Chemical weapons persistency

There are seven sites in the United States where U.S. Unitary Chemical Stockpile exists. Below they are listed by chemical weapon as follows GB, sarin H, mustard HD, mustard HT, mustard VX, persistent nerve agent GA, tabun L, lewisite TGA, thickened tabun TGB, thickened sarin. 

Precipitation heavy rain dilutes and disperses chemical weapons snow increases persistence. 

The specter of chemical death persists. Like atom bombs, chemical weapons have been classified as weapons of mass destruction. But were they, and are they Nerve agents such as VX and sarin can certainly kill swiftly. But so can hundreds of familiar drugs and poisons. The real question is whether anyone within the limits of current technology can, in fact, use them effectively as lethal weapons on the battlefield. 

Today, the uncertainties about the effects of chemical weapons are increased by the large number of chemicals that are available - some are synthetic, some occur naturally, some cause irritation and incapacitation, some are instantly lethal, whereas others are active towards plants and animals. Also although the actual toxicity of chemicals is important (that is the smaller the dose to produce a required effect the better) other factors such as ease of synthesis, storage stability, ease of dissemination and persistence also play a major role. The uncertainty about the effects is further increased by the fact that against some chemicals soldiers have good defence from protective clothing, detectors and alarms, and medical countermeasures. 

Used against poorly-armed and trained insurgents, the imperial powers rapidly learnt that gas was a devastating weapon. Persistent agents like mustard could make favourite ambush positions untenable for weeks. Tear gas and smoke weapons, especially if used from the air, forced the enemy into the open where he could be more easily picked off. By 1925 the French and Spanish were employing poison gas in Morocco, and it had become clear that chemical warfare had found a new role, as a tool by which major powers could police rebellious territories. 

MOPP Zero Soldiers carry their protective masks with their load-carrying equipment. The standard battledress overgarment and other individual protective equipment that make up the soldier s MOPP gear are readily available. Readily available means that equipment must either be carried by each soldier or be stored within the soldier s arms reach (eg, within the work area, vehicle, or fighting position). Units at MOPP Zero are highly vulnerable to attacks with persistent agents and will automatically upgrade to MOPP 1 when they determine, or are notified, that persistent chemical weapons have been used or that the threat for use of chemical weapons has risen. 

C. Environmental factors. The presence of wind and rain can reduce the effectiveness of chemical weapon delivery by increasing dispersion and dilutional effects. Cold weather may reduce vapor formation but increase persistence of the liquid form of some agents. Gases and vapors heavier than air may accumulate in low-lying areas. 

A variety of detection devices and other chemical warfare agent defense equipment have been developed for specific military applications. Most of the effort in this area resulted from the perceived threat during the Cold War era and although this threat has decreased dramatically, interest in chemical detection equipment persists because of worldwide chemical weapons proliferation. During the 1990-91 Iraq War chemical detection equipment was deployed into the... 

Such scepticism, which is shared to some degree by several scientific commentators, reflects the persistence of gaps in Western knowledge about Soviet intentions and capability. The lack of firm evidence about several important issues permits a wide spread of opinion and interpretation. Soviet intentions are not clear serving Soviet officials have neither spoken nor written openly about their chemical weapons since 1938. Nor is there precise data about every aspect of their offensive capability indeed US Department of Defense officials have repeatedly admitted that their intelligence has gaps , albeit gaps of the same order as on other Soviet activities . ... 

Suppressing NATO s nuclear capabilities which are widely dispersed over Western Europe in air bases and supply depots is another major Soviet priority. Should nuclear weapons be withheld, persistent chemical agents, such as thickened soman, delivered by SCUD missiles, could be extremely effective. After a few repeated strikes, these bases could be rendered inoperative for an extended period of time or reduced in readiness as time was consumed in elaborate decontamination. Chemical weapons could also be employed in fulfilling another basic principle of Soviet operations, namely attacks upon the enemy throughout the entire depth of this deployment . Die targets would include air bases, command, control and communication facilities, harbours, airports and other transportation centres. 

---