Munitions for Anti-Crop BW Agents

Abstract

In the open literature, detailed descriptions of BW munitions in general, and in particular, anti-crop BW munitions, are the exception rather than the rule. However, in regard to BW munitions in general a notable contribution to the literature can be found in Volume II of the SIPRI series The Problem of Chemical and Biological Warfare: CB Weapons Today.¹ Based on an overview of US biological weapons between 1940 and 1972, this volume contains descriptions of the operating principals of a number of anti-personnel biological weapons systems, and includes references to anti-crop biological weapons systems in the form of spray tanks for use on a variety of aircraft. However, it was not until 1981 that a detailed description of the operating principals of US anti-crop biological weapons systems appeared in the open literature. This notable contribution by Robinson entitled ‘Environmental Effects of Chemical and Biological Warfare’² discussed the development of such weapons prior to the utilisation of the anti-crop chemical-type spray tanks for use with biological anti-crop agents described above. The paragraphs that follow further elaborate on US anti-crop weapons systems and focus on weapons that saw research, development, and in some cases assimilation³ into the strategic US war-fighting arsenal, prior to attention being switched to the development of spray tanks.