Marine Rifle Squad

94O
b. Detection of Chemical Agents. The success of chemical defense
depends to a great degree on the thoroughness of the training program
conducted by the small-unit leader. This training must consider the various
characteristics of the agents as stated above and the three phases of
defensive operations; detection, protection, and decontamination.
(1) Intelligence Sources. Intelligence sources may warn of expected attacks.
These reports are usually based on enemy preparations and capabilities.
(2) Individual Marines. Marines may be able to identify a chemical attack
by the use of their physical senses. Agents may have characteristic odors,
create a visible cloud, appear as droplets on vegetation, or be detectable
only by early recognition of symptoms. Because of this variety and the
risk of rapid casualty effects, an automatic masking procedure will be
put into effect once chemical operations are initiated. Any suspicious
occurrence (low flying aircraft, smoke screen, unaccountable liquid,
unusual physical or mental symptoms) will be considered a potential
threat and all Marines will mask. The situation can then be checked in
comparative safety and the decision made to unmask or continue a protected
posture as required,.
(3) Special Equipment. There are several items of special equipment
designed for the identification and detection of chemical agents. The
squad should be basically familiar with this equipment and its uses.
(a) Paper, Chemical Agent, Detector, ABC.M.8. ABC-M-8 chemical
agent detector paper is a component of the chemical agent detector kits.
The sheets consist of paper impregnated with chemical compounds that
vary color when in contact with V- or 0-type nerve agents or blister
(mustard) agents, in liquid form. This paper does not detect vapor and
must touch the liquid agent to ensure a positive test. Because some solvents
cause a change in the color of the paper, it is unreliable for determining
the completeness of decontamination by the use of solvents. A
color chart is included in the booklet to aid in interpreting the tests.
(b) Chemical Agent Detector Kit, M-256. This item is designed for company
and larger sized units and provides the means of detecting and
identifying vapor concentrations of most chemical agents. These devices
are designed for rapid identification of agents but cannot be used as
warning devices as test reactions may take several minutes to complete.