site types
• Scope
• UWM distribution
• Munitions 101
• Conceptual model
• Projects
• Corrosion research
• References

3. Important Munitions-Related
Terms
3

4. Military Munitions
Military munitions means all ammunition products and
components produced for or used by the armed forces for
national defense and security, including ammunition products or
components under the control of the Department of Defense, the Coast
Guard, the Department of Energy, and the National Guard. The term
includes confined gaseous, liquid, and solid propellants; explosives,
pyrotechnics, chemical and riot control agents, smokes, and incendiaries,
including bulk explosives, and chemical warfare agents;
chemical munitions, rockets, guided and ballistic missiles, bombs,
warheads, mortar rounds, artillery ammunition, small arms ammunition,
grenades, mines, torpedoes, depth charges, cluster munitions and dispensers,
demolition charges; and devices and components thereof.
(10 U.S.C. 101(e)(4)(A) through (C))
4
-- Military munitions are, by definition, only US munitions

5. Discarded Military
Munitions (DMM)
DMM are military munitions that have been abandoned
without proper disposal or removed from storage in a
military magazine or other storage area for the purpose of
disposal. The term does not include UXO, military munitions that
are being held for future use or planned disposal, or military munitions that
have been properly disposed of, consistent with applicable environmental
laws and regulations.
(10 U.S.C. 2710(e)(2))
5

6. Unexploded Ordnance
Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) – Military munitions that
(A) have been primed, fuzed, armed, or otherwise prepared for
action;
(B) have been fired, dropped, launched, projected, or placed in such a
manner as to constitute a hazard to operations, installations,
personnel, or material; and
(C) remain unexploded whether by malfunction, design, or any
other cause.
(10 U.S.C. 101(e)(5)(A) through (C))
• DMM were taken from storage for disposal
and have less chance of functioning
than UXO 6

7. Munitions Constituents
Any materials originating from unexploded
ordnance (UXO), discarded military munitions
(DMM), or other military munitions, including
explosive and non-explosive materials, and
emission, degradation, or breakdown
elements of such ordnance or munitions.
(10 U.S.C. 2710(e)(3))
7

8. UWM Site Types
• Live-fire testing and training ranges (operational; former)
– Surface munitions (e.g., bombs, artillery projectiles)
– Subsurface munitions (e.g., torpedoes, sea mines)
• Defensive sites (e.g., forts, coastal artillery batteries)
• Disposal sites
• Acts of war (e.g., combat sites, sunken vessels)
• Accident sites (e.g., Port Chicago)
• Emergencies (e.g., jettisoned munitions)
8

9. 9
Island Targets
Former Culebra Training Area, Cayo Alkazar Target

10. 10
Littoral Training Areas
Bahia Tamarindo Hondo, Former Culebra Training Area

11. 11
Flooded Ranges
Former Camp Maxey

12. Disposal Sites
12

13. Scope of UWM in US Waters
13

14. Disposal Sites
(Pacific)
14
Source: Chapter 10, Sea Disposal of Military Munitions, FY 09 Defense
Environmental Programs Annual Report to Congress (www.denix.osd.mil)

15. Disposal Sites
(Atlantic and Gulf)
15
Source: Chapter 10, Sea Disposal of Military Munitions, FY 09 Defense
Environmental Programs Annual Report to Congress (www.denix.osd.mil)

16. 16

17. Distribution of Munitions
17

18. 18
Munitions Distribution
Fixed Firing Position
• Distribution exhibits a
clear, predictable pattern
• Munitions present will
determined based on
records review and
weapons used at site
• Records may be more
complete than for bombing
ranges or disposal sites
325,000
325,000
330,000
330,000
335,000
335,000
340,000
340,000
4,600,000
4,600,000
4,605,000
4,605,000
4,610,000
4,610,000
4,615,000
4,615,000
4,620,000
4,620,000
4,625,000
4,625,000
UTM Easting (m)
UTMNorthing(m)
NAD 83
Zone 17N
anomalies/acre
11-20
21-40
81-110
41-60
61-80
Erie Army Depot

