TM 55-607/NAVSEA OP 3221 Rev 2
CHAPTER 8
BLOCK-STOW AND SWEATBOARD-TO-SWEATBOARD
SECURING TECHNIQUES
8-1. General
a. Military ammunition and explosives are secured for ocean transport based on either the block-stow or
sweatboard-to-sweatboard stowage techniques. Figures 8-1 and 8-2 illustrate the basic configurations of these methods.
As shown in figure 8-1, block stowage is developed through block like confinement of unit loads by securing structures
installed parallel to the ship's center line. Sweatboard-to-sweatboard stowage, however, extends fully to the sweatboards
and follows the contour of the hull. Cargo emplacement invariably results in the occurrence of voids within the stow,
particularly if sweatboard-to-sweatboard methods are employed. Voids can be safety blocked and braced in various
degrees, but the ship's master is the final authority regarding the manner ill which voids are dunnaged. This chapter
describes in detail the accepted methods of explosives stowage currently practiced by the Services. Figure 8-3
illustrates stowage nomenclature that will apply to the following sections.
8-1
