Phosphorus ammunition. Why the Pentagon does not give up phosphorus ammunition Use of white phosphorus type of weapon

At the beginning of September 2018, the Russian Ministry of Defense issued a statement that on September 8, US Air Force aircraft bombed the village of Hajin in the Syrian province of Deir ez-Zor. The raid was reported to have involved two F-15 fighter-bombers using white phosphorus munitions. It is worth noting that white phosphorus ammunition, also known as Willie Pete (an acronym for white phosphorus), is prohibited by the 1977 Additional Protocol to the 1949 Geneva Convention - they are prohibited from being used in cases where civilians may be endangered. According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, the use of such ammunition led to severe fires.

The US Department of Defense denied this statement by its Russian colleagues. Pentagon spokesman Sean Robertson noted that military units there is no such ammunition in the area. However, as the experience of the last few decades shows, the armed forces of the United States and its allies use phosphorus ammunition with enviable regularity in military conflicts. Earlier in June, the coalition issued a statement calling its US-led military action "justified" and that phosphorus munitions were being used only for camouflage, smoke screens and tags.

It is worth noting that the United States and Israel did not sign the Additional Protocols to the Geneva Convention for the Protection of Victims of War of 1949 in 1977. Here we are in the 21st century strongest army The world is in no hurry to part with something like this. The Pentagon insists that white phosphorus belongs to the class of conventional weapons, and not to chemical weapons. And indeed it is, this substance does not fall under the prohibition convention chemical weapons and the United States is not going to abandon a proven remedy that has been used for more than a century in recent wars. By refusing to sign the Additional Agreements to the Geneva Convention for the Protection of War Victims of 1949, the United States probably foresaw the specifics of future armed conflicts, in which it will often be difficult to distinguish military objectives from peaceful ones. During the same conflict in Syria, terrorists very often hide behind the population as a human shield, placing observation and command posts, firing positions directly in residential buildings, in residential high-rise buildings.

Phosphorus munitions are a type of incendiary ammunition filled with white phosphorus or white phosphorus-based incendiaries mixed with other substances belonging to the group of self-igniting incendiary substances that burn using the oxygen contained in the air. Exist Various types phosphorus ammunition, among which the most common are artillery shells, mortar mines, aerial bombs, as well as missiles and rockets, and even hand grenades. White phosphorus was also often used to create homemade mine explosive devices.

Application white phosphorus for military purposes has a history of more than a century. It was first used in the 19th century by fighters for Irish independence against English troops. But the truly massive use of such ammunition became only during the First World War, when the parties to the conflict used hand grenades, shells and aerial bombs filled with phosphorus. Incendiary bullets filled with white phosphorus were also actively used. They were mainly used for firing at air targets. And in 1916, the British military received incendiary grenades filled with white phosphorus at their disposal.

The new weapons, which appeared on the battlefield in sufficient quantities, effectively hit infantry located not only in open areas, but also hidden in trenches, concrete fortifications, dugouts, literally burning to the ground not only enemy fortifications, but also entire populated areas. Against the background of already existing incendiary substances of that time, white phosphorus stood out favorably not only for its special destructive power, but also because its use had a strong demoralizing effect on the enemy - many soldiers did not know what they were and how they could counteract it.

The combustion temperature of incendiary ammunition with a charge of white phosphorus and a flammable substance is 800-900 degrees Celsius. The combustion process is accompanied copious discharge acrid and thick white smoke, continuing until the access to oxygen is blocked or all the phosphorus is burned out. Such ammunition is good at hitting openly located manpower and equipment, and also leads to the emergence of numerous fires and individual fires, which divert forces and resources for extinguishing and cause additional material damage to the enemy, limit visibility on the battlefield and complicate movement. Additional damaging factor Poisonous and asphyxiating gases formed in the fires of white phosphorus become toxic and suffocating gases. Extinguishing white phosphorus is incredibly difficult - the flame resists water very well and is able to burn even under water.

