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The U.S. Military Relies on One Louisiana Factory. It Blew Up.
The Wall Street Journal ^ | April 26, 2023 | Gordon Lubold

Posted on 04/29/2023 10:31:06 PM PDT by kiryandil

Decades of consolidation have left the Pentagon vulnerable to mishaps—including when the sole maker of a crucial type of gunpowder went offline

MINDEN, La.—Nearly two years ago, an errant spark inside a mill caused an explosion so big it destroyed all the building’s equipment and blew a corrugated fiberglass wall 100 feet.

It also shut down the sole domestic source of an explosive the Department of Defense relies on to produce bullets, mortar shells, artillery rounds and Tomahawk missiles.

The ramshackle facility makes the original form of gunpowder, known today as black powder, a highly combustible material with hundreds of military applications. The product, for which there is no substitute, is used in small quantities in munitions to ignite more powerful explosives.

No one was hurt in the June 2021 blast. But the factory remains offline, unable to deliver its single vital component to either commercial or Pentagon customers.

(Excerpt) Read more at wsj.com ...


TOPICS: Military/Veterans
KEYWORDS: backupplan; banglist; blackpowder; dod; estesenergetics; hodgdon; mindenpowdermill; planahead; stupid
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To: Tilted Irish Kilt

”After months of supplying Ukraine with Stingers, howitzers, anti-armor systems and artillery ammunition, stocks are low in both the U.S. and its NATO allies,
especially in 155mm howitzer shells, an ammunition that has been crucial to pushing back Russian forces. “

‘“Can you imagine what would happen to these supply chains if the U.S. were in an actual state of active war, or NATO was?” said Jeff Rhoads,
executive director of the Purdue Institute for National Security, a defense-research institute at Purdue University.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Stocks are “low” as in “none” and NATO is a force for evil and thankfully it’s totally defanged right now. I follow the Uke/Russia war carefully. ANd this is funny:

“an ammunition that has been crucial to pushing back Russian forces. “

Russia is advanceing pushing Ukraine mil (what’s left of it) back, and either destroying or taking over equipment sent by US and other countries.,


61 posted on 04/30/2023 8:19:05 AM PDT by little jeremiah (Never worry about anything. Worry never solved any problem or moved any stone.)
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To: kiryandil

LOL - hilarious and scary at the same time.


62 posted on 04/30/2023 8:42:02 AM PDT by Allegra
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To: GingisK
Below are a few links discussing the use of black powder in modern munitions. You are apparently a lot more knowledgably than I, concerning explosives. But you should always keep in mind that just because something is unlikely, or even unwise, doesn't mean it ain't so. That is especially so where the military is concerned. It is an amalgamation of the latest technology, and the archaic.

https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/munitions/155-prop.htm

https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/munitions/explosives-booster.htm

https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/munitions/m336.htm

https://www.dla.mil/Portals/104/Documents/... 30 MILLIMETER1305-AB5930MM HEI PROJECTILE ... WITH BLACK POWDER FLASH TUBE, PERCUSSION PRIMER, AND PROPELLANT.

63 posted on 04/30/2023 9:08:45 AM PDT by Pilsner
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To: Freedom4US

Many years ago I had a couple of muzzleloading cannons. Bought a 25 lb keg of black powder (DuPont) at a gun shop. Walked out of the store with it on my shoulder. (They did have to store it in a magazine well away from the store.)


64 posted on 04/30/2023 9:49:48 AM PDT by NewHampshireDuo ( )
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To: kiryandil

Sounds like a good time for China to invade Taiwan (bad) or maybe even California (good?).


65 posted on 04/30/2023 12:33:27 PM PDT by immadashell (Save Innocent Lives: Ban Gun Free Zones)
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To: Carriage Hill

We are, and NATO is, and also our non-NATO allies are, improving old factories, increasing budgets, getting rid of the old and restocking with the new and improved/modernized, opening new markets internationally as they witness the effectiveness of our weaponry.

It is one of the great benefits of this Russian invasion.


