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Officers and Ratings Responsible for Explosives BRd 2

and Small Arms

CHAPTER 28

OFFICERS AND RATINGS RESPONSIBLE FOR EXPLOSIVES AND SMALL ARMS

(MOD Sponsor: FLEET SPT-E-FWEOSS)

CONTENTS

Para
2801. Introduction
2802. The Executive Officer
2803. The Explosives Responsible Officer (ERO)
2804. Delegated Officer
2805. The Specialist User Officer (SUO)
2806. Officer of Quarters (OOQ)
2807. Specialist Officer of Quarters (SOOQ)
2808. The Logistics Officer
2809. The Officer Responsible for the Custody of Small Arms
2810. Demolitions Officer
2811. The Air Weapon Logistics Officer
2812. Duty Officer
2813. Other Officers with Explosive Safety Responsibilites
2814.

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CHAPTER 28

OFFICERS AND RATINGS RESPONSIBLE FOR EXPLOSIVES AND SMALL ARMS

2801. Introduction

1. JSP 862, MoD Maritime Explosives Regulations is the authority which governs the
safe guarding, stowage and handling of all explosives in Surface Ships, Submarines
RFAs, RMAS and Ships Taken up from Trade (STUFT). The regulations are mandatory
and departure from them is not permitted without the approval of Naval Authority
Explosives (NA EXP).

2. The applications and responsibilities of personnel involved with the safety, custody
and handling of explosives differ in some detail between Surface Ships, Submarines,
RFAs and STUFT. JSP 862, Chapter 1 of Volume 1 (Surface Ships), Volume 2
(Submarines) are to be read in conjunction with Articles 2802 - 2809.

2802. The Executive Officer

1. The Executive Officer is responsible to the Captain or Commanding Officer for the
overall co-ordination of whole ship activities affecting the safety of explosives in the Ship
and Submarine.

2. Responsibilites are detailed in JSP 862.

2803. The Explosives Responsible Officer (ERO)

1. All HM Ships and Submarines are to have a designated and trained ERO to ensure
that the regulations for the safety of all explosives held on board the ship are enforced at
all times. He is responsible for magazines and compartments containing explosives and
the competence of Officers of the Quarters (OOQ) in the safety and handling of explosives.

2. The ERO is to be nominated and trained to fulfil the responsibilities specified in


JSP 862, Chapter 1 of Volumes 1 and 2 for Surface Ships and Submarines respectively.

3. The ERO will be assisted in discharging his duties by Delegated Officers and OOQs.

4. Responsibilities are detailed in JSP 862.

5. The ERO is to be guided by:

a. JSP 862, MoD Maritime Explosives Regulations.

b. DINs, MOD Directives and Type Commander Orders.

c. JSP 440, The Defence Manual of Security Vol 1 Chapter 1 and JSP 440 (RN
Supplement) Chapter 6.

d. JSP 445, Transport of Dangerous Goods.

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2804. Delegated Officer

1. A Delegated Officer is a Commissioned Officer who has successfully completed the


relevant mandatory training, who is nominated in the Scheme of Complement to undertake
delegated tasks and temporarily assume the ERO’s responsibility in his absence.

2805. The Specialist User Officer (SUO)

1. SUOs are trained Officers, or Senior Ratings nominated in Ship’s General Orders
(Chapter 19, Explosives Safety), who are charged with the temporary custody of
explosives stores needed to fulfil operational tasks. Their responsibilities are in JSP 862.

2. SUOs are to be trained in accordance with JSP 862, Article 0109.

2806. Officer of Quarters (OOQ)

1. OOQs are Officers or Senior Ratings nominated at each quarter having direct
accountability to the ERO for the safety of all explosives associated with that quarter.
Application and responsibilities of the OOQ are in JSP 862.

2. The OOQ is to be nominated and trained in accordance with JSP 862, Chapter 1 of
Volumes 1 and 2 for Surface Ships and Submarines respectively.

