1. Handling. As WP munitions ignite spontaneously in contact with air they should not be handled roughly lest their air-tight integrity be destroyed. If a fire does occur, per-sonnel should wear gloves and keep both the gloves and their shoes wet. WP smoke is toxic on prolonged and repeated inhalation, but is not likely to be harmful in the concen-trations found in smoke screens in the open. Gas masks afford complete protection from concentrated WP smoke, but they tend to become clogged, and therefore they should not be worn except where serious exposure in enclosed spaces is involved.

Figure 14 - Smoke from M47A2 WP-filled smoke bombs

2. Stowage. Since any bomb leakage or malfunctioning in stowage would result in ge-neration of quantities of acrid smoke and fires which are difficult to permanently extin-guish on board ship, the 100-lb. Smoke Bomb M47A2 or AN-M47A3, WP filled or PWP fil-led, should be stowed, protected from rain, spray, and direct sunlight, and topside where jettisoning is readily possible. Ashore the bombs should be stowed in fireproof magazines away from all other types of munitions. No WP munitions should be stowed at tempera-tures exceeding 100° F.

Figure 15 - Flank screen each produced by six bombs M47A2, PWP-filled, 2¼ minutes after burst. Screen were being maintained by burning pieces of PWP and were effective for 10 minutes.

3. Decontamination. White phosphorus fires are easily extinguished permanently with a 5 per cent copper sulfate solution. If this solution is not available, water or wet sand may be used to temporarily extinguish the fires. Fires thus extinguished will re-ignite when the phosphorus has dried out. Therefore, they must be kept wet until all the white phosphorus has been removed. WP in contact with the skin will cause severe and linger-ing burns. Places of contact should be immediately washed and kept wet until the phos-phorus has been removed. Washing the affected area with soda solution, followed with a 5 per cent copper sulfate solution, is very effective, but greasy ointments should never be used as such ointments merely spread the contamination.