LESSON 1
TEXT
GENERAL
Conventional ammunition comes in many sizes and shapes. Most ammunition has a filler of some
type, for example, a high explosive such as TNT, comp B, and so on or a chemical filler such as White
Phosphorous or Thermite. Other types of ammunition may be filled with leaflets for psychological
warfare and some may have no explosive filler at all. For example, some types of armor piercing
rounds are made of hardened steel, something like a giant slug. Ammunition personnel must know
which ammunition belongs to which group and which group or groups may be stored together.
Compatibility means that different types of ammunition may be stored in the limited spaces of the
storage systems without significantly increasing the hazard.
STORAGE COMPATIBILITY GROUPS (SCG).
NOTE
The storage compatibility in this lesson pertains to storage of ammunition at Army
activities. Do not confuse it with field storage categories that are covered in another
subcourse.
NOTE
Ammunition and explosives are assigned to 1 of 12 storage compatibility groups based
on storage principles and the consideration for mixed storage. The 12 storage
compatibility groups are explained below.
Group A: Bulk Initiating Explosives. This group is sensitive to heat, friction, and percussion. They
are used to initiate elements in an explosive train. Examples are wet lead azide, lead styphnate, wet
mercury fulminate, and dry PETN.
Group B: Detonators and Initiating Devices. This group is used to initiate or continue the
functioning of an explosive train. Examples are fuzes, blasting caps, and detonators. (See figure 1-1.)
NOTE
Initiating explosives are used with initiating devices, that is, blasting caps may contain
PETN, fuzes may contain mercury fulminate or lead styphrate, and so on.
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