2807. Specialist Officer of Quarters (SOOQ)

1. SOOQs are Senior Ratings or Leading Ratings nominated by the SUO and detailed in
Ship’s General Orders (Chapter 19, Explosives Safety) who are responsible for the safety
of all explosives associated with that quarter which have been passed over the Explosive
Delivery Point into their custody.

2. The SOOQ is to be nominated and trained in accordance with JSP 862, Chapter 1 of
Part 1 and 2 for Surface Ships and Submarines respectively.

2808. The Logistics Officer

1. The Logistics Officer will account for explosives and non-explosive Naval Armament
Stores in accordance with JSP 886, Defence Logistics Support Chain Manual, and as
amended by local orders approved by Type Commanders.

2809. The Officer Responsible for the Custody of Small Arms

1. Responsibilities. The Officer designated by the Commanding Officer is responsible


for the safe custody of all Small Arms, detailed in the ship’s Warrant or Proportion Book for
Fleet Establishments, which includes provision for a ship’s Royal Marine detachment,
including private firearms (see Para 3621). The Officer designated is to ensure that:

a. When not in use all rifles and sub-machine guns are locked in the small arms
store with their unique breech mechanism fitted and that all are marked with
the weapon serial number. The weapons are to be secured against
unauthorised removal in accordance with JSP 440, The Defence Manual of
Security, Vol 1 Chapter 6 and JSP 440 (RN Supplement) Chapter 6.

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b. The keys of all Small Arms stowages are kept in the armament key safe and
issued only to selected and named personnel.

c. A record is kept of the names of the persons authorised by the Commanding


Officer to issue small arms.

d. Ammunition and/or charged magazines for use with small arms are never
stowed in the same compartment as the weapons, except when operational
needs dictate and with the approval of the Commanding Officer.

e. The greatest care is taken against improper removal of small arms, which
must always be accounted for by their registered numbers and recorded in
Form S.3016, Small Arms Register.

f. The musters of small arms called for in Form S.3016, Small Arms Register,
are carried out correctly and recorded.

g. When small arms are removed from their storages for use or maintenance
they are re-stowed correctly on completion.

h. The accounting of small arms is carried out in accordance with BR 96, Materiel
Accounting and Storekeeping Manual.

2. The Designated Officer is to be guided by:

a. Form S.3016, Small Arms Register.

b. JSP 886, Defence Logistics Support Chain Manual.

c. JSP 440, The Defence Manual of Security Vol 1 and JSP 440 (RN
Supplement).

d. Defence Council Instructions, MOD Directives and Type Commander orders.

2810. Demolitions Officer

1. Ships no longer carry Demolitions Outfits or personnel trained in the use of these
explosives, unless MCDO, CPO(D) or PO(D) is borne.

2. Ships requiring any form of demolitions capability except Limpet Mine Disposal
Equipment are to apply to the Flag Officer Surface Flotilla.

2811. The Air Weapon Logistics Officer

1. The Air Weapon Logistics Officer is an Officer trained specifically for air weapons and
explosives control and handling duties in nominated ships.

2. He is accountable to the Air Engineer Officer for:

a. the safe stowage and handling of all explosive stores held in air weapon
magazines in ships, including the preparation of all aircraft explosives and
weapons, prior to their formal transfer to Specialist User Officers.

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b. supervision of Officers of Quarters of air weapon magazines.

2812. Duty Officer

1. At sea or in harbour the Officer of the Watch (or Senior Duty Officer if no OOW is on
duty) and in harbour the Officer of the Day is responsible for ensuring that appropriate ship
safety measures are enforced before personnel with the requisite authority are permitted
to move explosives outside magazines or weapon stowage compartments.

2813. Other Officers with Explosive Safety Responsibilites

1. Other Officers also hold particular responsibilities for explosives safety, these are
detailed in BR 862 Chapter 1 of Volumes 1 and 2 for Surface Ships and Submarines
respectively.

2814.

1. Explosives safety in Royal Naval Shore Establishments is to be organised and


administered in accordance with JSP 482 MOD Explosive Regulations.

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