White phosphorus in World War II. Phosphorus bombs - poisonous smoke, high temperature. How phosphorus munitions affect people

In early September 2018, the Russian Ministry of Defense issued a statement that US Air Force planes bombed the village of Hajin in the Syrian province of Deir ez-Zor on September 8. It was reported that the raid involved two F-15 fighter-bomber, which used ammunition with white phosphorus. It is worth noting that white phosphorus ammunition, also known as Willie Pete (acronym for white phosphorus), is prohibited by the 1977 Additional Protocol to the 1949 Geneva Convention - it is prohibited to use them in cases where civilians could be put in danger. According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, the use of such ammunition led to severe fires.

The US Department of Defense has denied this statement by its Russian colleagues. Pentagon spokesman Sean Robertson noted that military units in the area do not have such ammunition. However, as the experience of the last few decades shows, the armed forces of the United States and its allies use phosphorus munitions with enviable regularity in military conflicts. Earlier in June, the coalition circulated a statement calling its US-led military action “justified,” and that phosphorus munitions were used only for camouflage, smoke screens and tagging.

It is worth noting that the United States and Israel did not sign the Additional Protocols to the 1949 Geneva Convention for the Protection of War Victims in 1977. So in the 21st century, the strongest army in the world is in no hurry to part with such things. The Pentagon insists that white phosphorus belongs to the class of conventional weapons, and not to chemical weapons. And this is really so, this substance does not fall under the Convention on the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and the United States is not going to abandon a proven remedy, with more than a century of use in recent wars. By refusing to sign the Supplementary Agreements to the 1949 Geneva Convention for the Protection of War Victims, the United States probably foresaw the specifics of future armed conflicts, in which it will often be difficult to distinguish military from peaceful ones. During the same conflict in Syria, terrorists very often hide behind the population as a human shield, placing observation and command posts, firing positions directly in residential buildings, in residential high-rise buildings.

Phosphorus ammunition is a type of incendiary ammunition filled with white phosphorus or incendiary substances based on it, mixed with other substances belonging to the group of self-igniting incendiary substances that burn using oxygen in the air. There are different types of phosphorus ammunition, among which the most common are artillery shells, mortar mines, aerial bombs, as well as rockets and rockets and even hand grenades. Also quite often white phosphorus was used to create improvised mine explosive devices.

The use of white phosphorus for military purposes has more than a century of history. It was first used back in the 19th century by fighters for Irish independence against British troops. But the truly massive use of such ammunition became only during the First World War, when the parties to the conflict used hand grenades, shells and aerial bombs equipped with phosphorus. Incendiary bullets filled with white phosphorus were also actively used. They were mainly used for firing at air targets. And in 1916, the British military received incendiary grenades equipped with white phosphorus at their disposal.

The new weapons, which appeared on the battlefield in sufficient quantities, effectively hit the infantry, located not only in open areas, but also hiding in trenches, concrete fortifications, dugouts, literally burning to the ground not only enemy fortifications, but entire settlements. Against the background of the already existing incendiary substances of that time, white phosphorus stood out favorably not only for its special destructive power, but also for the fact that its use produced a strong demoralizing effect on the enemy - many soldiers did not know what it was and how it could be countered.

The combustion temperature of incendiary ammunition with a charge of white phosphorus and a combustible substance is 800-900 degrees Celsius. The combustion process is accompanied by an abundant release of acrid and thick white smoke, continuing until the access of oxygen is blocked or all the phosphorus is burned out. Such ammunition is good at hitting openly located manpower and equipment, and also lead to the emergence of numerous fires and separate fires, which divert forces and means to extinguish and cause additional material damage to the enemy, limit visibility on the battlefield and make it difficult to move. An additional damaging factor is the poisonous and asphyxiant gases formed in the foci of white phosphorus fire. It is incredibly difficult to extinguish white phosphorus - the flame resists water very well, being able to burn even under water.

Test explosion of a phosphorus aerial bomb over the USS Alabama in 1921

When in contact with the skin, phosphorus causes severe burns, up to burning tissue to the bone, such wounds are very painful for a person and can often be fatal. If the burning mixture is inhaled, the lungs can burn out. For the treatment of such wounds, well-trained medical personnel are needed, who, when working with victims, can themselves receive phosphorus wounds. The use of phosphorus ammunition has a demoralizing and psychological effect on the enemy.

During World War II, the use of white phosphorus continued. So the ammunition of the American medium tanks "Sherman" included smoke shells containing this substance. The versatility of the use of these ammunition is clearly demonstrated in the feature film "Rage". Also, white phosphorus was actively used as one of the options for filling incendiary bombs. So the Luftwaffe was armed with a 185-kg Brand C 250A aerial bomb, equipped with 65 kg of white phosphorus.

