The Chemical Warfare Service : from laboratory to field

Abstract

This volume, the second in a series of three devoted to the Chemical Warfare Service (CWS) in World War II, now the Chemical Corps, covers research, development, procurement, and distribution of chemical warfare materiel. It traces the history of these activities from the World War I period, when the CWS was activated to supervise the offensive and defensive aspects of gas warfare throughout the Army, until the end of World War II. The first volume in the series, "Organizing for War", discusses the development of the CWS organization and mission as well as personnel management and military training. The third volume, entitled "Chemicals in Combat", will deal with the chemical warfare activities in the theaters of operations. In treating research and development, the present volume concentrates on CWS projects that proved of greatest significance to the armed forces during World War II. It attempts to point up the problems that arose in course of research and development and to indicate the solutions which the scientists hit upon. Since research and development in the zone of the interior was closely related to research and development in the theaters of operations, the volume covers activities in both areas. In contrast to research and development, procurement and distribution differed considerably as between the zone of the interior and the theaters of operations; in the theaters these activities were closely associated with the commanders' combat responsibilities. The volume, therefore, confines itself to a review of procurement and distribution in the zone of the interior, leaving narration of theater activities to the volume "Chemicals in combat". ; U.S. G.P.O. sales statement incorrect in publication. ; Shipping list no.: 2011-0165-P. ; "First printed 1959"--T.p. verso. ; Includes bibliographical references (p. [455]-459) and index. ; Chapter 1: Research And Supply In World War I -- Committee on noxious gases / National Research Council -- Chemical Warfare Research in the Bureau of Mines -- Medical research -- Research in the AEF -- Centralization of Activities in the Chemical Warfare Service -- Chemical munitions -- Gas defense equipment -- Field testing of chemical munitions -- Demobilization -- Chapter 2: Research And Development In Peace And War -- Peacetime scientific program -- Development procedure -- Laboratories and proving grounds -- Assistance from industries and universities -- Co-operation with the British Commonwealth -- Information from the enemy -- Chapter 3: Toxic Agents -- Phosgene -- Hydrogen cyanide -- Cyanogen chloride -- Mustard gas -- Lewisite -- Nitrogen mustards -- Chloroacetophenone -- Adamsite -- Chapter 4: Protection Against Toxic Agents -- Gas mask -- Collective protectors -- Eyeshields, dust respirators, and individual protective covers -- Protective clothing and impregnites -- Protective ointments -- Medical kits and supplies -- Protection of food and water supplies against toxics -- Treatment of gas casualties -- Chapter 5: Biological Warfare Research -- CWS interest in biological warfare -- WBS Committee and War Research Service -- CWS and the U S Biological Warfare Committee -- Special Projects Division -- Keeping it secret -- Defense against biological attack -- Achievement in Biological Warfare Research -- Chapter 6: Chemical Mortars And Shells -- 4-2 inch chemical mortar -- Mortars of unusual design -- Mortar shells -- Mortar gunboats -- Chapter 7: Flame Throwers -- Portable flame throwers -- One-shot flame throwers -- Medium weight flame throwers -- Main armament mechanized flame throwers -- Main armament flame throwers produced in Hawaii -- Auxiliary mechanized flame throwers -- Auxiliary flame throwers made in Hawaii -- Incendiary projector for airplanes -- Emplaced flame throwers -- Servicing flame throwers -- Toxicology of flame attack -- Chapter 8: Incendiaries -- Incendiary bombs -- Incendiary grenades -- Incendiary shells -- Incendiary rockets -- Chapter 9: Smoke -- White phosphorus -- Smoke pots -- Oil smoke generators -- Airplane smoke tanks -- Colored smoke munitions -- Chapter 10: Peacetime Preparation For Supply -- Planning for mobilization -- Procurement planning -- Chapter 11: Beginnings Of Industrial Mobilization -- Educational order program -- Munitions program -- Appropriations -- Facilities expansion gets under way -- Procurement in the emergency period -- Mobilization of the distribution system -- Chapter 12: More And More Of Everything -- Procurement of service equipment -- Procurement of chemicals -- Estimating requirements in wartime -- Facilities expansion in wartime -- Materiel shortages and imbalances -- Search for suitable contractors -- Inspection of materiel -- Pricing program -- Chapter 13: Balancing Procurement And Distribution -- Developments of early war years -- Advent of the supply control program -- Procurement and distribution of spare parts -- Improved maintenance practices -- Chapter 14: Procurement Of Defensive Materiel -- Gas mask procurement -- Production of impregnite (CC-2) -- Procurement of impregnating plants -- Protective ointment -- Detector kits -- Decontaminating apparatus -- Miscellaneous protective items -- Chapter 15: Procurement Of Offensive Materiel -- Incendiaries -- Procurement of the 4-2 inch mortar -- Procurement of the 4-2 inch mortar shell -- Criminal involvement of mortar shell contractors -- Flame throwers -- Smoke and smoke munitions -- Problem of morale -- Chapter 16: Storage And Distribution -- Growth of CWS storage activities -- Storage and transportation of toxics -- Storage of other CWS items -- Storage of other CWS items -- Packing and packaging -- Distribution -- Lend-lease -- Supplying the ports of embarkation -- Chapter 17: Industrial Demobilization -- Preparations for demobilization -- Disposition of facilities -- Contract terminations -- Property disposal -- To be or not to be? -- Appendix -- A: Status of CWS facilities program -- B: Government investment in facilities, World War II, as of 31 December 1945 -- Bibliographical note -- Glossary -- Index. ; This volume, the second in a series of three devoted to the Chemical Warfare Service (CWS) in World War II, now the Chemical Corps, covers research, development, procurement, and distribution of chemical warfare materiel. It traces the history of these activities from the World War I period, when the CWS was activated to supervise the offensive and defensive aspects of gas warfare throughout the Army, until the end of World War II. The first volume in the series, "Organizing for War", discusses the development of the CWS organization and mission as well as personnel management and military training. The third volume, entitled "Chemicals in Combat", will deal with the chemical warfare activities in the theaters of operations. In treating research and development, the present volume concentrates on CWS projects that proved of greatest significance to the armed forces during World War II. It attempts to point up the problems that arose in course of research and development and to indicate the solutions which the scientists hit upon. Since research and development in the zone of the interior was closely related to research and development in the theaters of operations, the volume covers activities in both areas. In contrast to research and development, procurement and distribution differed considerably as between the zone of the interior and the theaters of operations; in the theaters these activities were closely associated with the commanders' combat responsibilities. The volume, therefore, confines itself to a review of procurement and distribution in the zone of the interior, leaving narration of theater activities to the volume "Chemicals in combat". ; Mode of access: Internet.