Table Of Content,
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UnitedStates Marine Corps
CommandandStaffCollege
Marine Corps University
2076South Street
Marine Corps CombatDevelopment Command
Quantico, Virginia 22134-5068
Master ofMilitary Studies
TITLE:
Smokeless Propellants as Vehicle Borne lED Main Charges:
An Initial Threat Assessment
SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT
OF THEREQUIRMENTS FORTHE DEGREE OF MASTER OF
MILITARY STUDIES
AUTHOR:
Special Agent Steven1. Beggs
Bureau ofAlcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
Office ofStrategic Intelligence and Information
Counter Terrorism Division
AY 07-08
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2008 2. REPORT TYPE 00-00-2008 to 00-00-2008
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Smokeless Propellants as Vehicle Borne IED Main Charges: An Initial
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Threat Assessment
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United States Marine Corps, Command and Staff College,Marine Corps REPORT NUMBER
University,2076 South Street, Marine Corps Combat Dev
Command,Quantico,VA,22134-5068
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1
Table of Contents
Page
Disclaimer i
Executive Summary 3
Introduction 4
Methodology 6
Essentail Defintions 6
Smokeless Powder: Composition, Properties and Characteristics 7
Federal Explosives Laws and Regulations 9
Relevant Researchand Associated Studies 14
Preliminary TestResults 16
o
Inaccurate and Incomplete GovernmentResearch 18
Inaccurate and Misleading Training Curricula 20
Recommendations 21
Conclusion '" 24
Glossary ofTerms , Appendix A
Examples ofMorphology Appendix B
ATF ListofExplosives Materials Appendix C
Cabella Web Page Appendix D
ATF Intelligence Report onExplosives Fillers Appendix E
Japanese Study Appendix F
MREL Study Appendix G
o
Photo ofTest Charge Appendix H
BullseyeProductDescription Appendix I
Photo ofVOD Switches Appendix J
Photo ofcharge priorto test. Appendix K
ORAReport Appendix L
PM 5-250 Appendix M
Witness Plate Damage , Appendix N
Notes , 31
Bibliography 33
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I,
Executive Summary
Title: Smokeless Propellants as Vehicle Borne IED Main Charges: A Preliminary Threat
Assessment
Author: Special Agent StevenL. Beggs, Bureau ofAlcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
Thesis: Significantand dangerous misconceptions exist concerningthe potential use of
smokeless propellants asthe main explosive charge in alarge vehicle borne improvised
explosive devices (VBIED). The unrestricted availability ofsmokeless powder, coupled with a
lack ofawareness and appreciationfor its destructive potential, constitute a considerable blind
spot available for exploitationbyviolent extremist organizations and individuals.
Discussion: Conventional explosive materials remain the most probable terrorist attack scenario.
Violent extremist groups continue to explore innovative attack options that take advantage of
overlooked vulnerabilities inherentto the civilian sector. The Federal government defines
smokeless propellants as low explosive materials designed to burnrather than detonate. This
orthodox viewofsmokeless powder allows these propellantsto remain virtually unregulated by
the Federal government. The results ofprevious independentand government sponsored studies
along withthe results ofpreliminary live fire tests conducted in support ofthis report provide.
compelling evidencethat smokeless powderiscapable ofunconfined detonation. The live fire
tests were preformedto determine ifunconfined propellants are capable ofdetonation when
o initiated withacommercial blasting cap. Thesetests, while greatly limited in scope, provide
sufficient datato challengeorthodox notions ofsmokeless powder and emphasizethe necessity
for additional testing and research. Thetestresults validate afundamental, and often overlooked,
distinction betweenthe manner inwhich smokeless powder is designed to react (deflagrate) to a
given stimuli (ammunitionprimer) and the manner inwhich it is capable ofreacting (detonating)
to unintended stimuli (detonator). This important distinction is commonly ignored or not
understood and isthe essence ofthis report.
Conclusion: Smokelesspropellants represent some degree ofthreat to the security ofthe
homeland. The governmenthas thus far not assessedthe extentofthis threat. A validthreat
assessment can onlybe accomplished through comprehensive testing and research. Political
debate and expertconsultationwill not achieve a deep understanding ofthe potential threat.
Smokeless powdermay represent one piece oflow hanging fruit waiting for some al-Qa'idatype
to pick.
3
Introduction
We assess thatal-Qa'ida's Homelandplottingis likelyto continue to focus on
prominentpolitical, economic, and infrastructuretargets designedto produce
mass causalities, visually dramatic destruction, significant economic aftershocks,
and/or fear among the population. Wejudgeuse ofa conventional explosiveto be
the most probable al-Qa'ida attack scenario becausethe group is proficientwith
conventional small arms and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and is
innovative in creating capabilities and overcoming security obstacles. 1
-Director ofNational Intelligence
Annual Threat Assessment
5February 2008
Imagine for amomentthat anyone inthe United States witha computer and internet
access couldpurchase unlimited quantities ofexplosive material andhave them shipped directly
to their home. Imaginethatthis hypothetical purchaser is not required to complete any official
paperworkorundergo abackground checkto verify identity, citizenship, or criminal history.
f:)
\ Take it another step and imagine that the explosives have equal or betterperformance
"-..
characteristics (velocity ofdetonation) thanthe mixtures used inthe Oklahoma City and World
Trade Centerbombings. The explosives require no alteration, mixing, additive, chemical
modification or confinement- they are commercial offthe shelfhigh explosives delivered
directly to the purchaser's front door with literally no questions asked.