Subsequently, ammunition with white phosphorus was used by the Americans during the war in Korea, in Vietnam, during the war in Iraq. For example, in 2004, the US Air Force actively used white phosphorus bombs to break the resistance of the rebellious Iraqi city of Fallujah. Then video footage of characteristic milky-white explosions in residential urban areas and photographs of terrible burns received by local residents got into the media. Ultimately, Pentagon spokesman Lt. Col. Barry Vinable had to admit the use of such ammunition. According to him, white phosphorus is used as an incendiary weapon, but only against militants.

At the same time, in some cases, ammunition with white phosphorus is used by the American military both as a deterrent and psychological influence in order to smoke opponents out of hiding. Barry Vinable explained that the combined effect of explosions of fire and smoke has a terrifying effect on enemy soldiers, forcing them to leave their shelters in panic, finding themselves in the zone of destruction of various weapons. The Americans acted in a similar way in Syria, for example, during the massive bombing of the city of Raqqa in 2017, which was almost completely destroyed during air strikes. Then the fact of the use of phosphorus ammunition was confirmed by the specialists of the organization Human Rights Watch, noting the illegal actions of the American military. But the United States, however, is clearly not going to give up such weapons.

A-1E attack aircraft drops a phosphorus bomb during the Vietnam War, 1966

“Firstly, it is necessary to understand that incendiary weapons are extremely effective, versatile and can fight practically all types of ground targets,” Professor of the Academy of Military Sciences told RIA “” journalists. - And the Americans are extremely reluctant to give up effective weapons. Secondly, it is very expensive and difficult to dispose of old ammunition with white phosphorus with an expired shelf life - it is easier to “dispose of” them in some city in the desert. Third, the United States continues to develop incendiary weapons for the wars of the future. Their use of phosphorus bombs is, in fact, only field tests. The US military is looking at how to use such ammunition, how to modify and enhance them, how effective they are. They demonstrate a purely practical approach: you can invest hundreds of billions of dollars in new and promising military technologies, or you can invest a million in weapons that have already been well tested and worked out in practice, significantly increasing their destructive power. "

Sergei Sudakov recalled that the United States is in no hurry to dispose of its arsenals of chemical warfare agents. The United States plans to complete the disposal of chemical weapons only by 2023, while Russia completed the disposal of chemical weapons arsenals inherited from the USSR in September 2017. Meanwhile, about 10 percent of the available chemical weapons remain unused in the United States. According to Sudakov, the Americans can form a base of prohibited ammunition - a kind of reserve that can be used in a "big war" to gain an advantage over an enemy who has given up such weapons. At the same time, the Americans are setting a bad example for their allies, who are also using prohibited weapons. Over the years, ammunition with white phosphorus in the Middle East was used by Israel and the UK.

Sources of information:
https://ria.ru/defense_safety/20180910/1528225165.html
https://www.izh.kp.ru/daily/26243.3/3124150
https://lenta.ru/articles/2005/11/16/white
Materials from open sources

Since the beginning of 1942, Soviet aviation stopped using phosphorus ammunition for some time, but this did not affect the development and implementation of other ideas for using phosphorus for military purposes. All parties involved in the war, one way or another, used phosphorus-containing mixtures and compositions, using such properties of this element as the ability to ignite and form thick white poisonous smoke, less often - the brightness of the flame and its good visibility. During the Second World War in different countries Dozens of compositions and mixtures for various purposes containing phosphorus have been created. There are hundreds of all kinds of evidence of the use of such ammunition. However, as mentioned earlier, most of the uses of white phosphorus in World War II involved formulations where it was only one component. Therefore, further we will restrict the concept of "phosphorus" and will consider as such only those ammunition, compositions and mixtures where the content of this element was more than five percent. Only Soviet aviation (and, possibly, Japanese) used granular white phosphorus "in its pure form" (and this is somewhat arbitrary, since the phosphorus itself, refueled in VAPs, contained up to 30 percent of various additives).

In the winter of 42-43, some Soviet partisans used a special composition called "partisan soap". It really looked like laundry soap, although it contained up to 30% white phosphorus. And in the event of a search by German soldiers or policemen, it was even possible to slightly soap the bar, showing that there is nothing dangerous in it.

The idea of \u200b\u200bthis composition arose, most likely, due to the fact that since the First World War, white phosphorus itself, as a rule, was used not in pure form, but with the addition of so-called plasticizers - special additives that provide phosphorus not only with the necessary plastic properties but, more importantly, the ability to burn evenly and fairly slowly. In the Entente countries, for this they used most often natural rubber, which was considered the most suitable for this purpose, in Germany - various synthetic compounds obtained from coal tar. Often, in addition to plasticizers, phosphorus was mixed with sulfur. Because of these additives, at that time the name "yellow phosphorus" was even widespread, which was usually called white phosphorus mixed with various additives (it was "yellow phosphorus" that was used to start various incendiary phosphorus ammunition - bullets, shells, grenades). Ammunition with yellow phosphorus did not require harsh storage conditions and could be used more massively. In the Soviet Union, various substances were used as plasticizers for granular white phosphorus - dibutyl phthalate, petroleum jelly, wax, artificial rubbers. With too many plasticizers, the ability of phosphorus to ignite spontaneously in air was sharply reduced (especially in cold weather). However, when heated, such a mixture nevertheless ignited. It is this property that was used in the "partisan soap". For example, it could be hidden unnoticed in the axle box of a steam locomotive, or even better, in a carriage with ammunition. The main thing is that the fire occurred already during the movement of the train ...

