Weapons, biological defences against

J. P. Robinson, Modern CB Weapons and the Defences against Them, The Problem of Chemical and Biological Warfare, Volume 2. Chemical Weapons Today, SIPRI, Almqvist and Wiksell, Stockholm, 1971, ch. 1, pp. 27-79. 

Most Western assessments appear to accept that the role of the VKhV is defensive and technical. Professor John Erickson - no sceptic on the subject of the Soviet CBW capability - states, The chemical warfare troops do not themselves wage chemical warfare that is, they are not responsible for the delivery of chemical munitions .Charles Dick, of the Soviet Studies section at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, describes their role as reconnaissance, monitoring radioactive contamination of personnel, decontamination of troops, equipment and terrain, and other special measures . (This covers smoke and incendiaries.) He stresses that their task runs wider than the basics of defence against chemical weapons Soviet chemical troops have the task of increasing the Soviet Army s ability to survive the effects of weapons of mass destruction of all kinds, nuclear, chemical or biological (bacteriological). " This is borne out by the remarks of General Manets referred to above. 

The delivery systems for modern chemical munitions are dual capable - they can also be used with conventional munitions. Chemical weapons need not necessarily be stored in special locations or even in special sheds. Much of the equipment used in chemical and biological defence - respirators, detectors, decontamination equipment and so on - would also be used for radiation protection. In any case, unless specifically banned by the treaty, chemical defence measures could be claimed to be legitimate precautions against treaty contravention by another state, rather than indicators of one s own intent to cheat. There is disagreement among Western experts as to... 

Analytical Systems in defence uses against chemical and biological weapons... 

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