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LESSON 4
RIOT CONTROL AGENT DISPERSER
| Critical Tasks: | 191-376-4119 |
OVERVIEW
LESSON DESCRIPTION:
In this lesson you will learn how agents are dispersed and required equipment maintenance.
TERMINAL LEARNING OBJECTIVE:
| ACTION: | Maintain and operate riot control agent dispersers. |
| CONDITION: | You will have this subcourse, paper and pencil. |
| STANDARD: | To demonstrate competency of this task, you must achieve a minimum score of 70 percent on the subcourse examination. |
| REFERENCES: | The material contained in this lesson was derived from the following publications: FM 19-15, TM 3-1040-212-13 and TM 3-1385-204-12. |
INTRODUCTION
Crowd control agents provide us a distinct advantage in controlling civil disturbances and gives us a humane and effective method of dispersing dissidents. Crowd control agents have many advantages over other types of force. They have an immediate effect on large groups of people without causing any permanent harm. When conditions are favorable, these agents, properly used, will disperse large mobs without the control forces actually making contact with the dissidents. To properly use crowd control agents, it is vital that you have a thorough understanding of their capabilities, potential hazards, and methods of use. You must also be able to properly operate the special items of equipment needed to disperse crowd control agents during a confrontation.
1. Crowd Control Agents.
a. CS. This agent is the current standard crowd control agent. Its application produces an extreme burning sensation of the eyes, an abundant flow of tears, an involuntary closing of the eyes, a stinging sensation on moist areas of the body, and other discomforting physiological symptoms. It may cause nausea and mild vomiting if received in heavy concentrations (such as within a closed room), but no permanent injury will result from the use of CS.
WARNING: BE AWARE THAT FIRES MAY START WHEN USING CS. REFER TO FM 9-13, AMMUNITION HANDBOOK FOR SPECIFIC INFORMATION.
b. Smoke pots. For producing large smoke clouds, a 33-pound HC smoke pot is available. It will burn 12 to 22 minutes, and under average wind conditions, will have maximum downwind range of 500 meters. Smoke munitions may be used during confrontation control operations for signaling, determining wind direction, expanding the crowd control agent cloud, and masking the movement of troops. The most common smoke-producing agent is HC (white smoke), although a variety of other colors are available. White smoke is particularly effective in that dissidents may perceive the smoke as CS and disperse without the actual use of CS.
2. Methods of Disseminating Crowd Control Agents.
a. M203 grenade launcher. Using the CS round for the M203 grenade launcher, CS agent can be accurately used against a point target at a range of 200-400 meters. Caution should be used not to fire the round directly at a person as injury from the projectile is possible. The M47 CS round may also be hand dispersed at a less effective range.
b. Disperser, riot control agent, portable: M33A1. To distribute large quantities of a riot control agent, the M33A1 "backpack" disperser may be used. This disperser holds 8 pounds of dry riot control agent, CS. An M33A1 team takes approximately 40 hours of training to be fully trained.
c. Mounted disperser, M5. Even larger amounts of crowd control agents can be distributed by the helicopter or vehicle-mounted M5 disperser. This disperser weighs 225 pounds when operational and can disperse 49 pounds of micropulverized CS in a continuous burst or intermittent burst as desired.
3. Principal Factors that will Govern the Employment of Crowd Control Agents.
To determine whether crowd control agents may be used effectively and how they can best be dispersed, many factors must be considered.
a. Effect of weather and terrain. After the crowd control agent has been released into the atmosphere, the agent cloud will rise and drift downwind in a manner entirely dependent upon existing weather and terrain.
(1) Vertical rise. Agent clouds, which are a suspension of particles in the air, are initially warmer than air and tend to rise rapidly. As these particles cool, they will subsequently settle back to earth.
(2) Lateral spread. Agent clouds will be blown from side to side by shifting air currents. As a general rule, lateral spread is equal to about 15 to 20 percent of the distance traveled.
(3) Obstacles. Agent clouds will be disrupted by terrain obstacles, such as trees and buildings, and their effectiveness reduced. As a general rule, an obstacle will disrupt an agent cloud for a downwind distance of 30 times the height of the obstacle.
(4) Favorable conditions. The downwind travel of agent clouds will be favorably affected by the conditions listed below. The reverse of these conditions will, of course, adversely influence the performance of the agent cloud.
(a) Steady wind direction.
(b) Moderate wind velocity (less than 10 mph).
(c) High relative humidity.
(d) Ground temperature colder than air temperature.
(e) Minimal obstacles, such as open areas, little vegetation, and no buildings.
b. Operational Objective. The manner of using crowd control agents will vary with the operational objective being pursued. By varying the amount and method of use, different effects can be produced on the crowd or mob.