Test explosion of a phosphorus bomb over the USS Alabama in 1921

When phosphorus comes into contact with the skin, it causes severe burns, even burning tissue to the bone; such wounds are very painful for a person and can often lead to death. Inhaling a burning mixture may cause lung burns. To treat such wounds, well-trained medical personnel are needed, who themselves may receive phosphorus wounds when working with victims. The use of phosphorus ammunition has a demoralizing and psychological effect on the enemy.

During World War II, the use of white phosphorus continued. Thus, the ammunition of the American Sherman medium tanks included smoke shells containing this substance. The versatility of using these ammunition is clearly demonstrated in feature film"Rage." White phosphorus was also actively used as one of the filling options for incendiary bombs. So the Luftwaffe was armed with a 185-kg aerial bomb Brand C 250A, loaded with 65 kg of white phosphorus.

Subsequently, ammunition with white phosphorus was used by the Americans during the Korean War, in Vietnam, and during the Iraq War. For example, in 2004, the US Air Force actively used white phosphorus bombs to break the resistance of the recalcitrant Iraqi city of Fallujah. Then video footage of characteristic milky-white explosions in residential urban areas and photographs of terrible burns received local residents, got into funds mass media. Ultimately, Pentagon press secretary Lieutenant Colonel Barry Venable had to admit the use of such ammunition. According to him, white phosphorus can be used as an incendiary weapon, but only against militants.

Moreover, in some cases, ammunition with white phosphorus is used by the American military both as a means of intimidation and psychological impact, in order to smoke opponents out of hiding. Barry Venable explained that the combined effect of the explosions of fire and smoke has a terrifying effect on enemy soldiers, forcing them to leave their shelters in panic, finding themselves in the effective range of various weapons. The Americans acted in a similar way in Syria, for example, during the massive bombing of the city of Raqqa in 2017, which was almost completely destroyed during airstrikes. At that time, the fact of the use of phosphorus ammunition was confirmed by experts from the Human Rights Watch organization, noting the unlawful actions of the American military. But the United States, however, is clearly not going to give up such weapons.

An A-1E attack aircraft drops a phosphorus bomb during the Vietnam War, 1966.

“Firstly, it is necessary to understand that incendiary weapons are extremely effective, versatile and allow you to fight almost all types of ground targets,” Sergei Sudakov, a professor at the Academy of Military Sciences, told RIA reporters. – And Americans are extremely reluctant to give up effective weapons. Secondly, it is very expensive and difficult to dispose of old white phosphorus ammunition with an expired shelf life - it is easier to “recycle” them for some city in the desert. Third, the United States continues to work on developing incendiary weapons for future wars. Their use of phosphorus bombs is, in fact, just field tests. The US military is looking at how to use such ammunition, how to modify and enhance it, and how effective it is. They demonstrate a purely practical approach: you can invest hundreds of billions of dollars in new and promising military technologies, or you can invest a million in weapons that have already been well tested and tested in practice, significantly increasing their destructive power.”

Sergei Sudakov recalled that the United States is in no hurry to dispose of its arsenals of chemical warfare agents. The United States plans to complete the disposal of chemical weapons only by 2023, while Russia completed the disposal of chemical weapons arsenals inherited from the USSR back in September 2017. Meanwhile, in the United States, about 10 percent of existing chemical weapons remain undisposed of. According to Sudakov, the Americans can form a base of prohibited ammunition - a kind of reserve that can be used in “ big war"to gain an advantage over an enemy who has refused such weapons. At the same time, the Americans are serving bad example and allies who also use prohibited weapons. Over the years, ammunition with white phosphorus in the Middle East was used by Israel and Great Britain.

