Reactive projectiles, delivery devices therefor, and methods for their use in the destruction of unexploded ordnance

A projectile for the destruction of unexploded ordnance comprising:

• a shell having a front section and a rear section;
• said front section comprising a reactive composition comprised of a first reactive metal and a reactive material capable of exothermically forming an intermetallic compound with said reactive metal;
• and
• said rear section comprising an oxidizer and a second reactive metal.

A projectile for the destruction of unexploded ordnance comprising:

• a head region comprising a first reactive composition;
• and
• a body region disposed behind said head region comprising a second reactive composition and a body region ignition device;
• wherein said body region explodes upon impact before said head region explodes.

A projectile for the destruction of unexploded ordnance comprising:

• a head region shell having a head wall thickness, said head region comprising a first reactive composition;
• and
• a body region shell disposed behind said head region, having a body wall thickness, said body region comprising a second reactive composition and a body region ignition device;
• wherein said head wall thickness is greater than said body wall thickness.

A method of destroying unexploded ordnance comprising the steps of:

• impacting unexploded ordnance with a shell having a head region
• and a body region disposed behind the head region;
• the head region comprising a first reactive composition;
• the body region comprising a second reactive composition and a body region ignition device;
• wherein the body region ignition device initiates an exothermic reaction of the second reactive composition before an exothermic reaction of the first reactive composition is initiated.

An apparatus for delivering a projectile to destroy unexploded ordnance comprising:

• a holding device comprised of:
• a platform having a hole disposed therein, and
• at least three legs extending from said platform;
• and
• a reactive projectile firing device comprised of:
• a barrel having a top and a bottom and a middle region therebetween, and an end cap disposed at said top;
• and
• a suspension bracket extending radially outward from said middle region of said barrel;
• wherein said holding device is adapted to receive said reactive projectile firing device and suspend said reactive projectile firing device by said suspension bracket.

A system for the destruction of unexploded ordnance comprising:

• a holding device comprised of:
• a platform having a hole disposed therein, and
• at least three legs extending from said platform;
• a reactive projectile firing device comprised of:
• a barrel having a top and a bottom and a middle region therebetween, and an end cap disposed at said top;
• and
• a suspension bracket extending radially outward from said middle region of said barrel;
• a reactive projectile disposed within said projectile firing device;
• and
• means to expel said reactive projectile from said firing device.

An apparatus for the destruction of unexploded ordnance comprising:

• a reactive projectile firing device comprised of:
• a barrel having a top and a bottom and a middle region therebetween, and an end cap disposed at said top;
• and
• at least three legs extending from said middle region of said barrel, wherein said legs extend longitudinally beyond the bottom of the barrel;
• a reactive projectile disposed within said projectile firing device;
• and
• means to expel said reactive projectile from said firing device.