Goldbricker
LE

There is some evidence Japan used Chem weapons on US and Aussie troops in New Guinea , Guadalcanal, and the Philippines to little effectBit of a thread drift but probably not worth starting another thread.
For those with SKY HD and an interest in the subject there is documentary going out tomorrow
on NHK World. NHKW is the overseas service of Japan's public broadcasting corporation.
Titled Poisonous Secrets, it's about:
<<
At the end of WWII both Japan and the US were prepared to use chemical weapons on each other - newly unearthed documents and personal accounts have finally cast light on this dark legacy
>>
NHK documentaries tend to be well-made and well-researched and usually made originally for domestic transmission.
NHK HD is on SKY channel 507 ( or near the bottom of the first page of the NEWS menu)
and is being shown at the following times, although I shall be recording it.
Sat 1.10 am
Sat 7.10 am
Sat 1.10 pm
Sat 7.10 pm
Gas stocks among the warring powers should come as no surprise though.
Britain and Germany were obviously prepared for the possibility as the widespread issue of both military and civilian mask shows.
Montgomery, I understand could have called up chemical shells if they were needed in retaliation for Germany's first used.
According to a book by Russian authors, published in the mid thirties*- Japan's war industry was already turning out: Poison Gases, smoke substances, neutralising substances, chemical mine throwers, gas masks for humans and horses, gas protection costumes, gas cylinders. gas detectors and gas alarm sirens.
And of course, there was Italy's pre-war use of mustard gas upon the Ethiopians.
*When Japan Goes to War O. Tanin & E. Yohan
Incidents-
1) Australian forces, Malaya, 1941
Chabin grenades also known as the Model 1 Frangible Toxic Gas Hand Grenade (SEISAN SHURUDAN) with blood agent AC Hydrogen Cyanide in acid solution on a field fortification
2) British forces, Burma Imphal area 1942
Queens Own 7th Hussars M3 Light (Stuart) tank received an AC Chabin grenade close assault attacks
3) American forces , Guadalcanal 23 & 28 January 1943
2 AC Chabin grenade attacks (See -- Memo, OPD 385 to Gen Marshall, 31 Mar 43, sub: Use of Gas by the Japanese, OPD 385 CWP (3-31-43), NAA)
4) Australian forces, New Guinea, late 1943 early 1944
1X 75mm howitzer shell w/blister agent fired at SWPA forces -- captured dud shell contents later tested on Aussie volunteers
5) American forces Manila Feb 1945
Multiple attacks with tear gas (CN), vomiting gas (DC), and Chlorpicrin (PS) in projected candles on 1st CavDiv and 41st ID by Japanese Navy SNLF troops. Additionally some 1st CavDiv troopers died from scavenging AC Chabin grenades in Manila shortly later, as reported in a 6th Army weekly report in March 1945.
6) American forces, Mindinao, May 1945
24th ID suffers Chabin attack, in a Chabin grenade.
The following is from a Feb 1946 US Army document prepared by 45th CWS Chemical Company summarizing all the chemical intelligence reports received by the Chemical Warfare Service in calendar year 1944:
"The 75-mm. blister gas shell filled with a mixture of mustard and lewisite,
which was fired from the 75-mn, Type 41 (Regimental) Howitzer,
is described in the pamphlet, "Japanese Chemical Warfare", prepared under the
direction of the Chief Chemical Officer, a, USASOS, MPA. This is the same
shell described in T.D.M.R. 848, pp. 67-68, 3 June 1943.
In Australia physiological tests , including treatment with the usual skin
decontaminants, were carried out under tropical conditions using a sample of
mustard lewisite mixture taken from the captured 75-mm. Japanese shell
mentioned above. Using a 1-mm. drop of the vesicant treated after an interval
of 1 min., the results obtained with British decontaminating ointments
Nos, 2 and 5 were satisfactory, and No. 1 followed by hydrogen peroxide
was nearly as good. Simulated Japanese decontaminating powders (chloramine
T 19%, sodium chloride 35, and talc 78%; and bleach 10% and talc 90%) were inf-
erior . Hydrogen peroxide alone was quite ineffective (ungraded) (L.H.Q.T.I.S.
No. 2, May 1943, cited in M.I. Directorate, G.H,Q. India, Periodical Technical
Summary No, 21, October 1943).
One of the projectiles used in the Japanese 75-mm. Field Artillery
gun, whose range was 6000 to 7000 yd., was 11.5 in. long, filled with a
50/50 mixture of mustard and lewisite, and weighed 12.6 lb. (ungraded) (Special
Series No, 24, p, 76, 1 September 1944)"