duties as an explosives driver take a good look at the requirements you must meet to become certified to drive  motor  vehicles  that  transport  ammunition, explosives, and hazardous materials. Let’s  continue  now  with  the  requirements  for storing these hazardous materials safely. Q7.    What NAVSEA OP should you use to find general instructions  for  preparation  and  shipping ordnance items? AMMUNITION STOWAGE As a Fire Controlman, you will be responsible for the care of projectiles, missiles, and associated components  while  they  are  in  stowage.  This  is  an important   task   because   these   weapons   and components  will  spend  about  99  percent  of  their existence  in  stowage.  This  care  is  even  more important  aboard  surface  ships  and  submarines. Why?  Because at shore stations weapons are stored in  their  shipping  containers  inside  magazines. Aboard surface ships these weapons are stowed in missile tubes or magazines and are exposed to salt water  and  humidity.  A  large  part  of  your  job  will involve maintaining the environmental control and fire suppression systems in magazines. MAGAZINES A magazine is any compartment, space, or locker used, or intended to be used, for ammunition stowage. From the magazine, we can expand to the “magazine area.”   A  magazine  area  includes  all  compartments, spaces, or passages next to or surrounding a magazine. These places are used, or intended to be used, as the area for handling and passing ammunition. The areas around loaded freighters, railroad cars, and trucks are treated as magazine areas, too. The safety and security measures  that  apply  to  shipboard  magazines  and magazine areas also apply to these “portable” units. Each  magazine  is  specifically  designed  for  the ammunition it will contain. As a general rule, different types  of  ammunition  will  be  stowed  in  separate magazines or lockers. The highest possible degree of safety is obtained by not mixing different explosives in the same magazines or lockers. However, there are exceptions to this rule. Some stowage  areas  can  be  designated  single-purpose  or multipurpose  magazines.  While  single-purpose stowage is desirable, it is not always possible. Often a ship’s  mission  requires  it  to  carry  a  variety  of ammunition.  Mixed-stowage  in  multipurpose  and certain single-purpose magazines is acceptable. But, there    are    limitations    and    restrictions    to mixed-stowage.  Current  safety  instructions  must  be followed  and  proper  authorization  must  be  obtained for   mixed-stowage.   When   mixed-stowage   is authorized, it must conform, as close as possible, to the permissible stowage tables listed in NAVSEA OP 4, Ammunition Afloat. There are five major types or classes of magazines. We  will  discuss  the  four  types  you  will  most  likely encounter:  primary  magazines,  missile  magazines, ready-service magazines, and lockers. The fifth type is called  a  chemical  magazine.  Only  lethal  and incapacitating chemical ammunitions will be stowed in  these  extremely  special  magazines.  Normally, chemical ammunition is not carried aboard ship. A  ship’s  primary  and  ready-service  magazines normally  stow  its  complete  wartime  allowance  of ammunition. Primary Magazines Primary magazines are usually located below the main  deck,  preferably  below  the  ship’s  waterline. Primary magazines must be well-insulated, ventilated, and  have  some  means  of  temperature  control.  They must also have a sprinkler system that can be activated from  both  remote  and  local  stations.  Primary magazines   must   be   closed   and   locked   when unattended. Missile Magazines Due to the nature of guided missiles, a fine-line distinction  exists  between  a  missile  magazine  and  a primary magazine. Most of the differences are minor and  can  be  related  to  two  factors.  First,  missile magazines   contain   various   electrically-   and hydraulically-powered equipment. Quite often, there is  little  or  no  physical  separation  between  this equipment and the missiles. Therefore, the potential for  fire  is  great.  Fire  detection  and  suppression assumes  greater  importance  in  missile  magazines. Second, missile magazines are located close to their launchers.  This  closeness  is  necessary  to  reduce loading time and to support high rates of fire. Thus, missile  magazines  are  generally  located  above  the ship’s waterline. For this reason, missile magazines are less protected than primary magazines and are more susceptible to battle damage and fire. 5-11