19. Over the Side Disposal
19

20. Disposed Munitions
20
• Loose disposal
– Meandering trails from
a ship underway
– Trails by munitions type
– Items fairly evenly spaced
• Consolidated in hulks
– Little dispersion of munitions
– Items in contact
– Possible galvanic coupling
– Better documentation on
quantities
Hawaii Undersea Military Munitions Assessment (HI-05)
Sonar Survey – loose disposal

21. Consolidated Disposal
21

22. Munitions 101
22

23. Munitions 101
• Families of ammunition
• Energetic materials
• Explosive train
• Munitions fillers
• Bomb components
• Projectile components
23

24. Families of Ammunition
• Small Arms
• Artillery
• Bombs
• Grenades
• Rockets
• Mines
• Pyrotechnics
• Guided Missiles and Large Rockets (GMLR)
24

25. Energetic Materials and
Purpose
• High Explosives: Blast, Fragmentation
• Propellant: Propulsive Energy
• Pyrotechnics: Fireworks, Signals
• Incendiary: Initiate Fires
25
Energetic Materials
Explosives Propellants Pyrotechnics
Primary Secondary
Inorganic Organic
Single Base
Double Base
Triple Base
Composite
Flares
Smoke
Tracers
Incendiaries

26. Explosive Train
• Most munitions contain more than one type of
energetic material
• Energetics are arranged in a particular order called
an “explosive train”
26

27. Explosive Train
• Sequence of energetic materials begin with priming or
initiating material (primer or fuze), through boosting
material, and finally to the main charge
• Sequence is typically from low-yielding, but very
sensitive material (primary explosive) to a high-yielding,
but not as sensitive material (high explosive)
FUZE BOOSTER MAIN CHARGE
High Sensitivity Low
Small Quantity Large
PRIMER PROPELLANT

28. Explosive Train - Propelling
Primer is initiated by external source (e.g., firing pin,
electric current)
Output from the primer (flame) initiates the igniter
Output from the igniter initiates the propellant
28
Primer Igniter
tube
Propellant
grains

29. Types of Fillers
• High Explosive
• Incendiary
• Chemical or industrial
agents
• Illumination (pyrotechnics)
• Screening or smoke
• Sub-munitions
• Inert Items
• Riot Control Agents

30. Components of Bombs
30

31. Booster
Body
Filler
Components of Artillery
Munitions

32. Detailed information
on materials is
often available
• Body - steel
• Rotating band –
copper
• Fuze – steel or
brass
32

33. Conceptual Corrosion and
Release Model
33

34. Theoretical Distribution of
Releases from Numerous Items
34Figure after MEDEA, 1997
Initial release - Transient at time of disposal from failure of items
T1 – Corrosive attack on munitions and formation of pinholes
T – Period of maximum release likely to be an extended period
Corrosive Disintegration Period T1 T
Initial Release
Time (decades)
NumberofMunitionsOpened
Primary
Release

35. Release of Low Solubility Fill
35
Content of munitions released over an extended period and is a continuing
source of munitions constituents
Figure after MEDEA, 1997

36. Release of High Solubility Fill
36
Fill of munition rapidly enters water column
Figure after MEDEA, 1997

37. Projects
37

38. Hawaii Undersea Military Munitions
Assessment Program (HUMMA, HI-05)
• Develop efficient and cost effective method for
characterizing munitions sea disposal sites
• Deep water site – approximately 400 meters
• South of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
• SONAR survey of about 70 km2
• Manned submersibles and ROVs used
• Seawater, sediment and biota collected and analyzed
• Report available (www.hummaproject.com)
• Additional SONAR survey planned for 2011 to south of
original study area
38

39. HUMMA Photographs

40. HUMMA Conclusion
on Corrosion
• Deterioration level ranged from almost pristine to
virtually disintegrated
• Varied within similar munition types in the same general
area, as well as between different types of munitions
spread over a wide region
• Generally, munitions with thicker casings were better
preserved
• Most munitions were not obviously breached
• Many had “skirts” or columnar “pedestals” beneath that
appear to be the result of rusting, possibly in combination
with leakage of internal MC 40

