Inhumane weapons: what is white phosphorus and why is it still used? Phosphorus bombs - toxic smoke, high temperature Phosphorus weapons.

Carl Clausewitz, one of the most prominent military theorists, noted that “in war, the worst mistakes come from kindness.” However, already in the second half of the 19th century in St. Petersburg, representatives of the strongest powers tried to make warfare “more humane” by banning the use of certain types of weapons.

Since then, the “humanity” of this or that weapon has become the subject of serious discussion, and the debate is often about white phosphorus. Over the years of their existence, phosphorus bombs (and other ammunition) have become both commonly used weapons and semi-prohibited means of warfare.

Properties of matter

Phosphorus in nature exists in 4 modifications, and the main interest for military affairs is the so-called “white phosphorus”. This waxy substance can spontaneously ignite when interacting with oxygen, and the combustion temperature reaches 1300 degrees Celsius.

Actually, the principle of operation of ammunition comes down to dispersing phosphorus outward. When burned, it also produces thick and poisonous white smoke.

When particles of a burning substance come into contact with the skin, they cause deep third-degree burns and continue to burn until oxygen access to them is cut off.

Other possible consequences are poisoning. The substance was discovered back in the 15th century, and its flammability was also established at that time. But it was only in the 19th century that it was possible to develop methods for production on an industrial scale. It should be noted that another modification of the substance - red phosphorus - is also used in incendiary weapons, but on a smaller scale and is non-toxic. “Yellow” is the name given to a poorly purified white modification.

History of application

It is believed that white phosphorus was first used in incendiary devices by the Fenians, Irish republicans of the late 19th century. But phosphorus bombs (and other ammunition) really began to be used on a large scale during the First World War. Thus, incendiary grenades began to arrive in British troops already in 1916. At the same time, bullets loaded with phosphorus were developed for aviation and anti-aircraft machine guns (for example, the British Buckingham bullet of .303 caliber).

Incendiary smoke bombs were also used in World War II. During the Normandy landings, for example, 20% of the 81 mm mortar shells used by the Americans were filled with phosphorus. American tanks, if they could not knock out heavy German armored vehicles, used smoke shells to “blind” the crews, and in some cases, smoke them out of the tanks.

Phosphorus did not go unnoticed in the Soviet Union either. In dissolved form, it was part of the KS incendiary fluid, which was used in anti-tank bottles (“Molotov cocktail”) and in ampoules of AF dropped from aircraft. Armor-piercing incendiary bullets BZF of 12.7 mm caliber were also developed. And for 120 mm mortars they created a TR incendiary mine, filled not only with phosphorus, but also with thermite.

In the post-war years, incendiary bombs continued to be actively used in Korea and Vietnam.

For example, the American M34 grenade became famous, which could not only be thrown by hand, but also fired from a rifle grenade launcher. Phosphorus was also used as an auxiliary agent - for example, to ignite napalm tanks.

Modernity

In 1977, an additional protocol to the Geneva Convention prohibited the use of phosphorus-filled munitions where they could harm civilians. After this, such weapons are usually not talked about as incendiary. Officially, it is considered smoke, and the incendiary effect is considered a side effect.

The protocol did not stop the use of “smoke” ammunition - they were used by the British in the Falklands, the Israelis in Lebanon, and, according to some reports, by Russian troops in Chechnya. However, the “legal status” of these weapons made it possible to use any information about their presence as a reason to accuse the warring party of war crimes.

Thus, in 2004, American troops used smoke shells and aerial bombs to suppress Iraqi positions in Fallujah. This resulted in a scandal in which it was alleged that incendiary weapons were deliberately used against civilians.

In 2006, the Lebanese accused Israel of using smoke bombs against civilians.

Of course, the Israelis, for their part, stated that they only used them against military targets. Later, human rights activists accused the Israelis of using phosphorus to shell Palestinian territories. Tellingly, homemade Palestinian incendiary devices did not raise any questions from human rights activists.

In 2014, information appeared about the use of phosphorus bombs in Donbass. It was stated that Ukrainian government troops were using them against civilians in Novorossiya. Some experts, however, concluded that the evidence used was footage showing the 2004 bombings of Fallujah. At the same time, the fact that both warring parties had incendiary (“smoke”) ammunition was not disputed by anyone.

Currently, weapons containing white phosphorus continue to be used in Syria, as well as in Yemen.

Performance characteristics

Let's consider some parameters of various “smoke” ammunition in service with the United States and Russia.