66 posted on 04/30/2023 2:19:09 PM PDT by ansel12 (NATO warrior under Reagan, and RA under Nixon, bemoaning the pro-Russians from Vietnam to Ukraine.)
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To: little jeremiah

“””Russia is advanceing pushing Ukraine mil (what’s left of it) back, and either destroying or taking over equipment sent by US and other countries.,”””

What is it they are capturing and destroying?


67 posted on 04/30/2023 2:43:17 PM PDT by ansel12 (NATO warrior under Reagan, and RA under Nixon, bemoaning the pro-Russians from Vietnam to Ukraine.)
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To: ansel12

Ukrainian military equipment, often sent by the US/other countries. Also sometimes when it’s still being brought by train.

Pretty much all western and EU news about the war is seriously biased if not outright false. Although some outlets, even WaPo and Politico, are now admitting that Ukraine cannot win, is losing, and is losing a huge numbers of men. A Ukrainian general recently said all the professional military have died. All they have left are raw conscripts with little to now training. They’re getting slaughtered. Zelensky is a war criminal, sending so many men to death. The graves are endless.


68 posted on 04/30/2023 3:27:44 PM PDT by little jeremiah (Never worry about anything. Worry never solved any problem or moved any stone.)
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To: ansel12

We are, and NATO is, and also our non-NATO allies are, improving old factories, increasing budgets, getting rid of the old and restocking with the new and improved/modernized, opening new markets internationally as they witness the effectiveness of our weaponry.

~~~~~~~~~
Hmm, I’ve read direct quotes from NATO reps saying they cannot manufacture new stocks of weaponry, they don’t have the materials. NATO has no munitions left. Amazing how fake news is fake.


69 posted on 04/30/2023 3:29:08 PM PDT by little jeremiah (Never worry about anything. Worry never solved any problem or moved any stone.)
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To: little jeremiah

Yeah, you already said “””Russia is advanceing pushing Ukraine mil (what’s left of it) back, and either destroying or taking over equipment sent by US and other countries.,”””.

My question was, “What is it they are capturing and destroying”? Which of the equipment we are sending are the Russians taking over and destroying in such large numbers?


70 posted on 04/30/2023 3:33:44 PM PDT by ansel12 (NATO warrior under Reagan, and RA under Nixon, bemoaning the pro-Russians from Vietnam to Ukraine.)
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To: little jeremiah

Here are just a few snippets to remind you that capitalism wants to make and sell what there is a market for.

Putin has reinvigorated the West militarily, he isn’t wearing it down.

The military budgets are growing, new weapon factories are being built and current weapon factories are being added to and getting new contracts from all over the world, the old stuff is being replaced with the newest, latest stuff.

For example
“Poland, a close ally of the United States within NATO, has ordered 250 state-of-the-art Abrams battle tanks in addition to 116 modernised ones. Poland is also awaiting delivery of American High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems and has already received Patriot missile batteries.”

“NATO Countries Are Giving Ukraine Hundreds Of Their Old Howitzers—and Replacing Them With South Korea’s Excellent K-9”

“A fourth NATO state—Denmark—nearly pursued the same strategy, but opted for new Israeli guns, instead.”

“Russia’s War in Ukraine Drives Gains in NATO Weaponry
Alliance’s former East Bloc members are getting new, modernized arsenals to replace former Soviet weapons they sent to Ukraine”

“Finnish Firepower: The Weaponry Of Russia’s New NATO Neighbor
April 05, 2023 13:05 GMT
By RFE/RL
The accession of Finland to NATO adds a significant collection of materiel, including one of Europe’s largest artillery contingents, to the alliance’s war chest. Here is some of Helsinki’s most significant and specialized military hardware.”

There is a market for these goods and companies want to get rich selling to that market.

“As a more long-term solution, a unified EU procurement system also proposed would enable Brussels to purchase arms and ammunition directly from European manufacturers, without going through the stocks and budgets of individual nations.”