Of course, "partisan soap" was extremely dangerous, primarily because of the toxic properties of phosphorus. And it should have been applied within 24 hours after extraction from a special package.

It should also be added that the invention of the "partisan soap" is usually attributed to Anatoly Trofimovich Kachugin, under whose leadership the recipes for many incendiary drugs were also developed, including "Molotov cocktails" and "KS" liquids.

The use of phosphorus incendiary bombs by the German aircraft, as already mentioned, was limited by the complex technical requirements for their storage and transportation. In front-line conditions against ground targets, this was often simply impossible. On the other hand, the naval aviation used them, albeit infrequently, mainly for operations against the transport ships of sea convoys.

Moreover, most of the incendiary bombs used for this (B-1 E, B-2 EZ, B-4, B-10) were nevertheless thermite. But two types of bombs in service with the Luftwaffe — the 41-kilogram S-50 and the 185-kilogram S-250 — used liquid incendiary mixtures. And if in one of the variants of the S-50 equipment a small amount of white phosphorus was contained in the ignition ampoule, then the S-250 A modification can be called a phosphoric ammunition - it was filled with a mixture including a phosphorus solution in carbon disulfide. It was developed in the fall of 1942. It was necessary to prepare such a bomb for use just before departure, since the mixture was extremely active and corroded the hull during prolonged storage. Finding reliable information about these weapons is a task for future generations of military historians. It is only known that such bombs were used during massive raids on Arctic convoys. There is practically no exact information about this in German sources. And quite frequent references in English-language memoirs are very unreliable. For example, when thermite bombs were poured from cannons, a large amount of thick, acrid white smoke was formed, which was often considered to be evidence of phosphorus content. In fact, smoke was formed due to the evaporation and decomposition of organic fillers that were mixed into thermite mixtures (usually naphthalene, rubber, dibutyl phthalate). And the brightness of combustion (also characteristic of white phosphorus) was explained by the presence of magnesium in such mixtures.

There are unreliable data on the use of C-250 A bombs by German aviation in April 1942 during the raids on Murmansk, where most of ships from allied convoys. During this time, the heroic city was constantly subjected to fierce bombing. There were severe fires in the city, sometimes destroying entire neighborhoods. However, if phosphorus bombs were actually used there, then most likely they were originally intended for ships, but for one reason or another they were dropped on residential areas (it was forbidden to return to the airfield with such a bomb). As mentioned, thermite bombs are considered more effective for destroying cities.

At the same time, there is more reliable information about the use of white phosphorus by Soviet attack aircraft operating against ships that supplied German and Romanian troops cut off from the main forces on the Taman Peninsula. Since January 1943, sea communications between the Kerch and Taman peninsulas have acquired decisive importance. Due to the short distance, the Germans sometimes managed to conduct up to 3 convoys per day. Accordingly, the activity of Soviet aviation increased, raids were made continuously, throughout the entire short route between ports. However, patrol ships, fast landing barges (BDB) of the F type, self-propelled ferries of the Siebel type, and other German small-tonnage transports were perfectly equipped with air defense weapons. In addition, they had good maneuverability, and during air raids they grouped together, forming a dense curtain of fire. The transports covered significant forces of fighters from the air. The Pe-2 and A-20 bombers (Boston), as well as the Il-2 attack aircraft, suffered heavy losses, the effectiveness of their strikes was low, especially at the beginning of 1943. Perhaps that is why the Soviet command decided to use phosphorus here again. The book by V. Perov and O. Rastrenin "Flying Tank" provides an example of one such attack with the use of VAP-250 air dispensers.

“At 6.35 on August 10, aerial reconnaissance by radio reported that in the area of \u200b\u200bPanagia - Cape Zhelezny Horn, 8 enemy airborne bombers with cargo and manpower were found, going to Anapa in a two-kilometer convoy guarded by four SKA at the head of the convoy. To strike the convoy, 7 Il-2 of the 8th Gshap ( presenter Vartanyan) under the cover of 10 Yak-1 9th IAP (leading to Mr. Azarov). At 7.55 in the area of \u200b\u200bthe lake. From a height of 900 m, attack aircraft attacked the BDB (coordinates 45 ° N and 36 ° 38 "E) from a steep glide at an angle of 25-30 °. Both attacks were carried out at an angle of 80-90 ° to the course of the ships.After the attack, the attack aircraft made a turn "all of a sudden" and attacked the convoy from the left side from a height of 25-50 m. BDB were hit by bombs FAB-50, AO-25, ROFS-132, RS-82, machine-gun and cannon fire and granular phosphorus. During the strike, the enemy convoy maneuvered, changing course and course, rebuilding in a checkerboard order. On the retreat from the target, the group was attacked by 4 Bf 109 and 21 Fw 190, but good control and interaction of attack aircraft with cover fighters in battle ensured the group from losses.

