SEABEE COMBAT

WARFARE

CHEMICAL WARFARE

CBR History

Imagine if you will its April 22nd 1915, a warm, sunny day, you’re an Allied soldier stationed somewhere in Belgium, there’s a slight breeze blowing from behind the German lines, across no man’s land and through your fighting positions. You take this as a good omen, because for the last 24 hours your positions have been bombarded by German artillery, and just as the breeze picked up the heavy gun fire stopped.

CBR History

BUT, just a few hundred yards away, four divisions of the 23rd and 26th German Army Corps were opening the valves on six thousand cylinders stationed along their four mile front.

Seconds later, a five foot high wall of greenish yellow vapor begins to roll toward your positions.

Less than a minute after that the cloud reaches your front lines - and only seconds later you and everyone around you are drowning in your own mucous.

CBR History

THAT WAS THE BEGINNING OF MODERN CHEMICAL WARFARE.

That gas was chlorine – you see, chlorine doesn’t just suffocate, it poisons and strips the lining of the bronchial tubes and lungs. The resulting inflammation produces massive amounts of liquid, and the victims literally drown in their own bodily fluids.

Definition

CBR Warfare is the study of the deployment,

detection, monitoring, and recovery of CChemical,

BBiological, or RRadiological agents

(brief) History

• Pre-WWI Developments

• Ancient: hellebore, mandrake in water 1000-200 b.c

• Recent:– 1700-1850: Chlorine, Mustard

(dichloroehtylsulfide), chloropicrin– Civil War: Dougherty: Chlorine, 3 qts in shell

National Warfare Capability

U.S. Policies

Chemical Warfare – The United States will not use chemical agents as a first strike attack. However, the President can authorize the use of Chemical agents in retaliation to an attack with chemical agents.

Chemical Warfare

Definition – Chemical warfare is the use of chemical agents with the intent to kill, injure, or incapacitate personnel, or to restrict or deny access to strategic areas or routes Produce physiological and psychological effects Cause casualties Degrade performance Disrupt support Restrict maneuvers

(brief) History

• Definitions– Kill: Soman, VX– Injure: Phosgene– Incapacitate: CS, BZ

• Countermeasures– Until WWI, US not concerned or interested

Chemical Agents

Six Types of Chemical Agents• Blister Agents

• Blood Agents

• Choking Agents

• Nerve Agents

• Incapacitating Agents

• Military Compounds

Agents may be delivered in a liquid (persistent) or gaseous (non-persistent) form

Casualty Agents

Blister Agents

Physiological Effects• Inflammation, blistering, and destruction of tissue Types• Mustard (H)• Arsenicals (Lewisite) (L)• Urticants

Protection Required• JSLIST suit and MCU-2P Mask ( MOPP IV )

Detection• M-256A1, M-88 Alarm, M-8 & M-9 Paper, ICAM, ICAD •Odor – Often smells like very strong garlic or geraniums

Blister Agents

Symptoms• Eyes - Watery and bloodshot - Swollen eyelids - Gritty feeling

• Skin - Burns in moist areas - Itching and blisters

• Respiratory Tract - Irritation of throat

- Coughing

Blood Agents

Types

- Hydrogen Cyanide, Arsine, and Cyanogen Chloride Physiological Effects- Prevents the normal transfer of oxygen to the body tissue resulting in cell suffocation Protection Required- MCU-2P mask – filters must be changed immediately since blood agent “Canister Crackers” will render the canister ineffective in 15 minutes Means of Detection - M-256A1 Kit, ICAD

Blood Agents

Mild Symptoms - Irritation of eyes, nose and throat - Coughing and tightness of chest Moderate Symptoms - Nausea - Headache - Convulsions Severe Symptoms - Violent Convulsions - Heart Failure

Blood Agents

Mild Symptoms - Irritation of eyes, nose and throat - Coughing and tightness of chest Moderate Symptoms - Nausea - Headache - Convulsions Severe Symptoms - Violent Convulsions - Heart Failure

Choking Agents

Mild Symptoms- Headache- Coughing and Tightness of Chest

Moderate Symptoms - Painful Coughing - Rapid Shallow Breathing

Severe Symptoms - Shock – Like Symptoms - Low Blood Pressure - Foaming at the Mouth

Nerve Agents

Physiological EffectsAttacks the central nervous system by reacting with an enzyme (acetylcholinesterase) that controls the nervous system, causing an overstimulation

Types• V / VX, Soman, Sarin and Tabum Protection• MOPP IVDetection• M-256A1 Kit, M88 alarm, M-8 & M-9 paper, ICAM, ICAD

Nerve Agents

Mild Symptoms- Pinpointing of Pupils ( Useful when in MOPP IV )

- Tightness of Chest

- Nausea and Drooling

Moderate Symptoms- Fatigue

- Muscle Twitching

Severe Symptoms- Uncontrollable coughing and Convulsions

- Severe Difficulty Breathing and Heart Failure

Nerve Agent Antidote Kit (NAAK)

Auto – Injectors

- 1 – Atropine

- 1 – 2PAM Chloride

Means of Administering

- Self Aid ( 1st and 2nd Sets)

- Buddy Aid ( Up to 3 Sets)

- Maximum of three sets can be given prior to Medical Supervision

Diazepam Injections

- Suppress Convulsions, Normally given only by Medical

Nerve Agent Antidote Kit (NAAK)

• Administer by removing the safety cap (the light end) and pushing the injector end (the dark end) into the meaty part of the hip or thigh. Hold in place for 10 seconds.

• When finished, bend the injector needle and place in the front of the JSLIST top.

Incapacitating Agents

Types - Depressants – Sedate and destroy motivation

- Stimulants – Flood the Brain with too much information

Physiological Effects

- Alters and disrupts the Central Nervous System Temporarily.

Protection Required

- Protective Mask

Means of Detection

- None!

Military Compounds

Types- Vomiting ( Adamsite )

- Tear Producing ( CS and CN Gas )

Physiological Effects- Temporary Irritating Effects

Protection Required- Protective Mask

Means of Detection- None

Delivery

Bursting type- Ground Burst

- Air Burst

Spray Thermal Dispersers

JSLIST Suit

Joint Service Lightweight Integrated Suit Technology

- Also called the Advanced Chemical Protective Over garment (ACPG)

- Good for 24 hours in a contaminated environment

- 45 day life after opening the package

- Can be laundered up to 6 times if not contaminated

- Water resistant, but not waterproof

- Old style gloves and boots still used with the JSLIST, will provide 24 hours of protection in a contaminated environment

Donning Procedures

Five Levels:• MOPP 0

• MOPP I

• MOPP II

• MOPP III

• MOPP IV

Mission

Oriented

Protective

Posture

Donning Procedures

MOPP Level 0:- Mask and suit are carried

MOPP Level I:

- Don JSLIST top

- Don JSLIST trousers

MOPP Level II:- Don overboots (MULO’s)

Donning Procedures

MOPP Level III:- Don MCU-2P mask

MOPP Level IV:- Don cotton glove liners and rubber gloves

Why is CBR Important?

The threat is real. Many nations have the capability of deploying nuclear, biological and chemical weapons. Korea is known to have chemical weapons capabilities and is reported to be experimenting with nuclear weapons.

So it’s important that you understand the threat and means to protect yourself or your buddy.

Chemical Weapons

QUESTIONS?