Demonstration/Validation of the TC-25 Donovan Blast Chamber, Porton Down, UK, Final Demonstration Test Report, April-September 2003

In the FY2OO2 Defense Appropriations Bill, Congress mandated that the U.S. Army conduct a demonstration/validation test for using a transportable detonation chamber technology to dispose of recovered chemical warfare materiel. The TC-25 Donovan blast chamber (DBC) is a transportable system designed to contain the repeated detonations of up to 25 lb of TNT. The TC-25 DBC uses donor explosive charges to detonate the munition's shell, energetic components, and chemical fill. Demonstration/validation testing of the TC-25 DBC was performed at the Defense Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL), Porton Down, UK, May - September 2003. The overall test objective was to demonstrate that the TC-25 DBC can safely and effectively destroy recovered munitions with or without explosive components. Data was collected throughout these subtests to verify the safety, integrity, and efficacy of the TC-25 and the ability of the operator to collect waste samples. During operations, the system successfully treated Phosgene (CG), chloropicrin (PS), a smoke-generating formulation based on hexachloroethane (HC) and zinc oxide, and mustard (H) agents. The system was successfully decontaminated to a 3X level and closed out following the chemical tests.Edgewood Chemical Biological Center Aberdeen Proving Ground is the author of 'Demonstration/Validation of the TC-25 Donovan Blast Chamber, Porton Down, UK, Final Demonstration Test Report, April-September 2003' with ISBN 9781423586210 and ISBN 1423586212.