Information sources:
https://ria.ru/defense_safety/20180910/1528225165.html
https://www.izh.kp.ru/daily/26243.3/3124150
https://lenta.ru/articles/2005/11/16/white
Open source materials

From the beginning of 1942, Soviet aviation stopped using phosphorus ammunition for some time, but this did not affect the development and implementation of other ideas for using phosphorus for military purposes. All sides participating in the war, in one way or another, used phosphorus-containing mixtures and compositions, using such properties of this element as the ability to spontaneously ignite and form thick white toxic smoke, less often - the brightness of the flame and its good visibility. During the Second World War, dozens of compounds and mixtures containing phosphorus for various purposes were created in different countries. There are hundreds of all kinds of evidence of the use of such ammunition. However, as mentioned earlier, most uses of white phosphorus in World War II involved formulations in which it was only one of the components. Therefore, further we will limit the concept of “phosphorus” and will consider as such only those ammunition, compositions and mixtures where the content of this element was more than five percent. Only Soviet aviation (and, possibly, Japanese) used granulated white phosphorus “in its pure form” (and this is somewhat arbitrary, since the phosphorus itself, filled into VAPs, contained up to 30 percent of various additives).

In the winter of 42-43, some Soviet partisans used special composition, dubbed “guerrilla soap.” It really looked like laundry soap, although it contained up to 30% white phosphorus. And in the event of an inspection by German soldiers or policemen, one could even lightly soap the bar, showing that there was nothing dangerous in it.

The idea of ​​this composition most likely arose due to the fact that white phosphorus itself, since the First World War, as a rule, was not used in its pure form, but with the addition of so-called plasticizers - special additives that provide phosphorus not only with the necessary plastic properties but more importantly, the ability to burn evenly and quite slowly. In the Entente countries, natural rubber was most often used for this, which was considered the most suitable for this purpose; in Germany, various synthetic compounds obtained from coal tars were used. Often, in addition to plasticizers, phosphorus was mixed with sulfur. Because of these additives, the name “yellow phosphorus” was even common at that time, which was usually used to describe white phosphorus mixed with various additives (it was “yellow phosphorus” that was used to fill various incendiary phosphorus ammunition - bullets, shells, grenades). Ammunition with yellow phosphorus did not require harsh storage conditions and could be used more widely. In the Soviet Union, various substances were used as plasticizers for granulated white phosphorus - dibutyl phthalate, petroleum jelly, wax, and artificial rubbers. With too many plasticizers, the ability of phosphorus to spontaneously ignite in air decreased sharply (especially in cold weather). However, when heated, this mixture still ignited. It was this property that was used in the “partisan soap”. For example, it could be hidden unnoticed in the axlebox of a steam locomotive, or, even better, in a wagon with ammunition. The main thing is that the fire occurred while the train was moving...

Of course, “partisan soap” was extremely dangerous, primarily due to the toxic properties of phosphorus. And it should have been used within 24 hours after being removed from the special package.

It is worth adding to this that the invention of “partisan soap” is usually attributed to Anatoly Trofimovich Kachugin, under whose leadership recipes for many were also developed. incendiaries, including Molotov cocktails and KS liquids.

Application of phosphorus incendiary bombs German aviation, as already mentioned, was limited by complex technical requirements for their storage and transportation. In front-line conditions against ground targets this was often simply impossible. But naval aviation used them, although infrequently, mainly for operations against transport ships of sea convoys.

Moreover, most of the incendiary bombs used for this purpose (B-1 E, B-2 EZ, B-4, B-10) were still thermite. But two types of bombs in service with the Luftwaffe, the 41-kilogram S-50 and the 185-kilogram S-250, used liquid incendiary mixtures. And if one of the S-50 equipment options does not a large number of white phosphorus was contained in the ignition ampoule, then the modification “S-250 A” can well be called phosphorus ammunition - it was filled with a mixture including a solution of phosphorus in carbon disulfide. It was developed in the fall of 1942. Such a bomb had to be prepared for use immediately before departure, since the mixture was extremely active and long-term storage corroded the body. Finding reliable information about these weapons is a task for future generations of military historians. It is only known that such bombs were used during massive raids on Arctic convoys. There is practically no accurate information about this in German sources. And quite frequent mentions in English-language memoirs are very unreliable. For example, when thermite bombs were sprayed from fire hoses, large amounts of thick, acrid white smoke were produced, which was often considered evidence of their phosphorus content. In fact, the smoke was formed due to the evaporation and decomposition of organic fillers that were mixed into thermite mixtures (usually naphthalene, rubber, dibutyl phthalate). And the brightness of combustion (also characteristic of white phosphorus) was explained by the presence of magnesium in such mixtures.

