MIL-HDBK-783(EA)
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
This chapter discusses historical events significant to an appreciation of chemical and biological (CB)
warfare. It also out lines the scope of this handbook and describes the general content of each chapter.
This handbook is primarily for project managers,
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design engineers, and scientists who need an overview
CB contamination can adversely affect both personnel
of potential threat agents, available decontamination
and materiel. The modern objective of CB warfare is to
and contamination avoidance countermeasures, and
reduce the fighting capability of enemy personnel either
design and material selection guidelines that will enable
by direct production of casualties or by reduction of
them to design systems that can operate effectively in a
efficiency after donning protective gear. Exposure to
CB-agent-contaminated environment.
CB agents can have a broad range of effects. Some
Although written for the stated primary audiences,
agents may cause mild irritation, sickness, or slight
this handbook can also be used to enhance and augment
degradation, which diminishes a soldier's willingness to
knowledge in the CB defense programs.
fight or impairs his fighting skills. Other, more lethal,
agents can have rapid and devastating effects on per-
sonnel who are not well protected against them. Small
1-2 SCOPE
quantities of these agents can cause severe incapacitation
This handbook contains six chapters. A brief
or even death.
description of each chapter follows.:
The primary military value of CB agents has been
Chapter 1, "Introduction", briefly describes CB
viewed traditionally as a means of producing adverse
warfare history and agent threat effects on both per-
effects in enemy personnel. However, these agents have
sonnel and materiel. and current countermeasures.
been found to have deleterious effects on the properties
Chapter 2, " C o n t a m i n a n t s " , describes agent
of materials used to construct military systems. These
properties, toxic mechanisms, and their threats. AlS O
effects can reduce the capability of the system or equip-
systems currently available to deliver and disseminate
ment item to perform its functions. Moreover, the
CB agents are discussed.
contaminated materiel and equipment can pose pro-
Chapter 3, "Protection. Detection, and Contamina-
longed hazards to personnel and result in the spread of
tion Control", introduces protection and contamination
contaminants to other areas.
avoidance strategies. This chapter describes individual
In May 1984 the US Army addressed the survivability
and collective protection equipment as well as support
of materiel in a nuclear, biological, and chemical (NBC)
equipment and supply protection techniques. Detection
environment by establishing Army Regulation (AR) 70-
and warning, an essential part of the contamination
71. Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Contamination
control strategy, is also addressed in this chapter.
Survivability of Army Materiel. This regulation requires
Chapter 4, "Decontamination, Methods and Equip-
that developers of equipment consider and address NBC
ment", describes currently fielded decontaminants, equip-
survivability requirements in the design, development,
ment, and methods for personnel, equipment, vehicle,
engineering, test, and evaluation of all mission-essential
and aircraft decontamination. Levels of decontamination
military equipment. In June 1987 the Department of
within the current Army doctrine are also discussed.
Defense (DoD) issued DOD Instruction No. 4245.13
Chapter 5, "Material and Design Considerations",
entitled Design and Acquisition of Nuclear, Biological,
describes the effects of both agents and decontaminants
a n d Chemical (NBC) Contamination-Survivable
on materials and discusses the CB survivability require-
Systems. This instruction provides the general manage-
ments of the Army outlined in AR 70-71. Examples of
ment and documentation requirements for the surviv-
material compatibility test data with CB contaminants.
ability of all DoD systems designed and acquired to
decontaminants, and design methods to reduce system
perform mission-essential functions in an NBC-contami-
vulnerability to CB contaminants are discussed.
nated environment. This handbook devotes a chapter to
Chapter 6, "Future Concepts", describes current
design information on contamination avoidance as well
US Army development activities for providing new and
as to contamination and decontamination effects on
improved decontamination methods to counter the
materiel.
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