HOW THE IRAQIS USED CW

File: 071496_cia_65607_65293_01.txt
Page: 01
Total Pages: 1
Subject: HOW THE IRAQIS USED CW

Not Finally Evaluated Intelligence







TO FACILITATE ELECTRONIC ACCESS, THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN

REFORMATTED TO ELIMINATE INFORMATION THAT DOES NOT PERTAIN

TO GULF WAR ILLNESS ISSUES OR THAT IS CLASSIFIED. A COPY OF

THIS REDACTED DOCUMENT, IN ORIGINAL FORMAT, IS AVAILABLE ON

REQUEST.







WARNING: INFORMATION REPORT, NOT FINALLY EVALUATED INTELLIGENCE.







DIST:          FEBRUARY 1991



COUNTRY: IRAQ



SUBJ: DETAILS ON HOW THE IRAQIS USE CHEMICAL WEAPONS IN COMBAT







ALL TYPES OF ARTILLERY IN THE IRAQI ARMY, INCLUDING

MORTARS AND ROCKET LAUNCHERS, HAVE CHEMICAL WARFARE (CW) AMMUNITION.

AIRCRAFT HAVE CW BOMBS AS WELL. CW AMMUNITION IS KNOWN TO HAVE BEEN

FIRED FROM THE FOLLOWING PIECES:



122MM D-20;



130MM M-46;



130MM 1-59;



GRAD L-40;



AND 120MM MORTARS, OF BOTH FOREIGN AND LOCAL

MANUFACTURE.







THE DECISION TO USE

CW IS TAKEN ONLY BY THE GENERAL HEADQUARTERS IN BAGHDAD.



THERE ARE NO OBVIOUS MARKINGS TO DIFFERENTIATE CW

AMMUNITION FROM THE CONVENTIONAL SORT.







CW AMMUNITION (122MM GRAD) WAS FIRED IN 1987







THE SOLDIERS WHO LOADED THE

ROCKETS -- TWO HOLDING IT TO THEIR CHESTS AND ONE PUSHING -- GOT

WATER BLISTERS ON THE HANDS. THEIR SKIN SWELLED AND TURNED BLACK IN

PLACES.







ALL UNITS IN THE IRAQI ARMY ARE ABLE TO FIRE IDENTICAL CW

AMMUNITION.







THE GENERAL HEADQUARTERS

DECIDES WHEN TO USE CW, ISSUING AN ORDER TO THE CORPS COMMANDER.

WHEN THE ORDER IS RECEIVED, THE CORPS COMMANDER RELAYS INSTRUCTIONS

TO THE INTERESTED PARTIES: THE ARTILLERY HEADQUARTERS OF THE VARIOUS

CORPS, AND THE CW HEADQUARTERS.





THE

CW HEADQUARTERS IS RESPONSIBLE FOR EVERYTHING INVOLVING THE

PROTECTION OF THE FIRING FORCE, IN THE EVENT OF ACCIDENTS. CW PEOPLE

ARE PRESENT IN THE BATTALION DURING FIRING.







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