DUESSELDORF, Jan 29 (Reuters) - German arms-maker Rheinmetall is ready to greatly boost the output of tank and artillery munitions to satisfy strong demand in Ukraine and the West, and may start producing HIMARS multiple rocket launchers in Germany, CEO Armin Papperger told Reuters.

$522M in ammunition contracts awarded to Northrop Grumman, Global Military Products for Ukrainian aid

Spanish Ammunition Manufacturer FMG Has Fully Loaded the 155-mm Shells Production Line for Ukraine

After Poland, Romania also wants to buy American Abrams tanks

Pentagon Will Increase Artillery Production Sixfold for Ukraine
The Army’s top acquisition official says production of the 155-millimeter shells badly needed by Kyiv will rise to 90,000 a month in two years.

Putin is running out of time to win the ammunition war against the West
Russia’s feeble economy cannot compete with Western production

Poland to buy 288 multiple rocket launchers from South Korea

Polish MoD satisfied with US approval for sale of rocket launchers

Finland, Sweden, Denmark, and Norway pool their air forces together


71 posted on 04/30/2023 3:48:26 PM PDT by ansel12 (NATO warrior under Reagan, and RA under Nixon, bemoaning the pro-Russians from Vietnam to Ukraine.)
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To: Chad C. Mulligan

Also it got classified as an explosive, so the storage requirements for shops became problematic.


72 posted on 04/30/2023 3:50:30 PM PDT by Tijeras_Slim
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To: Clutch Martin

It’s very prone to igniting from static sparks (black powder cartridge loading equip is made of different material than smokeless), even being stepped on if there’s a spill.


73 posted on 04/30/2023 3:54:54 PM PDT by Tijeras_Slim
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To: ansel12

Putin is running out of time to win the ammunition war against the West
Russia’s feeble economy cannot compete with Western production

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Fake News will continue to be fake news. Russia is not our enemy. Our enemy is the warmongering, tranny pushing, economy destroying, open borders invasion pushing US government.


74 posted on 04/30/2023 3:55:55 PM PDT by little jeremiah (Never worry about anything. Worry never solved any problem or moved any stone.)
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To: little jeremiah

You think Russia can keep up with the West, the United States and South Korea, Australia, Japan, and other countries?

That statement was correct about them being unable to compete in weapons manufacturing, and even the market for their weapons is collapsing because of their poor performance, while the West’s is increasing dramatically based on their performance in the hands of foreigners.


75 posted on 04/30/2023 4:05:36 PM PDT by ansel12 (NATO warrior under Reagan, and RA under Nixon, bemoaning the pro-Russians from Vietnam to Ukraine.)
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To: BenLurkin

Hell, I taught my Son how to make it 35 years ago!

If I remember correctly it’s 75% powdered potassium nitrate, 15% powdered charcoal, and 10% powdered sulphur.

Mix well (rubbing alcohol) seemed to make a pretty good liquifying agent and it dries out pretty quick, pure grain alcohol would be better as it leaves less chemical residue, let it dry thoroughly then use a wooden mallet to break it into grains.

Works great, me and the boy put a 3 inch hole in the garage wall with our home made cannon!

Needless to say we never fired it in the garage again!


76 posted on 04/30/2023 9:36:37 PM PDT by 5th MEB
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To: mabarker1

Nitrogen atmosphere wouldn’t make any difference, it’s the charcoal that provides the initial oxygen content for the explosion.


77 posted on 04/30/2023 9:44:23 PM PDT by 5th MEB
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To: GingisK; 5th MEB; Vermont Lt
As I was informed at Post 14

I now know My ABSURD ways in thinking.

78 posted on 05/01/2023 3:00:07 AM PDT by mabarker1 ( (Congress- the opposite of PROGRESS!!! A fraud, a hypocrite, a liar. I'm a member of Congress!!!)
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To: 5th MEB

Oh for crying out loud! Charcoal is composed of carbon. That is the fuel of the mixture. The oxygen comes from the potassium nitrate.


79 posted on 05/01/2023 5:34:30 AM PDT by GingisK
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To: GingisK

I’m not a chemist, SO PLEASE EXCUSE ME!

I just know how to make it!

I guess some people just have to prove they superior no matter what the topic.


80 posted on 05/01/2023 5:54:03 PM PDT by 5th MEB
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