What is UXO?
Thursday, June 25th, 2009
Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) are any explosive devices (bombs, bullets, shells, grenades, land mines, naval mines, etc.) that did not explode as intended when employed. Hundreds of thousands of these UXO items exist worldwide and continue to pose a potentially lethal risk to this day, some even after many decades of lying dormant. Much UXO remains in former and active combat zones worldwide, as well as on millions of acres of training sites domestically. UXO is disposed of by highly-trained professional civilian Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) professionals.
Unexploded ordnance from at least as far back as the American Civil War still poses a hazard worldwide, both in current and former combat areas and on military firing ranges. One major problem with unexploded ordnance is that over the years the detonator and main charge deteriorate, frequently making them more sensitive to disturbance, and therefore more dangerous to handle. There are countless examples of civilians tampering with unexploded ordnance that is many years old – often with fatal results. Believing it to be harmless they handle the device and it explodes, killing or severely injuring them. For this reason it is universally recommended that unexploded ordnance should not be touched or handled by unqualified persons. Instead, the location should be reported to the local police so that EOD professionals can render it safe.
As recently as December 2007, construction areas outside Orlando, Florida discovered UXO in new development areas and had to halt construction efforts.[4] Other areas nearby, including UXO in the Indian River Lagoon[5] thought to be left from live bombing runs performed during WWII by pilots from nearby DeLand Naval Air Station have long been avoided by local boaters for fear of accidentally striking UXO as they motor by.
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