File: 970903_oct1_0031.txt
Page: 0031
Total Pages: 106

NBC Defense

chlorine bleach could easily diluted for use in casualty decon, and were useful for ocher
applications, easy to obtain, easy to store, and did not destroy equipment when applied.
Most of the DS2 and STB shipped over was left in rear staging areas or buried in the
desert. This inc -ludes the M13 Decon Apparatus (DAP) which is simply a container for
DS2 with an applicator (see Appendix F-3). The M13 DAP was not very useful or well
designed. For dispensing HTH and c@do,-ine bleach old and new systems were used.
For hasty decontamination the ABC MI I Decon Apparatus, designed for use with DS2,
was typically filled with chlorine bleach. Other innovative methods, using insecticide
sprayers and hand spray bottles also proved effective.

(U) Fo- decontamination washdown, the M17, Lightweight Decontamination
System (LDS), commonly referred to as the "Sanatoe' and the M12 Power Driven Decon
Apparatus (PDDA) were the two syseenis used by the Marine Corps in SWA (See
photographs, Appendix G-5, G-6, and G-7).

(S) The MI 2 has been in use by the Marine Corps for over IS years and is near
the end Of its useful service life. The M12 concept is good, but it requires a forklift for
loading, a dedicated 5-ton for transportation, and has a dismal record with respect co
maintainability. These f@t-ctors alone make it a burden to a maneuver element. Of the
LM I 2's received off MPS shipping, few were operable and some, according to NBC
specialists, had not received prevencive maintenance since 1982.

(S) The LDS was accelerated for fielding to units in SWA. The LDS was
lightweight, had a collapsible 3000 gallon tank, and was easily lifted and transported in
the back of a HMMWV, on standard generator u@aflers, or even mounted on top of a
water tanker (see photograph, Appendix G-8). The LDS was a very welcome addition
to units throughout the MF-F because of its capabilities to provide showers (a major
morale boost) and washdown of equipment and aircraft. The competition for decon
apparatus, especially the LDS, was high. The policy was to leave the older M12's in the
FSSG and 3rd MAW units, primarily because the LDS was much easier to transport by
maneuver units, but also to facilitate selective parts interchange and maintenance on
the MI 2's. The new LDS systems were fielded on a priority basis to forward units.
NBC survey results (see Appendix E-1 1) confirm a high performance ratings for the
LDS. The successful performance of the LDS must, however, be couched in ten-ns of its
predominant use by forward commanders in the role of shower and washdown support.

(S) The LDS was by no means without problems. Because of accelerated
fielding, the LDS was shipped without maintenance publications, t-aining publications,
or a spare parts block. Motor oil for the two-cycle gasoline engine was not shipped
with the systems and little was available in cotlitry. Through field experimentation, a
substitute mix of 20-wt motor oil and mogas was used. Because of the high usage rate
of the LDS for showers and washdown, many problems were experienced with spark