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AREA AND TARGET ILLUMINATING DEVICES The illuminating devices discussed in this chapter are designed to be launched or dropped from aircraft. Aircraft flares are used to illuminate large areas for bombardment, reconnaissance, emergency aircraft landing, or any other purpose where a high-intensity light is required. AIRCRAFT-LAUNCHED SMOKE AND FLAME MARKING DEVICES Smoke and flame marking devices are pyrotechnic devices dropped on the ground or on the water's surface to emit smoke and/or flame. Reference points established by these devices serve a variety of purposes. They can be used to determine wind direction and approximate velocity, mark the location on the surface for emergency night landings, establish an initial contact point for continued search for a submarine, or locate target areas in antisubmarine warfare. accordingto current directives. If a pyrotechnic device should accidentally ignite, it will result in a fire hazard. In a confined area, the gases generated by this combustion could present a serious toxic hazard. Signaling charges that contain propellant charges, designed to propel the pyrotechnic candle into the air, create an extremely dangerous missile hazard. Pyrotechnic compositions characteristically contain their own oxidants; therefore, they do not depend on atmospheric oxygen for combustion. For this reason, exclusion of air, by whatever means, from a pyrotechnic fire is usually ineffective. Many pyrotechnic mixtures, particularly illuminating flare compositions, burn with intense heat (up to 4,500?F). Normally, extinguishers are not useful in this kind of fire. Carbon dioxide extinguishers, in addition to being ineffective, are potential sources of danger because they tend to produce oxygen, which supports the combustion. Foam-type extinguishers are equally ineffective because they work on the exclusion-of-air principle.NOTE: Water, in flooding quantities and at low pressure, should be used to cool the surrounding area and to prevent the spread of the fire. Properly controlled and directed, water is the best fire-extinguishing agent for aircraft parachute flares burning in the open. Pyrotechnic hazards are frequently increased by such factors as age, improper storage conditions, rough handling, moisture penetration, excessive temperatures, damage to shipping containers, and other mishaps that causes the devices to become unserviceable. In most cases, immediate danger does not exist. Unserviceable pyrotechnic and screening devices on ships at sea are put to one side for normal return to an appropriate shore station for disposition according to the instructions and regulations contained in NAVSEA OP 5, volume 1. Conditions may develop that demand emergency disposal of potentially hazardous devices. In such cases, disposition is the responsibility of the commanding officer. Under NO circumstances, other than an extreme emergency, should ammunition, explosives, or other related hazardous materials be dumped at sea by a Navy vessel, aircraft, or activity without prior approval of the CNO. If, in the commanding officer's best judgement, immediate disposition is necessary to protect lives and property, the commanding officer should order such disposition by the most appropriate means available. In all cases, the commanding officer must notify Naval Sea Systems 4-14 Command, at the earliest practical time, of the facts and circumstances. |
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