Munition cluster

Certain types of weapons have been considered so horrendous that their use has been proscribed by international law. Important examples of such restrictions include the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (1972), the Chemical Weapons Convention (1993) and the recent Convention on Cluster Munitions (2010). These conventions have made valuable contributions to the protection of life. However, they also have limitations. For example, major producers and users of cluster munitions, including Israel, Russia and the United States, have not signed the CCM. Furthermore, there are always temptations to find ways around such legislation or to develop entirely new types of weapons. Two of the many such possibilities will be noted here the use of drugs as weapons and the use of drones (unmanned aerial vehicles). 

Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC), Convention on the prohibition of the development, production and stockpiling of bacteriological (biological) and toxin weapons and on their destruction-. Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), Convention on the prohibition of the development, production, stockpiling and use of chemical weapons and on their destruction Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM). 

Though statistics often focus on deaths, severe injuries are also the cause of immense suffering. Even experienced medical doctors are shocked when they first encounter war injuries, especially those to children [24]. Use of sophisticated weaponry produces a great number of casualties with extreme injuries [25]. Sophisticated weaponry may also have very long-term detrimental effects on civilians, as exemplified by the high incidence of birth defects in Fallujah (Iraq) since 2003 [26] and the many deaths, injuries and dismptions caused by mines and cluster munitions long after they are deployed. 

R. McGrath, Cluster munitions—weapons of deadly convenience Reviewing the legality and utility of cluster munitions. Presentation at Meeting of Humanitarian Experts, Geneva, 11 Nov 2004... 

At the end of May, Shadle expressed his satisfaction with the chemical offensive potential and ammunition status in the North African theater. His view seems to have been overly optimistic since smoke pots, tear gas, and HC smoke grenades were the only ammunition items available in sufficient supply. All the chemical supply officers reported urgent requests for unavailable white phosphorus grenades. The Twelfth Air Force reported limited quantities of ANM50A1 4-pound incendiary bombs, a few Mja yoo-pound incendiary bomb clusters, and a considerable number of My4 loo-pound incendiary bomb clusters. There was no other chemical ammunition in the theater although the New York port had promised that 120 days supply of high explosive and smoke shell was en route for the three chemical mortar battalions which had recently arrived in the theater. Aside from a small amount of artillery shell stored by Ordnance, no toxics were available in the theater and none was scheduled to arrive until the fall of 1943. The March theater plan for gas warfare, the first such plan, was based on meeting possible enemy gas attack with this plainly inadequate supply of artillery shell. The new War Department policy for retaliation in event of enemy initiation of gas warfare called for the use of aerial munitions as the principal gas weapons. Shadle s satisfaction with the toxic supply status can be explained by the fact that he did not con-... 

During the Cold War, the M-34 sarin cluster munition was the first major nerve agent weapon for the US military. (Courtesy of Soldier Biological and Chemical Command, Historical Research and Response Team, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD.)... 

At the same time, cooperation in BW research and development was undertaken by the United States, Canada, and Great Britain. It was learned from tests conducted by the British at Gruinard Island oflf the coast of Scotland and Penclawdd on the coast of Wales (1942-3) that loading anthrax into bomblets included in cluster munitions was the most feasible method of delivering the agent. This was determined by sheep placed at various distances from a bomb loaded with anthrax. The reach of the deadly spores was such that animals placed 250 yards downwind received a lethal dose of anthrax. Despite these impressive results, effective cluster-type munitions using anthrax were never supplied to AUied forces in World War II. 

Among the munitions filled with HC smoke mixture were 2-pound bombs, M8 grenades, rifle smoke grenades, M88 and M89 shells, canisters for 105-mm. and 155-mm. shells, 100-pound and 500-pound clusters, 2.35-inch rockets, and smoke pots. Virtually all the 2-pound bombs were loaded under private contract in the Pittsburgh and Chicago procurement districts. Rifle grenades, smoke shells, and canisters were loaded at CWS arsenals, particularly Huntsville and Pine Bluff. Edgewood Arsenal filled all 100- and 500-pound clusters. ... 

VAl September 1945 Seven shiploads of chemical munitions— 75,852 mortar shells filled with mustard gas 924 white phosphorous cluster bombs potentially containing up to 60 smaller munitions each upwards of 1,000 55-gallon steel drums of arsenic trichloride and 23,000 chemical smoke projectiles—dumped near the Virginia-Maryland border. 

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