TEST AND ANALYSIS OF MISSILE EXHAUST EFFECTS ON THE COLLECTIVE PROTECTION SYSTEM

The Collective Protection System (CPS) is a continuous-use system desi gned to provide protection to personnel and work spaces within the shi p from chemical, biological and radiological agents of hostile action. The CPS filter system consists of a High-Efficiency Particulate (HEPA ) followed by an adsorbent impregnated charcoal. The CPS filter compon ents are subjected to normal underway and exercise conditions (gases a nd vapors) that exist in the atmosphere surrounding the ship. The CPS can be subjected to missile exhaust, for which it was not specifically designed. CPS is a designed-in feature for new design ships. The USS Arleigh Burke was the first ship of a new class with a fully integrate d CPS. Other new ship classes such as USS Wasp, USS Supply and USS Gun ston Hall have CPS in living and selected working spaces. One purpose of this work was to determine if CPS filters removed or reduced missil e toxicity levels in the ventilation supply to acceptable levels. A se cond purpose was to determine if the products of weapons exhaust damag e or degrade the filters. An objective specific to the DDG 51 Class wa s to determine if the traditional Toxic Gas Damper systems could be el iminated. A series of land-based tests with live missiles, missile fir ings at-sea, and laboratory experiments were completed. The at-sea mea surements were somewhat of a disappointment because favorable wind con ditions were rarely available. The early work focused on the adsorbent charcoal. The results showed that the two-stage CPS filters adequatel y removed toxic levels of hydrogen chloride. There is evidence that th e HEPA filter element alone may not adequately remove hydrogen chlorid e. It was concluded that elements of the CPS including filters, mixing /dilution, and ship geometry collectively prevent missile exhaust prod ucts from entering the ship. The degradation of the filters from missi le firings is minimal and less than that of the natural marine atmosph ere. The toxic gas dampers are not required when the two-stage filters are used.