It is worth noting that in Russia the VG-40-MD round was created for 40 mm under-barrel grenade launchers. The substance with which it is equipped is not directly named, but the ability to simultaneously create a “smoke screen and fires” makes one think of white phosphorus.

There is also a “smoke” version of the Shmel jet flamethrower - RPO-D. As stated, it not only puts up a smoke screen, but also creates “fires” and “unbearable conditions for manpower.” The composition of the smoke-forming substance is also not specified. The caution is understandable.

In Bulgaria, RSMK-7MA smoke shot is produced for RPG-7 type grenade launchers, but it is loaded with red phosphorus. They are also used to equip Bulgarian RLV-SMK-4 ammunition for NATO-standard under-barrel grenade launchers.

So, during the 20th century, phosphorus bombs also became a means of waging information wars.

Now the desire to use effective weapons was limited by the risk of compromising oneself and being harshly condemned by the “international community.”

At the same time, we must remember that if soldiers are ready to kill and torture civilians, they can cope without “lighters.” And declarations and conventions are good as long as both parties are willing to adhere to their terms, or at least fear responsibility.

Video

Introduction

In connection with the war of Ukraine against the Donetsk and Lugansk republics, a lot of nonsense is written and said in the press and on TV. Bandera's men FIRELINED Lugansk, Slavyansk (and further to choose from) WITH PHOSPHORUS BOMBS. Slavyansk, Lugansk were BOMBED with phosphorus mines. That is, they SHOOT with phosphorus bombs and BOMB with mines. Well, there’s nothing you can do about it - what kind of education are these leaders? Recently, during maneuvers, the Marine Corps practiced landing on an unprepared ROOM.
There are a lot of stupid articles on the Internet.

In this article, the combustion temperature of a phosphorus bomb is overestimated by exactly two and a half times.

This is not Ukraine, but the style of illiterate presentation of the material is the same - a mortar fired not a mine but a shell, and a phosphorus bomb arrived at the target.

And this is the height of idiocy - I’ll tell you the structure of a phosphorus bomb and post a photo of THERMITE.
In all other articles they stupidly correspond with each other about a bomb filled with WHITE PHOSPHORUS. Why white and not red, yellow or simply plasticized?
Probably all this happens because phosphorus bombs do not exist. Or rather, not quite like that. Any incendiary bomb equipped with napalm contains phosphorus. He then sets the napalm on fire. But I haven’t heard about phosphorus bombs. I haven’t heard in the sense that no one has provided me with a photograph with the inscription: a phosphorus bomb produced in such and such a country has such and such an index, was produced or is currently being produced. If anyone has such information, then write and we will rewrite the article.

What phosphorus ammunition do I know about?

Of course, there are artillery shells and mortar shells filled with phosphorus. Specifically, the mine for the one hundred and twenty millimeter mortar TR-Z-843A model of the forty-third year was equipped with thirty-six thermal elements pressed into YELLOW phosphorus. Later, mines began to be equipped with a mixture of phosphorus and a synthetic substance resembling rubber. When the expelling charge ruptures, this mixture is crushed into large burning pieces, as can be seen in photographs and video footage of which there are now so many on the Internet.

The same thing happens with a projectile filled with phosphorus - the picture shows that the burning elements seem to continue to fly along the trajectory of the projectile or mine. In a phosphorus bomb, the burning elements would have to fall vertically.
The explosive charge of a phosphorus mine is very small, so the shank remains undamaged.

There is also an incendiary warhead for the hail system. Officially it is designated 9N510.

As you can see, it contains hexagonal cups made of ELECTRON alloy - ninety percent magnesium and ten percent aluminum. An incendiary mixture of complex composition is pressed into each glass. The composition was designated MS-87M

As you can see, the composition is quite complex, but again not a word about white phosphorus. There were one hundred and eighty incendiary elements in total. They scattered over an area of ​​approximately eighty by eighty meters, which gave a damage area of ​​six thousand four hundred square meters. The total weight of the elements was about six kilograms. The burning time of the element is two, three minutes.
Can anyone provide the same data (with photographs and indexes) about our phosphorus bombs? And there couldn’t be others in Ukraine.

Phosphorus as an incendiary agent

Against the background of phosphorus hysteria, these terrible photographs of victims of phosphorus bombs began to be posted on the Internet. Although judging by the absence of smoke and the height of the flame, this man was not even set on fire with napalm, but rather doused with something like acetone or a solvent based on it.
Phosphorus burns with the release of a huge amount of white smoke; often the fire is not visible at all. The combustion temperature is just over nine hundred degrees.
Phosphorus itself is very poisonous and is also a toxic substance. Simply breathing air in the area where phosphorus ammunition is used can cause pulmonary edema with a fatal outcome.
Well, a little technical digression, or why

Phosphorus bombs are not loaded with white phosphorus

The fact is that white (really white as snow washed with Ariel) can only be obtained in a laboratory. Mythical bombs, as well as mines and shells, are filled with technical or YELLOW phosphorus.

