Operation Cauldron

Operation Cauldron was a series of secret biological warfare trials undertaken by the British government in 1952. Scientists from Porton Down and the Royal Navy were involved in releasing biological agents, including pneumonic and bubonic plague, brucellosis and tularaemia and testing the effects of the agents on caged monkeys and guinea pigs.

For the plan to use nuclear weapons on tar sands, see Project Cauldron. For the Rhodesian operation, see Operation Cauldron (Rhodesia).

Operation Cauldron
TypeSeries of secret biological warfare trials
Location
Off the coast of the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides
Planned byBritish government
ObjectiveReleasing biological agents, including pneumonic and bubonic plague, brucellosis and tularaemia and testing the effects of the agents on caged monkeys and guinea pigs
Date1952 (1952)
Executed byScientists from Porton Down and the Royal Navy
OutcomeFailure

While the tests were carried out by Britain, the tests were a joint Anglo-US-Canadian operation, with a US Navy Lieutenant Commander taking part. US documents showed that the operation was not purely defensive, as later claimed; at a joint 1958 conference in Canada the US chemical corps minuted "it was agreed ... studies should be continued on aerosols ... all three countries should concentrate on the search for incapacitating and new-type lethal agents".

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