[24], In its early statements regarding the Gaza War of 2008–2009, the Israeli military denied using WP entirely, saying "The IDF acts only in accordance with what is permitted by international law and does not use white phosphorus. M15 White Phosphorous grenade I would say that the most important difference between the two is that thermite contains its own oxidizer and cannot be smothered by isolating it from oxygen. "White phosphorus (P4) is the elemental form of phosphorus used in smoke munitions. In 1916, during an intense struggle over conscription for the First World War, 12 members of the Industrial Workers of the World, a workers union opposed to conscription, were arrested in Sydney, Australia and convicted for using or plotting to use incendiary materials, including phosphorus. Weight-for-weight, phosphorus is the most effective smoke-screening agent known,[60] for two reasons: first, it absorbs most of the screening mass from the surrounding atmosphere and secondly, the smoke particles are actually an aerosol, a mist of liquid droplets which are close to the ideal range of sizes for Mie scattering of visible light. What a deflagrating spoon is and how it is used? Centuries later, Christian crusaders came under attack from Muslims by weapons they believed must be Greek fire. -87°C, dangerous level ca. An additional advantage for hand smoke grenades—which are more likely to be used in an emergency—is that the WP smoke clouds form in a fraction of a second. Did That Actually Happen? Because of its high reactivity with oxygen in air, white phosphorus … A fire needs three things to continue burning: 1. Modern incendiary weapons began with thermite, used by the Germans in the First World War. Incandescent particles from weapons using powdered white phosphorus as their payload produce extensive partial- and full-thickness burns, as will any attempt to handle burning submunitions without protective equipment. On contact with the sea, the quicklime heated up, igniting the fluid, which was lighter than water and so stayed both afloat and burning despite attempts to put it out. Consequently, the smoke screen tends to rise off the ground relatively quickly and form aerial "pillars" of smoke which are of little use for screening. Phosphorus will spontaneously ignite if exposed to air. Thermite Grenade. It can also be used to create smokescreens, through shells, bombs, or … George Monbiot stated that he believed the firing of white phosphorus by US forces directly at the combatants in Fallujah in order to flush them out so they could then be killed was in contravention of the Chemical Weapons Convention and, therefore, a war crime. [35], Head of the UN Fact Finding Mission Justice Richard Goldstone presented the report of the Mission to the Human Rights Council in Geneva on 29 September 2009. They are often described as smoke/marker rounds due to their secondary function of marking points of interest, such as a light mortar being used to designate a target area for artillery spotters. Thermite is an improved method of doing the same thing. Seymour, 69, clarifies remark on being able to play 25. Oxygen Take any one away and it will stop. Thermite is an improved method of doing the same thing. Self-igniting in the air, burning intensely and producing large amounts of smoke, white phosphorus is an obvious weapon of war. The term "unnecessary suffering" is defined through use of a proportionality test, comparing the anticipated military advantage of the weapon's use to the amount of suffering potentially caused. The US Army and Marines used M2 and M328 WP shells in 107mm (4.2 inch) mortars. would greatly appreciate any answers..have searched all around, and can't find anything. Professor Paul Rodgers from the University of Bradford department of peace studies said that white phosphorus would probably fall into the category of chemical weapons if it was used directly against people. White phosphorus munitions are weapons which use one of the common allotropes of the chemical element phosphorus. Red phosphorus ("RP") burns cooler than WP and eliminates a few other disadvantages as well, but offers exactly the same weight efficiency. The tetrahedral arrangement results in ring strain and instability. At least five American Medal of Honor citations mention their recipients using M15 white phosphorus hand grenades to clear enemy positions, and in the 1944 liberation of Cherbourg alone, a single US mortar battalion, the 87th, fired 11,899 white phosphorus rounds into the city. White is much more reactive than red phosphorus and can be heated to make the red