This article is about military applications. For more general information, see Allotropes of phosphorus § White phosphorus.
White phosphorus munitions are weapons that use one of the common allotropes of the chemical element phosphorus. White phosphorus is used in smoke, illumination, and incendiary munitions, and is commonly the burning element of tracer ammunition.[1] Other common names for white phosphorus munitions include WP and the slang terms Willie Pete and Willie Peter, which are derived from William Peter, the World War II phonetic alphabet rendering of the letters WP.[2] White phosphorus is pyrophoric (it is ignited by contact with air); burns fiercely; and can ignite cloth, fuel, ammunition, and other combustibles.
White phosphorus is a highly efficient smoke-producing agent, reacting with air to produce an immediate blanket of phosphorus pentoxide vapour. Smoke-producing white phosphorus munitions are very common, particularly as smoke grenades for infantry, loaded in defensive grenade launchers on tanks and other armoured vehicles, and in the ammunition allotment for artillery and mortars. These create smoke screens to mask friendly forces' movement, position, infrared signatures, and shooting positions. They are often called smoke/marker rounds for their use in marking points of interest, such as a light mortar to designate a target for artillery spotters.
^"Pyrotechnics, Explosives, & Fireworks". Archived from the original on 2 January 2004. Retrieved 4 December 2005.
^Paul Reynolds (16 November 2005). "White phosphorus: weapon on the edge". BBC News. Archived from the original on 29 November 2019. Retrieved 16 November 2005.
and 16 Related for: White phosphorus munitions information
Whitephosphorusmunitions are weapons that use one of the common allotropes of the chemical element phosphorus. Whitephosphorus is used in smoke, illumination...
city on March 10, 2023. On March 14, 2023 two projectiles with whitephosphorusmunitions were fired on a road at the southern edge of the city. On March...
of whitephosphorusmunitions by the IDF, published in 2010 in the Gonzaga Journal of International Law, argues that Israel's use of whitephosphorus in...
through local agencies to transport heavy weapons, ammunition, and whitephosphorusmunitions, in support of United States military operations, to several challenging...
munitions and is also the only place in the Northern Hemisphere where whitephosphorusmunitions are filled. Its Homeland Security mission includes first-responder...
the first time the use of such munitions, and later to declare that the IDF would stop using whitephosphorusmunitions in populated areas. Also that year...
Phosphorus is a chemical element; it has symbol P and atomic number 15. Elemental phosphorus exists in two major forms, whitephosphorus and red phosphorus...
civilian population in Gammalsvenskby with bombings including use of whitephosphorusmunitions. The population of Gammalsvenskby traces its origins to Hiiumaa...
and Syrian airstrikes in and around Aleppo are using whitephosphorusmunitions, cluster munitions, incendiaries and "bunker buster" bombs which have killed...
channel), a television channel owned by Wirtualna Polska Holding Whitephosphorusmunitions Widening participation, in higher education Wild pitch, in baseball...
not design, produce or sell anti-personnel mines, cluster munitions, whitephosphorusmunitions and its related key components. In 2018, the Group harmonised...
on Guazapa collecting evidence about the possible army use of whitephosphorusmunitions. In April 1983, Melida Anaya Montes, a leader of the Popular Forces...
Volnovakha. Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials accused Russia of using whitephosphorusmunitions on the town of Popasna, located in the Luhansk Oblast, during...