83d Ordnance Battalion
The 83d Ordnance Battalion is situated in the port city of Kure, 20 kilometers from Hiroshima, over 500 miles southwest of Camp Zama. The 83d Ordnance Battalion is responsible for storing Army ammunition prepostioned stocks, ammunition basic load, training ammunition, and operational stocks. The battalion operates four storage locations across Japan: Akizuki, Hiro, Kawakami, and Chibana located on Okinawa.
As the only Army unit in southern mainland Japan, the 83rd Ordnance Battalion has the important mission of providing ammunition to the entire Pacific Theater. Battalion assets include ammunition depots at Hiro, Akizuki and Kawakami. The largest, at Kawakami, houses some 14,000 short tons of conventional ammunition on 645 acres and is the site of a deactivation facility and repair and maintenance facility. Ninety percent of the battalion workforce, located at four sub-installations, is Japanese.
Most of the soldiers in the unit mingle with the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force personnel, whose facilities surround the U.S. installation on three sides. JMSDF ships and submarines are moored beyond a sea wall outside the U.S. BOQ that doubles as single-soldier quarters. Those who are assigned to the headquarters live on an installation that consists of only four buildings. There's only a very small commissary, and no post exchange. The few amenities include tennis and racquetball courts, a sauna and a roof-top Jacuzzi that overlooks Japan's Inland Sea.
The Army demilitarizes ammunition -- totally destroys its military offensive or defensive attributes. Mutilation, burning, detonation, cutting, and crushing are some of the processes used to "demil" inert and live ammunition. 83rd Ordnance Battalion has a "Demil Furnace" to de-activate small explosive components, such as approved small arms ammo, artillery fuzzes, blasting caps, primers, and any small explosive devices by incineration. The joint use facility has been designed to incorporate some of the demil workload of the Marines, Air Force, and Navy. An important benefit beyond the cost savings is safety. Range brass (expended small arms) is normally collected and turned in to the Defense Reutilization Marketing Office (DRMO). However, it requires 100 percent visual screening to preclude live ammo from being inadvertently turned over to the general public. The Demil Furnace will ensure the brass' safety. It has three major parts -- the feed room area, the retort assembly or incineration chamber, and the pollution abatement system.
83rd Ordnance Battalion Capabilities
- Ammunition support for Pacific Command
- Handles 131,000 Short Tons/YR (6 Light Division ABL*)
- Earth covered magazines
- Above ground magazines
- Caves
- Renovation line (869 Short Tons/YR)
- Deactivation furnace (874 Short Tons/YR)
- Shipping operations (9 Container & 6 Ammunition Ships/YR)
- 21,000 Short Tons/YR (1 Light Division ABL - Ammunition Basic Load)
- Container repair
- Operates 3 LCM-8 Watercraft
