Napalm

Created by Keenan Strand

=Napalm=

Napalm is a gelling agent generally mixed with petroleum or a similar fuel for use in an incendiary device. It is primarily used as an anti-personnel weapon. "Napalm" gets its name because of the two constituents its mixed with, naphthenic acid, and palmitic acid.

Development
The use of fire as a weapon was first used by the ancient Greeks, who referred to it as "sticky fire". The development of napalm was precipitated by the use of jellied gasoline mixtures by the Allied Forces during World War II. Latex that was used in the older forms of incendiary bombs had became logistically impossible to use during the Pacific Theater of Operations since natural rubber was almost impossible to obtain, as the many rubber plantations had been overrun by the Japanese armies. Scientists and engineers began to find news ways to create incendiary bombs without the use of natural oil. Using artificial rubber, a team of chemists led by Louis Fieser at Harvard University was the first one to develop synthetic napalm, during 1942 for the U.S. Armed Forces. From 1965-1969 the Dow Chemical Company manufactured "Napalm B" for the American forces. After the devastating effect of Napalm B was shown to the public, many of the chemists began to boycott the program. Later Napalm B became a symbol for the Vietnam War.



Historical Use
In 1942, researchers at Harvard University found that a jelly gasoline-like substance burnt more slowly and thus proved more effective. This new mixture of chemicals was widely used in the Second World War in flame throwers and fire bombs. Napalm bombs burned out about 40% of the area of Japanese target cities in the World War. The useful weapons were continuing to be improved, the napalm was one of those weapons. With the abundance of many more chemical compounds available after World War II, the safely stored and just-as-effective napalm B was developed. On July 17, 1944, napalm incendiary bombs were dropped for the first time by 14 American P-38 Lightning aircraft, near St. Lo, France. More napalms were being used by American forces during the Pacific Theater of Operations. In 1944-1945, napalms were used as a tactical weapon against Japanese bunkers, pillboxes, tunnels, and other fortifications. Napalms were usually dropped by aviators of the U.S. Navy, the United States Army Air Forces, and the U.S. Marine Corps in support of their ground troops. Napalm B was also used during the Greek civil war between the Greek army and the Communist rebels. During the last year of this Civil war in 1949, the U.S. increased their military support towards Greek Government by introducing them to the napalm B weapon. Napalm B was also widely used by the United Nations military force during the Korean War.

Effects on People and Civilians
When used as a incendiary weapon, napalms can cause severe burns to the skin and the body, asphyxiation, unconsciousness, and death. A napalm explosion can create an atmosphere of greater than 20% carbon monoxide and firestorms with self-perpetuating windstorms of up to 70 miles an hour. One of the main anti-personnel features napalm contains is that it sticks to the humans skin, with no practical way for removal of the burning substance. Napalm proved to be extremely effective against dug-in enemy personnel due to its ability to flow into foxholes, trenches, and bunkers. Even people in undamaged shelters can be killed by hypothermia/heat stroke, radiant heat, dehydration, suffocation, smoke exposure, or carbon monoxide poisoning. Deaths like this commonly occurred during the raid of German cities such as Dresden and Hamburg. One napalm strike released from a low flying plane can damage an area of 2,500 square yards.

International Law
International law does not halt the usage of incendiary weapons or napalms against military targets, however, use against civilian targets was banned by the United Nations Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons in 1980. media type="youtube" key="Ev2dEqrN4i0" height="315" width="420" align="right"

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