PART B - CHEMICAL AGENT REQUIREMENTS
A discussion of chemical agents would be incomplete without an understanding
of what makes a substance a chemical agent and the features desired in a
chemical agent.
Chemical Agent Requirements.
1.
The following are the requirements of a
chemical agent:
It must possess toxicity.
Through its chemical properties, it
will produce lethal and damaging effects on man, animal or plant.
It must also be capable of accomplishing the mission for which it
is employed.
It must be stable or capable of being stabilized during the
period of time between its production and use.
It must be procurable from available raw
materials
in
the
quantity required for effective military use.
It must be capable of being disseminated from a device
practicable for field use in sufficient concentration to produce
the desired effect on the target.
It must be capable of being handled and transported, provided
proper precautions are observed.
Desirable Features.
2.
The following are desirable additional features
of a chemical agent:
It should have little or no corrosive action on the munition or
container during storage.
It should possess such inherent properties that complete
protection from the chemical agent is difficult for enemy
personnel.
If possible, the agent should be capable of
minimizing the effectiveness of the protective equipment of
potential enemies.
The agent's mechanism of action, protective measures, and method
of treatment should be known.
It should be difficult to detect by ordinary methods prior to the
time of onset of physiological and/or psychological effects.
Colorless, odorless, and nonirritating toxic chemical agents are
desirable.
CM3404
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