allotrope, which can then be purified with hot water. When contained it burns even hotter. [citation needed]. So, this being considered, using Napalm, thermite, white phosphorus, and other incendiary compounds against them is feasible. [65] White phosphorus particles continue to burn until completely consumed unless deprived of oxygen. True? By the Second World War, thermite bombs had advanced. [16][17], The US Embassy in Rome denied that US troops had used white phosphorus as a weapon. Because WP is also pyrophoric, most munitions of this type have a simple burster charge to split open the casing and spray fragments of WP through the air, where they ignite spontaneously and leave a trail of rapidly thickening smoke behind each particle. Troops Used White Phosphorus Against Iraqis in Fallujah", "The fog of war: white phosphorus, Fallujah and some burning questions", "US forces used 'chemical weapon' in Iraq", "U.S. official admits phosphorus used as weapon in Iraq", "BBC NEWS: US general defends phosphorus use", "Israel admits using phosphorus bombs during war Lebanon", "Israel backs down over white phosphorus", "Gaza: Israel under fire for alleged white phosphorus use", "Israel: Stop Unlawful Use of White Phosphorus in Gaza", "Israel admits using white phosphorus in attacks on Gaza", "UN headquarters in Gaza hit by Israeli 'white phosphorus' shells", "UN: Israelis hit our headquarters in Gaza with 'white phosphorus' shells", "Israel reprimands officers over UN compound shelling", "IDF probes improper use of phosphorus shells in Gaza Strip", "THE OPERATION IN GAZA, 27 DECEMBER 2008–18 JANUARY 2009 FACTUAL AND LEGAL ASPECTS", "United Nations Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza conflict", Report of the United Nations Fact-Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict (Goldstone report), Initial Response to Report of the Fact Finding Mission on Gaza, "Israel accused of 'reckless' use of white phosphorus", "Israeli Chemical 'Atrocities' in Gaza? Homemade thermite can destroy washing machines or make a hole in a frozen lake. An incendiary bomb is used to start fires or destroy sensitive equipment using materials such as napalm, thermite, chlorine trifluoride, or white phosphorus. [46], After the 2016 Armenian–Azerbaijani clashes over disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that on 10 May of that year the Armenian military had fired 122mm white phosphorus artillery munitions against Azerbaijani territory. I’ll start a brief answer with a VERY GROSS picture and a question of my own. When turned into a tool of military might, it became one of the most terrifying sights upon the field of battle. Fuel 2. However, President of Lebanon Émile Lahoud said that phosphorus shells were used against civilians. What will thermite not burn through? Thermite does not technically explode. [69] The agency cautioned that studies used to determine the MRL were based on extrapolations from animal testing and may not accurately reflect the health risk to humans. What Is Phosphorus? You need sand but we do not have any sand in the compound. White phosphorus is normally used to produce smoke, to camouflage movement. William Weir (2006), 50 Weapons that Changed Warfare. [70] There are no documented instances of fatalities from smoke inhalation alone under combat conditions. A flare or decoy flare is an aerial infrared countermeasure used by a plane or helicopter to counter an infrared homing ("heat-seeking") surface-to-air missile or air-to-air missile.Flares are commonly composed of a pyrotechnic composition based on magnesium or another hot-burning metal, with burning temperature equal to or hotter than engine exhaust. This was made from benzene, gasoline, and polystyrene. In addition to direct injuries caused by fragments of their casings, white phosphorus munitions can cause injuries in two main ways: burn injuries and vapor inhalation. [7], White phosphorus munitions were used extensively in Korea, Vietnam and later by Russian forces in First Chechen War and Second Chechen War. White phosphorus, yellow phosphorus or simply tetraphosphorus (P 4) exists as molecules made up of four atoms in a tetrahedral structure. Throw it at target and when it detonates whatever the flying pieces of white phosphorus hits is gonna burn really well. By means of degrees--Fahrenheit or Celsius--how hot can/does this WP get once it ignites? [22] The molecule is described as consisting of six single P–P bonds. In this video we chat about war crimes, light some fires and look at a wholesome side of white phosphorus, all while trying not to be poisoned. Bloodthirsty, aren’t