Lone Sentry: How to Identify War Gases (U.S. WWII Intelligence Bulletin, November 1943)

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"How to Identify War Gases" from Intelligence Bulletin, November 1943

[Intelligence Bulletin Cover] The following article from the November 1943 issue of the Intelligence Bulletin reports on how to identify WWII war gases from the military forces of Germany, Italy, Japan, U.S. and France.

[DISCLAIMER: The following text is taken from the U.S. War Department Intelligence Bulletin publication. As with all wartime intelligence information, data may be incomplete or inaccurate. No attempt has been made to update or correct the text. Any views or opinions expressed do not necessarily represent those of the website.]

HOW TO IDENTIFY WAR GASES

The name, symbol, and other means of identifying the common war gases made for the armed forces of Germany, Japan, Italy, France, and the United States are given in the comparison chart shown on the following pages. For reasons of security, the other gases of the United States and the Axis countries are not listed.

The chart, compiled by the U.S. Chemical Warfare Service, is designed primarily to help in the identification of gases used by the enemy, and to afford a means for quick comparison with U.S. gases of the same nature. French and Italian gases are included because of the probability that the Germans possess gases manufactured by these countries.

In marking gas shells, the Germans may use a cross or a band to mean the same thing.

WAR GAS INFORMATION CHART

Common name Physiological classification Odor Tactical class Symbols, names, and shell markings of—

German French Italian Japanese United States

Adamsite Sternutator Faint aromatic Harassing Adamsit 1 white band Yellow body, red nose. Adamusaito: 1 red band. DM: 1 red band.

Arsine Systemic poison Faint phosphorus Casualty 1 green band --- Yellow body, red nose. Arushin: 1 blue band. SA.

Bromacetone Lacrimator Old leaves-bitter Harassing B-Stoff Martonite or No. 9. --- --- BA.

Brombenzylcyanide Lacrimator Sour or bitter sweet Harassing T-Stoff: 1 white band. Camite or No. 21. --- Buromushian-benjuri: 1 green band. BBC.

Benzyl bromide Lacrimator Aromatic-watercress Harassing T-Stoff Cyclite or No. 14. --- Buromuben-jiru ---

Cyanogen bromide Lacrimator Piquant-bitter Casualty Ce-Stoff --- --- Buromushian ---

Chloracetophenone Lacrimator Apple blossoms Harassing T-Stoff: 1 white band. --- Cloroccetafenone: Yellow body, 1 white band. Kuroruasetofuenon: 1 green band. CN.

Chlorine Lung irritant Bleaching powder Casualty Chlor: 1 green band. Bertholite --- Enso C1: 1 green band.

Chlorpicrin Lung irritant Flypaper Casualty Klop: 1 green band. Aquinite Cloropicrina Kurorupikurin: 1 yellow band (?). PS: 2 green bands.

Diphenylchlorarsine Sternutator Shoe polish Harassing Clark I: 1 blue band. Rationite or No. 16: 1 white band. Difenilclorarsina: Yellow body, red nose. Jifuenirukuroruarushin: 1 red band. DA: 1 red band.

Diphenylcyanarsine Sternutator Bitter almonds Harassing Clark II or Cyan Clark: 2 blue bands. 1 white band Red nose Jifuenirushianarushin: 1 red band. DC: 1 red band.

Diphosgene Lung irritant Musty hay Casualty Perstoff or K-Stoff: 2 green bands. Surpalite Difosgene Jihosugen: 1 yellow band (?). DP: 2 green bands.

Ethyliodoacetate Lacrimator Pear juice Harassing Jodessigester --- --- --- ---

Ethyldichlorarsine Vesicant and lung irritant Biting-fruity Casualty Dick:3 green bands. --- 1 green band. --- ED: 2 green bands.

Hydrocyanic acid Systemic poison (paralyzant) Bitter almonds Casualty Blausäure: 1 green band. Vincennite or Manganite. 1 red band Seisan: 1 brown band. AC.

Lewisite Vesicant Geraniums Casualty --- --- Lewisite Ruisaito: 1 white and 2 yellow bands. L: 2 green bands.

Lewisite and mustard Vesicant --- Casualty Winterlost --- --- 1 white and 2 yellow bands. HL: 2 green bands.

Methyldichlorarsine Vesicant and lung irritant --- Casualty Methly Dick: 1 yellow band. --- --- --- MD.

Mustard Vesicant Garlic-onion Casualty Lost or Senf: 2 yellow bands. Yperite or No. 20 Iprite: Yellow body, 1 green band. Masutado or Iperitto: 1 white and yellow bands. H: 2 green bands.

Nitrogen mustards Vesicant Faint fish-soft soap Casualty Stickstofflost: 1 yellow band. --- --- --- HN.

Phenyldichlorarsine Vesicant and lung irritant Bitter almonds Casualty Pfiffikus: 1 white band. Sternite or No. 22. Fenildiclorarsina --- PD.

Phosgene Lung irritant. Musty hay Casualty D-Stoff: 1 green band Collongite or No. 5. Fosgene: Yellow body, 1 white band. Hosugen: 1 yellow band. CG: 1 green band.

Xylyl bromide Lacrimator Pungent-lilacs Harassing T-Stoff: 1 green band. --- --- --- ---

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