There is unreliable information about the use of S-250 A bombs by German aircraft in April 1942 during raids on Murmansk, where most of the ships from allied convoys arrived. At this time, the heroic city was constantly subjected to fierce bombing. There were severe fires in the city, sometimes destroying entire neighborhoods. However, if phosphorus bombs were actually used there, then most likely they were originally intended for ships, but for one reason or another they were dropped on residential areas (it was forbidden to return to the airfield with such a bomb). As already mentioned, thermite bombs are considered more effective for destroying cities.

At the same time, there is more reliable information about the use of white phosphorus by Soviet attack aircraft operating against ships supplying German and Romanian troops cut off from the main forces on the Taman Peninsula. Since January 1943, sea communications between Kerch and Taman Peninsula have become of decisive importance. Thanks to the short distance, the Germans were sometimes able to conduct up to 3 convoys per day. Accordingly, the activity of Soviet aviation increased; raids were carried out continuously throughout the short journey between ports. However, patrol ships, high-speed landing barges (LBAs) of the F type, self-propelled ferries of the Siebel type, and other German small-tonnage transports were well equipped with air defense fire weapons. In addition, they had good maneuverability, and during air raids they were grouped, forming a dense curtain of fire. The transports provided air cover for significant forces of fighters. The Pe-2 and A-20 (Boston) bombers, as well as the Il-2 attack aircraft, suffered heavy losses, and the effectiveness of their strikes was low, especially at the beginning of 43. Maybe that's why here Soviet command It was decided to use phosphorus again. The book by V. Perov and O. Rastrenin, “Flying Tank,” gives an example of one such attack using VAP-250 air-draining devices.

“At 6.35 on August 10 aerial reconnaissance The radio reported that in the area of ​​Panagia - Cape Zhelezny Rog, 8 enemy reconnaissance bases with cargo and manpower were discovered, heading towards Anapa in a two-wake column guarded by four SKA at the head of the column. To attack the convoy, 7 Il-2s of the 8th GSR flew out ( leading Mr. Vartanyan) under the cover of 10 Yak-1 of the 9th IAP (leading Mr. Azarov). At 7.55 in the lake area. From a height of 900 m, attack aircraft attacked the BDB (coordinates 45°N and 36°38"E) from a steep glide at an angle of 25-30°. The first approach was carried out at order of battle"front" of aircraft from the starboard side. Both attacks were carried out at an angle of 80-90° to the ships' heading. After the attack, the attack aircraft made an “all of a sudden” turn and attacked the convoy from the left side from a height of 25-50 m. The BDB was hit by FAB-50, AO-25, ROFS-132, RS-82 bombs, machine-gun and cannon fire and granulated phosphorus. During the attack, the enemy convoy maneuvered, changing course and movement, and rearranged itself into a checkerboard formation. As a result of the strike, one BDB and one SKA were sunk, two BDBs caught fire, and people jumped from them into the water. While retreating from the target, the group was attacked by 4 Bf 109s and 21 Fw 190s, however good management and the interaction of attack aircraft with cover fighters in battle protected the group from losses.”

Similarly, Soviet naval aviation also used granular white phosphorus in the Baltic at the very end of the war, attacking transports evacuating German troops from Courland.

During the landing in Normandy, German fortifications were fired upon by naval shells, as well as mines from 81-mm mortars filled with a phosphorus-containing mixture. It is known that fires caused by such ammunition caused severe panic, but detailed information about this could not be found.

