|
RDL Homepage |
Table of Contents |
Document Information |
Download Instructions |
Part K
NUCLEAR, BIOLOGICAL, OR CHEMICAL OPERATIONS
1. General. Nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons cause casualties, destroy or disable equipment, restrict the use of terrain, and disrupt operations. They are used separately or in combination with conventional weapons. The platoon must be able to fight on an NBC-contaminated battlefield. Soldiers must train to standard on NBC tasks IAW STP 21-1-SCMT, STP 21-24-SCMT; FM 3-100; AR 350-42; and DA Pam 350-38.
2. Operating in a Nuclear Environment. Information about possible enemy use of nuclear weapons is forwarded to company and smaller units through the chain of command by the quickest and most secure means. The communication to these units need contain only-
a. Proword. A proword signaling that the message is a nuclear strike warning.
b. Protective Action. A brief message, IAW SOP, that directs the unit either to take specific protective actions or to evacuate the area.
(1) Alarm for Nuclear Hazard. As soon as a soldier using a monitoring device detects a nuclear hazard, he should warn others. The alarm must be passed swiftly throughout the platoon.
(a) FALLOUT is the standard (shouted) alarm. It is also used when the platoon moves into an area contaminated by residual radiation.
(b) ALL CLEAR is used to signal that the danger no longer exists. This signal is first given by the company commander or a platoon leader and then repeated by each soldier when he hears it.
c. Nuclear Protective Measures. Many basic infantry skills and tasks contribute to the squad's/platoon's nuclear preparedness.
(1) A soldier protects himself against many nuclear effects by taking cover in a fighting position, culvert, or ditch, or behind a hill. In most cases, a fighting position with overhead cover provides the best protection.
(2) Soldiers react to an unexpected nuclear attack.
d. Procedures Following a Nuclear Detonation. The following actions should be taken automatically and without order right after the shock wave from a nuclear detonation passes.
(1) Leaders.
(a) Reestablish the chain of command and communication.
(b) Reestablish security and report to higher headquarters--situation reports and initial NBC 1 report.
(2) Soldiers.
(a) Check for injuries and give emergency first aid.
(b) Check radios for proper operations and reestablish communications if required.
(c) Give an immediate status report to higher.
(d) Take actions to repair fighting positions.
(e) Start continuous monitoring with radiacmeters.
(f) Continue the mission.
e. Radiological Monitoring. Radiological monitoring is the detection (presence and intensity) of residual radiation by the use of radiacmeters. Monitoring is essential down to squad level to prevent overexposure to radiation. The IM-174 or AN/VDR-2 series radiacmeters are the instruments used for area monitoring and survey. The IM-93 or DT 236 dosimeters are the instruments used to measure total dose radiation received by soldiers. The two types of monitoring techniques are periodic and continuous. Platoons will return to periodic monitoring when ordered by higher or when the radiacmeter reading falls below 1 cGy per hour.
(1) Periodic monitoring is frequent checks of the platoon area for radiation. During periodic monitoring, the platoon takes a reading with the IM-174 at least once each hour. SOPs may require more frequent readings and detailed information when monitoring.
(2) Continuous monitoring is the continuous surveillance for radiation in the unit area or position. The platoon begins monitoring when-
(a) A nuclear detonation is observed or reported.
(b) An NBC-3 nuclear report is received from higher headquarters.
(c) A dose rate of one centigray (cGy) per hour is recorded during periodic monitoring. Centigray (cGy) is a unit of absorbed dose of radiation formerly called a rad.
(d) Ordered by higher.
3. Operating in a Chemical and Biological Environment. Threat forces have both chemical and biological weapons that can be used separately, together, or with nuclear and conventional weapons. Regardless of how these weapons are used, the platoon must be able to survive to be able to continue its combat mission.
a. Characteristics of Chemical Agents. Chemical agents are used to cause casualties, degrade performance, slow maneuver, restrict terrain, and disrupt support. They can cover large areas and may be placed on a target as a vapor, liquid, or aerosol. Chemical agents can be disseminated by artillery, mortars, rockets, missiles, aircraft spray, bombs, and landmines. See Figure 2-89 for additional information on characteristics of chemical weapons.
Figure 2-89. Chemical-Agent Characteristics.
b. Characteristics of Biological Agents. Biological agents are disease-producing germs. These agents may be dispersed as aerosols by generators, explosives, bomblets, missiles, and aircraft. Harmful germs may also be spread by the release of infected insects, such as flies, mosquitos, fleas, and ticks.
c. Alarms for Chemical Hazard or Attack. Soldiers must immediately stop breathing, mask, and give vocal or visual signals when chemical agent symptoms are displayed or when the M8A1 alarm sounds.
