Exploding ammunition

Exploding ammunition is ammunition which is designed to explode and destroy the weapon it is used in and perhaps injure or kill the person attempting to fire the weapon. In addition to cartridges used in small arms exploding ammunition can include rocket-propelled grenades or mortar shells. Exploding ammunition is intended to be used by the enemy, usually an insurgent force; it is commonly funneled to them through black market channels.

Historical use

Exploding ammunition was used by both Allied and German forces during World War II, by the United States in Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan; possibly by the Soviet Union in Afghanistan; and by government forces during the Syrian civil war.

Effectiveness

Exploding ammunition, if used by enemy forces, is demoralizing, produces casualties, and destroys enemy weapons. However, it is quite likely that, once introduced into a theater of war, it will end up injuring friendly forces or even forces of the government which introduced them. Using a small charge which only jams the weapon is sometimes done when the chance that the doctored ammunition may fall into friendly hands is high, for example, when a case of ammunition is "lost" by appearing to have fallen from the back of a truck.