File: 970903_oct1_0025.txt
Page: 0025
Total Pages: 106

NBC Defense

t,A256, Detector Kit, fielded down io urtit levels. Detector pape, could Oive indication
that agent droplets were present. 'rhe M256 was able to identify and classify agents ill
an a,-ea, but it took 10-15 minuces to obtain a reading.

(S) in the initial weeks of the war the Marine Corps, realizing a great need for
automatic detectors in SWA, decided to field the M8Al detector and to accelerate
fielding on developmental detection systems. The M21 Remote Sensing Chemical Agent
Alarm (RSCAAL), the Chen-Lical Agent Monitor (CAM), and the Individual Chemical
Agent Detector ([CAD) were identified for accelerated fielding to units in the KTO.
Additionally, the Marine Corps obtained ten German Fuchs (Fox) NBC Reconnaissance
Systems (NBCRS) for I MEF@ Of these systems, all but the ICAD were actually
employed in SWA. Appendix F-2 contains a diagram with line drawings of the four
newly fielded detection systems.

(S) most of the new detector systems arrived in the latter stages of the build-up,
November ftough January. Commanders were eager for the systems but there was
lin-Lired rime to rest operational concepts and train when they arrived. Even so, the
above detection systems were widely employed across the MEF. The following
paragraphs discuss the performance of each detector system in greater detail.

(S) The M8AI detector performed poorly in comparison to other detection
systems in SWA, according to survey data (see Appendix E-10) and interviews. M8Al's
were designed for employment as point detectors in the defense, with the capability of
remote operation using Co-rLmUrdcaEions wire. The MSAI had an extremely high false
alarm rate in SWA. It alan-ned to after shave, ve@dcle exhaust, smoke, dust and even
the wind. Once the line of departure was crossed, the MSAI detector was useless
because of the burning oil field smoke. In addition, the M8AI detector had serious
power supply problems. The M8AI required special batteries for operation which were
not readily available. Lin-Lited availability was compounded by a high rate of battery
usage and high temperature spoilage. Field modifications by enterprising Marines
included hardwiring the M8AI's to vencles and other power sources. Marines also
ir.ger@ously employed M8AI's around the Port of Jubayl at different levels on buildings
vvit]-Lin the Ist FSSG area. The idea behind the detector elevation was to check for
agent cloud contamination at different heights. Overall, the M8AI detector was of
limited value, and difficwt to maintain and employ. it probably should not have been
introduced to Marines in SWA, as the material fielding plan was rejected by CG
MCCDC.

(S) The Cheniical Agent Monitor (CAM) was considered much more successful
than the M8AI in performance (see Appendix E-10). The CAM moriitors for nerve and
mustard agents. it is a handheld, battery operated device with a bar scale read-out on
relative agent concentration. The CAM was not designed for continuous operation, but