U.S. troops used a substance known as napalm from about 1965 to 1972 in the Vietnam War; napalm is a mixture of plastic polystyrene, hydrocarbon benzene, and gasoline. This mixture creates a jelly-like substance that, when ignited, sticks to practically anything and burns up to ten minutes.
Full Answer
How much napalm was used in the Vietnam War?
The prevalence of napalm as a weapon during the Vietnam War can be seen when compared with figures in previous wars which saw American involvement, 32,357 tons were dropped during the Korean War, and 16,500 tons in the Pacific. Jungles ablaze following napalm strikes became iconic images of the Vietnam War. Pinterest
Is Napalm still used today in Iraq?
Although the U.S. government officially recycled its last batch of napalm in 2001, some contend that napalm is still in use today in Iraq. Images like this one, of napalm exploding in an area south of Saigon, became well known during the Vietnam War, but napalm hasn't exactly died out since then.
What is Napalm?
Depending on whom you ask, it's a noun, a verb, a chemical weapon, a tool to destroy crabgrass, a symbol of war's brutality or just a classic movie line. Napalm, with its varying forms and long history in warfare, is at once iconic and misunderstood.
Does Napalm have benzene in it?
The gasoline in napalm is generally the same as that found at most gas stations, and that gasoline already has some benzene in it, but the benzene level is increased for napalm.
What was napalm used for in Vietnam?
Napalm was first used in flamethrowers for U.S. ground troops; they burned down sections of forest and bushes in hopes of eliminating any enemy guerrilla fighters. Later on in the war B-52 Bombers began dropping napalm bombs and other incendiary explosives.
What does napalm do to humans?
Napalm burns result in severe skin damage that can cause multiorgan system failure and death. Severe disfigurement and loss of function are common, requiring skin grafting and specialized care. Keloid formation may occur in some individuals. The psychological effect of exposure to napalm may be severe.
How much napalm did us drop on Vietnam?
Having been pronounced as the winning weapon of the Korean War, napalm was part of the US arsenal from the very beginning of the conflict in Vietnam. In the decade from 1963 to 1973, 388,000 tons of napalm were dropped on Vietnam.
Who dropped the napalm bomb in Vietnam?
Phan Thi Kim PhucPhan Thị Kim Phúc OOntJune 8, 1972: Kim Phúc, center left, running down a road naked near Trảng Bàng after a South Vietnam Air Force napalm attack (Nick Ut / The Associated Press)BornPhan Thị Kim Phúc April 6, 1963 Trảng Bàng, South VietnamNationalityCanadianOther namesKim Phúc7 more rows
What did Vietnam smell like?
Cameras couldn't transmit the smells of Vietnam: the coppery smell of fresh blood, the farting and gurgling of a mortally wounded boy, the sweet odor of decaying bodies, a week after a firefight, putrefying under the punishing sky.
Does napalm burn underwater?
Versions of napalm B containing white phosphorus will even burn underwater (if there is trapped oxygen in folds of cloth, for example) so even jumping into rivers and lakes won't help those unfortunate souls attacked with this vile weapon.
Can napalm be put out?
In fact, it's hot. And sticky. So hot and sticky that it acts like napalm — most often associated with wars — in that it sticks to clothing and skin, and cannot be extinguished by the usual "stop, drop and roll" command used for years by firefighting experts.
How long does napalm burn for?
Conventional napalm burns for 15-30 seconds, whereas napalm B burns for up to 10 minutes. Napalm B provided the United States with an incendiary substance with enhanced stability and controllability and, as such, became the weapon of choice during the Vietnam War.
Who supplied napalm in Vietnam?
DowDow was only ranked 75th on a 1967 list of military contractors; before getting into the napalm business, it was best known as the maker of Saran Wrap. But Dow soon became the military's sole supplier of napalm, which meant that when its use in the Vietnam War became controversial, Dow was the only corporate target.
Was napalm in Vietnam a war crime?
It served with distinction for most, or all, of the Vietnam war. Today it is a war criminal on probation, its use against concentrations of civilians banned by international covenant and its deployment against anyone else tightly restricted by the law of public opinion.
Is napalm the same as Agent Orange?
Agent Orange, which was used during the Vietnam War to clear dense vegetation, is a deadly herbicide with long-lasting effects. Napalm, a gel-like fuel mixture that burns slowly and more accurately than gasoline, was used in bombs.
Why was Agent Orange used in Vietnam?