The top photo shows what they get in the laboratory. At the bottom is what phosphorus bombs are filled with, mines and shells.

What happened in Ukraine anyway?

In the title of the article is a photograph in which the ancient one dropped the bomb. Judging by the explosion, phosphorus. But that was a long time ago and far from Ukraine.

But judging by these photographs, the air explosion of a phosphorus mortar mine is clearly visible. Large burning pieces characteristic of plasticized phosphorus are visible. In the bottom photo you can even count that there were six mortars.

The shanks from phosphorus mines scattered throughout the territory also leave no doubt what ammunition was used.

I found a video on the Internet from which the photo for the title screen of the article was taken. The bomb there is filled with ordinary napalm. And a lot of white smoke is produced by a phosphorus fuse, which ignites napalm.

How to protect yourself from phosphorus bombs

It would be more correct to write - HOW TO PROTECT FROM BURNING PHOSPHORUS? And they protect themselves from it in the same way as from any incendiary substance. If there is a threat of an attack with incendiary substances, you should always carry with you a thick cape that can cover your entire body. True, after the first hit of burning phosphorus, the cape will have to be thrown away. Since burning phosphorus has a poisonous effect, you must leave the place of shelling as quickly as possible or use an INSULATED GAS MASK. For those who don’t know - an insulating gas mask, it is also sometimes called a breathing device, it’s something like a small scuba tank. It is often used by firefighters. True, there is a simplified version. In it, instead of air cylinders, special cartridges are used, which, when initiated, begin to release oxygen, but they do not last very long.

The hysteria with phosphorus bombs and white phosphorus continues

Quite a long time has passed since the first use of phosphorus mines in Slavyansk, Lugansk and Donetsk. Everyone had time to study the problem in depth. But the main thing is not the truth, the main thing is to raise a hysterical wave about white phosphorus. Oddly enough, this plays into the hands of Bandera’s supporters.

Here is another ignorant statement about the use of phosphorus bombs.

But Bandera’s supporters refute the previous statement. And they are telling the honest truth, because they do not have phosphorus bombs. As for the phosphorus mortar mines, no such charge was brought against them. Therefore, any accusation must be legally accurate and technically sound.

War and chemistry: Are phosphorus bombs used in Donbass?

Photos from open sources

Information about the use of prohibited weapons in Donbass is periodically found in front-line reports. The parties continue to accuse each other of using it, but no one has yet provided concrete evidence

Reports of the use of prohibited weapons in the Donbass, including those of chemical origin, periodically appear in the news feeds of Russian and Ukrainian media. At the same time, the Ukrainian military and militants accuse each other of using it.

On August 9, Ukrainian media, citing a report by the OSCE mission and the Ukrainian military of the 128th brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, announced the use of phosphorus bombs by pro-Russian militants. It was reported that the incident allegedly occurred in Stanytsia Luganskaya in early August. However, it later became known that the information turned out to be unreliable, and there were no mentions of phosphorus bombs on the official OSCE website.

Photos from open sources

For the first time, information about the use of phosphorus bombs in Donbass appeared in June 2014, when Russian television channels reported the shelling of the village. Semenovka, Donetsk region.

Related news

In one of the reports of a Russian TV channel about the use of prohibited weapons in Semenovka, they showed the then unknown militant Motorola, to whom he stated that he was an eyewitness to the use of phosphorus bombs by ATO forces.

Photos from open sources

According to him, shells containing white phosphorus were dropped near the village on the night of June 12. At the same time, the media published a video of aircraft dropping burning ammunition. On the same day, the National Guard of Ukraine denied information about phosphorus shells, and the video was called fake.

As stated by the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, the video was made in 2004 during the bombing of Iraq by the American army. At the same time, the State Department suggested that the events in Semenovka could be connected with the Russian army.

Later, the Ministry of Internal Affairs distributed a video in which “DPR” representative Andrei Purgin, in a telephone conversation with a coordinator from Moscow, admitted that the information about the use of phosphorus bombs by Ukrainian military personnel was fiction.

Phosphorus bombs. Contrary to prohibitions

Modern history knows examples of the use of phosphorus bombs. In 2004, the Americans dropped bombs filled with this substance on Fallujah. Phosphorus ammunition was also used during the war in Libya in 2006.

