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APPENDIX D

DECONTAMINATION AND
DESTRUCTION PROCEDURES

D-1. DECONTAMINATION PRINCIPLES

Decontamination is the removal or neutralization of a hazardous level of NBC contamination from personnel and material.

a. Whenever NBC contamination of the Dragon system occurs, the operator must decide first whether or not to decontaminate. Nuclear contamination (fallout) should be removed as soon as possible. However, as long as the operator wears the required protective equipment, he could carry and fire a Dragon with chemical or biological contamination. If this occurs, soldiers should exchange their MOPP gear for a new set IAW unit SOPs.

b. Attempts to reduce chemical or biological contamination can be hindered by the exposed rubber-like and plastic components of the Dragon because the agents soak into these materials. Therefore, the objective of decontamination should be to remove or reduce it only on those surfaces the operator touches.

D-2. PROCEDURES

Dragon components contaminated with chemical agents are best decontaminated by airing. Remove or blot extra liquid agents from all components and place the equipment outdoors in the sun.

Periodically, test the equipment with M8 detector paper and M256 detector kit to determine when the Dragon is safe to handle. (See FM 3-5 for more detailed information.) To quickly reduce chemical decontamination on Dragon surfaces, the gunner can use hot, soapy water or an M258A1 kit. If water is used, do not submerge the Dragon or the tracker. Clean the optics, using a camel's-hair brush, ethyl alcohol, and lens paper.

a. Biological decontamination procedures must adhere to the following guidelines:

b. Nuclear decontamination procedures (after fallout has stopped) must adhere to the following guidelines:

D-3. DESTRUCTION GUIDANCE

The information that follows is only for guidance. Certain outlined procedures require the use of explosives that may not be authorized items. The issue of these and related materials and conditions for destruction are command decisions. Destruction of Dragon components by mechanical means, explosives, gun fire, or burning makes them useless to the enemy. If evacuation of the Dragon is not possible, the components are destroyed with the following priority: first the tracker, then the round. Destroying the same components in all weapons prevents the enemy from assembling a complete Dragon by cannibalizing useable components.

a. If destruction is ordered, a location for destruction is selected that will cause the greatest obstruction to enemy movement and not create a hazard to friendly soldiers.

b. Each organization and installation that uses, maintains, or stores the missiles or trackers should have an SOP for destruction. The procedure should contain priorities of destruction, methods of destruction, quantities of explosives required, and instructions for destruction. The destruction plan should be flexible enough to cover any situation.

D-4. DESTRUCTION OF TRACKER

The tracker may be destroyed by one of the following methods.

a. Explosive. A double-primed explosive charge (at least 1/2 pound) is prepared and placed on top of the tracker; detonate either electrically or nonelectrically.

b. Gunfire. Well-aimed shots from a rifle, or other small-arms, will make the tracker useless to the enemy. When using small-arms fore aim for critical parts such as the optics, trigger assembly, and the electronics package.

c. Mechanical. The tracker is smashed with axes, picks, crowbars, rock, and so on, or driven over with a tracked vehicle. It is completely destroyed if enough time and personnel are available.

d. Burning. After maximum damage has been done to the tracker by other destructive methods, set fire to the resulting debris, if time allows. Vehicle fuels and lubricants are used to complete the destruction by burning.

D-5. DESTRUCTION OF ROUND

The missile can be destroyed by the following methods.

a. Launching. The simplest and most effective method of destroying the missile is to fire it into enemy territory. The launcher must be smashed with axes, picks, and so on, or driven over with a tracked vehicle after firing the missile.

b. Explosives. The use of explosives not only destroys the missile, but also the launcher. One-half pound of explosive placed on the round close to the warhead should destroy the round (Figure D-1).

c. Burning. After maximum damage has been done to the components by other destruction methods, and if time permits, the debris must be burned. Vehicle fuels and lubricants can be used to aid burning. One or more incendiary grenades can be placed on each part.