Decontaminating apparatus power-driven

Agricultural spreaders and road sprinklers proved less successful at disseminating the proper amount of decontaminant. Just before the beginning of World War II, the CWS also investigated the power-driven demustardizing apparatus, which was based on a commercial orchard sprayer with a 300-gal tank and an 8-hp engine. 

The M12A1 Power-Driven Decontamination Apparatus (PDDA) is used to apply decontamination solutions or hot soapy water and rinses during field decontamination operations. The M12A1 PDDA consists of a pump unit, 500-gal tank, personnel shower assembly, and M2 water heater, all of which is mounted on a 5- or 10-ton truck with drop sides (Figure 16-41). The pump assembly can deliver 50 gal of water or super tropical bleach (STB) decontaminating agent per minute at a pressure of 105 psi to the two spray wands. 

Fig. 16-41. The M12A1 Power-Driven Decontamination Apparatus (PDDA).

PDDA Power-Driven Decontamination Apparatus PDS personnel decontamination station PEEP positive end-expiratory pressure PEG300 polyethylene glycol 300 PF protection factor... 

Assault troops on the Gilberts used the power driven and 3-gallon decontaminating apparatus to spray sodium arsenite on the dead since it was impossible to provide mortuary services in the assault. The... 

Unless otherwise indicated the section on power-driven decontamination units is based on (1) History of the Pittsburgh CWPD, pp, 228-34 (2) History of Chicago CWPD, 1 Jan 43-15 Aug 54, p. 70 (3) CWS Report of Produaion, 1 Jan 40 through 31 Dec 45, p. 2 (4) Hinckley interv, 9 Jan 58 (5) Interv, Hist Off with Col Carl Casto, 17 Apr 58 Casto was chief of the Edgewood Arsenal Inspection Off in WW II, which inspected the power-driven decon apparatus and made numerous suggestions for its improvement and (6) Interv, Hist Off with Ferdinand J. d Eustachio, 24 Apr 58. Mr. d Eustachio worked on the inspection and engineering problems of the decon apparatus in World War II. 

In the spring of 1S>41 the CWS contracted with the F. E. Myers and Brothers Co., Ashland, Ohio, a manufacturer of pumps and orchard sprayers, for six power driven models. On the basis of these models, which the company delivered in June 1S>41, the CWS wrote specifications for the power driven decontaminating apparatus. After the outbreak of war the Myers Co. continued to manufacture the item. In March 1942 two additional companies, Friend Manufacturing Co., Gasport, N.Y., and John Bean Manufacturing Co., Lansing, Mich., got into production. Later A. B. Farquhar of York, Pa., was awarded a contract. These companies found the item so difficult to manufacture that the CWS Inspection Division deemed it advisable first to approve numerous changes in the specifications and eventually to authorize a performance-type specification for the item. 

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