Similarly, Soviet naval aviation also used granular white phosphorus in the Baltic at the very end of the war, attacking transports evacuating german troops from Courland.

During the landing in Normandy, German fortifications were fired at by ship shells, as well as mines from 81-mm mortars, stuffed with a phosphorus-containing mixture. It is known that the fires caused by such ammunition caused severe panic, but detailed information about this could not be found.

The ability of phosphorus to form thick white smoke turned out to be in demand in smoke ammunition. Moreover, in the documents of the Allies during the Second World War, white phosphorus is much more often mentioned in this role than as an incendiary weapon. It was used especially on a large scale in maritime theaters. In this case, as a rule, the term "white phosphorus" is used, although in reality these were complex compositions containing no more than 20% of this element. Some of them were like "partisan soap", but most of them belonged to the category of so-called "liquid smoke". In its pure form, phosphorus drowns in water, and “liquid smoke” spreads out as an oily film. The phosphorus dissolved in it, obviously, was not enough for spontaneous combustion, since most of such ammunition had ignition devices.

In the report of the American Admiral Henry Hewitt, who commanded the naval forces during the landing in Sicily, there is such an example: “... Of particular note is the use of smoke screens during the landing in the Joss area early in the morning on D-day. Destroyer Wolsey deployed a highly effective smoke screen on the left flank of one of the sectors using 127mm white phosphorus shells. They completely covered the bridgehead and landing barges from enemy batteries firing from Likata ... "

Another example of this use of white phosphorus is sometimes cited as a chemical modification of the American M-8 aircraft missile. They were used quite often, and, according to American sources, "exclusively" for setting up smoke screens. The warhead of such a 114.3-mm rocket fueled with about two kilograms of a mixture containing dissolved phosphorus - the so-called "FS liquid smoke". Due to a number of technical difficulties, aviation could not use these missiles, so they were launched from ground installations.

Until now, a lot of controversy among military historians is caused by the use of a special incendiary bomb by the allies called "Red Blob" ("Red drop"). American sources, as a rule, emphasize its "signal" purpose. High-speed aircraft dropped it in order to mark the location of targets for large four-engined bombers. Against the black or dark gray background of darkened German cities, the place where the bomb fell was clearly visible thanks to the bright red flame (hence the name). In the open area, the "red drop" covered several tens of square meters with fire. The burning of its products could be sustained for at least half an hour. When it hit the building, its effectiveness exceeded that of thermite bombs - the building was completely destroyed. German memoirs often emphasize the special cruelty of the Allies towards the civilian population in connection with the use of these particular bombs. At the same time, on both sides the term "white phosphorus" is often (if not stubbornly) used, although it does not actually burn with a red flame. However, this bomb can still be called phosphorus, and if it was defeated for people, the consequences should really have been terrible: it was equipped with a liquid mixture, including not only conventional thickeners, but also phosphorus dissolved in carbon disulfide and benzene. The use of phosphorus in this case was explained (by the Americans) by the need to make the work of fire brigades as difficult as possible, which immediately went to the place where the "red drops" fell.

Another similar bomb, "Pink Pansy" ("Pink pansy" - its flame looked like a pink flower from the cockpit), contrary to some evidence, did not contain phosphorus.

Of course, this is an incomplete overview of all the uses of phosphorus in World War II. Surely there were much more of them, and primarily in the Far Eastern and Pacific theaters of military operations. In general, most of the legends about the use of phosphorus are concentrated there and are associated with the Japanese. But this already requires a separate study. We will only mention one such invention. Mentions about him are repeatedly found in the testimonies of combatants.

At the final stage of the war, the Japanese widely used anti-aircraft shells with a composition containing phosphorus. The thick white clouds formed by it in the air presented a serious difficulty for the maneuvers of American dive bombers. And it's not just about limiting visibility. Smoke components drawn in through the Helldivers' air intakes could damage the engine.

In Peter Smith's book "Dive bombers", describing the attack on the Yamato in April 1945, there is the following passage: "... At about 12.50 pm Hornet aircraft attacked the Japanese, followed by Essex aircraft. The first to attack were the dive bombers, who began their dive at 6,200 feet. They tracked the Yamato with radar. About 30 seconds before the start, the Yamato turned to starboard towards the attackers.

