What was the chemical used to clean vehicles and to decontaminate soldiers during NBC training in the 90s?

SGT Kenneth Dye — Fri, 22 Dec 2023 09:12:13 -0500

I remember being told it was used to clean Navy ships and I Lao heard it was ultimately removed due to health reasons but can’t confirm that.

Response by MSG Thomas Currie made Dec 22 at 2023 1:23 PM

MSG Thomas Currie — Fri, 22 Dec 2023 13:23:34 -0500

Are you thinking of DS-2
That was the standard from at least the mid-1960's forward until quite recently (and still is in storage because it works better than the newer stuff except that it harms some sensitive equipment).
https://asc.army.mil/docs/pubs/alt/2004/6_NovDec/web_edition/07_Emerging_Decontaminants_and_Replacement_of_DS2.cfm

I don't recall it ever being used in training, at least not for regular soldiers, maybe chemical MOS soldiers used some of the real stuff. In training we used water in the same sprayers that were supposed to be used for DS-2.

07_Emerging_Decontaminants_and_Replacement_of_DS2.cfm

Response by COL Randall C. made Dec 22 at 2023 1:25 PM

COL Randall C. — Fri, 22 Dec 2023 13:25:56 -0500

Are you referring to DS2? That stuff was never used on people nor was it used in training. Let me rephrase - it "SHOULD have never been" because it wasn't authorized to do so.

I think the last time it was used was after DS/DS in the early 90s. I know the Army and the Marine Corps were the "biggest customer" for it and I think the Navy and Air Force only had a few thousand gallons of the stuff.

It wasn't just the potential health problems that led to it's use stoppage, that stuff was hell on equipment and if you didn't wash it off almost immediately, it ate through the paint, electrical wires, tires, fogged glass, etc.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Dec 22 at 2023 2:42 PM

SGM Bill Frazer — Fri, 22 Dec 2023 14:42:29 -0500

STB? Super tropical bleach? We never used it on people, just equipment, and sparingly.

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made Dec 23 at 2023 8:26 AM

SGM Erik Marquez — Sat, 23 Dec 2023 08:26:34 -0500

It was DS2, but that was never used in training.
And its no longer used
https://asc.army.mil/docs/pubs/alt/2004/6_NovDec/web_edition/07_Emerging_Decontaminants_and_Replacement_of_DS2.cfm

07_Emerging_Decontaminants_and_Replacement_of_DS2.cfm

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Dec 23 at 2023 12:40 PM

CAPT Kevin B. — Sat, 23 Dec 2023 12:40:35 -0500

For the real deal, a unit I was Skipper of (EEUPAC) used HTH in the Sandbox. For training which involved some tear gas, etc. a spray of Simple Green solution was used in our equipment. As our job would be to take care of MSRs and not people, the normal DECON areas were set up to take care of our unit. The Army tried to dump body bags on us to haul around. Nixed that quick. Not our job to DECON others.