An Overview of Underwater Technologies for Operations Involving Underwater Munitions

Studying potential underwater munitions-associated risks is still in its infancy. Risk normally drives response actions. The Department of Defense believes, from the perspective of explosives safety, that leaving underwater munitions where they are is often the safest course of action. Additionally underwater munitions-associated risks remain largely unknown. It is thus unlikely that in the near future munition responses requiring underwater munitions recovery will occur. An imminent and substantial threat to human health and the environment by such munitions is the exception. Technologies that can be used for underwater munition site characterization, including site bounding and sampling for any munition constituent release, are discussed in this article. Technologies that can be used for recovery operations and munitions disposal are also addressed. There is separate discussion on navigation positioning integral to all of these operations.