Wind and ship movement made gas warfare unreliable at sea

What plans existed for gas warfare at sea, and how would warships defend themselves?

Crews could use masks and seal the ship, but rapid dispersion over open water made gas attacks much more practical against ships in port than ships at sea.

Warship precautions included gas masks, battening hatches, and ventilation or cleaning arrangements. The larger obstacle to gas attack was environmental: a moving ship, open water, and shifting air currents make a useful concentration difficult to maintain. Effective gas clouds prefer low ground, calm conditions, and a slow consistent wind, none of which is dependable at sea. Ships in harbour were therefore more vulnerable than ships underway.