The reality ofthis scenario lies inthe virtually unregulated commerce ofsmokeless
powder- the explosivepropellantused in small arms ammunition. Approximately 10million
pounds ofsmokeless powder is manufactured and sold inthe United States eachyear. Most of
2
this powder is soldto licensed commercial ammunition manufacturers orto the military. The
rest, approximately 3million pounds annually, is marketed and soldto individual users in
o canisters as small as a Y2 pound and up to 20 pounds. 3 Sportsman and target shooters who prefer
to reloadtheir own ammunition, primarily motivated by betterperformance andreduced costs,
4
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drivethe demandinthe small containermarket. Federal restrictions on smokeless propellants are
not prescribedto any degreepastthe manufacturing process permittingthe retail powdermarket
to remain virtually unregulated bithe government.4
Criminals and terrorists inthe United States accountfor aportion ofthe unregulated
market as they occasionallyuse smokeless propellants to make improvised explosive devices
(IED's).5 The BureauofAlcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) reports that ofthe
4,740 bombings it investigatedfrom 1998 to 2002, roughly 10 %ofthe incidents involved
devices using smokeless powder as the main charge. 6 The ATF report indicates these devices
were usually constructedusing arigid container, suchas pipe, to confine the explosives, and
hence frequently referred to as pipebombs. Security and law enforcementprofessionals are
keenly aware ofthe potential for smokeless powderto beused as explosive filler in a small IED
o based on official documents suchas the ATF reportand the abundance ofbomb making
information available onthe Internet.
The intentofthis report is notto provide evidencethat smokeless powder is commonly
used in pipe bombs, butto suggestthat significant and dangerous misconceptions existwith
regard to its potential use as the main explosive charge in a large vehicle borne improvised
explosive device (VBIED). These misconceptions have led directly to a dangerous lack of
awareness in law enforcementand security agencies, and evenwithin the bomb disposal
community. Lenientfederal controls, inaccurate and incomplete government sponsored
research, and flawedtraining curriculum continue to perpetuatethese misconceptions. The
unrestricted availabilityofsmokeless powder, coupledwitha lackofawareness and appreciation
for its destructive potential, constitute a considerable blind spot available for exploitationby
o violent extremistorganizations and individuals.
5
Methodology
This report examinesthe characteristics andproperties ofsmokeless propellants andthe
federal explosives controls currently inplace. Theresults ofprevious independent and
government sponsored studiesrelatedto smokeless powder are provided along withthe results of
preliminary live fire tests conducted in support ofthis report. The live fire tests were preformed
to determine ifunconfined propellants are capable ofdetonation when initiatedwith a
commercial blasting cap. Thesetests, while greatly limited in scope, provide sufficient datato
challenge orthodox notions ofsmokeless powder and emphasizethe necessity for additional
testing andresearch. Thetest results validate a fundamental distinction betweenthe manner in
whichsmokeless powder is designed to react (deflagrate) to a given stimuli (ammunition primer)
and the manner in whichitis capable ofreacting (detonating) to unintended stimuli (detonator).
o
This important distinctionis commonly ignored ornotunderstood and isthe essence ofthis
report.
Essential Definitions
Itis necessary to define the terminology relevantto a general discussion ofexplosives
and more specifically smokeless powder. Low explosive, high explosive, deflagrate and detonate
are the crucial terms that mustbe understood to facilitate an understanding ofthe essential points
ofthis report. The definitionofthese terms along with definitions ofotherrelevant explosives
terminology canbe canbe found in Appendix A. The definitions are taken from a variety of
sources and contain only the essential information necessary to define the terms. Although
numerous references existthat provide definitions with some variation onthose offered, the
definitions provided are deemed commonly acceptedand generally accurate descriptions ofthe
o terms. The definitions provided avoid, to the greatest extentpossible, scientific and technical
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jargonand are mostappropriate for the purposes ofthis report. Theseterms and definitions
"1 provide the basis for apartial understanding ofhow explosives are classified and inturn, to what
r
degree they are regulated by the Federal government.
Smokeless Powder: Composition, Properties and Characteristics
Smokeless propellants are essentiallymixtures ofchemicals designed to burn under
controlled conditions atthe properrate to propel aprojectile from a gun.7 Theyhave been in
existence for well overa centurywith French chemistPaul Vielle introducingthe first smokeless
powder in 1886. Vielle's mixture along with a smokeless propellant developed by Alfred Nobel
in 1870 quickly replaced blackpowder as the preferredpropellant charge used in small arms
sm~ll
ammunition.8Bythe early 1900'smost military and commercial arms ammunition used
\
smokelesspowder as its main propellant charge. Refinements ofVielle and Noble's mixtures
continuedthroughoutthe 20th centuryproducing smokeless propellants for use in a wide variety
(J
9
ofapplications from small arms ammunition to large missiles and rockets.
Smokeless powder is defined as a granular, free-flowing, solid propellant using
nitrocellulose as anactive ingredient. 10 Smokeless powders are most commonly grouped inthree
categories based onthe chemical compositionoftheirprimary energetic ingredients: single-base,
double-base and triple-base. II Single-base powders containnitrocellulose, while double-base
powders containboth nitrocellulose and nitroglycerin. Triple-basepowders contain
nitrocellulose, nitroglycerin, and nitroguanidine and are primarily used inhighly specialized
applications. Triple basepowders are not generally available onthe open market and are not
relevantto this report. The ATF Forensic Science Laboratory estimates thatthere are currently
61 varieties ofsingle-base and 76 varieties ofdouble-basesmokeless powders available onthe
7