(1) Dispersal. The most common usage of crowd control agents is to motivate hostile crowds to leave the area. CS, applied in sufficient quantities by either grenades or dispersers, is usually highly effective. Caution must be used and escape routes must be made available.
(2) Splitting a Crowd. When it becomes necessary to split a crowd, CS may be applied so as to produce a narrow cloud through the center of the crowd. This will split the crowd for the duration of the agent cloud's effectiveness.
(3) Deny Access to Area. When conditions warrant, access to an area may be denied by applying micropulverized CS. The persistency of the agent, when mixed with the surrounding earth, vegetation, or other material, will discourage the approach of unprotected personnel for the period of the agent's effectiveness.
(4) Anti-barricade Operations. Where persons, such as snipers or other armed and dangerous persons, are barricaded within buildings, crowd control agents may be invaluable in effecting their apprehension with minimum danger to the control force and bystanders. When arrest teams are in position, M47 grenades may be applied, first in the surrounding area, then within the barricaded room itself.
c. Motivation of Dissidents. A thorough application of CS should be sufficient to convince most persons to cease and desist their disorderly conduct. However, disorders have involved dissidents that are young, healthy, and most importantly, fanatically motivated. Such dissidents have frequently been able to withstand repeated dosages of crowd control agents, withdrawing from the agent cloud and returning once the cloud dissipates. In such cases, application of crowd control agents alone is obviously not sufficient to subdue the disorder; they must be followed by other measures such as selective or mass arrests.
4. Training.
Training of troops for use of crowd control agents should include, but not be limited to, the following:
a. Individual Training.
(1) Policy on the employment of crowd control agents.
(2) Characteristics of crowd control agents.
(3) Individual protection, first aid, and decontamination.
(4) Maintenance of crowd control agent munitions and equipment.
b. Unit Training.
(1) Crowd control agent squad organization.
(2) Tactical employment of crowd control agents in crowd control.
5. Operation and Employment of Crowd Control Agent Dispersers.
a. General. The following provides data and guidance for commanders, staff officers, and all personnel concerned with the utilization of crowd control agent dispersers in the control and suppression of disorders. It covers concepts and techniques for use of the crowd control agent dispersers and provides guidance for the training of operating personnel.
b. Concept of Employment. The crowd control agent dispersers were developed to provide commanders with a capability for distributing crowd control agents in sufficient quantities to provide effective area coverage under a variety of situations and weather conditions. They are not designed for the direct introduction of a crowd control agent into barricaded buildings. Care must also be exercised in their use in confined areas and against target areas with restricted avenues of escape. Normal usage envisions transport of these dispersers by persons, by 1/4-ton or larger vehicles, or by helicopters. When transported by the ground, by individual or by vehicle, the dispersers may be directly integrated into crowd control troop formations or may be operated from a position in direct support of confrontation control operations. Dispersers mounted in helicopters are used in close conjunction with the control troops and in direct implementation of the immediate plan of operations. The exact location of the aircraft, with respect to troop formation, at the time of release of crowd control agents will be determined by current wind direction and speed, and in some instances by such physical obstacles as may place a restriction on the movements or positioning of the aircraft.
c. Personnel.
(1) Although it is desirable that all unit personnel should have a knowledge of the operation and employment capabilities of the crowd control agent dispersers, main reliance in this respect must be placed on specially selected and trained persons. Such personnel should be chosen for initiative, ability to learn, and proven calmness when faced with large numbers of agitated people.
(2) Persons named as disperser operators and/or as team members should be well-qualified in their primary MOS as members of the military police or other units authorized as dispersers, and thoroughly trained in civil disturbance operations. Preferably they should have received special training in the use of crowd control agents.
d. To ensure equipment is operational when it is needed, preventive maintenance and service must be performed. See Appendix A for the preventive maintenance checklist for the M33A1 and use of the M36 disperser.
6. Authority and Limitations on the Use of Crowd Control Agents.
Experience and common sense have dictated some rules for the effective use of crowd control agents. These rules, while not absolute, should be duly considered before using crowd control agents.
a. Limitations.
(1) Do not use around hospitals or other places where innocent persons may be affected.
(2) Do not use around highways where drivers may be affected.
(3) Do not use where fires may start or asphyxiation may occur.
(4) Do not use where control forces may be unprepared and adversely affected.
(5) Do not use prior to coordinating with all agencies in the affected area.
(6) Do not use where a change in wind would cause harm or hamper control operations.
(7) Do not use where inadequate quantities of agents are available and its use would be indecisive yet increase hostilities.
(8) Do not expose crowd control dispersers to the crowd without adequate protection of accompanying control forces.
b. Authority to Use Crowd Control Agents. The criteria for authority to use crowd control agents will vary between police agencies. For crowd control agents to be used effectively, agents must be readily available and the police officer on the scene must have the authority to use them. Every law enforcement agency should outline the authority to use crowd control agents.
Practice Exercise
