| 词条 | E23 munition |
| 释义 |
The E23 munition was a cardboard sub-munition developed by the United States biological weapons program for use as an anti-crop weapon. The E23 underwent a conversion for use as a vector weapon and was briefly used in large-scale entomological warfare trial but technical issues forced it from the tests. HistoryThe E23 munition was originally conceived as an anti-crop weapon.[1] When, following the Korean War, U.S. interest in large-scale entomological warfare increased, the E23 was one of two munitions involved in field testing the potential of insect vectors as weapons.[1] SpecificationsThe E23 was made of cardboard and had a diameter of {{convert|9.75|in|cm}} and a length of {{convert|18|in|cm}}.[1] Essentially a cardboard container, the E23 consisted of an internal actuator which simply reversed a plastic bag, expelling its contents.[1] The E23 sub-munition also included a small parachute for use when dropped from the E77 cluster bomb.[1] The weapon was deployed between 2,000 and 1,000 feet in altitude after its release from the cluster bomb.[1] Once converted for use as a vector weapon the E23 could hold 200,000 rat fleas in its interior among small pieces of sponge.[1] IssuesInitially, the E23 was involved in "Operation Big Itch".[1] In September 1954 Big Itch aimed to determine coverage patterns and survivability of uninfected tropical rat fleas (Xenopsylla cheopis) for use in biological warfare as disease vector.[2][3] In preliminary Big Itch tests approximately half of the E23 munitions failed to properly function.[1] In one instance, the problems with the E23 led uninfected fleas to escape into the aircraft where they bit the pilot, bombardier and an observer.[1] These problems led to the E23 being pulled off of Operation Big Itch.[4] Despite the problems with the E23, the Big Itch field trials ultimately proved successful.[3] See also
Notes1. ^1 Croddy, Eric and Wirtz, James J. Weapons of Mass Destruction: An Encyclopedia of Worldwide Policy, Technology, and History, ([https://books.google.com/books?id=ZzlNgS70OHAC&pg=PA304&dq=%22Operation+Big+Itch%22&lr=&client=firefox-a Google Books]), ABC-CLIO, 2005, p. 304, ({{ISBN|1-85109-490-3}}). 2. ^The tropical rat flea is a known vector for bubonic plague. See: Trivedi, "Xenopsylla cheopis". 3. ^1 Rose, William H. "An Evaluation of Entomological Warfare as a Potential Danger to the United States and European NATO Nations", U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command, Dugway Proving Ground, March 1981, via thesmokinggun.com, accessed December 28, 2008. 4. ^1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Kirby, Reid. "[https://web.archive.org/web/20070611071747/http://www.wood.army.mil/chmdsd/pdfs/Jul-Dec%202005/Kirby.pdf Using the flea as weapon]", (Web version via findarticles.com), Army Chemical Review, July 2005, accessed December 28, 2008. References
3 : Biological weapon delivery systems|Submunitions|Cold War weapons of the United States |
| 随便看 |
|
开放百科全书收录14589846条英语、德语、日语等多语种百科知识，基本涵盖了大多数领域的百科知识，是一部内容自由、开放的电子版国际百科全书。