The ability of phosphorus to form thick white smoke turned out to be in demand in smoke ammunition. Moreover, in allied documents from the Second World War, white phosphorus is much more often mentioned in this role than as an incendiary weapon. It was used on a particularly large scale in naval theaters. In this case, as a rule, the term “white phosphorus” is used, although in reality these were complex compositions containing no more than 20% of this element. Some of them were similar to "guerrilla soap", but most of them fell into the category of so-called "liquid smoke". In its pure form, phosphorus sinks in water, and the “liquid smoke” spreads like an oily film. The phosphorus dissolved in it was apparently not enough to cause spontaneous combustion, since most such ammunition had ignition devices.

In the report of the American Admiral Henry Hewitt, who commanded the naval forces during the landing in Sicily, there is this example: “... Of particular note is the use of smoke screens during the landing at Joss early in the morning on D-day. The destroyer Wolsey laid a very effective smoke screen on the left flank of one of the areas, using 127 mm white phosphorus shells. They completely covered the bridgehead and landing barges from enemy batteries firing from Licata..."

Another example of this use of white phosphorus is sometimes referred to as the chemical modification of American aircraft rocket"M-8". They were used quite often, and, according to American sources, “exclusively” for setting up smoke screens. Warhead such a 114.3-mm rocket was filled with approximately two kilograms of a mixture containing dissolved phosphorus - the so-called “FS liquid smoke”. Due to the series technical difficulties Aviation could not use these missiles, so they were launched from ground-based installations.

The use of a special incendiary bomb called the “Red Blob” by the Allies is still very controversial among military historians. American sources, as a rule, emphasize its “signaling” purpose. Fast aircraft dropped it to mark the location of targets for large four-engine bombers. Against the black or dark gray background of darkened German cities, the site of the bomb's impact was clearly visible thanks to the bright red flame (hence the name). In open areas, the “red drop” covered several dozen with fire. square meters. The combustion of its products could be sustained for at least half an hour. When it hit a building, its effectiveness exceeded that of thermite bombs - the building was completely destroyed. German memoirs often emphasize the special cruelty of the Allies towards civilians in connection with the use of these particular bombs. At the same time, on both sides the term “white phosphorus” is often (if not persistently) used, although it generally does not burn with a red flame. However, this bomb can still be called a phosphorus bomb, and if it were damaged, the consequences for people really should have been terrible: it was filled with a liquid mixture that included not only ordinary thickeners, but also phosphorus dissolved in carbon disulfide and benzene. The use of phosphorus in this case was explained (by the Americans) by the need to make the work of fire brigades, who immediately went to the site of the fall of the “red drops,” as difficult as possible.

Another similar bomb, “Pink Pansy” (“Pink Pansy” - its flame looked like a pink flower from the bomber cockpit), contrary to some evidence, did not contain phosphorus.

Of course, this is not a complete overview of all the uses of phosphorus in World War II. Surely there were many more of them, and primarily in the Far Eastern and Pacific theaters of military operations. In general, most of the legends about the use of phosphorus are concentrated there and are associated with the Japanese. But this already requires a separate study. Let us mention only one such invention. Mentions of him are repeatedly found in the testimonies of combatants.

At the final stage of the war, the Japanese widely used anti-aircraft shells with a composition containing phosphorus. The thick white clouds it formed in the air posed a serious difficulty for the maneuvers of American dive bombers. And this is not just a matter of limited visibility. Components of the smoke mixture drawn through the Helldivers' air intakes could damage the engine.

In Peter Smith’s book “Dive Bombers,” when describing the attack on Yamato in April 1945, there is the following fragment: “...At approximately 12.50 Hornet planes attacked the Japanese, followed by Essex planes.” The first to attack were the dive bombers, who began their dive from an altitude of 6,200 feet. They tracked the Yamato using radar. About 30 seconds before the start, the Yamato turned starboard towards the attackers.

