Weapons Onload/Offload

There are three situations in which weapons onload or offload operations are normally conducted-pier side, offshore at anchorage, or at sea. The location of the ship during onload or offload operations affects manpower, equipment, time, and the degree of safety requirements.

PIER SIDE.- Handling large quantities of explosive munitions at piers is limited to those designated by NAVSEASYSCOM as "explosive piers." The pier area is restricted during ammunition and explosive loading and offloading operations. Nonessential personnel (visitors) aren't permitted access to the ship or pier area. All privately owned vehicles, ship's vehicles, and assigned government transportation are prohibited on a pier where ammunition is being handled. Before loading or offloading operations, the OOD is notified. The OOD

makes sure that a red flag is prominently displayed to indicate that an ordnance evolution is in progress.

Pier-side ammunition handling operations are restricted to daylight hours, except in an emergency. Emergency operations can only be carried out at an adequately lighted pier. An emergency maybe dictated by the ship's sailing schedule or by NAVSEASYSCOM. Therefore, ammunition isn't staged on the pier in large quantities. Close coordination is established between the ship's weapons department and the station's weapons department to ensure that the rate of delivery at the pier doesn't exceed the handling rate of the ship's ordnancemen.

EXPLOSIVE ANCHORAGE.- At times, loading or offloading large quantities of ammunition and explosives at the pier is not practical or feasible. For example, a ship may be located at a pier that has a restricted explosive load limit due to the geographical location of other ships or occupied structures. It could also be due to the geographical location of shore-based, ammunition-handling facilities. For example, an aircraft carrier may be docked in Norfolk, Virginia, and the activity receiving or issuing the ammunition maybe located in Charleston, South Carolina. In this situation, the most practical method would be to locate the aircraft carrier at a designated explosive anchorage (commonly called whiskey anchorage) and transport the ordnance by lighters and/or barges. The transfer of ammunition between the ship and the lighters/barges is normally accomplished by the use of a floating crane.

Even though a ship is located at an explosive anchorage, transferring ammunition is restricted to daylight hours. Normally, the ship remains at anchorage until the entire evolution is completed, which may vary from 1 to 5 days.

TRANSFER OF AMMUNITION AT SEA.- The transfer of ammunition at sea (underway) presents problems not met by pier-side or anchorage operations. Normally, replenishment at sea involves the transfer of fuel, supplies, stores, and ammunition simultaneously. Obviously, available deck space, available handling equipment, and manpower are used to the maximum efficiency. Every detail of the entire operation is preplanned and coordinated between the departments involved within the ship and the individuals within the departments.

The transfer of ammunition at sea is accomplished by conventional replenishment (CONREP) and/or vertical replenishment (VERTREP) methods. The CONREP method consists basically of a steel cable rigged between the supply ship and the receiving ship at the hangar-decklevel. These points of contact are called "conning stations," and there may be more than one conning station in operation at the same time. Cargo is attached to the cable by using approved handling equipment and conveyed from one ship to the other. The AO is only responsible for ammunition items. You position each ammunition load at the conning station for transfer. As the ammunition loads are received at the conning station, you move the load to a designated staging area until it is struck below. The operation of conning equipment is normally performed by the ship's deck department.

In the VERTREP method, helicopters using slings and/or cargo nets transfer the ammunition to or from the supply ship. VERTREP operations are conducted on the flight deck. Aviation ordnancemen are responsible for handling all ammunition and preparing and positioning empty slings and ammunition details for transfer to the supply ship. Ammunition is transferred from the flight

deck to the hangar deck by a designated aircraft elevator. This elevator is normally on the port side when CONREP and VERTREP operations are being conducted simultaneously.

HAZARDS OF ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION TO ORDNANCE (HERO)

LEARNING OBJECTIVE: Recognize HERO classification standards. Identify HERO hazards. Identify the uses of the emission control (EMCON) bill.

The functional characteristics of electrically initiated ordnance cause hazards of electromagnetic radiation to ordnance (HERO). Ordnance that presents a HERO problem include cartridges, cartridge-actuated devices, and 20-mm ammunition. The ordnance electroexplosive devices (EEDs) may be accidentally initiated or their performance degraded by exposure to radio frequency (RF) environments. Ordnance is more susceptible to RF environments during assembly, disassembly, handling, loading, and unloading operations.

The term RADHAZ (radiation hazards) applies to radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic fields of sufficient intensity to

produce harmful biological effects in humans, and/or

cause spark ignition of volatile combustibles or actuate electroexplosive devices.

Although the effects of RADHAZ are important, this chapter limits discussion to HERO hazards.

HERO ORDNANCE CLASSIFICATIONS

The susceptibility of ordnance to RF environments is determined by a testing program sponsored by the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEASYSCOM). Tests are conducted in the maximum RF environment the ammunition or ordnance systems maybe subjected to in its stockpile-to-launch sequence. This data is the basis for the three HERO classifications assigned to ordnance-HERO-safe ordnance, HERO-susceptible ordnance, and HERO-unsafe ordnance.

HERO-Safe Ordnance

An ordnance item is classified as HERO safe if it meets the following criteria:

Percussion initiated

Sufficiently shield protected so all EEDs contained by the item are immune to adverse effects (safe and/or reliable) when the item is used in its expected RF environments.

General HERO requirements are observed.

HERO-Susceptible Ordnance

An ordnance item is classified as HERO susceptible if proved (by tests) to contain EEDs. HERO-susceptible ordnance can be adversely affected by RF energy. The safety and/or reliability of the system is in jeopardy when the system is used in its expected RF environments.

HERO-Unsafe Ordnance

An ordnance item is classified as HERO unsafe if it meets the following criteria:

Its internal wiring is physically exposed

Tests are being conducted on the item that result in additional electrical connections to the item.

EEDs that have exposed wire leads are handled or loaded

The item is being assembled or disassembled.

It is disassembled