SOVIET CHEMICAL WARFARE WEAPONS AND EQUIPMENT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00809A000600060362-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 12
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 17, 2011
• Sequence Number: 362
• Publication Date: November 5, 1954
• Content Type: REPORT

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50X1-HUM
CLASSIFICATION,
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
Aoviet Chemical Warfare Weapons
and Equipment
DATE DISTR. 5 ,i/oV 54'
NO. OF ?AGES IR.
NO. OF ENCLS.
(LISTED BELOW)
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
The capacity of an aircraft spray tank is usually indicated by its name.
For example, VAP-250 is an aircraft spray tank of 250 liters capacity
of any liquid; VAP-500 is an aircraft spray tank of 500 liters liquid
capacity; VAP 1000 Is an aircraft spray tank of 1000 liters liquid capa-
city. The same applies for the various sizes of all-purpose aircraft
chemical spray tanks (UXhAP).
Sizes of the above-mentioned equipment very as follows: Length from
one meter 10 centimeters to 2- meters; height from 50 centimeters
tc one meter; width from 45 to 75 centimeters. 50X1-HUM
The method of suspension from an aircraft is the same as for bombs,
when a bomb rack 21 ( 2i ) or a bomb rack 34 (*P-34 ) is
used. The bomb rack 34 34 ) is for 500 liters capacity and
higher
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Fbe rate of ascent and descent, with tinka filled, is the same
as it would be with bombs. This egtt `~^is suitable for use at
various altitudes frame meters tip, ` ndiag on weather conditions,
.'"d velocity, fares of wity of the ches~icali,,the objective, and
the result desired. =he temperature has my little urinouse on such
chemicals as mustard gas, levisite and tabmn became of fh it long-
lastimg qualities. Ideal spraying time, of course, is early in the
morkIng and ear in the eveming:becauee the winds are not very strong
at those hours. **.;*peed of flight at the time of spraying
should be about kilometers per hour.
- 2
50
The discharge time varies from 2.5 to 8 or 10 minutes, depending on
the instructions. The pilot can regulate the discharge time in
accordance with his mission assignment.
There is a definite formula for area of coverage.
coveral 'epends on the fol-
lowing factors:
(a) Altitude of the flight.
(b) Wind velocity.
(c) Air temperature.
(d) Specific gravity of the liquid
(e) Speed of the flight
All of the above factors have to be considered before a desired area
coverage can be arrived at.
Any aircraft which is equipped with a bomb rack is suitable. However, frontal
as or IL-10 would be most sul+Able.
dual control oyster is used; i e electrical and mechanical.
Control cables and bomb racks are made of steel. The tanks are made
of {S. tt r ai isi-~ and o than =tall
above-mentioned items of equipment function as expected. There
are caass of failureF but they ar
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Mustard gas, lewisite, adaasite, osgene, hydrocyanic acid, bromben-
sylcyanide, diphensletanarsin : sstkttSIl ). tabun or "TOO,
and other gases
The characteristics of these various gases are as follows:
(a) Mustard Gas - An oily liquid of dark yellowish-brown color wit a
garlic and mustard odor. It is a persistent poiscn which is fully
affective for over 24 hours in the Sumner time, and from 72 to 120
hours if sprayed to the woods in shaded areas. During the cold
season, it lasts still longer. About 24 hours after coming in con-
tact with it, custard gas causes small pimples full of yellow pus.
These pimples burst in two or three days and will take about a month
-3-
Fuses are not used with any aviation firing equipment. Aviation fir-
ing equipment consists of a spray tank and a gas cylinder containing
special liquid which is released simultaneously with the liquid in the
spray tank. On the way down, the two liquids mix and the mixture -
nites.
The air chemical bombs are sometimes equipped with instantaneous fusee
aad at other times with time fuzes, depending on the desired result.
There are also fuzes which are met to go off at a given altitude. The
following designations show the three most ::ommo zee which are used
n chsmics
* -
i,
o
Control of the chemical bombs dote not present any problem different
from the control of any other bomb. They are hung on the some bomb
racks and look the same with the exception that chemical bombs have
colored stripes painted on them.
