A new mechanism substantially reduces the
vulnerability of explosive load munitions to thermal stimuli, such as fire or heat during transport and storage, thus enhancing
personnel safety and the
survivability of adjacent munitions. The mechanism includes a threaded
fuze adapter made of plastic and having a
melting temperature that is lower than the auto-ignition temperature of the explosive. The adapter secures a
fuze or
metal closing plug to an explosive loaded
projectile and is designed to permit venting of
combustion gases through the
nose of the
projectile upon auto-ignition of the explosive, thereby preventing
detonation of the explosive and fragmentation of the
projectile body. A plastic or
metal ring is utilized to support the body of an explosive loaded projectile within a
fiberboard packing tube, thus allowing the
fuze to readily separate from the projectile body upon the melting of the plastic threaded fuze adapter and subsequent
combustion of the explosive during an unplanned thermal stimulus event. An
intumescent coating is deposited on the
metal ammunition container that is used to
package explosive loaded cartridges, to reduce the rate of thermal stimuli to the munitions, thereby ensuring that the plastic fuze adapter of the present invention reaches its
melting temperature prior to the explosive attaining its auto-ignition temperature.