Description of the ACW
About ACWs found in China
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75 mm shell 5~6 kg |
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90 mm mortar shell 5~6 kg |
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105 mm shell 16 kg |
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150 mm shell 32 kg |
Agent type | Designation in Former Japanese Army | Name of the chemical |
---|---|---|
Blister agent | Yellow | Mustard, Lewisite |
Pulmonary agent | Blue | Phosgene |
Blood agent | Brown | Hydrogen cyanide |
Vomiting agent | Red | Diphenylcyanoarsine (DC), Diphenylchloroarsine (DA) |
Lachrymatory agent | Green | Chloroacetophenone |
Smoke agent | White(*) | Trichloroarsine |
* White (smoke agent) was used in a mixture with Blue (pulmonary agent).
The characteristics of ACW in China
- There are various types of ACWs containing different types of agents including Yellow (blister agent) and Red (vomiting agent). Many of the agents contain arsenic.
- Those chemical agents are contained in shells, bombs, toxic canisters or drum containers.
- Chemical shells and bombs use picric acid as a booster and/or burster charge.
- Excavated and recovered ACWs are corroded and/or deformed after a long period of being buried in the soil.
ACWs excavated in China
![An 105 mm Yellow shell](../images/heiki07.jpg)
An 105 mm Yellow shell found during the Aug. 2007 excavation and recovery in Lianhuapao (forest areas), Dunhua City
![Four 75 mm Yellow shells and a 105 mm Yellow shell](../images/heiki08.jpg)
Four 75 mm Yellow shells and a 105 mm Yellow shell (part) found during the Sep. 2006 excavation and recovery in Lianhuapao (forest areas), Dunhua City
![Toxic canisters](../images/heiki09.jpg)
Toxic canisters found during the Sep. 2002 excavation and recovery in Sunwu.
![An Extra-large 1 Type 99 Red canister](../images/heiki10.jpg)
An Extra-large 1 Type 99 Red canister found during the Nov. 2001 excavation and recovery in Nanjing