UXO PROCEDURES

THE UXO HAZARD

There were 21 US Army personnel killed and 53

injured during Operation Desert Storm as a direct result of
handling UXO.
Every person on the battlefield must be able to
recognize and react to these hazards. Likewise, every
leader must ensure that all personnel know how to
recognize and react to these hazards.
 UXO LOCATIONS AND THREATS

UXOs are hazards–whether on the battlefield or in

designated impact areas.
UXO includes ordnance items that have been fired,
projected, dropped, or placed in such a way that they
could become armed and go off.
Whether in an area by design or accident, these
items have not yet functioned. Whatever the reason,
UXO poses the risk of injury or death to all personnel.
 The EOD mission is to eliminate or reduce the threat of
UXO hazards.
The engineer mission is to clear minefield and wide
areas of area-denial submunitions.
However, these two groups individually or together will
be unable to react immediately to an enemy submunitions
or scatterable-mine attack on a position.
Any unit that cannot extract itself from these attacks
risks being fixed in place and destroyed by follow-on
enemy fire.
 In wartime there are two types of UXO threats, passive and
active. The passive threat refers to any ordnance found by personnel
as they move across the battlefield. The active threat refers to any
ordnance that remains in the area after a direct attack on a position.
All units must be able to react to both types of UXO threats in order to
survive on the battlefield.
In addition to the battlefield, UXOs are also found in designated
impact areas. These areas are marked on all military maps, and they
are also marked on the ground by warning signs and fences.
Personnel are not allowed in these areas because of the UXO
hazards.
 GENERAL SAFETY GUIDELINES
Personnel can lessen the danger of UXO hazards by being
able to recognize an UXO hazard and by strictly following the
basic safety guidelines listed:

Ž Do not continue to move towards a suspected UXO. Some

types of ordnance have magnetic or motion sensitive fuzing
and will not detonate until they sense a target.
Others may have self-destruct timers built in. Once you
recognize an UXO hazard, do not move any closer. Make any
further observations with binoculars if necessary.
Never approach a suspected UXO
Ž Make all radio transmissions at least 100
meters away from an UXO hazard. When
transmitting, radios send out electricity from
their antennas. This electricity can make a
UXO blow up.
Never Transmit near a UXO
Do not try to remove anything that is on or
near an UXO. Your actions could make the
UXO blow up.
Never attempt to remove any part of an UXO
Ž Do not move or disturb an UXO. It could blow
up.

Never attempt to move or disturb a UXO

Ž Stay away from UXOs. This is the best way to
prevent accidental injury or death.

Avoid the area where an UXO is located

Ž Mark an UXO hazard area properly so
that other personnel will stay away from it.
Proper marking also helps EOD technicians
find the area when they respond to your
report.
The area must be clearly marked
 Evacuate all nonessential personnel and equipment
from an UXO hazard area.
If personnel and equipment cannot be evacuated, you
must take protective measures to reduce the risk to them.

Report through your chain of command all UXO

hazards that affect your operations.
Reporting UXO hazards will get your unit the help it
needs. If necessary, extract the unit from a hazardous
area.
 RECOGNIZE UXO

Being able to recognize an UXO is the first and

most important step in reacting to an UXO hazard.
There is a multitude of ordnance used throughout
the world, and it comes in all shapes and sizes. This
chapter explains and shows the general identifying
features of the different types of ordnance, both foreign
and US. In this chapter, ordnance is divided into four
main types: dropped, projected, thrown, and placed.
 TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION

All UXOs found on the battlefield affect

maneuver and mission capabilities. When
you find an UXO, you must make some
immediate decisions. These decisions will
depend on your current mission, the size
and location of the UXO, and your unit’s
capabilities.
Decision Chart
 If at all possible, avoiding/bypassing the UXO
hazard is the safest option to take for personnel
and equipment.
lf the UXO hazard is left from a recent enemy
attack, you must consider protecting your
personnel and equipment by extracting them from
the area before another attack is targeted on you.
 If the mission cannot be accomplished due to the
presence of the UXO and the hazard cannot be
avoided/bypassed, protective measures must be taken to
reduce the hazard to personnel and equipment.

Regardless of the option you choose, the location of

the UXO must be clearly marked with UXO markers and
the hazard reported to your next higher headquarters.
 PROTECTIVE MEASURES

There are three methods you can use to protect personnel and
equipment. You can evacuate, isolate, or barricade them.

EVACUATE
Evacuation of all nonessential personnel and equipment is the best
protective measure. The evacuation distances provide a reasonable
degree of safety for unprotected personnel and equipment. These
distances are based on your estimate of the amount of explosive filler
in the UXO. If protective barricades are used around the UXO, these
distances can be reduced.
 The general rule for estimating the amount of explosive in an
ordnance item is as follows: Assume that 50 percent of the total
ordnance weight equals the NEW. For example, a 500-pound bomb
would be calculated to have 250 pounds of explosive. According to
the chart on Evacuation Distances, the safe distance for
unprotected personnel is 625 meters.