White phosphorus is stored in water because it ignites on contact with air. It is almost impossible to extinguish it - the combustion temperature is more than 800 degrees Celsius. In this case, when a person is affected, organic tissues are charred, but the clothes remain intact.

Photos from open sources

Under international law, such ammunition is permitted for use on military targets. However, according to Protocol III to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons, phosphorus charges are prohibited from being used in or near populated areas.

“The use of phosphorus bombs can have serious consequences. In addition to burns and various types of injuries, phosphorus affects the mutation of cells. The descendants of victims of such weapons can have serious genetic diseases and various mutations,” said Kiong Pham, an employee of the Faculty of Chemistry at the Polytechnic Institute of Lausanne (Switzerland). ).

Photos from open sources

According to him, the use of phosphorus bombs is more effective at defeating manpower.

“Previously, the military had a problem with expanding the area of ​​destruction of chemical or bacteriological weapons. Now, if we talk about this type of weapon, the problem is to protect its owner as much as possible from the effects of these weapons,” he noted.

The researcher added that with the development of modern weapons, the production of ammunition with white phosphorus has become irrational, so if there are facts of the use of phosphorus bombs, then most likely this ammunition has not been recycled.

OSCE. There is chemistry, but no phosphorus

On May 21, the speaker of the Presidential Administration of Ukraine on ATO issues, Andrei Lysenko, said on air " " that there is a lot of information, including recorded information, that it is on the demarcation line that militants use ammunition that is “not standard” during their provocations. In turn, the company commander of the special forces battalion "Sich" Maxim Lyuty reported that on the night of May 19, militants fired phosphorus bombs at Sands.

The Ukrainian side asked the OSCE mission to check this information about the use of phosphorus ammunition by militants.

As the monitoring mission reported, they had not heard anything about the use of phosphorus bombs.

“We are talking about the use of chemicals, but we cannot talk about the use of phosphorus,” the mission said, noting that they only have data obtained from eyewitnesses, and they do not have concrete evidence.

“We have heard about cluster bombs, but not about phosphorus bombs,” the mission noted.

The interviewed servicemen of the special forces battalion of the Ministry of Internal Affairs also know nothing about the use of phosphorus bombs. They say that there is such information, but they do not have specific facts. However, the use of chemicals at the front is confirmed.

There are “Smerchs” and cluster “Hurricanes,” noted one of the fighters.

Related news

At the same time, both the military and OSCE representatives cannot reliably say whether these cluster munitions contained phosphorus.

Photos from open sources

Earlier, the human rights organization Human Rights Watch also announced the use of cluster munitions in Donbass by militants and ATO forces. At the same time, the General Staff denied the use of cluster munitions by the Ukrainian military.

Meanwhile, the parties to the conflict continue to accuse each other of preparing and using chemicals.

Unknown weapon

At the end of May, the DPR announced that Ukraine was developing chemical weapons on the territory of a chlorine storage base in the Kharkov region.

In addition, according to them, on May 26, a group of specialists in the field of chemistry arrived in Mariupol. The representative of the militants, Eduard Basurin, did not rule out that in this way the Ukrainian authorities are preparing sabotage in order to accuse the “DPR” of a crime against humanity.

Photos from open sources

A month later, the intelligence of the Ukrainian Volunteer Corps (DUK) “Right Sector” announced that the militants of the so-called “Donetsk People’s Republic” had received chemical weapons.

Thus, according to DUK intelligence, a dangerous “secret cargo” arrived at one of the militant bases.

“He was placed in a specially prepared pit. An order was given to find a suitable hangar. Even those who delivered this cargo to the front line were afraid to open it and approach the pit again, despite the chemical protective equipment they were given. We were talking about a special danger and enhanced measures security. However, information penetrated into the ranks of the fighters of the so-called “DPR” that the secret cargo was chemical munitions,” the DUK stated.

In addition, the DUK reports that among the militants there was talk that chemical ammunition would be fired at peaceful areas in order to accuse the Armed Forces of Ukraine of using prohibited weapons.

The Right Sector did not want to comment on the fate of the “secret cargo.” Reports about the preparation of prohibited weapons in the Donbass in most cases do not continue.

The story of the use of chemical weapons with a “happy ending” has its own examples. In August 2013, the media reported on the large-scale use of chemical weapons by the Syrian government forces in the vicinity of Damascus. According to American intelligence, at least 1,429 people were killed there as a result of the use of chemical weapons, including 426 children. After the incident, the parties to the conflict repeatedly declared their innocence, blaming their opponents for the incident. After this, the West began openly talking about possible intervention in the Syrian conflict.

