M138 bomblet
Encyclopedia
The M138 bomblet was a sub-munition of the U.S. chemical weapon, the M43 BZ cluster bomb. The bomblet contained BZ
, an incapacitating agent
and was developed with the M43 in 1962. The M138s, along with all other U.S. BZ weapons were destroyed during the 1980s.
in March 1962. The M43 was designed to utilize the M138 bomblet. The M138, like its parent cluster bomb
and all BZ munitions, were stored at Pine Bluff Arsenal
in Arkansas. Between 1988 and 1989 all U.S. BZ munitions, including the M138 bomblets were demilitarized and destroyed.
BZ, also known as 3-Quinuclidinyl benzilate
. The bomblets themselves were composed of M7 canisters which held a 50/50 mixture of pyrotechnic and agent (pyromix).
Each bomblet was a thin-walled cylinder that held an M150A2 "all-ways" acting impact fuze with an M308 delay element. The M138 became armed immediately upon separating from the M43 cluster bomb and its M30 cluster adapter. When the bomblet impacted the ground it ignited the fuze, and, after a short delay, the pyromix was ignited.
Other testing of the M138 was carried out by the U.S. Army's Deseret Test Center
under the auspices of Project 112
. These tests, known collectively as "Tall Timber" were carried out from April through June 1966 at the Waiakea Forest Reserve near Hilo, Hawaii
. The purpose of the Tall Timber tests was to determine the effectiveness of BZ-filled M138 bomblets in a tropical forest environment. The tests used statically ignited M138 bomblets containing live BZ incapacitating agent.
3-Quinuclidinyl benzilate
3-quinuclidinyl benzilate , IUPAC name 1-azabicyclo[2.2.2]Oct-3-yl α-hydroxy-α-phenylbenzeneacetate, is an odorless military incapacitating agent. Its NATO code is BZ...
, an incapacitating agent
Incapacitating agent
The term incapacitating agent is defined by the U.S. Department of Defense asLethal agents are primarily intended to kill, but incapacitating agents can also kill if administered in a potent enough dose, or in certain scenarios....
and was developed with the M43 in 1962. The M138s, along with all other U.S. BZ weapons were destroyed during the 1980s.
History
The U.S. Army Chemical Corps began mass-production of the chemical M43 BZ cluster bombM43 BZ cluster bomb
The M43 BZ cluster bomb, or simply M43 cluster bomb, was a U.S. chemical cluster bomb intended to deliver the incapacitating agent known as BZ. The weapon was produced in the early 1960s and all stocks of U.S. BZ were destroyed by 1989.-History:...
in March 1962. The M43 was designed to utilize the M138 bomblet. The M138, like its parent cluster bomb
Cluster bomb
A cluster munition is a form of air-dropped or ground-launched explosive weapon that releases or ejects smaller sub-munitions. Commonly, this is a cluster bomb that ejects explosive bomblets that are designed to kill enemy personnel and destroy vehicles...
and all BZ munitions, were stored at Pine Bluff Arsenal
Pine Bluff Arsenal
The Pine Bluff Arsenal is a US Army installation located in Jefferson County, Arkansas, just northwest of the city of Pine Bluff. PBA is one of the six Army installations in the United States that store chemical weapons...
in Arkansas. Between 1988 and 1989 all U.S. BZ munitions, including the M138 bomblets were demilitarized and destroyed.
Specifications
The M138 bomblet had the largest continuous diameter of any chemical bomblet in the U.S. arsenal, a full 72 millimeters (mm). The M138 also possessed the thickest steel walls of U.S. bomblets, about 3 mm. The M43 cluster bomb was designed to hold 57 M138s, arranged in three stacks of 19 bomblets. Each bomblet held about 6 ounces of the incapacitating agentIncapacitating agent
The term incapacitating agent is defined by the U.S. Department of Defense asLethal agents are primarily intended to kill, but incapacitating agents can also kill if administered in a potent enough dose, or in certain scenarios....
BZ, also known as 3-Quinuclidinyl benzilate
3-Quinuclidinyl benzilate
3-quinuclidinyl benzilate , IUPAC name 1-azabicyclo[2.2.2]Oct-3-yl α-hydroxy-α-phenylbenzeneacetate, is an odorless military incapacitating agent. Its NATO code is BZ...
. The bomblets themselves were composed of M7 canisters which held a 50/50 mixture of pyrotechnic and agent (pyromix).
Each bomblet was a thin-walled cylinder that held an M150A2 "all-ways" acting impact fuze with an M308 delay element. The M138 became armed immediately upon separating from the M43 cluster bomb and its M30 cluster adapter. When the bomblet impacted the ground it ignited the fuze, and, after a short delay, the pyromix was ignited.
Tests involving the M138
The M138 was the subject of various tests, including those to determine its effectiveness and its detonability as demilitarization plans for BZ weapons ramped up during the 1980s. Tests undertaken at Pine Bluff Arsenal in 1981 showed that the M138 was a non-detonable item. Because of these test results it was determined that any demilitarization plant need not include provisions for the containment of accidental detonation of the M138. Regardless, an Army report issued on the results of the testing emphasized that extreme care must be exercised in order to prevent accidental detonation of the M138 bomblets as they were destroyed.Other testing of the M138 was carried out by the U.S. Army's Deseret Test Center
Deseret Test Center
The Deseret Test Center was a U.S. Army operated command in charge of testing chemical and biological weapons during the 1960s. Deseret was headquartered at Fort Douglas, Utah.-History:...
under the auspices of Project 112
Project 112
Project 112 was a biological and chemical weapons experimentation project conducted by the US Army from 1962 to 1973. The project started under John F. Kennedy's administration, and was authorized by his Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara, as part of a total review of the US military. The name...
. These tests, known collectively as "Tall Timber" were carried out from April through June 1966 at the Waiakea Forest Reserve near Hilo, Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
. The purpose of the Tall Timber tests was to determine the effectiveness of BZ-filled M138 bomblets in a tropical forest environment. The tests used statically ignited M138 bomblets containing live BZ incapacitating agent.
Further reading
- Bobrick, Michael C. "A Reasoned Response to NIMBY Opposition to Incineration of Chemical Weapon Stockpiles", (PDF, cache), ThesisThesisA dissertation or thesis is a document submitted in support of candidature for an academic degree or professional qualification presenting the author's research and findings...
, United States Army Judge Advocate General's School, April 1993, accessed December 11, 2008 - Kirby, Reid. "Paradise Lost: The Psycho Agents", The CBW Conventions Bulletin, May 2006, Issue no. 71, accessed December 11, 2008.