Loading and ground handling is accomplished with the aid of mechanised
forklifts and truo;s. Sometimes theme bombs are loaded into the air-
craft by hand, particularly when it is easier to do so.
Ground clearance vcrie the type of bomb or spray tank used For
(,(' ~ ) will hang closer to the ground thin
00
example,
~
_
XUAB will because the first one is larger. Ground
clearance will also dnpend on the type of aircraft used.
Aeraonnel of the Soviet Air Force learn abou the following poison gases:
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to heal. The fumes affect the eyes, breathing organs and cause
akin rash. If taken internally, as with poisoned vegetables and
such, it causes very serious illness.
Mustard gas can be spread with aerial bombs, artillery shells,
mines, or aerial spray tanks.
(b) Phosgene - Phosgene is a colorless gas with the odor of musty
hay. It can be used in aerial bombs, artillery shells, mines, or
can be sprayed from a gas cylinder or gas bottle. At the instant
this liquid is exposed to air, it turns into gas which looks like
smoke or a cloud. In or. open area these clouds can last 10 to 20
minutes, while in a forest they might last from three to four hours.
When inhaled phosgene causes the heert to beat faster, frothy
coughing and makes the victim feel generally week.
(c) Hydrocyanic Acid - A colorless liquid which smells like almond or
a cherrystone, although this odor is very weak. It affects the
victim's blood end nervous system. When inhaled, it causes numb-
nose in the motth, headache, heartache, nausea and vomiting.
Later, breathing becomes irregular, the victim goes into convul-
sions, loses consciousness and dies.
(d) Br ombenzylcyanide - A cloudy-red, oily liquid with a pleasant and.
at the same time, irritating almond odor. It causes eye irritation,
or burning, and sharp pain in the eyes. It givesrthe victim a
photo phobia. The eyes become red and puffed up. Soon after the
victim gets out of the gassed area, all of the gas effects dis-
appear.
(e) Diphenylcyanarein - A poisonous smoke which affects upper breathing
^rgans. Prolonged exposure to this gee will. cause death. First
symptoms are irritation of the nose and throat. It causes sneezing
and pain in the chest, awe and the gums. These irritation. con-
tinue to get progresalvely worse for about an hour after the victim
leaves the gemmed area, and the effects disappear only after about
six hours from the time the victim was exposed to the gassed area.
(f) Tabun or *TO" Liquid - A dark oal..
__
most odorless. Tabun is very persistentugas.a like its
o*iginsl qualities for several months in below freezing temperatures.
For example, if arrayed in the autumn before snowfall, and later
covered with snow, talon will be just as poisonous in the, spring
when .he snow melts away. A drop of tabun on bare skin will burn
the f'.esh to the bone. Its vapor causes irritation in the eyes,
nose and throat. The slightest amount, when taken internally
will cause serious stomach trouble.
Tabun can be spread by mines, artillery shells, aerial bombe or
aircraft spray tanks. 50X1-HUM
(g) Lewisite - A brown oily liquid which smells like geraniums. It is
classified as a persistent gas. Lewisite causes a akin rash simi-
lar to that caused by mustard gas but a little more serious n
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There are several channels through which personnel are, funneled into
the chemical warfare service. One of these channels is when VVS re-
-eives young officers directly from the military chemical schools and
academies. Another channel is the reclassification of VVS officers
from other branches of the Vi1S. In the first e?imple, the candidates
to the military chemical schools and academies are selected from
volunteers of the various branches of military service by the com-
manders of these volunteers. They are also selected from the civilian
volunteers who apply for such schools prior to reaching draft age-
Upon completion of their training, the school assigns graduating
officers to the various commands and branches of the military ser-
vice. Of course it is necessary to keep in mind that the Chief of
Staff of Military Personnel in Moscow supplies the school with quotas
of personnel to be assigned to various services and commands,,
The reclassification of officers only occurs when the demand for
officers in the chemical warfare service is greater than the supply.
In such cases, the VVS comrand decides on the nu*ber of officers to
be retrained for CW service and the school decides on the qualifica-
tions of the candidates.