The Japanese fired hotly from all guns. The explosions of heavy shells were usually black, but about one tenth of the shells produced white phosphorus smoke. The pilots saw several dirty yellow clouds, and some almost collided with glowing red balls about an inch in diameter. During the attack, the Japanese ships managed to maintain formation, remaining in their places even after being hit. Shooting was carried out only at attacking aircraft, and not at those who were leaving or preparing to attack ... "

Unfortunately, there is no exact data on the composition of the mixture used in these shells in English-language sources, so this issue awaits the participation of specialists capable of working with Japanese sources. The topic of the Japanese using phosphorus ammunition (including against civilians) is quite extensive, and it is still waiting for its discoverers.

The human rights organization Human Rights Watch accused the Syrian democratic forces in the use of white phosphorus during the battles for Raqqa. According to international observers, the use of incendiary weapons led to the death of dozens of civilians in the capital. Islamic State» ( terrorist organization, prohibited on the territory of Russia). The rebels received phosphorus shells from the United States. The Pentagon does not deny this fact, but department representatives insist: incendiary ammunition is used in Raqqa solely for camouflage and signaling. MIR 24 figured out why white phosphorus is so dangerous and why it is prohibited by international agreements.

Phosphorus ammunition began to be used in the 19th century. Irish terrorists who fought for the independence of their country were very fond of the dangerous substance. At the same time, phosphorus was banned by the St. Petersburg Declaration “On the abolition of the use of explosive and incendiary bullets.” The agreement was broken during the First World War when phosphorus was used as a weapon mass destruction. Both the Entente countries and the Triple Alliance resorted to barbaric methods of warfare.

During the interbellum period, the leading powers abandoned the production of incendiary shells. However, in the late 30s, the aggressive policies of Nazi Germany forced the Allies to return to the development of chemical weapons. During the war, phosphorus was used not only by the army, but also by ordinary partisans, who disguised the dangerous composition as ordinary soap.

In 1977, an additional protocol to the Geneva Convention was adopted, which finally banned the use of phosphorus in cases where its victims could be civilians. The US and Israel refused to sign the document. These states are often accused of violating the laws of war and using prohibited weapons.

Use of the AN-M47-Phosphorbombe 1966 in the Vietnam War
Photo: USAF, Wikipedia

In addition, experts point to the psychological factor of using phosphorus. The sight of a person covered with deep burns and who is difficult to help with anything is shocking to anyone. But also big threat represents how phosphorus can burn out entire residential areas. It is not easy to extinguish such a flame - water cannot completely block access to oxygen, which ignites the substance.

Unfortunately, no conventions have saved humanity from such terrible weapon like white phosphorus.

One of the tragic pages of recent times is Operation Anfal, which was carried out by the Iraqi military under the leadership of Saddam Hussein. To genocide the Kurdish population, the army repeatedly used a mixture of phosphorus, mustard gas and other toxic substances. Subsequently massacres civilians with chemical weapons became one of the formal reasons for the American invasion of Iraq and the execution of the dictator.

Not only the Middle East, but also the very heart of Europe - Yugoslavia - suffered from white phosphorus. During the siege of Sarajevo, the Bosnian Serbs repeatedly used incendiary munitions, which injured many civilians. Phosphorus charges in Sarajevo also destroyed the Institute of Oriental Studies, and most of the rare archive was irretrievably lost.

But the infamous siege of Iraqi Fallujah caused an even greater resonance. During the assault on the city, the US military repeatedly used white phosphorus in densely populated areas. Pentagon representatives initially denied the use of prohibited weapons, but soon enough the press secretary of the military department, Barry Venable, had to make an official statement. He admitted that the US Army used prohibited weapons, but only against the enemy. The military department then also recalled that Washington had not acceded to Protocol III and was not obliged to fulfill its requirements.

In 2006 israeli army used phosphorus against the people of Lebanon. It is difficult to provide exact data on casualties. The Jewish state does not deny the fact of the use of chemical weapons in the Arab Republic.

The IDF reused phosphorus in 2009 when it conducted Operation Cast Lead in the Gaza Strip. According to Western press, more than a hundred Palestinians became victims of incendiary shells.