Agent Orange was a blend of tactical herbicides the U.S. military sprayed from 1962 to 1971 during the Vietnam War to remove the leaves of trees and other dense tropical foliage that provided enemy cover.
What gas did Napalm use?
Mark Greenside explains “Napalm was this hideous, jellied gas burning at 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit. It didn't just kill you; it tortured you. It has a complete reference to Zyclon-B, the gas they used in the concentration camps.
What was the name of the gas used in Vietnam?
Napalm in Vietnam. In 1965, The Dow Company — best known at that time for making Saran Wrap — began making Napalm, a jellied gas used in warfare in Vietnam. Napalm became the symbol of the war.
How does napalm affect the human body?
The effects of napalm on the human body are unbearably painful and almost always cause death among its victims. “Napalm is the most terrible pain you can ever imagine” said Kim Phúc, a survivor from a napalm bombing. “Water boils at 212°F. Napalm generates temperatures 1,500°F to 2,200°F.”.
What was the purpose of Agent Orange?
It was one of the main mixtures used during Operation Ranch Hand. Operation Ranch Hand was intended to deprive Vietnamese farmers and guerilla fighters of clean food and water in hopes they would relocate to areas more heavily ...
Why did the B-52 bombers use napalm?
Napalm was first used in flamethrowers for U.S. ground troops; they burned down sections of forest and bushes in hopes of eliminating any enemy guerrilla fighters. Later on in the war B-52 Bombers began dropping napalm bombs and other incendiary explosives.
How many square yards did a B-52 bomb destroy?
Air raids that used napalm were much more devastating than flamethrowers; a single bomb was capable of destroying areas up to 2,500 square yards.
How does Agent Orange affect agriculture?
Agent Orange is fifty times more concentrated than normal agricultural herbicides; this extreme intensity completely destroyed all plants in the area. Agent Orange not only had devastating effects on agriculture but also on people and animals.
What is the substance that sticks to anything?
Napalm. U.S. troops used a substance known as napalm from about 1965 to 1972 in the Vietnam War; napalm is a mixture of plastic polystyrene, hydrocarbon benzene, and gasoline. This mixture creates a jelly-like substance that, when ignited, sticks to practically anything and burns up to ten minutes. The effects of napalm on ...
How many people died from Agent Orange?
The Vietnam Red Cross recorded over 4.8 million deaths and 400,000 children born with birth defects due to exposure to Agent Orange. Agent Orange was later determined to be in violation of the Geneva Contract. U.S. troops gradually stopped using Agent Orange and any other harmful herbicides.
What is the name of the acid that thickens and gels?
The name is a portmanteau of two of the constituents of the original thickening and gelling agents: co-precipitated aluminium salts of naphthenic acid and palmitic acid. Napalm B is the more modern version of napalm (utilizing polystyrene derivatives) and, although distinctly different in its chemical composition, ...
What is the use of fire in warfare?
Use of fire in warfare has a long history. Greek fire, also described as "sticky fire" (πῦρ κολλητικόν, pýr kolletikón ), is believed to have had a petroleum base. The development of napalm was precipitated by the use of jellied gasoline mixtures by the Allied forces during World War II. Latex, used in these early forms of incendiary devices, became scarce, since natural rubber was almost impossible to obtain after the Japanese army captured the rubber plantations in Malaya, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Thailand .
What happens when you use napalm?
When used as a part of an incendiary weapon , napalm can cause severe burns (ranging from superficial to subdermal), asphyxiation, unconsciousness, and death. In this implementation, napalm fires can create an atmosphere of greater than 20% carbon monoxide and firestorms with self-perpetuating winds of up to 70 miles per hour (110 km/h).
What happened to Dow Chemical after the napalm B?
After news reports of napalm B's deadly and disfiguring effects were published, Dow Chemical experienced boycotts of its products , and its recruiters for new chemists, chemical engineers, etc., graduating from college were subject to campus boycotts and protests.
How many tons of napalm were dropped in the Korean War?
Reportedly about 388,000 tons of U.S. napalm bombs were dropped in the region between 1963 and 1973, compared to 32,357 tons used over three years in the Korean War, and 16,500 tons dropped on Japan in 1945.
Why was Napalm used in the Vietnam War?
Napalm became an intrinsic element of U.S. military action during the Vietnam War as forces made increasing use of it for its tactical and psychological effects.
What was the purpose of the Napalm?
Napalm also has fueled most of the flamethrowers (tank, ship and infantry-based) used since World War II, giving them much greater range, and was used in this role as a common weapon of urban combat by both the Axis and the Allies in World War II.