41. HUMMA “Pedestals”
41

42. M47 Bomb
• 16,000 M47A2 100-lb
mustard filled bombs
disposed in 1944 south of
Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
• 40% were leaking at time
of disposal
• Painted body made of
0.061 in (1.5 mm) thick
sheet steel
• Several possible M47
bombs observed at a depth
of about 1,800 feet 42

43. Possible M47 Bombs
Off Hawaii
43

44. Possible M47 Bombs
44

45. Ordnance Reef (HI-06) Projects
• Army and Navy funded NOAA survey (2006) to obtain
screening-level data of potential explosives safety and
human health risks
• DASA(ESOH) established (2007) Ordnance Reef
Coordinating Council (mirrors TPP)
• University of Hawaii completed (2009) two rounds of
sampling (Remedial Investigation (RI))
to address data gaps
– Focus on human health
– Screening level ecological risk assessment
• RI (sampling results) report expected in
early 2011
• Outreach efforts - expanded
45

46. Ordnance Reef Projects
• NOAA:
– Ocean current monitoring
• Shallow (under 300 feet) and deep (about 8,000 feet) sensor
networks collected data over a 1 year period
• Data being used to develop a model to predict fate of potential
release
• Incorporating data into UH circulation models and export to NOAA
3D fate and transport models
• Final report expected by mid-2011
– Pre-removal coral survey completed, with recommendations
for minimizing impacts to coral to be provided in Nov/Dec
2010
46

47. 47
Ocean Current Monitoring

48. 48
Deep Water Site
~ 8,000’
• Current speed
• Current direction

49. Ordnance Reef Projects
• Army Environmental Quality Technology Program
demonstrations (Apr 11) of commercial technology:
– Adapted from oil exploration technology for the remote
recovery of sea disposed munitions
– NOAA input used in order to minimize impacts of recovery
on coral
– Barge mounted technology (existing and innovative) for
destruction of recovered munitions
49

50. Corrosion Research
50

51. Early Corrosion
Rate Predictions
• Estimates based on corrosion
rate and wall thickness
• Materials include carbon or
wrought steel, aluminum
(6061), and brass alloys
• Steel bodied munitions
46 – 749 years
• Aluminum M55 – 2 years
• Ton container – 539 years
51
Epstein, et al, 1973

52. Corrosion of 1-Ton Containers
• NASA/Army Research Laboratory study
• Major factors affecting
corrosion are:
– Dissolved oxygen
– Temperature
52Reference: NASA/ARL, Analysis of the Effects of Sea
Disposal on a One-Ton Container, July 2007

53. NASA/ARL Conclusions
• Difficult to bracket life expectancy of containers
• To improve confidence of prediction using existing
data need:
– Thorough survey of literature on deep-water corrosion in
order to learn about specific characteristics
– Specific account of materials, construction techniques and
processes (e.g., welding process, mill scale present)
– Types of coatings and processes, and relative age and
condition prior to disposal
– Comprehensive literature review of case studies involving
similar materials (such as with shipwrecks) should be
performed
53

54. Best References on Ranges
References on individual sites:
• Formerly Used Defense Sites Reports
• Defense Environmental Programs, Annual Report to
Congress, Munitions Response Site Inventory
(deparc.xservices.com/do/mmrp)
• Service historical offices
• Nautical charts
54

55. Best References on Disposals
Most up-to-date data on quantities and locations of disposals
• Chapter 10, Sea Disposal of Military Munitions, FY 09
Defense Environmental Programs Annual Report to Congress
(www.denix.osd.mil)
Overview of issue
• U.S. Disposal of Chemical Weapons in the Ocean:
Background and Issues for Congress, Congressional Research
Service Report RL33432, 2007
• Munitions Dumped at Sea: A Literature Review,
Beddington and Kinloch, Imperial College London 2005
(http://www.mod.uk/NR/rdonlyres/77CEDBCA-813A-4A6C-8E59-
16B9E260E27A/0/ic_munitions_seabed_rep.pdf)
55

56. 56
Contact Information
Geoff Carton
CALIBRE Systems, Inc/Support Contractor
Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army
for Environment, Safety and Occupational Health
Geoff.Carton@calibresys.com