The M43 BZ cluster bomb, or simply M43 cluster bomb, was a U.S. chemical
cluster bomb
A cluster munition is a form of air-dropped or ground-launched explosive weapon that releases or ejects smaller submunitions. Commonly, this is a cluster bomb that ejects explosive bomblets that are designed to kill personnel and destroy vehi ...
intended to deliver the incapacitating agent known as
BZ. Each bomb was capable of covering an area of with BZ agent, a useful quantity to support squad or company sized elements. Its effectiveness was hindered by limitations of the BZ agent which was easily visible and could be countered by a few layers of cloth over the nose and mouth. The M43 was produced in the early 1960s and nearly all stocks of U.S. BZ were destroyed by 1989.
History
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 ...
re-evaluated its
chemical
A chemical substance is a unique form of matter with constant chemical composition and characteristic properties. Chemical substances may take the form of a single element or chemical compounds. If two or more chemical substances can be combin ...
and
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 ...
programs in 1961.
[ This re-evaluation led to a renewed focus on an ]incapacitating agent
Incapacitating agent is a chemical or biological agent which renders a person unable to harm themselves or others, regardless of consciousness.
Lethal agents are primarily intended to kill, but incapacitating agents can also kill if administered ...
program.[ A project was established to begin producing BZ munitions; one result was the mass production of the Chemical Corps' M43 BZ cluster bomb in March 1962.][Smart, Jeffery K. ]
Medical Aspects of Chemical and Biological Warfare
'': Chapter 2 – History of Chemical and Biological Warfare: An American Perspective,
PDF
: p. 51), ''Borden Institute
The Borden Institute is a U.S. Army “Center of Excellence in Military Medical Research and Education”.
In 1987, U.S. Army Colonel Russ Zajtchuk conceived the idea for a “Center of Excellence in Military Medical Research and Education,” u ...
'', Textbooks of Military Medicine, PDF via Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base
Maxwell Air Force Base , officially known as Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base, is a United States Air Force (USAF) installation under the Air Education and Training Command (AETC). The installation is located in Montgomery, Alabama, United States. ...
, accessed December 10, 2008. Though M43s and another BZ weapon, the M44 generator cluster, were produced, they were never really considered an integral part of the U.S. chemical arsenal.[ In the end around 1,500 BZ munitions were produced between the M43 and the M44.][Davison, Neil.]
'Off the Rocker' and 'On the Floor': The Continued Development of Biochemical Incapacitating Weapons
", Bradford Science and Technology Report No. 8, Department of Peace Studies, University of Bradford
The University of Bradford is a public research university located in the city of Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. A plate glass university, it received its royal charter in 1966, making it the 40th university to be created in Britain, but ...
(UK), August 2007, p. 5, accessed December 10, 2008.
Specifications
The M43 BZ cluster bomb had a diameter and a length.[ This cluster bomb was designed to hold three stacks of 19 M138 bomblets.][ The bomblets each held about of the incapacitating agent BZ, also known as 3-Quinuclidinyl benzilate.][Mauroni, Albert J. ''Chemical Demilitarization: Public Policy Aspects'',]
Google Books
, Greenwood Publishing Group, 2003, p. 19, ().
The M43 was meant to be delivered from a subsonic aircraft
A subsonic aircraft is an aircraft with a maximum speed less than the speed of sound (Mach 1). The term technically describes an aircraft that flies below its critical Mach number, typically around Mach 0.8. All current civil aircraft, including ...
and used a standard cluster adapter which would have tail fairing added to adapt it for high speeds.[ The M43 cluster bomb was intended to cover an area of about with BZ agent, which made it useful for attacking a squad or company sized element.][ A weapon such as the M43 would have been best used against hard, high-value intelligence targets, in hostage or prisoner rescue situations, or in any other situation where friendly forces and enemy forces occupied the same area.][Kirby, Reid.]
Paradise Lost: The Psycho Agents
, ''The CBW Conventions Bulletin'', May 2006, Issue no. 71, pp. 2–3, accessed December 10, 2008.
If the M43 had been used in open terrain under neutral atmospheric stability it could have potentially incapacitated about 94% of the target with a fatality rate no greater than 2%. This would have been for a delayed (3 to 6 hour onset) and relatively long-term (1 to 5 days) neutralization.[* ]
Issues
The M43 never rose above the status of "interim weapon" due to a number of shortcomings and issues with both the agent and the delivery system.[ BZ was expensive and difficult to synthesize, and this expense made large-area use of BZ impractical.][ Agent manufacture presented its own set of problems. BZ was susceptible to accidental ignition on the production line.][ The weaponization of BZ presented other problems including the agent cloud's easy visibility, and simple counter-measures (such as a few layers of cloth over the mouth and nose) could defeat it.][ In addition, the agent's "envelope-of-action" and rate of action were of questionable effectiveness.][ Between 50% and 80% of BZ casualties had to be restrained during recovery to prevent ]self-injury
Self-harm refers to intentional behaviors that cause harm to oneself. This is most commonly regarded as direct injury of one's own skin tissues, usually without suicidal intention. Other terms such as cutting, self-abuse, self-injury, and s ...
; other common symptoms during recovery were paranoia
Paranoia is an instinct or thought process that is believed to be heavily influenced by anxiety, suspicion, or fear, often to the point of delusion and irrationality. Paranoid thinking typically includes persecutory beliefs, or beliefs of co ...
and mania
Mania, also known as manic syndrome, is a Psychiatry, psychiatric Abnormality (behavior), behavioral syndrome defined as a state of Abnormality (behavior), abnormally elevated arousal, affect (psychology), affect, and energy level. During a mani ...
.[ The combination of these issues made BZ weapons, the M43 and M44 generator cluster, unattractive to military planners.][
]
Storage and disposal programs
All BZ agent and munitions produced were shipped to and stored at Pine Bluff Arsenal in Arkansas.[ The stored BZ agent and munitions were destroyed between December 1988 and 1989,][ with nearly all of them being destroyed by mid-December 1988.][Bobrick, Michael C. "A Reasoned Response to NIMBY Opposition to Incineration of Chemical Weapon Stockpiles",]
PDF
p. 41
cache
p. 36), Thesis
A thesis (: theses), or dissertation (abbreviated diss.), is a document submitted in support of candidature for an academic degree or professional qualification presenting the author's research and findings.International Standard ISO 7144: D ...
, United States Army Judge Advocate General's School, April 1993, accessed December 10, 2008.
See also
* M33 cluster bomb
* M34 cluster bomb
References
{{U.S. chemical weapons
Chemical weapon delivery systems
Cluster munitions
Chemical weapons of the United States
Military equipment introduced in the 1960s