UXO Types: Overview

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UXO Types

UXO Locations in Canada

If you see a suspicious object

UXO Types: Overview

In years past, hundreds of locations across Canada have been used as military training areas and weapons ranges. In addition, wartime action along Canada's coasts and accidents involving ships, planes or vehicles carrying ammunition and explosives created sites at which UXO may still remain today.

The particular type of UXO that may be found at any one site - mainly bombs, rockets, grenades, and shells - will depend upon the source, and will vary in type and number from site-to-site.

Regardless of the source, UXO may bear little resemblance to when it was new. UXO may have been in the soil, or underwater, for many years, and will be considerably weathered or corroded. Original paint and other markings may be faded or completely worn away. Some parts may be missing, some being blown off during partial explosion, others as a result of corrosion and weathering. In addition, UXO is unlikely to be lying neatly on the surface of the ground, but will most likely be partially or almost completely buried. The parts exposed may not allow easy identification of the object - it may look like a piece of old pipe, an old car muffler, a pop can, or just small pieces of rusty metal.

UXO - Grenades

No matter whether it is new or old, complete or in pieces, all UXO must be considered dangerous. Disturbing it can make it explode, causing injury or death. For these reasons, it should be left undisturbed.

When visiting UXO legacy sites, if you see something that you don't recognize, or you think may be UXO, treat it with respect - leave it alone.

Types of UXO

UXO (more precisely, Ordnance or Munitions before it is used) is categorized here as: bombs, grenades, flares/pyrotechnics, projectiles/artillery, rockets, and shallow water mines.

Bombs

Bombs are air-dropped munitions ranging in weight from 1 to 3,000 lbs, and in length from 8 inches to 10 feet. Bombs are further categorized according to their intended destructive use: general purpose (GP); demolition; fragmentation; penetration; cluster (or dispenser); and, firebombs. Further categorization of bombs is according to the ratio of explosive weight to total weight.

In general, all bombs have similar components including a body or container, a fuze or fuzes, a booster, and a stabilizing device (such as fin or parachute assemblies).

UXO - Fire Bomb (Napalm)

Grenades

These are classified according to how they are projected or launched. The three major types are hand grenades, rifle grenades, and projected grenades.

Grenades range in size from the size of an egg to about 18 inches in length.


Grenade, Hand, High Explosive

Flares/Pyrotechnics

These are used to send signals, to light areas of interest, to simulate other weapons during training, and as ignition elements for other weapons. These devices burn rather than explode.

Parachute Flares

Mortar Projectiles

Projectiles are most usually fired from guns but may be fired from guns mounted on aircraft. Projectiles range from 20mm to 460mm in diameter, and from 83mm to just over 1 meter in length. A typical projectile consists of a bullet-shaped metal body, a fuze, and a stabilizing assembly.

Mortars range from 1 to 11 inches in diameter and resemble projectiles, but usually have a thinner body casing. Mortars are launched from mortar tubes.

	Projectile 105mm High Explosive
	UXO - Projectile 105mm High Explosive

UXO - Projectile 155mm

UXO - Projectile 155mm Practice (German)

Projectile 81mm High Explosive

Projectile 81mm Red Phosphorus

UXO - Mortar 3 Inch High Explosive

Projectile 106mm High Explosive Anti-Tank

Rockets

Rockets are self-propelled ordnance ranging from 37mm to 762mm in diameter, and measuring from 30cm to approximately 3.7m in length. Rockets ordnance use gas pressure from rapidly burning propellant to carry a warhead to the target. They consist of a warhead, motor, fuze, and a stabilizing mechanism.

Rocket 66mm

Underwater UXO

Underwater UXO includes torpedoes, and mines (both sea mines and limpet mines).

Torpedoes are launched into water against ships, submarines or other water targets.

Sea mines are mines that are used in the sea for use against water targets. Limpet mines are encased explosive charges that are attached to the side of ship hulls and are usually time detonated. Limpet mines are also used on land targets such as buildings and storage tanks.