Abstract : This paper introduces the current status of the ammunition palletized collection and packaging of the US military, analyzes the development trend of the US military container pallet packaging in the new era, and puts forward preliminary ideas for carrying out the military ammunition palletization collection packaging.
Keywords: ammunition packaging palletization collection packaging development trend
Ammunition is one of the key strategic assets that determine the outcome of a war. In modern high-tech warfare, the types of ammunition have become increasingly complex and the consumption has been increasing, raising new and higher requirements for the wartime protection of ammunition. As a scientific way to achieve wartime ammunition protection, ammunition packaging has received increasing attention from the armed forces of various countries. Therefore, actively exploring the ammunition packaging mode under the new situation and improving the ammunition protection capability have become the focus of attention of the various national armed forces and are also one of the important issues for achieving the military’s modernization goal. Palletized packaging has become an inevitable trend in ammunition packaging. The US military has started early in ammunition tray packaging and its technology is mature. Its experience is worthy of our research and reference.
1 Palletized collection and packaging system for U.S. military ammunition
As early as in World War II, the U.S. military began to introduce the pallet packaging technology matured in the circulation of commodities into ammunition packaging. Since then, combined with the actual development of military construction, it has continuously improved and improved, and gradually established a more complete ammunition tray. The collection and packaging system was formed as a set of more systematic theoretical systems and practices. As of the 1970s, the U.S. military had already achieved the palletized collection and packaging of all conventional ammunition. By the 1990s, more than 90% of ammunition had been transported in containers.
First of all, the U.S. military has a unique and relatively complete ammunition packaging management system. The management system is divided into four levels. The highest level is the deputy assistant defense minister in charge of military installations and logistics construction. It is responsible for formulating the strategic policy of the packaging work and related policies and regulations, and issuing work instructions. The second level is the Army Equipment Command and is responsible for the implementation of the Deputy Assistant. The order of the Minister of Defense specifically stipulates the planning work of the packaging organization; Level 3 is the Center for Packaging, Storage, Transportation, and Packaging (PSCC) of the headquarters, and is the central organization for the US military's material packaging, and specifically implements packaging management. The fourth level is related agencies that are distributed around the country, that is, departments responsible for packaging, mainly military warehouses.
Second, the U.S. military has established a complete set of ammunition tray packaging standards and quality assurance system. Including packaging database, federal norms and standards, military specifications and standards, orders and drawings. Strict stipulations have been made on the packaging dimensions, specifications, materials, containers and protective measures, quality and technical requirements, and the package standards, loading methods, inspection and acceptance procedures have been clearly defined to ensure the ammunition packaging Scientific, reliability and versatility. Ammunition packaging work has rules to follow, there are laws to follow, to achieve the standardization of operations.
2 U.S. Ammunition Container Tray Test Procedures
The pallets are the basis for the assembly and packaging of ammunition. To ensure the reliability of the pallets during the transport of ammunition and their compatibility with transportation tools and handling equipment, the U.S. military is in the MIL-STD-1660 (Ammunition Palletizing Unit Cartridge Design Guidelines). The details of the design and test procedures for the packaging and packaging of ammunition for packaging munitions are specified in detail. The following tests are to be carried out on the test trays at (21 ± 11) °C.
1) Stacking (code) test. After the stacking of the box, the stack is 4.9mm high and held for 1h.
2) Repeated vibration test. The sample box is freely placed on a shaking table and shaken for 2 hours (90 degrees in the middle) while maintaining its amplitude of 19 mm (or a vibration acceleration of 1 ± 0.IGS).
3) Drop test. Edge drop test: Lift up the box and drop freely from the specified height to the concrete or the ground with similar hardness. Contact with the ground first at the maximum angle. Drop-off tests: Fall down from the prescribed height and fall freely on concrete or on a surface similar to its hardness.
4) Impact test. Can choose to impact test or hanging pendulum; mid-stroke test. The impact velocity is 2.13 m/s and the test can be performed on each side for 4 weeks.
5) Dumping test. Lift the tray upside down and allow it to pour slowly until it falls under its own weight.
6) Forklift lift test. Forklifts are used for transporting from the side and end faces, respectively, without additional padding, and the package does not produce permanent deformation.
7) Pallet shipping test. The pallet forklift should be able to lift off the ground smoothly, transport it for 15.2m and then lay it down. Repeating from different directions 4 times, there should be no unstability of the packing box or difficulty in insertion and movement.
8) Lifting test. Lifting, moving, lowering, and other necessary operations can be performed smoothly with the specified conventional lifting equipment. When lifted, there is no incompatibility, slipping or sling (lift) release.
9) Decomposition disassembly test. After the above test, the tray deformation does not exceed 5cm. After removing the packaging tape, the ammunition inside should remain intact.
After the above 9 tests were completed, the pallet box was in good condition (without damage), and the ammunition contained therein was not damaged.