The Japanese were firing hot fire with all their guns. The explosions of heavy projectiles were usually black, but about one tenth of the projectiles produced white phosphorus smoke. The pilots saw several dirty yellow clouds, someone almost collided with glowing red balls about an inch in diameter. During the attack, the Japanese ships were able to maintain formation, remaining in place even after being hit. The shooting was conducted only at attacking aircraft, and not at those who were leaving or preparing to attack ... "

Unfortunately, there is no exact data on the composition of the mixture used in these shells in English-language sources, so this question awaits the participation of specialists who can work with Japanese sources. The topic of the use of phosphorus ammunition by the Japanese (including against civilians) is quite extensive, and it is still waiting for its discoverers.

Bandera fired at Lugansk, Slavyansk (and further to choose from) with PHOSPHORIC BOMBS. Slavyansk, Lugansk BOMBED with phosphorus mines. That is, they SHOOT with phosphorus bombs and BOMB with mines. Well, there's nothing you can do about it - what kind of education are the leaders. Recently, in general, the marines were practicing landing on an unprepared room during maneuvers.
A lot of stupid articles appeared on the Internet.

In this article, the combustion temperature of a phosphorus bomb is increased by exactly two and a half times.

This is not Ukraine, but the style of illiterate presentation of the material is the same - they fired from a mortar not a mine, but a shell, and a phosphorus bomb flew to the target.

And this is the height of idiocy - I will tell you the device of the phosphorus bomb and ... uploads a photo of THERMAL.
In all other articles, they stupidly rewrite each other about a bomb stuffed with WHITE PHOSPHORUS. Why white and not red, yellow or just plasticized?
Perhaps this is all happening because phosphorus bombs do not exist. Or rather, not quite so. Any napalm incendiary bomb contains phosphorus. He then sets fire to napalm. But I have not heard about phosphorus bombs. I have not heard in the sense that no one has provided me with a photo with the inscription phosphoric bomb produced in such a country has such an index, has been produced or is being produced at the present time. If anyone has such information, then write - we will rewrite the article.

What phosphorus ammunition do I know

Of course, there are artillery shells and mortar mines filled with phosphorus. Specifically, a mine for one hundred and twenty millimeter mortar TR-Z-843A of the forty-third model was equipped with thirty-six thermal elements pressed into YELLOW phosphorus. In the future, mines began to be equipped with a mixture of phosphorus and a synthetic substance resembling rubber. When the expelling charge bursts, this mixture is crushed into large burning pieces, which can be seen in photographs and video frames of which there are so many on the Internet now.
The same thing happens with the projectile filled with phosphorus - the picture shows that the burning elements seem to continue to fly along the trajectory of the projectile or mine. In a phosphorus bomb, the burning elements would have to fall vertically.
The explosive charge of a phosphorus mine is very small, so the shank remains intact.
There is also an incendiary warhead for hail system Officially, it is designated - 9Н510.
As you can see, there are hexagonal cups made of ELECTRON alloy - ninety percent magnesium and ten percent aluminum. An incendiary mixture of a complex composition is pressed into each glass. The composition was designated - MS-87M
As you can see, the composition is quite complex, but again not a word about white phosphorus. There were one hundred and eighty incendiary elements in total. They scattered over an area of \u200b\u200babout eighty by eighty meters, which gave an area of \u200b\u200bdestruction of six thousand four hundred square meters. The total weight of the elements was about six kilograms. The burning time of the element is two, three minutes.
Can anyone provide the same data (with photos and indexes) about our phosphorus bombs? And there could not be others in Ukraine.

Phosphorus as an incendiary substance

Against the background of phosphorus hysteria, such terrible photos of victims of phosphorus bombs began to be posted on the Internet. Although, judging by the absence of smoke and the height of the flame, this man was not even set on fire with napalm, but doused with something like acetone or a solvent based on it.
Phosphorus burns with the release of a huge amount of white smoke, the fire is often not visible at all. The combustion temperature is just over nine hundred degrees.
Phosphorus itself is very poisonous and at the same time is a poisonous substance. Simply breathing air in the area of \u200b\u200bapplication of phosphorus munitions can cause pulmonary edema with a fatal outcome.
Well, a little technical digression, or why

Phosphorus bombs are not loaded with white phosphorus

The fact is that white (really white as snow washed by Ariel) can only be obtained in the laboratory. Mythical bombs, as well as mines and shells, are stuffed with technical or YELLOW phosphorus.
The top photo shows what is obtained in the laboratory. On the bottom, there is what is stuffed with phosphorus bombs, mines and shells.

What happened in Ukraine?

In the title of the article, a photograph of an ancient plane dropped a bomb. Judging by the explosion, phosphoric. But that was a long time ago and far from Ukraine.
But judging by these photographs, an aerial explosion of a phosphorus mortar mine is clearly visible. Large burning lumps are visible, characteristic of plasticized phosphorus. In the bottom photo, you can even count that there were six mortars.
The liners from phosphorus mines scattered throughout the territory also leave no doubt about which ammunition was used.

I found a video on the Internet with which a photo was taken for the intro of the article. The bomb there is stuffed with ordinary napalm. And a lot of white smoke gives a phosphorus fuse, which ignites napalm.

