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 Chemical,
Biological, or Radiological 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
Casualty Agents
Agents may be delivered in a liquid (persistent) or gaseous
(non-persistent) form
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
Types
• V / VX, Soman, Sarin and
Tabum
 Protection
• MOPP IV
Detection
• M-256A1 Kit, M88 alarm,
M-8 & M-9 paper, ICAM,
ICAD
Physiological Effects
Attacks the central nervous system by reacting with an enzyme
(acetylcholinesterase) that controls the nervous system, causing an
overstimulation
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
Mission
Oriented
Protective
Posture
 Five Levels:
•
•
•
•
•
MOPP 0
MOPP I
MOPP II
MOPP III
MOPP IV
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?