(1) Standard alarms include the vocal signal GAS, prescribed arm-and-hand signals, automatic chemical-agent alarms, rapid and continuous beating on any metal object that produces a loud noise, a succession of short blasts on a vehicle horn or any other similar device, or a broken warbling siren sound (for example, 10 seconds on, 10 seconds off). (Figure 2-90.)
Figure 2-90. Standard Alarm Signal.
(2) The vocal ALL CLEAR signals that the danger no longer exists. It is given by leaders (company commander or platoon leader) after prescribed unmasking procedures have been completed.
d. Protective Measures in Chemical and Biological Warfare. An attack can occur without warning. Soldiers must know exactly what to do and how to do it without hesitation. Their lives depend on it.
(1) Chemical attack. A soldier's main protection against a chemical attack is his protective mask. The mask protects against inhaling chemical agents. If an attack is imminent or if chemicals have already been employed, soldiers should mask when-
(a) Chemical alarms or detection kits signal the presence of chemical agents.
(b) Any artillery, mortar, rocket, or aircraft attack with other than HE munitions occur on or near their position.
(c) Smoke or mist of an unknown source appears in the area.
(d) A chemical attack is suspected for any other reason, such as enemy soldiers seen wearing protective masks and clothing, or presence of dead animals or people with no outward sign of injury.
(e) The platoon must enter an area known to be or suspected of being contaminated by a chemical or biological agent.
(f) For no obvious reason, soldiers have any of the following symptoms:
- A runny nose.
- A feeling of choking or tightness in the chest or throat.
- Blurred vision or trouble focusing.
- Difficulty in or increased rate of breathing.
(2) Biological Attack. Information on the enemy's use of biological agents is passed from higher to lower. The best local defense against biological warfare is strict enforcement of all preventive medicine (prescribed immunizations) and field sanitation measures plus high standards of personal hygiene. Soldiers should eat and drink only from approved sources.
e. Individual Actions Before a Chemical Attack. If a platoon learns that it is subject to an imminent chemical attack or downwind vapor hazard, each soldier should take the following precautionary measures-
(1) Place the chemical-agent alarm into operation.
(2) Assume MOPP level 2, 3, or 4 (depending on the situation).
(3) Cover as much equipment as possible.
(4) Ensure decontamination equipment is accessible.
(5) Be prepared to move from the location on order.
f. Individual Actions During a Chemical Attack. Actions are IAW Battle Drill 5, Lesson 4.
g. Individual Actions After a Chemical Attack. Soldiers check for casualties, give first aid, identify the agent, send NBC-1 or NBC-4 report, request permission to move, schedule decontamination operations, and mark area to warn friendly soldiers.
h. Conditions for Unmasking. The senior person present follows these procedures-
(1) Procedures with Detector Kit. The M256 chemical agent detector kit is used to test for the presence of chemical agents. This takes about 15 minutes. If there is no evidence of agents, one or two soldiers unmask for 5 minutes, then remask. They are observed for chemical-agent symptoms for 10 minutes in a shady area. (A shady area is used because light causes contraction of the pupils, which could be interpreted as a nerve agent symptom.) If no symptoms appear, the squad/platoon contacts higher headquarters for permission to unmask. Once permission is granted, the rest of the soldiers can safely unmask.
(2) Procedures without Detector Kit. The following is an emergency field expedient when friendly elements have been masked for a long time, when there are no remaining signs of chemical agent use, and when the platoon has no detector kit. One or two soldiers are selected to hold deep breaths, break the seals of their masks, and keep their eyes wide open for 15 seconds. They then clear their masks, reseal them, and wait for 10 minutes. If symptoms do not appear after 10 minutes, the same soldiers again break their seals, take two or three breaths, and clear and reseal their masks. After another 10-minute wait, if symptoms have not developed, the same soldiers unmask for 5 minutes and then remask. After 10 more minutes, if symptoms have not appeared, the rest of the group can safely unmask once permission is granted from higher headquarters. They should all remain alert for the appearance of any chemical symptoms. This procedure takes about 35 minutes.
i. Mission-Oriented Protection Posture. Once chemical agents have been employed or while the threat of enemy chemical attack exists, the unit commander decides whether to keep the soldiers masked and in chemical-protective clothing. The MOPP level directed by the unit commander specifies what equipment to wear and what precautionary measures to use. (Figure 2-91.) There is also a mask-only category of MOPP. The mask-only command may be given if no liquid hazard or mustard agent vapor is present. These levels apply in all cases to the soldiers inside or outside vehicles. Leaders should take every opportunity to train their soldiers in all levels of MOPP using simulated NBC conditions. There is a significant loss of effectiveness caused by operation in MOPP 4. When units are using full NBC protective equipment, judgment is degraded, communications are less effective, and information flow is reduced.
Figure 2-91. MOPP Levels and Protective Equipment.
GO TO:
Lesson 2 Part L
Table of Contents