The phosphorus bombs and white phosphorus hysteria continues

Quite a long time has passed since the first use of phosphorus mines in Slavyansk, Lugansk and Donetsk. Everyone had time to study the problem deeply enough. But the main thing is not true, the main thing is to raise a hysterical wave about white phosphorus. Oddly enough, this plays into the hands of the Bandera supporters.
Here is another illiterate statement about the use of phosphorus bombs.
But the Bandera members refute the previous statement. And they speak the pure truth, because they don't have phosphorus bombs. As for the phosphorus mortar mines, they were not charged with such a charge. Therefore, any accusation must be legally accurate and technically sound.

In the second half of the 20th century, the main type of phosphorus ammunition is ammunition filled with plasticized white phosphorus (with the addition of synthetic rubber), which eventually replace ammunition filled with white phosphorus.

In addition, white phosphorus can be used as an igniter or an incendiary amplifier in ammunition with a combined charge of phosphorus and other incendiary substances or fuel (as an example, the US napalm incendiary bombs used during the Vietnam War, certain types of bombs contained up to 30% white phosphorus).

White phosphorus self-ignites at temperatures of 34 - 40 ° C, so phosphorus ammunition is demanding in terms of storage conditions.

Act

When burning, white phosphorus develops temperatures up to 1300 ° C. The combustion temperature of phosphorus ammunition depends on a number of conditions (the type of ammunition used, temperature and humidity, etc.) and is 900-1200 ° C. The combustion temperature of incendiary ammunition with a charge of white phosphorus and a combustible substance is 800-900 ° C. Combustion is accompanied by an abundant release of thick, acrid white smoke and continues until all the phosphorus is burned out, or until the supply of oxygen stops.

Phosphorus munitions inflict damage on openly located and sheltered manpower and disable equipment and weapons. The use of phosphorus ammunition also leads to the occurrence of fires and individual fires, which divert forces and means to extinguish them, cause additional material damage, impede movement, limit visibility, while the suffocating and poisonous gases generated in the fires become an additional damaging factor.

Burning white phosphorus causes severe burns when it comes into contact with human skin.

White phosphorus is poisonous, the lethal dose for humans is 0.05-0.15 grams. White phosphorus dissolves well in body fluids and is rapidly absorbed when ingested (red phosphorus is insoluble and therefore relatively low in toxicity).

Acute poisoning occurs when inhalation of white phosphorus vapors and (or) when they enter the gastrointestinal tract. Poisoning is characterized by abdominal pain, vomiting, vomit glowing in the dark, emitting the smell of garlic, diarrhea. Heart failure is another symptom of acute white phosphorus poisoning.

The use of phosphorus ammunition has a demoralizing psychological effect.

International agreements governing the use of phosphorus munitions

Development, testing, transportation, trade, use and disposal of phosphorus ammunition are carried out taking into account a number of international agreements and treaties, including:

At the international level, attempts to limit the use of chemical and incendiary weapons in wars and military conflicts were made at the turn of the 1920s-1930s during the League of Nations conference on arms reduction and limitation. The intention was recorded in the text of the conference resolution, developed on July 9, 1932 and adopted on July 23, 1932. However, the complication of the international situation in the mid-1930s caused the termination of the conference in January 1936.

Combat use

Phosphorous ammunition (including rockets, hand grenades, artillery shells and aerial bombs) was used during the First World War.

Phosphorus ammunition (including artillery shells and aerial bombs) was used during the Second World War. So, the Luftwaffe was armed with a 185-kg aerial bomb Brand C 250 A, equipped with 65 kg of white phosphorus.

In the summer of 1940, the British Army began production of "glass incendiary grenades", which were used as hand grenades or for firing from the Northover Projector grenade launchers, in 1943 the production of "No. 77, W.P. Mk. 1" hand grenades began.

In July-August 2006, during the Second Lebanese War, the Israeli army used phosphorus ammunition (in particular, artillery shells and white phosphorus bombs) across Lebanon. Subsequently, Israel denied the use of ball bombs and phosphorus munitions - until their use was proven by UNIFIL military experts. Lebanese President Emil Lahoud issued a statement that civilians were injured as a result of the use of phosphorus shells by the Israelis. After that, a representative of the Government of Israel made a statement that phosphorus shells were used "only on military targets." Knesset Liaison Minister Yaakov Edri said Israel's use of phosphorus munitions is not a violation of international law, since Israel and the United States did not sign the Third Protocol of the 1983 Geneva Convention.

In 2016, US forces used white phosphorus munitions in operations against the Islamic State in Iraq to create curtains and signal signals Islamic State-affiliated agency Amaq published a video of US Air Force strikes with white phosphorus munitions on the settlement. Hajin held by jihadists.

Protection against phosphorus ammunition

Protection against phosphorus ammunition is based on general principles protection against incendiary weapons.