Another procedure for channeling personnel into the CW service is
worked out by the Officer Personnel Section. The Directorate of Air
Force Personnel sends a directive to the Personn3' Section of the
Air Army to select a given number of candidates for chemical school.
This directive will show the candidates' qualifications. The same
procedure is followed down the line to the Corps, Division and Regi-
ment. At times, the Personnel Section of the Air Division will select
the necessary candidates but, in most cases, it will. direct its sub-
ordinate units to do the selecting, in which case the Regimental
Commander finally decides who to send. Only the candidates who agree
to sudh a reassignment are selected, and later interviewed by each
higher Headnuarters up to the Air Army in order to determine the
candidates' desires and qualifications.
The military rank of candidates from the regiment are from Junior
Lieutenant tr Captain inclusive. After finishing the retraining courses,
these officers receive the following assignments: Chief of CW of the
regiment, Chief of OW of separate Air Teehnioai Division sari Chief of
Chemical Section of the Air ArsW Depot. These officers exercise very
little authority and do not have much of a chance for promotion beyond
the rank of Captain.
for all entigas training ^nd for chemical equipment in the regiment.
The Chief of Chemical Warfare Service in the Separate Air Technical
Division supervises instruction of all personnel in the Air Technical.
Division end the OQATB' (Senerete Air Technical Batte.]ion) on the
subject of antigas procedure.
In the OATS* there are two NCOs who guide the rest of the personnel in
the antigas procedures. These NCOs are part of the complement of the
airfield maintenance platoon of the Airfield Company. The Chief of CW
Service of the Air Army is responsible for chemical training and defense
of all units of the Air Ar,.-v.
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some officers are
acquired by coseissioning graduates from vario.s institutes who majored
in chemistry. While still in school, the students are given deferment
provided they take the required courses. After graduation, they go
into the Air Force and are given direct commissions.
chiefs of OW Services receive command instruction,
relative to CM, already from their immediate commanders. For example, the
Chief of Chemical Warfare Service of the Air Regiment receives him instruc-
tions from the oo?ander of the regiment, and the Chief of CW Service of
the Air Army receives his from the commander of the air army.
Me channels for disseminating information of a technical nature are
from the Chief of OW at higher Hqs to the Chief of CW at lower headquar-
ters.
There are no special chemical warfare service units in the regimen:.
Looting of toxics is done by the armament specialists under the super-
vision of the Chief of "" Service of the regiment. Uses same armament
specialists set the fuses on chemical bombs, load the aircraft and
otherwise handle all such equipment. In the air depots of the air armies
Bali tnd personnel work in the chemical section under the supervision of
either the chief or his assistant, both of whom are chemical specialists.
These enlisted personnel, however, perform other duties not connected
with the ehesrioal warfare service.
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There is no connection between the VVS Chemical Warfare Service and the
Soviet A Chemical Warfare Service up to and including the air any.
the existence of such F connection above the air
srrq ere a itary chemical institution such as the Volsk High-
er Chemical School for Officers, which is under the Directorate of the 50X1-HUM
Soviet Army, officers of the etr force will also be found. The relation-
ship among the officers of different branches is norms].
The Chief of CW of the Separate Air Depot in the Air Army and his
assistant are engaged in keepiretrack of all the incoming and outgoing
OW weapnn^ and equipment. They supervise the loading, unloading and
proper storage of said weapons and equipment.
The Chief of CW Service of VVS is responsible for chemical training and
defense of all units in the VVS. To receive an essigraent as Chief of
CW in the Air Army of VVS, the officer must first go through the other
CW Service positions in lower commands.
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details of the orgafisation of the chemical
o case o e a army'. The air army d(,^q not have a -pirate
chemical warehouse, but rather a warehouse in which there is a
chemical sen+4en, Thom m?ntlmr carrier ^v^r thing that pertains tc the
M- e.ggiga. The Chief of the CW Berries of the air arm is respon-
sible RE hem Mn and several enlisted
pars onne their functions consist 50X1-HUM
of mainta proper race s o eq at and weapons, seeing to
it that everything is properly stored, and preventing a catastrophy
which could easily occur in such a warehouse of chemicals.
