MIL-STD-1660A
4.11.3 Level C - minimum (Army). (see 3.1.11.3) Unit loads designated level C shall be designed to protect ammunition during favorable condition of limited shipment, handling, and storage. This level of protection is used for CONUS interplant shipments of training rounds (highway movement only). The conditions to be considered include, but are not limited to:
a. Use or consumption of the ammunition at the first destination.
b. Shock, vibration, and static loading during the limited transportation cycle. c. Favorable warehouse environment for a maximum of 18 months.
d. Effects of expected environmental exposure during loading, unloading, and in-transit delays. e. Stacking and supporting superimposed loads during shipment and temporary storage.
5. DETAILED REQUIREMENTS
5.1 General. This section contains requirements for unit loads which shall be verified by physical tests. Prototype unit loads shall be fabricated, inspected, and tested to determine whether loaded ammunition shall be replaced by inert items having similar physical characteristics. This section describes unit load testing requirements for protection Level A and Level B as defined in 4.11. For a description of unit load testing requirements for protection Level C, see 5.5.1.
5.2 Satisfactory performance criteria. The unit load shall remain intact and be capable of continued safe handling and tiering. The assembly structure (the pallet, structural, or protective members, strapping, etc.) shall not fail nor permit individual parts of the unit load assembly to become unattached or separated. If the ammunition item is not protected by separate packaging or individual containers, the unit load configuration shall protect each item from damage beyond usefulness (e.g., thin structural members, fins, or other protrusions shall not be broken or deformed). If individual containers are used, the unit load shall protect the containers (e.g., latches, handles, or other protrusions shall not be damaged beyond usefulness). These other protrusions shall not be damaged beyond usefulness. These criteria apply only to the unit load as a whole unit. The ability of the component packages, the internal ammunition items, and the pallet to withstand the hazards of transportation and storage must be determined by a separate evaluation process.
5.3 Test procedures. The prototype unit loads shall be inspected for damage after being subjected to each of the following tests in the order given. Rebanding or restrapping is permitted between but not during the tests. For example, restrapping may be done after drop testing but prior to incline impact testing.
5.4 Test temperature. Tests are normally conducted at an ambient temperature of 77±18 °F or 25±10 °C. If the materials used in the fabrication of the unit load are sensitive to temperature or moisture, refer to 5.5 for additional applicable tests that may be required in the appropriate logistic environment or as specified for testing specialized shipping containers in MIL-STD-648.
5.4.1 Stacking test. The unit load shall be loaded to simulate a stack of identical unit loads, stacked to a maximum of 16 feet high, for a period of 1 hour minimum.
5.4.1.1 Stacking test rationale. This test is conducted to examine the ability of the unit load (and packaging) to withstand the forces imposed on it from stacking at the potential maximum height of 16 feet within storage, and to determine if the strapping remains sufficiently tensioned to prevent subsequent disintegration of the load.
5.4.2 Repetitive shock test. This test shall be conducted in accordance with Appendix A.
5.4.2.1 Repetitive shock test (superimposed load). An alternate test which may be used when specifically required, the repetitive shock test shall be performed in its most severe transportation configurations (e.g., if the unit loads may reasonably be expected to be shipped by truck or rail up to three layers high, they should be tested in a configuration which simulates that condition). In this case, the 1/16-inch feeler gauge shall be used between the top unit load and the one beneath.
Source: https://assist.dla.mil -- 1D2ownloaded: 2014-09-28T13:04Z Check the source to verify that this is the current version before use.
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