Related news

On August 26, UN inspectors began working in Syria to investigate the use of chemical weapons. They explored the outskirts of Damascus, interviewed victims and collected samples, including biological ones. The commission that conducted the investigation reported strong evidence of the use of chemical weapons in the area on August 21. The process of disposing of Syria's declared arsenal of chemical weapons was completed in August 2014.

The use of prohibited weapons in the Donbass is also possible, but the evidence has not been officially presented at the level of international organizations, and the victims and their number are also unknown. Whether the issue of using this type of weapon will be put on the agenda is a matter of time, but for now reports of the use of phosphorus bombs serve only as a weapon in the information war.

The first mention of phosphorus ammunition dates back to the beginning of the 20th century - in 1916, grenades stuffed with white phosphorus appeared in England. During World War II, white phosphorus began to be used as one of the substances in the filling of incendiary bombs. In recent years, only the American army has actively used phosphorus weapons, in particular in Iraq during the bombing of Fallujah.

Currently, phosphorus ammunition is understood as a type of incendiary or smoke ammunition filled with white phosphorus. There are several types of such weapons and ammunition, including aerial bombs, artillery shells, rockets (missiles), mortar shells, and hand grenades.
Unpurified white phosphorus is commonly called "yellow phosphorus". It is a flammable crystalline substance from light yellow to dark brown in color, which does not dissolve in water, and in air easily oxidizes and spontaneously ignites. White phosphorus as a chemical compound is very toxic (causes damage to bones, bone marrow, necrosis of the jaws).

A phosphorus bomb spreads a flammable substance whose combustion temperature exceeds 1200 °C. It burns with a dazzling, bright green flame and emits thick white smoke. Its distribution area can reach several hundred square meters. The combustion of the substance continues until the access of oxygen stops or all the phosphorus burns out.
To extinguish phosphorus, use water in large quantities (to reduce the temperature of the fire and convert phosphorus into a solid state) or a solution of copper sulfate (copper sulfate), and after extinguishing the phosphorus, cover it with wet sand. To protect against spontaneous combustion, yellow phosphorus is stored and transported under a layer of water (calcium chloride solution).

The use of white phosphorus gives a complex effect - not only serious physical injuries and slow death, but also psychological shock. The lethal dose of white phosphorus for an adult is 0.05-0.1 g. According to researchers, a characteristic feature of the use of this weapon is the charring of organic tissues, and when inhaling the burning mixture, burning of the lungs.
Treatment of wounds caused by such weapons requires appropriately trained medical personnel. Special literature notes that inexperienced and untrained doctors can also receive phosphorus wounds when working with affected personnel.

The military use of ammunition containing white phosphorus against targets located in or near cities and other populated areas is prohibited under international agreements (Protocol III to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons).

From the history of the use of phosphorus bombs:
1916 In England, incendiary grenades filled with white phosphorus were supplied to arm troops.
The Second World War. White phosphorus began to be used as one of the substances in the filling of incendiary bombs.
In 1972, according to the conclusion of a special UN commission, incendiary weapons were conditionally classified as weapons of mass destruction.
1980 According to the UN Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Cause Excessive Injury or to Have Indiscriminate Effects, the use of incendiary weapons against civilians is prohibited, and the use of air-delivered incendiary weapons against military installations in areas concentration of civilian population.

In the 1980s, the Vietnamese People's Army used white phosphorus against Khmer Rouge guerrillas during the occupation of Kampuchea.
1982 155-mm artillery shells filled with white phosphorus were used by the Israeli army during the Lebanon War (in particular, during the siege of Beirut).
April 1984. In the area of ​​the port of Bluefields, two Nicaraguan Contra saboteurs were blown up while trying to plant mines filled with white phosphorus.
June 1985. "Contra" passenger ship "Bluefields Express" and burned the ship with American phosphorus grenades.

1992 During the siege of Sarajevo, phosphorus shells were used by Bosnian Serb artillery.
2004 The Americans dropped bombs filled with this substance on Fallujah (Iraq).
In 2006, during the Second Lebanon War, artillery shells containing white phosphorus were used by the Israeli army.
year 2009. During Operation Cast Lead in the Gaza Strip, the Israeli army used smoke munitions containing white phosphorus.
year 2014. Semyonovka. The command of the anti-terrorist operation is committing war crimes against the civilian population of south-eastern Ukraine.