MM3680
Inspecting Miscellaneous Inert Ammunition Components
Packing Materials.
Visually inspect
all packing materials
for live explosives such as
spilled powder.
Regardless of the type of container being inspected, all lids, compartments, and tops must be opened and
inspected. Containers returned by artillery units must be inspected for propellant increments and fuzes.
Containers returned by units using mortar ammunition must be inspected for propellant increments, ignition
cartridges, and fuzes. Containers filled with inert components such as metal links or small arms clips must be
inspected for live small arms ammunition. Segregate all metal links by size (7.62mm, caliber 50, 20mm, etc.).
Wooden boxes treated with pentachlorophenol (PCP) must be properly identified. Containers containing depleted
uranium cartridges will be tested to ensure that they are free of radioactive contamination using a meter that
shows radioactive readings. Once the packing materials have been certified to be free of explosives, they can be
stored in the appropriate storage area.
60mm and 81mm Training Cartridges. The 60mm and the 81mm training cartridge is inert except for the
igniter. To inspect the training cartridge, you must remove the ignition cartridge located in the fin assembly. See
Figure 12. The ignition cartridge resembles a shotgun shell. Check the base of the fin assembly to see if the
ignition cartridge is present. If the ignition cartridge (live or expended) is present, remove it by hand. The
ignition cartridge is not issued as a part of the round. If the ignition cartridge has not been fired, place it in a
suitable container for disposal according to the SOP. If the ignition cartridge has been fired, the brass casing can
be placed in the storage area designated for valuable metal. Once the training cartridges have been certified to be
free of explosives, they can be packaged and placed back in storage for reissue. The training cartridges are
painted either black or blue with white markings or bronze with white markings. The word "Inert" is painted on
the body.
Figure 12. 81mm Training Cartridge.
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