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.

Is there a fire that burns underwater?

Fire requires a combustible substance and oxidizer to ignite. For underwater burning in Baltimore, since there's no oxygen available underwater, the torch has two hoses that produce the combustible substance and oxygen gas. With careful application, a sustained fire can be created even underwater.

Can you wash napalm off?

"Napalm B has a commonly quoted composition of 21% benzene, 33% gasoline [...] and 46% polystyrene." This mixture is going to be totally insoluble in water, and common organic solvents are mostly flammable, so you'd only make the problem worse by trying to wash it off.

Can you stop drop and roll napalm?

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.

The Vietnam War 1945–1975: “Napalm Girl”

Is napalm a war crime?

Napalm is legal to use on the battlefield under international law. Its use against "concentrations of civilians" is a war crime.

What happens when you ignite napalm?

Napalm burns at the same temperature as the flammable liquid used in its composition, typically gasoline, kerosene, diesel fuel, or benzene. Direct contact with flaming napalm results in full-thickness burns. Large surface area contact results in rapid loss of blood pressure, loss of consciousness, and death.

What happens when you light napalm on fire?

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.

How is an underwater fire possible?

The oxidizer is the oxygen in the surrounding atmosphere. These two ingredients can sustain a candle flame. In the case of an underwater torch, both the combustible substance and the oxidizer must be supplied by hoses leading down to the torch, since no free oxygen is available underwater.

Will thermite burn underwater?

It burns well while wet, and cannot be easily extinguished with water—though enough water to remove sufficient heat may stop the reaction. Small amounts of water boil before reaching the reaction. Even so, thermite is used for welding under water.

Can gasoline burn underwater?

A gush of gas can form a flash flame; this flame then breaks, resulting in a small flamelet that spreads on the water surface. Increasing the leakage pressure enhances the burning process and the flamelet gradually disappears.

Can the ocean be set on fire?

The ocean-surface fire was caused by a ruptured underwater pipeline, according to the state oil company Pemex.

How hot is Greek fire?

The experiment used crude oil mixed with wood resins, and achieved a flame temperature of over 1,000 °C (1,830 °F) and an effective range of up to 15 meters (49 ft).

Why is napalm no longer used?

This led, the US military to deploy weapons whose firepower could be controlled and directed against precise targets. 5 As a consequence, napalm ceased to be at the core of the US military strategy because its destructive power was not easy to control and could not really be limited to a target.

Is napalm 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.

What fuel do flamethrowers use?

Most military flamethrowers use liquid fuel, typically either gasoline or diesel, but commercial flamethrowers are generally blowtorches using gaseous fuels such as propane; gases are safer in peacetime applications, because their flames have less mass flow rate and dissipate faster, and often are easier to extinguish ...

Was napalm effective in the Vietnam War?

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. Throughout the duration of the war, 1965 – 1973, eight million tons of bombs were dropped over Vietnam; this was more than three times the amount used in WWII.

Is white phosphorus illegal?

The use of white phosphorus is not outright banned under international weapons law. It is not illegal for militaries to possess it, and armed forces around the world (including U.S. troops) have said they use it to mark a target or create a smokescreen, according to David E.

What are the 5 laws of war?

Principles of the laws of war

Military necessity, along with distinction, proportionality, humanity (sometimes called unnecessary suffering), and honor (sometimes called chivalry) are the five most commonly cited principles of international humanitarian law governing the legal use of force in an armed conflict.

Is Agent Orange still used?

Agent Orange was a herbicide mixture used by the U.S. military during the Vietnam War. Much of it contained a dangerous chemical contaminant called dioxin. Production of Agent Orange ended in the 1970s and is no longer in use.

Can the ocean freeze?

Ocean water freezes just like freshwater, but at lower temperatures. Fresh water freezes at 32 degrees Fahrenheit but seawater freezes at about 28.4 degrees Fahrenheit , because of the salt in it. When seawater freezes, however, the ice contains very little salt because only the water part freezes.

What if the ocean caught fire?

If the oceans were ablaze, the first nasty byproduct would be black smoke clogging our atmosphere. This smoke would pose a considerable health risk because it would be filled with soot particles. These would penetrate deep into our lungs, causing heart attacks, strokes or even death.

Why are they spraying water on the ocean fire?

Some internet wags were amused boats were spraying water on the fire, which of course, was already in the water. But the spray of the fine mist was actually an effort to choke off the oxygen that was fueling the blaze.

Do flares work on the moon?

Sure, a signal flare will burn on the moon, but you have to make a special one. The flare has to have both the material that burns (usually magnesium, which burns very brightly), and oxygen.