we? Yes very nasty. In November 2017, for the first time in 37 years, a UN disarmament body will have a dedicated opportunity to address the humanitarian problems caused by incendiary weapons, one of modern warfare’s cruelest class of arms. Self-igniting in the air, burning intensely and producing large amounts of smoke, white phosphorus is an obvious weapon of war. [76], This article is about military applications. The Germans combined them with magnesium to form two-pound bombs that would burn more fiercely if it was attempted to put them out with water. White phosphorus is highly reactive, and spontaneously ignites at about 30°C in moist air. They reported that oxy-acetylene torches were used to cut the steel members -- Not thermite • Also, reacting thermite ejects globs of molten white/orange-hot iron – would cause VERY dangerous burns! Article 1 of Protocol III of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons defines an incendiary weapon as "any weapon or munition which is primarily designed to set fire to objects or to cause burn injury to persons through the action of flame, heat, or combination thereof, produced by a chemical reaction of a substance delivered on the target". Derick. Heat 3. Rather surprisingly, liquid spouted from the mouths of these animals coating the Arab fleet then bursting into flames. However, on 15 November 2005, US Department of Defence spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Barry Venable confirmed to the BBC that US forces had used white phosphorus as an incendiary weapon there. [62] Because the WP smoke is formed from fairly hot combustion, the gasses in the cloud are hot, and tend to rise. (2) Filler-- 15 ounces of white phosphorus. Yeh, hot thermite. The United States has accused Taliban militants of using white phosphorus weapons illegally on at least 44 occasions. 76 or Special Incendiary Phosphorus grenade, which consisted of a glass bottle filled with a mixture similar to Fenian fire, plus some latex. White phosphorus glows when exposed to air. Again deployed in both bombs and flamethrowers, it could level entire stretches of jungle, wiping out enemy hiding places, or be used in direct attacks on defensive positions. The harm caused by white phosphorus munitions, used … [13][14][dead link] In November 2004, during the Second Battle of Fallujah, Washington Post reporters embedded with Task Force 2-2, Regimental Combat Team 7 stated that they witnessed artillery guns firing white phosphorus projectiles. Exposure to heavy smoke concentrations of any kind for an extended period (particularly if near the source of emission) does have the potential to cause illness or even death. Yes very nasty. Self-igniting in the air, burning intensely and producing large amounts of smoke, white phosphorus is an obvious weapon of war. The convention also exempts certain categories of munitions from its definition of incendiary weapons: specifically, these are munitions which "may have incidental incendiary effects, such as illuminants, tracers, smoke or signalling systems" and those "designed to combine penetration, blast or fragmentation effects with an additional incendiary effect. White phosphorus is believed to have been first used by Fenian (Irish nationalist) arsonists in the 19th century, in the form of a solution in carbon disulfide. Other common names include WP and the slang term "Willie Pete" or "Willie Peter" derived from William Peter, the World War II phonetic alphabet for … Other common names include WP, and the slang term "Willie Pete," which is dated from its use in Vietnam, and is still sometimes used in military jargon. The boiling point of white phosphorus is 280.5 oC. The claim was denied by Venable who also stated that "When you have enemy forces that are in covered positions that your high explosive artillery rounds are not having an impact on and you wish to get them out of those positions, one technique is to fire a white phosphorus round into the position because the combined effects of the fire and smoke - and in some case the terror brought about by the explosion on the ground - will drive them out of the holes so that you can kill them with high explosives. The purchase DC given is for a box of 6 grenades. Heat 3. A vast Arab fleet, motivated by the recently unleashed ideology of Islam, reached the gates of Constantinople. (1) Body-- sheet metal. "[18][19], On 22 November 2005, the Iraqi government stated it would investigate the use of white phosphorus in the battle of Fallujah. It also absorbs infrared radiation, allowing it to defeat thermal imaging