8.1 A Brief History of Weapons
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projectiles. Germany was the first nation in the world to start widely using military
CA due to its most advanced chemical industry.
In 1917, warring countries started using gas throwers (prototypes of mine
throwers). They were first used by Englishmen. Each mine contained 9–28 kg of
a poisonous substance; gas thrower charges were mainly composed of phosgene,
liquid diphosgene, and chloropicrin.
A new stage in the use of chemical weapons began with the use of a persistent
poison-emitting toxic substance (B, B-dichlorodiethylsulfide) first used by German
troops near the Belgian city of Ypres.
After World War I and up until World War II, the public opinion in Europe
was against the use of chemical; however, European industrialists, who ensured
defense abilities of their countries, mostly believed that chemical weapons shall be
an essential attribute of warfare.
Large quantities of chemical weapons were used in local conflicts in the 1920s–
1930s: By Spain in Morocco in 1925, Japanese troops against the Chinese troops
from 1937 to 1943.
The study of toxic substances in Japan began with the help of Germany in 1923;
by the beginning of the 1930s, production of the most effective chemical agents was
organized in the arsenals of Tadonuimi and Sagani.
Approximately 25% of the set of artillery and 30% of aviation munitions of the
Japanese army were equipped with chemical agents.
Italy used chemical weapons in Ethiopia (from October 1935 to April 1936).
Mustard was used by the Italians with great efficiency, despite the fact that Italy
joined the Geneva Protocol in 1925. Almost all military actions of Italian units were
supported by chemical attacks using aviation and artillery. There were also spraying
aircraft devices dispersing liquid chemical agents.
In 1936, tabun was synthesized, the mass production of which started in May
1943; in 1939, sarin was invented, which was more toxic compared to tabun; in late
1944, soman was developed. These substances signified the emergence of a new class
of non-lethal nerve CA in fascist Germany, which exceeded toxic agents of World
War II many times in terms of toxicity.
After the Second World War, CA were used in a number of local conflicts. There
are known facts of US Army using chemical weapons against PRK (1951–1952) and
Vietnam (1960s).
During the Ranch Hand operation in South Vietnam, American troops used 15
various chemical agents and recipes to destroy grains, plantations of cultivated plants
and tree and bush plants.
Combat CA were widely used during the lengthy Iran–Iraq war. Until 1991, Iraq
has the greatest reserves of chemical weapons in the Middle East and performed
extensive works to further improve its arsenal.
Common toxic (hydrocyanic acid), skin-blistering (mustard), and nerve agents
(sarin (GB), soman (GD), tabun (GA), VX) were named among chemical agents
available to Iraq. Chemical ammunition of Iraq contained more than 25 Scud
warheads, about 2,000 aerial bombs and 15,000 projectiles (including mortar mines
and MLRS missiles), as well as land mines.
743
projectiles. Germany was the first nation in the world to start widely using military
CA due to its most advanced chemical industry.
In 1917, warring countries started using gas throwers (prototypes of mine
throwers). They were first used by Englishmen. Each mine contained 9–28 kg of
a poisonous substance; gas thrower charges were mainly composed of phosgene,
liquid diphosgene, and chloropicrin.
A new stage in the use of chemical weapons began with the use of a persistent
poison-emitting toxic substance (B, B-dichlorodiethylsulfide) first used by German
troops near the Belgian city of Ypres.
After World War I and up until World War II, the public opinion in Europe
was against the use of chemical; however, European industrialists, who ensured
defense abilities of their countries, mostly believed that chemical weapons shall be
an essential attribute of warfare.
Large quantities of chemical weapons were used in local conflicts in the 1920s–
1930s: By Spain in Morocco in 1925, Japanese troops against the Chinese troops
from 1937 to 1943.
The study of toxic substances in Japan began with the help of Germany in 1923;
by the beginning of the 1930s, production of the most effective chemical agents was
organized in the arsenals of Tadonuimi and Sagani.
Approximately 25% of the set of artillery and 30% of aviation munitions of the
Japanese army were equipped with chemical agents.
Italy used chemical weapons in Ethiopia (from October 1935 to April 1936).
Mustard was used by the Italians with great efficiency, despite the fact that Italy
joined the Geneva Protocol in 1925. Almost all military actions of Italian units were
supported by chemical attacks using aviation and artillery. There were also spraying
aircraft devices dispersing liquid chemical agents.
In 1936, tabun was synthesized, the mass production of which started in May
1943; in 1939, sarin was invented, which was more toxic compared to tabun; in late
1944, soman was developed. These substances signified the emergence of a new class
of non-lethal nerve CA in fascist Germany, which exceeded toxic agents of World
War II many times in terms of toxicity.
After the Second World War, CA were used in a number of local conflicts. There
are known facts of US Army using chemical weapons against PRK (1951–1952) and
Vietnam (1960s).
During the Ranch Hand operation in South Vietnam, American troops used 15
various chemical agents and recipes to destroy grains, plantations of cultivated plants
and tree and bush plants.
Combat CA were widely used during the lengthy Iran–Iraq war. Until 1991, Iraq
has the greatest reserves of chemical weapons in the Middle East and performed
extensive works to further improve its arsenal.
Common toxic (hydrocyanic acid), skin-blistering (mustard), and nerve agents
(sarin (GB), soman (GD), tabun (GA), VX) were named among chemical agents
available to Iraq. Chemical ammunition of Iraq contained more than 25 Scud
warheads, about 2,000 aerial bombs and 15,000 projectiles (including mortar mines
and MLRS missiles), as well as land mines.