Chemical Agents of Opportunity for Terrorism: TICs & TIMs

Chemical Agents of Opportunity for Terrorism
Training Support Package
Participant Guide
Slide 32
Chemical Agents of Opportunity for Terrorism:
TICs & TIMs
Chlorine: 1st Successful Chemical
Warfare Agent, WW I
Wind -borne Chlorine Attack, WWI
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Module One – Toxic Industrial Gases as Terrorist Threats
Chlorine Gas Respirators
32
The first successful use of a gas as a chemical warfare agent in modern times was the
German canister deployment of chlorine at the (Second) Battle of Ypres (Belgium) in
April 1915. 168 tons of chlorine gas were released from 5700 canisters, resulting in
10,000 French troops being affected (50% mortality) and resulting in a 4 mile breach in
the front lines, of which the Germans were unprepared to take advantage.
The British retaliated with chlorine at the Battle of Loos (Belgium) in September 1915,
but unfavorable winds minimized the impact of that attack.
Chemical warfare preparation at that time included 1) protective devices for the troops 2)
development of toxic gases armamentarium 3) improvement in delivery system.
December 2008 Version 2.0 Page 156