Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!samsung!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!mips!apple!rutgers!att!cbnews!military From: bxr307@csc.anu.oz Newsgroups: sci.military Subject: Re: Drugs in War Message-ID: <12453@cbnews.ATT.COM> Date: 20 Dec 89 07:03:08 GMT References: <12395@cbnews.ATT.COM> <12427@cbnews.ATT.COM> Sender: military@cbnews.ATT.COM Organization: Computer Services, Australian National University Lines: 45 Approved: military@att.att.com From: bxr307@csc.anu.oz In article <12427@cbnews.ATT.COM>, denbeste@BBN.COM (Steven Den Beste) writes: > From: Steven Den Beste > > In article <12395@cbnews.ATT.COM> carl@garfield.cs.mun.ca (Carl Noseworthy) writes: >>Have governments ever condoned the use of drugs by their soldiers? Have >>any governments even encouraged it? I could see some sort of physical >>advantage if a whole army was on steroids. What other types of drugs >>might be used to enhance performance in soldiers? For example, were Japanese >>Kamikaze pilots given some sort of drug before their final flights? > > The British army historically issued gin to the troops just before a battle. > Run or other spirits were routinely issued to sailors in the RN on wooden > ships. > > Alcohol is a good drug for this because in small quantities it makes a person > less fearful and more sure of himself. > The British army issued Rum as a reliever of cold during WWI. The Royal Navy issue of a daily rum ration was only ceased in 1967. In the Australian Army we still have Rum as a cold weather supplementary ration in the ration scales. In addition we have an unofficial rule (and have had one since as long ago as WWII) that each man in the field is entitled to "two cans of beer, per day, perhaps!" Which in other words means that whenever possible a ration of beer will be brought foward and issued to the diggers. However as can be imagined this is not possible all the time. Whenever possible we try and look after our diggers. ;-) In the Royal Australian Navy there is a similar tradition. However technology has caught up with them. On most modern ships (FFG and greater) they have the venerable Cocoa Cola vending machines. After a certain hour of the day (usually 5.00pm) a switch is flipped and they dispense something a little more interesting after you insert your coins! ;-) However only off-duty sailors are allowed to partake. In the RAAF they have similar ideas I'm sure. However I've never spent much time with the "bry-clean boys", so I cannot say for sure. Brian Ross