The experience of the wars of the 1950s-1980s in the Middle East and Southeast Asia, during which phosphorus munitions were used, shows that the effectiveness of any incendiary weapon is significantly reduced in cases where people in the zone of use of these weapons have knowledge about the damaging factors of these weapons, they know how to properly defend themselves against them, fight fire, maintain calmness, discipline and moral and psychological stability. Panic is a factor that can increase the number of victims.

Phosphorus munitions are extinguished with a large amount of water or copper sulfate; in the future, the extinguishing site should be covered with a large amount of wet sand. In the absence of sand, the extinguishing site should be covered with dry soil.

An important feature of phosphorus munitions is an aerosol of concentrated orthophosphoric acid, which irritates the nasopharynx - a property of sternite, a chemical weapon.

Notes

1. « White phosphorus is poisonous ... White phosphorus has been used for military purposes as a source of smoke and to fill incendiary shells and grenades»
   Phosphorus (P) // The new Encyclopedia Britannica. 15th edition. Micropaedia. Vol.9. Chicago, 1994. pp. 397-398
2. Incendiary substances // Soviet military encyclopedia. / ed. N.V. Ogarkov. volume 3.M., Voenizdat, 1977. p. 366-367
3. Incendiary substances // Military encyclopedic Dictionary... / editorial board, ch. ed. S. F. Akhromeev. 2nd ed. M., Military Publishing, 1986. p. 261
4. R. A. Gulyansky, H. E. Kalvan, Yu. N. Kovalevsky, B. K. Mazanov. Protecting the population from modern weapons... Riga, "Avots", 1989. p. 48-50
5. major D. Wolf. Phosphoric ammunition // "Foreign military review", No. 7 (808), July 2014. p. 55
6. Yu. G. Veremeev. Mines: yesterday, today, tomorrow. Minsk, "Modern School", 2008. p. 344
7. I. D. Grabovoy, V. K. Kadyuk. Incendiary weapon and protection from it. M., Military Publishing, 1983. p. 22
8. I. D. Grabovoy, V. K. Kadyuk. Incendiary weapons and protection against them. M., Military Publishing, 1983. p. 21
9. I. D. Grabovoy, V. K. Kadyuk. Incendiary weapons and protection against them. M., Military Publishing, 1983. p. 12
10. A.N. Ardashev. Flamethrower Incendiary Weapons: An Illustrated Guide. M., LLC publishing house "Astrel"; LLC publishing house "AST", 2001. p. 79-80
11. Phosphorus // Chemical encyclopedia (in 5 vols.) / Editorial board, ch. ed. N. S. Zefirov. volume 5. M., scientific publishing house "Great Russian Encyclopedia", 1998. pp. 144-147
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War and Chemistry: Are Phosphorus Bombs Used in Donbass

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Information about the use of prohibited types of weapons in the Donbas is periodically found in frontline reports. The parties continue to accuse each other of using it, but no one has yet provided concrete evidence.

Reports of the use of prohibited weapons in the Donbas, including those of chemical origin, are periodically found in the news feeds of the Russian and Ukrainian media. At the same time, the Ukrainian military and militants accuse each other of using it.

On August 9, the Ukrainian media, referring to the report of the OSCE mission and the Ukrainian military of the 128th brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, announced the use of phosphorus bombs by pro-Russian militants. It was reported that the incident allegedly took place in Stanytsia Luhanska in early August. However, later it became known that the information was unreliable, and there was no mention of phosphorus bombs on the OSCE official website.

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For the first time, information about the use of phosphorus bombs in Donbas appeared in June 2014, when Russian TV channels reported about the shelling of the village. Semenovka, Donetsk region.

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In one of the reports of the Russian TV channel about the use of prohibited weapons in Semyonovka, they showed the then unknown militant Motorola, to whom he said that he had witnessed the use of phosphorus bombs by the ATO forces.

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According to him, shells with white phosphorus were dropped in the area of \u200b\u200bthe village on the night of June 12. At the same time, the media published a video in which aviation is throwing off burning ammunition. On the same day, the National Guard of Ukraine denied information about phosphorus shells, and the video was called fake.

According to the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, the video was made in 2004 during the bombing of Iraq american army... At the same time, the State Department suggested that the events in Semyonovka could be associated with the Russian army.

Later, the Ministry of Internal Affairs circulated a video in which the representative of the "DPR" Andrey Purgin, in a telephone conversation with the coordinator from Moscow, admitted that the information about the use of phosphorus bombs by Ukrainian military personnel was fiction.

Phosphorus bombs. Contrary to prohibitions

Modern history knows examples of the use of phosphorus bombs. In 2004, the Americans dropped bombs loaded with this substance on Fallujah. Phosphorus ammunition was also used during the war in Libya in 2006.

White phosphorus is stored in water as it ignites when exposed to air. It is almost impossible to extinguish it - the combustion temperature is over 800 degrees Celsius. At the same time, when a person is damaged, organic tissues are carbonized, and the clothes remain intact.