The Volsk Chemical Warfare Center is a CW school for officers of CV
services in the Arse, Navy and the Air Force. This school is under
the control of the Directorate of Military Schools. There is
rm+,& fnLnOty for ex.-h n? the three services mentioned a.
The length of
the courses for the Air Force personnel is one year; a ten months
The air regiment receives all its CW supplies and weapons from the
Separate Air Technical Battalion. The SAT Battalion receives its
supplies and weapons iron the Air Technical Division, and the ATD
receives them from the air army, while the air army receives them
from either the central VVS depot or the factory, depending on
which of the two is closer to the Air Army.
Such items as gas masks, impregnated coveralls, `mpregnated capes,
impregnated stockings, etc, are requisitioned by the Chief of the
OW Service of the air regiment. He sends his requisition to the
Chief of Military Depot OATH (Separate Air Technical Batt: lion),
stating the number and the sizes of equipment needed. The Chief.
of OATH, however, does not fill this requisition in its entirety,
but merely sends out the gas masks and holds the rest of the equip-
ment for issue at the outbreak of war, or when there is a good in-
dication that war is imminent. The OATH receives its supplies from
the OATD (Separate Air Technical Division) and the OATD receives its
supplies from 4.he air army. The Chief of CW Service in the air army
sends his requisition to the Chief of C14 Service of the VVS who in
turn forwards this requisition to that air army which, according to
its records, can satisfy this requisition.
At the present time, the OLTB and the OATD depots do not carry in
stock such CW weapons as bombs or gases. In peace time only the
depots of the Air Amory will have such weapons in stock. Only when
there is a definite danger of an enemy attack, or when the Soviet
Union is planning to start a war, will the air army be inet~ueted
to make shipments of these weapons to the lower units.
Air regiments will be supplied with CW weapons ooly on the basis of a
decision made by a higher cams' .
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of schooling and two other months spent in examinations and reas-
signments. The military ranks of Air Force chemical warfare students
CW Service officers who attended this school, [=the[ rmy Service
candidates rank up to and including Colonels.
the curriculum of this CW center,
includu the Coll wing:
(a) Political training - go hours
(b) Tactical training - Hours unknown
(
) T
c
echnical training -
(d C
hemistry training -
(
) P
e
hysical training - 80 hours
Meteorological a - Hours unknown
g Drill (line training) n s
h))))) Military directives & regulations - Hours unknown
L
~ In an air regiment, the CW training consists of about 20 hours per year
T
,
given during the ground and combat training period. About 2 hours of
practice in the use of the gee mask; which each airman must always have,
is also given. Within the 20 hours mentioned above is included t
i
i
ra
n
ng
in the gas chamber which is conducted as follows* A gee chamber, con-
sisting of two rooms, is prepared. The first room would have just enough
gas to afford detection and the second room would have a full strength
concentration. The troops are brought into the first room and the cam-
mend is given to put on gas masks. Then they are marched into the second
room with full concentration of gas where they remain 5 to 10 and some-
times more minutes. This is done once a year under supervision of the
Regimental Chwloal Warfare officer, and each soldier is later examined
by a doctor.
VAR500 is an air spray tank with a 500 liter capacity; VAS-1000 is a
spry tank with a 1000-liter msnacity. AL-2 is a special ampule filled
with incendiary liquid. A1-2u is the same thing only -lth a little
larger capacity. During World War II these two items were used exten-
sively by Soviet long-range aviation as incendiary bombs.
U AP-250 is a universal chemical spray tank with a 250-liter capacity;
U iAP-500 has a 500-liter capacity. Alp-100 is an air smoke tank with
a 100liter capacity. VAP-6M and VAP-4M are the im Quad tyne 6 and
improved type 4 air spray tan. 's. ZAP-S00..ti a. t!!r"sprayr.}, It coatsini
two different lioultiR which mite after -4z! ng with one another and
with the air as they are sprayed from this tank.
x25 is an air-chemical bomb weighing 25 hiloprams. p~A3-2O0 is a
kilogram air-chemical bomb, ?hIJ-300 is a 500-kilogram air-chemi-
eal
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Candidates for this school have to be high school graduates to qualify.