systems. [32] The soldiers who ordered the attack were later reprimanded for violating the IDF rules of engagement. [48] The usage of phosphorus munition by the Armenian military was also reported by Al Jazeera. Phosphorus is a mineral, likeiron or potassium.You have more of this mineral in your body than any other except calcium. Constantinople had been saved. Two different crystalline forms are known. [29], On 15 January, the headquarters of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency in Gaza City was struck by submunitions from Israeli artillery shells, setting fire to pallets of relief materials and igniting several large fuel storage tanks. However, the standard industrial reaction requires white phosphorus, rather than red, and concentrated sodium hydroxide: P4 + 3NaOH + 3H2O → 3NaH2PO2 + PH3 Military forces use thermite grenades to quickly destroy key pieces of equipment. Thermite Walter White is always looking for a way to lower the cost of doing business, often in a brutally entrepreneurial fashion. That was in WWII and it was used the same way up thru the Vietnam war. Although similar in form of action, gunpowder does not burn nearly as hot as thermite. Thermite burns at 2500C. This version became the basis for modern napalm weapons, such as those used by the United States in Vietnam. *Way back when White Phosphorus was developed to start fires and mark areas. White Phosphorous. Its composition remains a mystery centuries after its recipe was lost. WMV video download (616kB) Some beams pulled from the wreckage are still red hot more than 7 weeks after the attack, and it is suspected that temperatures beneath the debris pile are well in excess of 1,000°F. With the advent of gunpowder, that recipe disappeared and remains a mystery. Some … (5) Capabilities-- the average soldier can throw the grenade 30 meters. The key difference between red and white phosphorus is that the red phosphorus appears as dark red colored crystals whereas the white phosphorus exists as a translucent waxy solid that quickly becomes yellow when exposed to light.. Phosphorus is a chemical element that occurs in several different allotropes.The most common allotropes are red and white forms, and these are solid … It is usually stored under water, to prevent exposure to the air. When contained it burns even hotter. The British Army introduced the first factory-built white phosphorus grenades in late 1916 during the First World War. Pure white phosphorus is a colorless-to-white waxy solid, but commercial white phosphorus is usually yellow. When it landed it launched seven individual thermite charges over ten minutes, even as the original bomb burned. In the case of weapons using felt-impregnated submunitions, incomplete combustion may occur resulting in up to 15% of the WP content remaining unburned. Two different crystalline forms are known. It can also be used to create smokescreens, through shells, bombs, or grenades. US-led forces in #Iraq and #Syria are accused of using white #phosphorus bombs. If on the other hand the toxic properties of white phosphorus are specifically intended to be used as a weapon, that, of course, is prohibited, because the way the convention is structured or applied, any chemicals used against humans or animals that cause harm or death through the toxic properties of the chemical are considered chemical weapons. This mixture was known as "Fenian fire".[3]. Even when not weaponized, it could be unleashed during pillaging of towns, leading to their destruction. The leading ships were elaborately decorated in keeping with the tone of the empire, their prows carrying gilded images of animals. Copper thermite - posted in Chemistry: After talking with SS2S director RM, he has highly advised that I switch to using copper thermite igniters, when firing very large r candy motors. Thermite is typically very difficult to ignite, requiring a temperature of over 3,000 degrees F … The question doesn't really make sense. Self-igniting in the air, burning intensely and producing large amounts of smoke, white phosphorus is an obvious weapon of war. Rather, this was a barrel containing a sort of naphtha – a generic term for petrol, coal, and natural gas derivatives. These were improvised anti-tank weapons, hastily fielded in 1940 when the British were awaiting a potential German invasion after losing the bulk of their modern armaments in the Dunkirk evacuation. This effect has been likened to three dimensional textured privacy glass—the smoke cloud does not obstruct an image, but thoroughly scrambles it. 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