Big Five Weapons

{{Unreferenced, date=June 2019, bot=noref (GreenC bot) The Big Five was a series of

biological weapons Biological agents, also known as biological weapons or bioweapons, are pathogens used as weapons. In addition to these living or replicating pathogens, toxins and biotoxins are also included among the bio-agents. More than 1,200 different kin ...

developed by the

United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the primary Land warfare, land service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is designated as the Army of the United States in the United States Constitution.Article II, section 2, clause 1 of th ...

Chemical Corps The Chemical Corps is the branch of the United States Army tasked with defending against and using chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear ( CBRN) weapons. The Chemical Warfare Service was established on 28 June 1918, combining activit ...

' Special Operations Division (SOD) at

Fort Detrick Fort Detrick () is a United States Army Futures Command installation located in Frederick, Maryland. Fort Detrick was the center of the U.S. biological weapons program from 1943 to 1969. Since the discontinuation of that program, it has hosted m ...

Biological Warfare Laboratory (BWL) for use by special forces. These weapons were developed in the 1950s and 1960s, and were eventually destroyed when the United States unilaterally ended its offensive biological warfare program. The weapons were - M1 Biodart (E1) A 7.62mm rifle cartridge with a sabot surrounding a flechette with exterior grooves filled with either

botulinum toxin Botulinum toxin, or botulinum neurotoxin (commonly called botox), is a neurotoxic protein produced by the bacterium ''Clostridium botulinum'' and related species. It prevents the release of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine from axon en ...

A (XR),

saxitoxin Saxitoxin (STX) is a potent neurotoxin and the best-known paralytic shellfish toxin. Ingestion of saxitoxin by humans, usually by consumption of shellfish contaminated by toxic algal blooms, is responsible for the illness known as paralytic she ...

(TZ), or possibly a combination of the two. There were 4,450 filled and 5,315 unfilled M1s in the arsenal at the time of its destruction. M2 Separable Bullet (E2) A 7.62mm rifle cartridge with a hollow metal bullet containing dry-type

A (XR), or a simulant. The bullet would release a puff of aerosol on impact.

Anthrax Anthrax is an infection caused by the bacterium '' Bacillus anthracis'' or ''Bacillus cereus'' biovar ''anthracis''. Infection typically occurs by contact with the skin, inhalation, or intestinal absorption. Symptom onset occurs between one ...

(TR) was another possible fill. There were 71,696 filled and 14,046 unfilled M2s in the arsenal at the time of its destruction. M4 Disseminator A small gas expulsion device for disseminating a dry-type agent, such as

tularemia Tularemia, also known as rabbit fever, is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium '' Francisella tularensis''. Symptoms may include fever, skin ulcers, and enlarged lymph nodes. Occasionally, a form that results in pneumonia or a throat ...

(SR). There were 21,150 filled and 34,568 unfilled M4s in the arsenal at the time of its destruction. M5 Depositor (E44) A metal can that would expel a quantity of dry-type from the side of a road to work as an anti-convoy device from secondary aerosols (kick-up). Though intended for

anthrax Anthrax is an infection caused by the bacterium '' Bacillus anthracis'' or ''Bacillus cereus'' biovar ''anthracis''. Infection typically occurs by contact with the skin, inhalation, or intestinal absorption. Symptom onset occurs between one ...

(TR) these were only filled with simulants. There were 90 filled and 2,604 unfilled M5s in the arsenal at the time of its destruction. M32 Disperser Using a pressurized gas bottle, regulator, heater, and timer, the M32 was a man-pack weapon for pre-emplacement upwind of a target. The agent reservoir was an interchangeable compartment that held either 7 liters of wet-type or 2.75 kilograms of dry-type agent. It was intended for use with

(SR) or simulants. There were 168 filled and 348 unfilled M32s in the arsenal at the time of its destruction. Biological agents United States biological weapons program