It has been mentioned above that the Germans used a shell, containing
solid diphenylchloroarsine and a high explosive. A 10.5 cm. shell
(Blue Cross) was about two-thirds filled with cast trinitrotoluene
and contained a glass bottle with 300-400 grams of toxic material.
Diphenylchloroarsine was also used in shell, in solution, a mixture of
phosgene and diphosgene (superpalite) being the ordinary solvent (Green
Cross). Mixtures of diphenylchloroarsine and phenyldichloroarsine were
also used.
In the case of high explosive shell, the use of a separate container
appears to be desirable, because a mixture with the explosive seriously
decreases its sensitiveness and even its destructive power. There is
also a question as to the stability of such a mixture. However, 75 mm.
shell containing 30 per cent diphenylchloroarsine mixed with T. N. T.
gave good clouds of toxic smoke.
TOXIC SMOKE CANDLE
Two toxic smoke candles were developed by the Chemical Warfare Service,
known as the B-M Toxic Smoke Candle, perfected by the Pyrotechnic
Section of the Research Division, and the Dispersoid Smoke Candle,
developed by the Dispersoid Section.
The B-M Toxic Smoke Candle consists of a bottle-shaped sheet steel
toxic container set into a can, containing smoke mixture. The heat from
the burning mixture causes the distillation of the toxic material.
The toxic vapor is discharged through a nipple, screwed into the neck
of the container and extending over the top of the smoke can. Steel
wool is used in the toxic container to reduce the violent boiling and
spattering of the material. A small amount of steel wool, held in place
by a wire screen, is also used in the nipple for the same purpose. The
toxic container is sealed by a fusible metal plug, melting at 90° C.,
cast into a retainer at the base of the nipple. The fusible plug melts
upon the first application of heat and allows free passage of the vapor
into the smoke cloud. The ignition of the apparatus is effected by
means of a simple match head and an accompanying scratcher.
[Illustration: FIG. 102.—Toxic Smoke Cloud from 500 D. M. Candles.]
The candles were placed in 5 parallel rows which were
2 yards apart, each row containing 100 candles on
a 100 yard front. The total time of active smoke
emission was 23 minutes.
The first evolution of smoke occurs about 10 seconds after the first
appearance of flame. About one minute after ignition the toxic
material will begin to distill into the smoke cloud and this will
continue for about four minutes. The burning of the candle should be
complete in about six minutes.
[Illustration: Dispersoid Candle British Candle
FIG. 103.—Comparison of Dispersoid and British D. M. Candles.]
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