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How long are M38A2 and MK23 practice ordnance dangerous after they have been dropped if not exploided?
The M38A2 was one of the most used practice bombs in WWII. I personally have never seen an intact M38A2 on a bombing range. The reason is due to the light case construction which normally has rusted away. The only portion that I have seen is the rusty circular housing for the rear of the 3 pound black powder spotting charge. On that housing is a pipe protruding rearward which houses an impact-inertia firing pin that fires a blank shotgun shell into the spotting charge. Since the housing was the thickest iron on the bomb, it will probably be the only portion remaining more than fifty years after being dropped. However, in the unlikely event that an intact bomb with spotting charge is found, the 3 pounds of black powder could still cause a potent mechanical explosion. The Mk23 has a much smaller spotting charge which, even after many years (in a dud-fired or unfired state), could cause injury to a person throwing, dropping or attempting to disassemble the bomb.
Submitted: 26-Jan-04, by: LTG , email: eodlance@aol.com
they just found some mk23 that were used in ww11 practice that contained red phospohrus in land next to our house does anyone one know what kind of side effects that could cause ive heard that red phospohrus cause liver and kidney issues and my neighbor an avid garder was recently diagnosed with liver cancer can 50 year old bombs containg the chemical cause problems in the soil???
Submitted: 05-May-04, by: Cassy , email: cassy253@yahoo.com
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