After all personnel and equipment are evacuated, movement

within the area should be kept to essential operations only. If
equipment cannot be evacuated, only mission-essential personnel
should be allowed in the area. The equipment should be protected
by barricades and personnel should wear all protective equipment.
Evacuation Distances
Explosive Weight (pounds) Evacuation Distance (meters)

27 and less 300

30 310
35 330
40 350
45 360
50 375
100 475
150 550
200 600
250 625
300 675
400 725
500 800
ISOLATE
Sometimes, for mission-related,
operational, or other reasons, you cannot
evacuate personnel and/or equipment or
you cannot leave a particular area. When
this happens, you must isolate either your
assets (personnel, equipment, and
operations) from the UXO or isolate the
UXO from your assets.
BARRICADE
If your unit is stationary, evacuate all nonessential
personnel and equipment out of the hazard area.
Equipment that cannot be moved must be protected
with barricades.
Personnel who cannot be evacuated from the area
must also be protected from the hazard.
You can do this by reinforcing the fighting positions on
the side facing the hazard and by adding overhead cover.
 A barricade is an artificial barrier that provides limited
protection by channeling the blast and fragmentation from
the threatened area.
Barricades may also be used to lessen the effect of the
blast and to reduce the size of the evacuation area.
When determining if barricades are needed, you must
estimate the probable damage that would result if the
UXO were to explode.
Building artificial barricades is very time consuming
and requires a large number of sandbags.
 Depending on the size of the UXO, barricades can be
built around the UXO to protect the entire area, or they
can be built next to the equipment or areas that cannot
be evacuated.

Use the following general guidelines when building

barricades:

Ž Calculate the total destructive power of the UXO

hazard. Multiply the number of items by their NEW.
Ž Determine which assets cannot be moved or evacuated
from the area safely. For those assets that cannot be
moved or evacuated, decide on the type of barricade(s)
you will need to protect your assets.

Ž Determine how many personnel are available to help

build barricades. Use the absolute fewest personnel.
Determine what equipment you can use. If earth-moving
equipment is available, you can build earth barriers in
place of sandbag barricades.
Ž Calculate the number of sandbags you will need or that
are already available to build barricades. Personnel
evacuated from the UXO area can fill sandbags and
transport them to the barricade site.

Ž Make sure that all personnel actually building barricades

are wearing all available safety equipment, This safety
equipment includes a Kevlar helmet, a flak vest, and
hearing protection.
Placement and Size of Barricades

The barricade should be built no closer to the UXO than the height for
the barricade plus 3 feet.
Further guidance on the height for barricades is provided later in this
section. For example, the barricade shown in the next figure is 5 feet tall.
By adding an additional 3 feet, the barricade is built no closer than 8 feet to
the UXO.
When possible, build the barricade between the building and/or the
equipment to be protected and the UXO.
By positioning the barricade in this location, personnel who are in or
around the building or who are using the equipment will be afforded the
greatest protection from the blast and flying fragments.
Placement distance for barricade
Placement of wall barricade
 When building a barricade, the
sandbags must be interlocked for stability.
Sandbags that are not interlocked will
reduce protection and make the barricade
unstable.
Interlocking sandbags
Small UXO.
For small UXOs such as missiles and rockets less than 70
millimeters in diameter, for projectiles less than 75 millimeters
in diameter, and for submunitions and grenades, a double wall
thickness of sandbags should surround the area of the UXO.
The sandbags must be stacked to a height of at least 3 feet
and should be thick enough to protect personnel and
equipment from the blast and fragmentation. This type of
barricade may be semicircular or circular. Types of barricades
are discussed later in this
section.
Medium UXO.
For medium-sized UXOs such as missiles, rockets,
and projectiles up to 200 millimeters in diameter, and for
large sized placed munitions on the surface, a four- or
five-wall thickness of sandbags should surround the
area.

The sandbags must be stacked to a height of at least

5 feet in order to protect assets. This type of barricade is
usually semi-circular.
Large UXO.
Large UXOs such as projectiles, missiles, and
general-purpose bombs are too large for effective
barricades to be built around them.
In these cases, equipment and personnel
activity areas would need to be barricaded.
A wall barricade between the affected area and
the UXO hazard provides the best and easiest
protection.
Barricade Types
The three types of barricades are circular, semicircular,
and wall. The type barricade that you use will depend on
the UXO hazard and the area that requires protection.

