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It killed quickly, efficiently, and silently.

Actually, poison gas was not an efficient killer. Poison gas, in its early development, was not a trust-worthy weapon. As it was released into the air from canisters, it needed a wind which would push it towards the enemy's trenches. If the wind was blowing in the wrong direction, it could harm those who were trying to release it. As the gases were denser or heavier than air, it often found itself trapped in shell-holes. It had a great psychological effect on enemy troops in the beginning, as no one had ever used gas before. However, as methods of detecting the gases became more common, and gas masks were developped, it became a rather ineffective weapon. Even once the opposing armies figured out how to put the gas into artillery shells, it was still only effective over a small area. And yes, while it was silent, it could be detected by its colour.

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16y ago

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