2nd Edition

Practical Military Ordnance Identification, Second Edition

By Thomas Gersbeck Copyright 2019
    388 Pages 135 Color Illustrations
    by CRC Press

    388 Pages 135 Color Illustrations
    by CRC Press

    The threat variables associated with military ordnance are enormous, requiring the application of a structured process to identify unknown munitions. The focus of Practical Military Ordnance Identification, Second Edition is the application of a practical deductive process to identify unknown ordnance items that are commonly recovered outside military control.

    The author supplies a seven-step procedure to identify unknown munitions by their category, group, and type. Detailed logic trees help users narrow down the possibilities in order to accurately identify ordnance. The book covers the safety precautions associated with each category and group of ordnance. It describes many ordnance construction characteristics and explains the fundamentals of military ordnance fuzing. Appendices define terms and supply abbreviations and acronyms used to describe military ordnances.

    Coverage new to this edition include: a list of conventional markings; additional safety precautions to take; an expanded list of high explosives; additional technical details on explosives effects; hazards associated with pyrotechnics, pyrophorics, smoke compounds, and incendiaries; a section on pre-1870 projectiles, hand grenades, landmines, underwater ordnances, and rockets; and details on Man-Portable-Air-Defense-Systems (MANPADS) missile systems.

    1. Overview of Energetics Associated with Ordnance  2. Fundamentals of a Practical Process  3. Fuze Functioning  4. Projectiles  5. Grenades (Hand, Rifle & Projected) Chapter 6: Bombs & Aerial Dispensers  7. Rockets8. Guided Missiles  9.: Submunitions  10. Landmines  11. Chemical Ordnance  12. Underwater Ordnance Chapter 13: Black Powder Filled Ordnance Chapter 14: Closing List of Appendices  Appendix A. Logic Trees  Appendix B. Abbreviations  Appendix C. Definitions of Ordnance Related Terms  Appendix D. Explosives  Appendix E. English – Metric Conversion Chart  Appendix F. References

    Biography

    Tom Gersbeck served as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) technician

    in the U.S. Marine Corps, retiring in 2001 as a Chief Warrant Officer. He

    then served seven years with the Federal Air Marshal Service (FAMS) as an

    explosives security specialist before deploying as an independent contractor.

    Deployments include two tours in Afghan CEXC facilities and one tour as

    project manager of Task Force Paladin’s C-IED mobile training teams operating

    throughout the country. Deployments supporting Department of State

    as an EOD team lead in Iraq, advising the Tanzanian Peoples Defense Force

    after the Gongo La Mboto disaster (Feb 2011) and training deminers with

    Golden West Humanitarian Foundation in Cambodia.

    Today, Tom is a full-time member of the graduate faculty for Oklahoma

    State University’s School of Forensic Sciences, Arson-Explosives, Firearms

    & Toolmarks Investigation (AEFTI) program. He holds a master of forensic

    sciences (MFS) degree, is an active member of the International Association

    of Bomb Technicians and Investigators (IABTI), is a Fellow in the American

    Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS), and continues to work in his field.

    Technical Researcher

    Daniel Evers joined the Marine Corps in 2003 and currently serves as

    an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) technician. While stationed in

    California, North Carolina, and Japan, Daniel deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan,

    Romania, Latvia, and Georgia in support of combat operations, responding

    to IED and ordnance related calls for assistance, and training personnel

    responsible for EOD-related work. However, Daniel’s advanced technical

    ordnance knowledge and research abilities were developed during countless

    inerting and disassembling operations on ordnance ranging from the mid-

    1800s to the complex guided missile systems of today

    Whether used as a text book outline for a formal course, or as a stand-alone methodology for identifying unknown ordnance, this book will not disappoint. I highly recommend it as a valuable tool for public safety agencies or small departments who may not have access to dedicated explosive ordnance disposal resources.

    Allan Vosburgh, CEO, Golden West Humanitarian Foundation