AMMUNITION STORING AND HANDLING FACILITIES

When you establish an advanced base, divide the storing and handling facilities into areas. These areas should correspond to the functions required by the mission of the base, to make ordnance handling operations easier and smoother, and to isolate hazards. Areas at advanced bases are designated as magazine, renovation, disposal, pier, enemy ammunition, and administration and personnel areas. These areas are discussed briefly in the following paragraphs.

Magazine Areas. Provide two or more magazine or storage areas for each advanced base. This allows you to disperse ammunition stows, and makes it easier to receive and issue ammunition. The primary objective in dispersing ammunition is to prevent the complete loss of a single type of ammunition because of fire, accidental explosion, or hostile action. Ample provision should be made for expansion during the initial planning of magazine areas.

Renovation Areas. Some ammunition received at advanced bases would become unserviceable if it were improperly handled or exposed to the elements. This would make it require renovation. Since renovation operations may be performed at advanced bases, a suitable area must be provided for segregation, exterior maintenance, and modification operations.

Disposal Areas. Normally, an area unusable for other purposes is chosen for an ammunition disposal area. The disposal site should beat least 800 yards from the nearest ammunition storage site and any inhabited area of the base. The site should be cleared of all vegetation. A powder burning area, detonation pits, and a component popping pit should be included in the site. Provide a splinterproof or other suitable shelter to protect personnel during demolition operations. Where facilities are available, ammunition may be destroyed by dumping at sea. Existing directives should be consulted for disposal procedures.

Pier Areas. In the initial stages of construction of an ammunition storage area at an advanced base, an isolated and separate ammunition pier should be provided. Such a facility eliminates congestion, delay, and unnecessary hazards when loading and unloading general cargo, fuels, and ammunition.

Enemy Ammunition Areas. A separate area should be provided for storing captured enemy ammunition. This area should be at least 800 yards from the other storage areas.

Administration and Personnel Areas.

Administration and personnel areas must be at least 800 yards from the ammunition storage and handling areas.

Ammunition Storage Facilities

Ammunition is stored at advanced bases in approved magazines, existing buildings, and in dry caves and tunnels. Ammunition may also be stored in the open, in quarries, pits, and similar areas. Don't put ammunition in caves, tunnels, quarries, or pits if there isn't adequate drainage. When possible, assign available magazines and buildings for storing the more fragile and perishable ammunition, such as pyrotechnics, ammunition containing smokeless powder, fuzes, and similar components. Store the more durable ammunition, such as aircraft bombs and depth charges, in the open, provided it affords maximum protection against corrosion and deterioration.

PREFABRICATED MAGAZINES.- Advanced base magazines (fig. 12-3) are prefabricated, earth-covered, arch-type structures that are used to provide weatherproof storage for ammunition of all types.

The barrel of each advanced base magazine is an arch made of sheets of corrugated sheet metal bolted together to form a semicircular-arch roof. Two screened, sheet metal ventilators are mounted on top of the arch, one at the front of the magazine and one at the rear. The rear wall is constructed of corrugated sheet metal. The front wall is constructed of wide, heavy-gauge metal plates, which are reinforced with angles and channels. The front wall extends above and to each side of the outer limits of the magazine, providing a retaining wall for the earth fill. The ends of the plates that extend beyond the limits of the magazine

Figure 12-3.-Typical advanced base magazine. 12-13

are secured to the structure by turnbuckle rods. The magazine floor is a concrete slab placed on compacted gravel or broken stone fall. A pair of 8-foot, double-leaf doors are placed in the front wall of the magazine. Screened louvers are placed in each door for ventilation, Table 12-10 lists the available magazine sizes, maximum storage capacities, and the recommended separation distances between the magazines.

Table 12-10.-Prefabricated Advanced Base Magazines

A barricade is placed opposite the front wall of each magazine used for the storage of high explosives or fuzes and detonators. The barricade extends to the height of the inside crown of the magazine arch. The barricade must be at least 3 feet wide at the crest and slope to a grade on the natural slope of the earth used as fill.

TEMPORARY SHELTERS AND COVER-INGS.- If magazines or existing buildings aren't available at advanced bases for the storage of ammunition, temporary shelters or coverings are erected to protect ammunition that is stored in the open.

When tents are used, ventilate them during the heat of the day by raising the sides at the top. Be careful to prevent the direct rays of the sun from shining through the peaks onto the piles of ammunition. When tents are ventilated properly, air circulates freely around the piles

Figure 12-4.-Ammunition protected by a thatched-roof hut.

of ammunition in the tents. During the night, and during rainy weather, lace the tents tightly, and keep the sides staked down to prevent moisture from condensing on the ammunition.

In tropical areas where vegetation grows very thick, thatched-roof huts (fig. 12-4) or shelters made

of woven mats can be erected to protect the ammunition.

Piles of ammunition stored in the open and unprotected by temporary shelters, such as tents or thatched-roof huts, should be covered with a double thickness of serviceable tarpaulin (fig. 12-5). If

Figure 12-5.-Ammunition protected by a tarpaulin cover.

materials are available, fabricate a wooden roof-type cover like the one shown in figure 12-6, and placed it on the top layer of the ammunition pile.

BARRICADES AND REVETMENTS.- Earth barricades or revetments around individual piles of ammunition, similar to that shown in figure 12-7, are easily erected and protect ammunition from fire and explosion. Each barricade should beat least 3 feet wide at the top and 1 foot higher than the ammunition that it protects.