The
United States Navy
The United States Navy (USN) is the naval warfare, maritime military branch, service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is the world's most powerful navy with the largest Displacement (ship), displacement, at 4.5 millio ...
formed the Weapon System Explosives Safety Review Board (WSESRB) in 1967 as a result of two deadly accidents involving explosive ordnance aboard US aircraft carriers: the 1966
USS Oriskany fire, and the
1967 USS Forrestal fire
On 29 July 1967, a fire broke out on board the aircraft carrier USS ''Forrestal'' after an electrical anomaly caused a Zuni rocket on an F-4B Phantom to fire, striking an external fuel tank of an A-4 Skyhawk. The flammable jet fuel spilled ac ...
. The subsequent investigation recommended an independent review process be established. The report highlighted the need to ensure
explosives safety requirements are met for all munitions introduced to the Fleet.
As a result, the WSESRB was established. WSESRB participates in numerous weapons system safety-related meetings, technical reviews, and working groups.
The US Air Force and US Army have parallel boards to the Navy's WSESRB: the AF Nonnuclear Munitions Safety Board (NNMSB) and the Army Weapon Systems Safety Review Board (AWSSRB).
Areas reviewed by weapon boards include
Safety and suitability for use in the system's predicted logistic and operational environments
*Hazard classification
*Insensitive munitions
*Final (type) qualification of energetics
*Lithium battery certification
*Human systems integration
NAVSEA
/ref>
References
DODI 5000.69. DoD Joint Services Weapon and Laser System Safety Review Processes, Nov 2011.
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United States Navy organization
Maritime safety organizations