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The SVVS Command has been giving ry serious attention to CW porep ra-
tions, particularly since 1949 (excluding the World War II period). From
1945 to 1949 CW personnel were utilized for other type of duties; however,
this practice stopped in 1949, so that CW personnel could devote more
attention to the service for which they were trained. The leaders of CW
Service always say that the Soviet Union will never start chemical war-
fare, but it mist be ready to retaliate in the event the enemy starts
using poison gas first.
VAP-500 could not be used on Soviet jet fighter aircraft, but smaller
tanks, such as VAP-250 could be used.
All military personnel are equipped with gas masks which they are
required to have with them during working hours and readily available
during off-duty hours. Other items of protective equipment available
at all Soviet airbases are impregnated capes; impregnated stockings,
impregnated coveralls, impregnated or rubber gloves, and rubber boots.
Chemical bombs, mines, artillery shells or other containers of CW
toxics, are marked with various combinations of colored markings:
such as stripes, rings or crosses. These markings denote the type of
CW agent used
In the event of ohomiool warfare, the Soviet Air Force will not d.nl.nnate
any spec units to oaM out OW missions but will use its regular combat
units.
Fong-lame Aviation personnel are subject to the sane amount of CW train-
ing as any other SRS personnel, The organization of CW service is also
the same as in any other unit.
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After World War II, VVS personnel became acquainted with be.cterio-
logical warfare through the Soviet cress, classes during combat
training and throw lector, iven the senior medical
the air re invent.
a BW Department to prepare plans for conducting
bacteriological warfare against the Soviet Union,
Soviet newspapers were used as source material the
doctors who conducted these classes. The 1-4- n4' these classes
pointed out they nec.'nelty of being very careful because deadly bacteria
cad be contracted through water, raw vegetables or any other food. It
can.also be contracted by wearing affected clothing. "For this reason,
it is very Important that each soldier conduct himself strictly in ac-
cordance with official directives of the WS." According to the lec-
turers, this bacteria can be spread by means of air-bombs, artillery
shelle and mate other ways.
There was never anyth said about the ca abilit of the Soviet Union
to retaliate in kind. the Soviet Union
is working hard on the develo nt of BW so that it can retaliate if
the enemy starts BW first. the Soviet Union
wi]'. never be the first to start either bacteriological or chemical
warfare.
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The large voluse of Soviet propaganda regarding BW can be interpreted
as followso
(a)
To arouse, in'the people of the Soviet Union, s hatred
by sakiag them believe that is preparing a mass
tion of the Russian people.
.onseq n , it is necessary for the Soviet Union to neglect the
production of consumers' goods and concentrate more on the pro-
duction of war materiel so that the people of the Soviet Union can
I' he Soviet Union is planning to start bacteriological warfare,
the ern stant ,prap?gonda world make it sIer to
place the blame
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The present technique of defense against chemical warfare is divided
in two parts; a collective defense and an individual defense. To
the collective defense will belong such things as hermetically eealed
shelters equipped with filtered veLtilation.
The individual preservation of life is accomplished by means of gas
masks and impregnated clothing described earlier in this report. A
majority of the city population, particularly the factory workers,
have personal gas masks. Even children, whose parents can afford to
buy them, have gas masks.
There arc two types of gas masks in the Soviet Union. One is the
conventional filter type and the other is the type which requires
the use of an oxygen tank. The oxygen tank-type of gas mask in
safer as it eliminates the possibility of breathing improperly
filtered air. On the other hand, the amount of oxygen these tanks
can hold is limited to about two hours use.
The following are channels of CW Service organization in the Soviet
Union.
CHIEF OF CW
MWICE OF THE '
CHID CE' CW SECTION
C!' THE CEE1 AL
VV8 DEPOT
OW SECTION C! THE
MAIN AIR DEPOT
CF W AIR AM
CHI