This provides a listing of acronyms found in this report. Additionally, the glossary section provides definitions for selected technical terms that are not found in common usage.
Acronyms
1/5 ....................................................................................................First Battalion, Fifth Marines
1/12 .............................................................................................First Battalion, Twelfth Marines
5/11 ............................................................................................Fifth Battalion, Eleventh Marines
I MEF ........................................................................................First Marine Expeditionary Force
AOR ...........................................................................................................Area of Responsibility
ARCENT .................................................................................................Army Central Command
ASP .......................................................................................................Ammunition Supply Point
BW .................................................................................................................Biological Warfare
CAM ......................................................................................................Chemical Agent Monitor
CBDCOM ...............................................................Chemical and Biological Defense Command
CENTCOM ..............................................................................................U.S. Central Command
CIA ...................................................................................................Central Intelligence Agency
CW ..................................................................................................................Chemical Warfare
DIA ..................................................................................................Defense Intelligence Agency
DOD .........................................................................................................Department of Defense
DSC ......................................................................................................Direct Support Command
EOD ...............................................................................................Explosive Ordnance Disposal
FSSG ..............................................................................................Force Support Service Group
GPS ..................................................................................................Global Positioning Satellite
GySgt ........................................................................................Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant
HMMWV ...........................................................................High Mobility Multi-Wheel Vehicle
HT .......................................................................................................................Mustard Agent
IAD ...............................................................................Investigations and Analysis Directorate
KTO .............................................................................................Kuwait Theater of Operations
MarDiv .............................................................................................................Marine Division
MOPP ................................................................................Mission Oriented Protective Posture
NBC ......................................................................................Nuclear, Biological and Chemical
NBCO .......................................................................Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Officer
NCOIC ..............................................................................Noncommissioned Officer In Charge
ODS ......................................................................................................Operation Desert Storm
OIC .................................................................................................................Officer In Charge
OSAGWI ...............................................Office of the Special Assistant for Gulf War Illnesses
S MUSTARD ............................................................................Sulfur Mustard (Blister Agent)
SPOTREP ............................................................................................................SPOT Report
SWA .................................................................................................................Southwest Asia
TF ....................................................................................................Ripper Task Force Ripper
UNSCOM ...........................................................United Nations’ Special Commission on Iraq
UXO .......................................................................................Unexploded Ordnance Disposal
VOS ..............................................................................................Vehicle Orientation System
Blister Agents
Mustard (H) gas was used during the later parts of World War I. In its pure state, mustard is colorless and almost odorless. The name mustard comes from earlier methods of production that yielded an impure, mustard or rotten onion smelling product.
Distilled mustard (HD) was originally produced from H by a purification process of washing and vacuum distillation. HD is a colorless to amber colored liquid with a garlic-like odor, it has less odor and a slightly greater blistering power than H and is more stable in storage. It is used as a delayed action casualty agent, the duration of which depends upon the munitions used and the weather. HD is heavier then water, but small droplets will float on the water surface and present a hazard.
Heavily splashed liquid mustard persists one to two days or more in concentrations that produce casualties of military significance under average weather conditions and a week to months under very cold conditions. HD on soil remains vesicant for about two weeks. The persistency in running water is only a few days, while the persistency in stagnant water can be several months. HD is about twice as persistent in sea water.
Mustard acts first as a cell irritant and finally as a cell poison on all tissue surfaces contacted. Early symptoms include inflammation of the eyes; inflammation of the nose, throat, trachea, bronchi and lung tissue; and redness of the skin. Blistering or ulceration is also likely to occur. Other effects may include vomiting and fever that begin around the same time as the skin starts to redden.
Eyes are very sensitive to mustard in low concentrations: skin damage requires a much larger concentration. HD causes casualties at lower concentrations in hot, humid weather, because the body is moist with perspiration. Wet skin absorbs more mustard than does dry skin. HD has a very low detoxification rate; repeated exposures, therefore, are cumulative in the body.
Individuals can be protected from small mustard droplets or vapor by wearing protective masks and permeable protective clothing. The use of impermeable clothing and masks can protect against large droplets, splashes and smears.
References: Department of the Army, Navy and Air Force, FM 3-9, Potential Military Chemical/Biological Agents and Compounds and NBC Equipment.
Detection Paper
Detection paper relies on certain dyes being soluble in chemical warfare agents. Normally, two dyes and one pH indicator are mixed with cellulose fibers in a paper without special coloring (unbleached). When a drop of chemical warfare agent is absorbed by the paper, it dissolves one of the pigments. Mustard agent dissolves a red dye and nerve agent a yellow. In addition, VX (a form of liquid nerve agent) causes the indicator to turn to blue which, together with the yellow, will become green/green-black.
Detection paper can thus be used to distinguish between three different types of chemical warfare agents. A disadvantage with the papers is that many other substances can also dissolve the pigments. Consequently, they should not be located in places where drops of substances such as solvent, fat, oil, or fuel can fall on them. Drops of water produce no reaction.
Depending on the spot diameter and density on the detection paper, it is possible to gauge the original size of the droplets and the degree of contamination.
Reference: Detection of Chemical Weapons: An overview of methods for the detection of chemical warfare agents; homepage: http://www.opcw.nl/chemhaz/detect.htm.
M256A1Chemical Agent Detection Kit
The M256A1 kit is a portable, expendable item capable of detecting and identifying hazardous concentrations of chemical agent. The M256 kit is used after a chemical alert to determine if it is safe to unmask. The M256A1 kit has replaced the M256 kit. The only difference between the two kits is that the M256A1 kit will detect lower levels of nerve agent. This improvement was accomplished by using an eel enzyme for the nerve test in the M256A1 kit in place of the horse enzyme used in the M256 kit.
Reference: Worldwide Chemical Detection Equipment Handbook, p. 430.
Mission Oriented Protective Posture (MOPP)
The wearing of MOPP gear provides soldiers protection against all known chemical agents, live biological agents, and toxins. MOPP gear consists of the following items:
Overgarment (chemical suit)
Overboots
Mask (gas mask) with hood
Gloves
When a person is wearing MOPP gear, they can not work for very long nor can they work very fast. They may also suffer mental distress as a result of feeling closed in and will also suffer from heat stress and heat exhaustion when working in warm temperatures and at high work rates. The MOPP concept arose from the need to balance individual protection with the threat, temperature, and urgency of the mission.
Commanders can raise or lower the amount of protection through five levels of MOPP. In addition, commanders can exercise a mask-only option.
MOPP Zero: Individuals must carry their protective mask with them at all times. Their remaining MOPP Gear must be readily available (i.e., within the work area, fighting position, living space, etc.).
MOPP Level One: Individuals wear their overgarment. They must carry the rest of their MOPP gear.
MOPP Level Two: Individuals wear their overgarment and overboots and carry the mask with hood and gloves.
MOPP Level Three: Individuals wear their overgarment, overboots, and mask with hood. They carry the gloves.
MOPP Level Four: Individuals wear all their MOPP gear.
Source: U.S. Army Field Manual 3-4, Headquarters Department of the Army, Washington DC, 21 October 1985.
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