What does ZAB mean in UNCLASSIFIED

History

The first incendiary bombs were developed towards the end of the 19th century by Russian military scientist Colonel Fyodorov, who invented a “chemical bomb” that was filled with phosphorus and petroleum jelly and was intended to set fire to enemy camps. Following this invention, incendiary bombs began to be used regularly during World War I by both sides for infantry support and strategic bombing attacks against cities and towns. During World War II, incendiary bombs were further refined and used extensively as part of the Allied bombing campaign against Germany and Japan. The most famous use of such weapons during this period was the Allied firebombing of Dresden in February 1945 which resulted in over 25,000 civilian casualties. In modern times, ZABs are still widely used by militaries around the world but are usually employed against military targets instead of inhabited areas due to their destructive nature.

Uses Of ZAB Bombs

Incendiary bombs are used as both an anti-personnel weapon as well as an effective means of destroying buildings and other infrastructure when precision bombing is not available or feasible. As an anti-personnel weapon these bombs can cause severe burns on exposed human skin due to their chemical content; they can also ignite combustible material around them, making them useful for clearing out heavily fortified areas with little risk of collateral damage. In addition, they have been successfully employed against enemy aircraft thanks to their ability to leave behind large clouds of smoke when detonated making it difficult for pilots to maneuver safely away from the area. Against ground targets, these bombs can be highly effective at destroying buildings not only through direct impact but also through fires caused by their incendiary payloads which burn even after detonation has occurred.