CHEMICAL BOMBS/WEAPONS

LEARNING OBJECTIVE: Describe the types, purpose, and use of chemical weapons.

Chemical weapons are designed to disperse a chemical agent over a designated course. Some of the uses are defoliation, screening, and area denial.

MK 116 WETEYE CHEMICAL BOMB

The weteye (fig. 1-46) is a free-falling container that is designed to burst open as it falls, dispensing the chemical agent.

Physical Description

The WETEYE weighs approximately 500 pounds and contains approximately 347 pounds of chemical agent. The bomb is gray in color with a green band and a yellow band around the center of the body. The green band indicates a toxic chemical agent filler and the yellow band indicates a high explosive.

Functional Description

When the bomb is released from the aircraft, the arming wire is withdrawn, allowing the fuze to arm. At the same time, the fin-release wire is withdrawn, activating the spring-tension extendable fins. Upon impact the fuze functions, initiating the tetryl booster which ignites the burster. The burster explodes the bomb and disseminates the GB nerve agent.

MK 94 CHEMICAL BOMB

The Mk 94 is a Mk 82 low drag general purpose bomb casing that is modified to contain a chemical agent. The Mk 94 is intended for the aerial delivery of the toxic chemical agent on selected targets.

Figure 1-46.-Mk 116 Weteye chemical bomb. 1-50

CHEMICAL SPRAY TANKS

Chemical spray tanks are containers which are designed for external use on aircraft for the dissemination of toxic chemical agents, smoke, and incapacitating chemical agents.

Aero 14B Spray Tank

The Aero 14B spray tank is a pressure-controlled, combination storage container and airborne dispersion munition for chemical warfare agents,

Aero 12 Aircraft Chemical Tank

The Mk 12 chemical tank is designed to generate a smoke screen capability for high performance aircraft.

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

LEARNING OBJECTIVE: Recognize the safety precautions to follow when working with bombs, fuzes, and associated components.

Most fuzes contain a charge of high explosives and must be handled carefully. When compared to the burster charge, the amount of explosives is small; however, the explosives in fuzes are much more sensitive. Fuzes are manufactured to meet all safety requirements when used properly. However, the safety features designed in any weapon or explosive component are only as reliable as the person using them.

Fuzes are packed in sealed, moistureproof containers, and should not be unsealed until they are required for use. Fuzes unpacked and not used should be returned to their original condition, repacked, and dated. Once the hermetic seal is broken, these fuzes should be used before those that are still hermetically sealed. Mk 344 or Mk 376 electric fuzes that have been removed from their sealed containers and whose shipping caps have been removed and repacked for more than 30 days must be disposed of according to _{current directives.} Additionally, dispose of electric fuzes exposed to excessive moisture, regardless of length of time.

Fuzes must be handled carefully at all times and should never be dropped, tumbled, dragged, or thrown. They should not be struck with a hammer or any tool, either to open the container or to align them in a stowage rack.

Fuzes should not be packed or unpacked in the ^magazine. When a fuze is unpacked, it should be examined to ensure that the shipping seals are intact and that the arming stem is not unscrewed Safety cotter pins, shipping wires, and seals should be left in place until the arming wire is assembled into the fuze. Arming vane assemblies must not be bent or distorted.

The hazards of bomb ammunition will vary, depending on the types and quantities of explosives involved. Regardless of the particular weapons being handled, potential hazards are always present. Explosive bomb ammunition is hazardous because of its tendency, when detonated, to set off all explosive material that is near it.

Although bomb ammunition containing high explosives causes greater injury to personnel and loss of equipment, the improper handling of practice bombs causes more frequent injury to personnel. When

handling practice bombs, the weight factor alone can cause severe injury or even loss of limb. Dropping a practice bomb, even a short distance, with a practice bomb signal cartridge installed can cause the cartridge to detonate, resulting in severe and permanent injury to personnel.

Accidents are prevented through good design, testing, and careful handling of ordnance. Safety precautions must be followed, All personnel involved in weapons handling must be briefed on particular safety precautions before actually handling weapons, All personnel who handle ordnance must be qualified and certified. Newly assigned personnel, still under training, are assigned as crew members and never permitted to work alone until they are fully qualified and certified.

Specific safety precautions for bomb ammunition are outlined in the publications for the specific ammunition and the aircraft loading manuals.