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Under international law, such ammunition is permitted for use on military targets. However, under Protocol III to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons, phosphorus charges are prohibited from being used in or near populated areas.

"The use of phosphorus bombs can have serious consequences. In addition to burns and various kinds of injuries, phosphorus affects the mutation of cells. Descendants of victims of such weapons can have serious genetic diseases, various mutations," said Kiong Pham, an employee of the chemistry department of the Polytechnic Institute of Lausanne (Switzerland ).

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According to him, the use of phosphorus bombs is more effective for the destruction of manpower.

"Previously, the military had a problem in expanding the area of \u200b\u200bdestruction of chemical or bacteriological weapons. Now, if we talk about this type of weapon, the problem is to maximally protect its owner from the effects of this weapon," he said.

The researcher added that with the development of modern weapons, the production of ammunition with white phosphorus has become irrational, therefore, if there are facts of the use of phosphorus bombs, then most likely these ammunition has not been utilized.

OSCE. There is chemistry, but no phosphorus

On May 21, the speaker of the Presidential Administration of Ukraine on ATO issues, Andriy Lysenko, said on the air that there is a lot of information, including recorded information, that it is on the demarcation line that the militants during their provocations use ammunition that is “not standard”. In turn, the battalion company commander special purpose "Sich" Maxim Lyuty reported that on the night of May 19, militants fired at Peski with phosphorus bombs.

The Ukrainian side asked the OSCE mission to verify this information about the use of phosphorus munitions by the militants.

According to the monitoring mission, they heard nothing about the use of phosphorus bombs.

“We are talking about the use of chemicals, but we cannot talk about the use of phosphorus,” the mission said, noting that they have only data obtained from eyewitnesses, and they do not have concrete evidence.

“We have heard about cluster bombs, but not about phosphoric ones,” the mission said.

The interviewed servicemen of the special forces battalion of the Ministry of Internal Affairs also know nothing about the use of phosphorus bombs. They say that there is such information, but they do not have specific facts. However, the use of chemicals at the front is confirmed.

There are "Tornadoes" and "Hurricanes" cassette ", - said one of the soldiers.

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At the same time, both the military and the OSCE representatives cannot reliably say whether these cluster munitions contained phosphorus.

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Earlier, the human rights organization Human Rights Watch also announced the use of cluster munitions in Donbas by militants and ATO forces. At the same time, the General Staff denied the use of cluster munitions by the Ukrainian military.

Meanwhile, the parties to the conflict continue to accuse each other of preparing and using chemicals.

Unknown weapon

At the end of May, the "DPR" said that Ukraine was developing chemical weapons at the chlorine storage base in the Kharkov region.

In addition, according to their data, on May 26 a group of specialists in the field of chemistry arrived in Mariupol. The representative of the militants, Eduard Basurin, did not rule out that in this way the Ukrainian authorities are preparing a sabotage in order to accuse the “DPR” of a crime against humanity.

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A month later, the intelligence of the Ukrainian Volunteer Corps (DUK) "Right Sector" announced that the militants of the so-called "Donetsk People's Republic" received chemical weapons.

Thus, according to the DUK intelligence, a dangerous "secret cargo" arrived at one of the militant bases.

"He was placed in a specially prepared pit. An order was given to find a suitable hangar. Even those who delivered this cargo to the front line were afraid to open it and approach the pit once again, despite the chemical protection they had been given. It was about special danger and enhanced measures. However, information has penetrated into the ranks of the so-called “DPR” fighters that the secret cargo is chemical ammunition, ”the DUK said.

In addition, the DUK reports that the ranks of the militants were talking that chemical munitions would be fired at peaceful areas in order to accuse the Armed Forces of Ukraine of using prohibited weapons.

The "Right Sector" did not want to comment on the fate of the "secret cargo". In most cases, reports about the preparation of prohibited weapons in Donbass do not have their continuation.

The story of the use of chemical weapons with a "happy ending" has its own examples. In August 2013, the media reported on the massive use of chemical weapons by the Syrian government in the vicinity of Damascus. According to US intelligence, the use of chemical weapons killed at least 1,429 people, including 426 children. After the incident, the parties to the conflict have repeatedly declared their innocence, blaming opponents for the incident. After that, the West started talking openly about possible intervention in the Syrian conflict.

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On August 26, UN inspectors began working in Syria to investigate the use of chemical weapons. They explored the vicinity of Damascus, interviewed the victims and collected samples, including biological ones. The commission that investigated reported strong evidence of the use of chemical weapons in the area on 21 August. The process of disposing of the chemical weapons arsenal declared by Syria was completed in August 2014.

The use of prohibited weapons in Donbass is also possible, but official evidence was not presented at the level international organizations, the victims and their number are also unknown. Whether the issue of the use of this type of weapon will be put on the agenda is a matter of time, but for now, reports on the use of phosphorus bombs serve only as weapons in an information war.