ONE-TON CONTAINERS

TB CML 111

DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY TECHNICAL BULLETIN

ONE-TON CONTAINERS

Headquarters, Department of the Army, Washington, D. C.

18 May 1964

1. Scope. This bulletin contains information on

the characteristics, use, maintenance, shipment, and

Warning. F S reacts violently

storage of one-ton containers.

with water. The reaction releases

2. Safety Precautions. a. General. Conduct

heat and causes sulfuric acid to be

filling and transfer operations downwind from nearby

formed. When loading FS into a

personnel. Be sure that all receptacles to be filled are

receptacle,

sure

that

the

clean, dry, and leakproof. Make certain that all fittings

receptacle is dry and that personnel

are tight and that all items of equipment used are in

stay away from openings in the

good working condition. Be sure that personnel are

receptacle

until

any

reaction

thoroughly familiar with the characteristics of the

subsides. Start FS flowing slowly,

chemical being handled and the equipment being used.

and stop the flow immediately if a

Have first aid supplies and equipment available for

reaction takes place.

If reaction

instant use.

occurs upon resuming the flow, stop

b. Protective Clothing. See that all personnel

the filling operation; the equipment

handling chemical agents are equipped with protective

is either wet or dirty. Disassemble,

masks and protective clothing (TM 3-304).

clean, and dry the equipment before

c. Decontamination.

Have

hand

resuming filling.

decontaminating materials and apparatus required for

3. Use. One-ton containers are used for shipping

the chemical being handled.

See TM 3-220 for

and storing liquid or gaseous chemical agents.

information on decontamination.

4. Description and Data. There are three types

d. Special Precautions for Handling FS. Carefully

of 1-ton containers, types A, D, and E. The capacity of

remove any resinous coating that appears in the

each type of container is approximately 170 gallons.

bottoms of receptacles. This coating, which is a partially

The maximum quantity of any chemical agent that can

solidified rust-preventive compound, reacts slowly with

be loaded into the containers is limited by the 3,500-

FS causing dangerous pressure to build up in the

pound maximum allowable gross weight.

The

receptacle after it has been filled and closed. If the

containers will withstand a maximum internal pressure

coating can be only partially removed, make sure that

of 500 pounds per square inch.

the receptacle is vented properly until the reaction

a. Type A. The type A 1-ton container (fig. 1 is

between the FS and the coating has ceased.

used primarily for shipping and storing chemical agents

that are gaseous at atmospheric pressure.

The

container is a steel cylinder, 81 1/2 inches long, 30 1/2

inches in diameter, with 13/32-inch side walls. It weighs

1,600 pounds when empty.

* This bulletin supersedes so much of TM 3-255, 16 September 1955, as pertains to one-ton containers.

TAGO 9020A-May