Hamas militants also did not remain indifferent to white phosphorus. The substance was occasionally used to power Qassam rockets used by Palestinian resistance fighters to fire into Israeli territory during the 2009-2012 conflict.

Finally, 2016. Iraqi troops supported American forces begin the siege of Fallujah, which is now occupied by Islamic State terrorists. Phosphorus shells are being used again. About the victims among civilians in Iraq's second largest city has not yet been reported. Perhaps we will learn about them only after the end of the war.

Eduard Lukoyanov

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 last years phosphorus weapons were actively used only american army, 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 chemical compound very poisonous (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, water is used in large quantities (to reduce the temperature of the fire and convert phosphorus into solid state) or copper sulfate solution ( copper sulfate), and after extinguishing the phosphorus is covered 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, characteristic feature The use of this weapon results in charring of organic tissues, and when inhaling a burning mixture, burning out of the lungs.
For the treatment of inflicted similar weapons wounds requires medical personnel who have undergone appropriate training. Special literature notes that inexperienced and untrained doctors can also receive phosphorus wounds when working with affected personnel.

Military use of ammunition containing white phosphorus against targets located in or near cities and other settlements, prohibited according to 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.
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, Vietnam 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.

The use of white phosphorus munitions by air force aircraft of the international coalition led by the United States prompted an investigation. White phosphorus is one of the most inhumane weapons on Earth..

Why is white phosphorus dangerous?

White phosphorus is an extremely toxic substance that has several unpleasant properties. The first is that when burned, it softens, stretches and sticks stably to any surface.

Explosion phosphorus bomb. Photo: zonwar.ru

The second one ignites spontaneously in air and burns on the surface of clothing, skin and in the wound. By the way, it will burn in the wound until it is removed or the substance burns completely. It happened that particles of a substance lodged deep under the skin ignited right under the scalpel as soon as they gained access to oxygen. Its combustion temperature is 1200 degrees Celsius.

Third, white phosphorus is well absorbed into the blood, after which it affects the kidneys, liver, circulatory system. And the lethal dose for humans is only 0.05 - 0.15 grams.

Dangerous first aid

An unprepared person cannot provide assistance to a victim of white phosphorus; rather, he himself will receive burns from this toxic substance. Anyone who inhales white phosphorus vapor is practically doomed - damage to the upper respiratory tract occurs. In this case, a severe spasm often occurs, which leads to death.

The use of white phosphorus projectiles leads to big losses among the civilian population. After the ammunition ruptures, the fragments penetrate deeply into the body and it is often impossible to save the person.

Those affected by white phosphorus are characterized by “face-hands” syndrome, when a person tries to remove the burning mixture from the face with bare hands. As a result, the victim receives severe burns to the hands, which are accompanied by severe pain.

In what conflicts was it used?

White phosphorus has been widely used since World War I, where it was originally used in smoke grenades. For example, phosphorus ammunition was used by the Americans during the Vietnam and Korean wars, and by Russian troops in the first and second Chechen campaigns.

British soldiers made extensive use of phosphorus grenades during Falklands conflict, to destroy Argentine positions, during the Israeli-Lebanese conflict and others.

There were also frequent cases when two warring sides used white phosphorus, as, for example, was the case in Afghanistan. White phosphorus ammunition was used by the United States and the Taliban.

Is white phosphorus banned?

Not really. In 1977, additional protocols were adopted to the Geneva Convention for the Protection of Victims of War of 1949, prohibiting the use of white phosphorus ammunition if civilians were targeted. The US refused to sign it.

Also, in accordance with the Third Protocol to the UN Convention on Certain Weapons of 1980, incendiary weapons should not be used against civilians, and, in addition, it cannot be used against military targets that are located in an area where the civilian population is concentrated.

In other cases, the use of such bombs and shells is not prohibited. For example, Israel appealed to this when it attacked Hezbollah militants during the conflict in Lebanon in 2006. According to the Israeli military, all targets were in open areas.