How is napalm made?
Napalm in its original composition was formed by mixing a powdered aluminum soap of naphthalene with palmitate, from which napalm gets its name. Naphthalene, also known as naphthenic acids is a corrosive found in crude oil while palmitate, or palmitic acid, is a fatty acid which occurs naturally in coconut oil.
What is the name of the newer Napalm B?
The newer formulation was known as Napalm-B, Super Napalm, or NP2, despite containing neither naphthalene nor palmitic acids.
What did Napalm do to gasoline?
Napalm tripled the range of flamethrowers and increased the amount of burning material delivered to a target almost tenfold.
Why is napalm so popular?
Napalm became a very popular choice of weapon with the military due to its many advantages. Napalm burns for longer and at a higher temperature than gasoline. It was relatively cheap to manufacture, and its naturally adhesive properties made it a more effective weapon, as it stuck to its target.
What was the purpose of napalm in the Korean War?
Napalm was seen as a vital strategic weapon in the Korean War where it was used to support Allied ground forces locally outnumbered by North Korean and Chinese forces . American bombers dropped approximately 250,000 pounds of napalm per day during the Korean War. NEXT >>.
How much napalm was dropped in Vietnam?
Between 1963-1973, the U.S. dropped 388,000 tons of napalm on North Vietnamese targets. The prevalence of napalm as a weapon during the Vietnam War can be seen when compared with figures in previous wars which saw American involvement, 32,357 tons were dropped during the Korean War, and 16,500 tons in the Pacific.
What temperature does Napalm B burn?
Napalm-B was typically combined with thermite, sodium, magnesium and phosphorous and could produce temperatures ranging from 1500-2000 degrees Celsius (2732-3632 degrees Fahrenheit).
Overview
Napalm is an incendiary mixture of a gelling agent and a volatile petrochemical (usually gasoline (petrol) or diesel fuel). The name is a portmanteau of two of the constituents of the original thickening and gelling agents: coprecipitated aluminium salts of naphthenic acid and palmitic acid. Napalm B is the more modern version of napalm (utilizing polystyrene derivatives) and, although distinctly different in its chemical composition, is often referred to simply as "napalm". A team le…
Forms
Napalm was used in flamethrowers, bombs, and tanks in World War II. It is believed to have been formulated to burn at a specific rate and to adhere to surfaces to increase its stopping power. During combustion, napalm rapidly deoxygenates the available air and generates large amounts of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide.
Alternative compositions exist for different types of uses, e.g., triethylaluminium, a pyrophoric co…
Development
Use of fire in warfare has a long history. Greek fire, also described as "sticky fire" (πῦρ κολλητικόν, pýr kolletikón), is believed to have had a petroleum base. The development of napalm was precipitated by the use of jellied gasoline mixtures by the Allied forces during World War II. Latex, used in these early forms of incendiary devices, became scarce, since natural rubber was almost impossible to obtain after the Japanese army captured the rubber plantations in Malaya, Indonesia,
Military use
Napalm was first employed in incendiary bombs and went on to be used as fuel for flamethrowers.
The first recorded strategic use of napalm incendiary bombs occurred in an attack by the US Army Air Force (USAAF) on Berlin on 6 March 1944, using American AN-M76 incendiary bombs with PT-1 (Pyrogel) filler. The first known tactical use by the USAAF was by the 368th Fighter Group, Ninth …
Antipersonnel effects
When used as a part of an incendiary weapon, napalm can cause severe burns (ranging from superficial to subdermal), asphyxiation, unconsciousness, and death. In this implementation, napalm fires can create an atmosphere of greater than 20 percent carbon monoxide and firestorms with self-perpetuating winds of up to 110 kilometers per hour (70 mph).
Napalm is effective against dug-in enemy personnel. The burning incendiary composition flows i…
International law
International law does not specifically prohibit the use of napalm or other incendiaries against military targets, but use against civilian populations was banned by the UN Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) in 1980. Protocol III of the CCW restricts the use of all incendiary weapons, but a number of countries have not acceded to all of the protocols of the CCW. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), countries are conside…
See also
• Early thermal weapons
• Flame fougasse
• German Village (Dugway proving ground)
• Greek fire, an ancient flamethrowing weapon that may have resembled napalm
Further reading
• Neer, Robert M. (2013). Napalm: An American Biography. Belknap Press ISBN 978-0-674-07301-2