Circular. A circular barricade is the best choice for small

UXO hazards, because it provides complete protection for
personnel and equipment. A circular barricade that is 8
feet in diameter, 3 feet tall, and 3 sandbags thick would
require approximately 400 sandbags.
Complete circular placement of barricade
Semicircular. A semicircular barricade is
used for small- and medium-sized UXO
hazards. It will channel the blast and
fragmentation through the open side and
away from the protected area.
Semicircular placement of barricade
Wall barricade placement
 MARK UXO
Marking an UXO hazard is just as important as
marking other hazard areas such as NBC areas,
minefield, and booby-trapped areas.
All of these hazards are marked by using
triangular signs, if readily available, that by their
background color indicate the danger involved.
The background is red with a white bomb inset. It
has the same dimensions as the other markers.
Standard UXO marker
 The UXO marker is placed above ground at waist level (about 3 feet)
with the bomb pointing down.
The marker should be placed no closer to the hazard than the point
where you first recognized the UXO hazard.
The marker should be attached to a stake, a tree, or other suitable
holder. Just be sure that the marker is clearly visible.
You should also mark all logical approach routes to the area. If the
hazard is near a road, as a minimum, put a marker on each side of the road
approaching the UXO.
If there is a large concentration of UXO hazards such as submunitions,
mark the area as you would a scatterable minefield, with markers placed
about every 15 meters around the area. Refer to FM 20-32 for additional
information on marking minefield.
 As a general rule, the UXO hazard itself must be easily seen
from any of the markers.
This helps to keep others away from the hazard. It also helps
the EOD team to find the hazard.
If standard UXO markers are not available, you may use other
suitable materials (such as engineer tape or colored ribbons).
Ensure that the same color is used to avoid confusion.
When using other materials, the same principles used for the
standard markers apply for placement of the makeshift markers.
That is, they should be placed about 3 feet off the ground and
easily seen from all approach routes.
Marking UXO with alternate type of material
REPORT THE
UXO HAZARD
 As discussed, UXO hazards on the battlefield have an
enormous affect on command and control decisions for battle
planning.
The location of these hazards is vital to the command and
control elements when projecting movement and support of
combat units.
UXO hazards also have a direct impact on the combat
capabilities of any element that encounters them.
To assist commanders, an effective UXO reporting system
must be in place and maintained to allow commanders to
concentrate EOD and engineer assets according to priorities
and battle plans.
 UXO SPOT REPORT
The UXO spot report is a detailed, swift, two-way reporting system that
makes clear where the UXO hazard areas are, what their priorities are, and
which units are affected by them.
The report is used to request help in handling an UXO hazard that is
beyond a unit’s ability to handle and that affects the unit’s mission.
This report helps the commander set priorities based on the battlefield
situation.
The UXO spot report is the first-echelon report that is sent when an
UXO is encountered.
Information about this report is also found in GTA 9-12-1 and in the
supplemental information section of the signal operating instructions (SOI),
where it is just behind the request for medical evacuation (MEDEVAC).
 The report consists of nine lines. The information must be sent by the
fastest means available and the required information provided in the
following order:

Line 1. Date-Time Group: DTG item was discovered.

Line 2. Reporting Activity (unit identification code [UIC] ) and
location (grid of UXO).
Line 3. Contact Method: Radio frequency, call sign, point of
contact (POC ), and telephone number.
Line 4. Type of Ordnance: Dropped, projected, placed, or
thrown. If available, supply the subgroup. Give the
number of items, if more than one.
Line 5. NBC Contamination: Be as specific as possible.
Line 6. Resources Threatened: Report any equipment,
facilities, or other assets that are threatened.
Line 7. Impact on Mission: Provide a short description of
your current tactical situation and how the
presence of the UXO affects your status.
Line 8. Protective Measures: Describe any measures
you have taken to protect personnel and
equipment.
Line 9. Recommended Priority: Recommend a priority for
response by EOD technicians or engineers.
 Priority Basis
Stops the unit’s maneuver and mission capability or
Immediate threatens critical assets vital to the mission.

Slows the unit’s maneuver and mission capability or

Indirect threatens critical assets important to the mission.

Reduces the unit’s maneuver and mission capability or

Minor threatens noncritical assets of value.

Has little or no affect on the unit’s capabilities or assets.

No Threat
 The priority you request must correspond
with the tactical situation you described on
Line 7 of the report (Impact on Mission).
Remember, these priorities refer only to
the UXO impact on your current mission.
A priority of Minor or No Threat does not
mean that the UXO is not dangerous.
 PRIORITIZING THE SPOT REPORT

The UXO spot report is forwarded through your

chain of command.
Each commander in the chain who
receives/reviews the report may change the priority
to reflect the current tactical situation or projected
battle plans.
It is the responsibility of each commander in the
chain to ensure that UXO spot reports are forwarded
through command channels and that the proper
priority is set for each report.
 If a higher-level commander in the chain changes a priority, all subordinate
commanders, especially the commander of the reporting unit, must be told.
Commanders must keep the following in mind: even though they may lower
a priority, the reporting unit must be able to continue its mission until help
comes.
In addition to the priority status, all commanders need to be kept informed
of the status of each UXO hazard in their area.

The final priority is determined by the reporting unit’s higher headquarters

that is supported by EOD or engineer units. Based on mission, enemy, terrain,
troops, and time available (METT-T), EOD or engineer teams are dispatched
to respond to the hazard.
 We’re part of an organization that generally considers
us to be step children, wanted only when the situation
is dangerous and already out of control – forgotten
about in times of peace but indispensable when shit
hits the fan.