S10 NBC Respirator
Encyclopedia
The S10 NBC Respirator is a military gas mask
used within all branches of the British armed forces, and is currently in working service. The S10 is also widely available to the public on the army surplus market.
in service from the 1960s, and is manufactured by Avon Rubber
. S10s were issued to British nationals in Saudi Arabia
during the 1991 Gulf War
and were marked by a blue coloured PSM (Primary Speech Module) fitting or a blue painted spot on the forehead; although meant to be returned to the authorities after the Iraqi threat (from Scud
missile attacks, potentially carrying chemical warheads) had expired, large numbers were unaccounted for in the wake of the conflict.
Gas mask
A gas mask is a mask put on over the face to protect the wearer from inhaling airborne pollutants and toxic gases. The mask forms a sealed cover over the nose and mouth, but may also cover the eyes and other vulnerable soft tissues of the face. Some gas masks are also respirators, though the word...
used within all branches of the British armed forces, and is currently in working service. The S10 is also widely available to the public on the army surplus market.
History
The S10 was introduced in 1986 as a replacement for the S6 NBC RespiratorS6 NBC Respirator
The S6 NBC Respirator was the protective gas mask issued to the British armed forces. It was developed in the 1950s and used from the 1960s up until the introduction of the current-issue S10 in 1986, after which it was withdrawn from mainstream service, but some still remain in service with RAF...
in service from the 1960s, and is manufactured by Avon Rubber
Avon Rubber
Avon Rubber p.l.c. is a manufacturer of high technology rubber-based products for a number of manufacturing sectors. It is a constituent of the FTSE SmallCap Index...
. S10s were issued to British nationals in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
during the 1991 Gulf War
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
and were marked by a blue coloured PSM (Primary Speech Module) fitting or a blue painted spot on the forehead; although meant to be returned to the authorities after the Iraqi threat (from Scud
Scud
Scud is a series of tactical ballistic missiles developed by the Soviet Union during the Cold War, and exported widely to other countries. The term comes from the NATO reporting name SS-1 Scud which was attached to the missile by Western intelligence agencies...
missile attacks, potentially carrying chemical warheads) had expired, large numbers were unaccounted for in the wake of the conflict.
Characteristics
Two filter canisters are issued for the S10, as with the S6; a light pressed metal type for riot control situations or training (marked with a painted red stripe or red tape), and a heavier plastic encased type for protection against NBC agents. The latter have a maximum shelf-life of 10 years, and the mask itself (the facepiece) of 20 years. The mask has many features including a fail-safe drinking device, a Secondary Speech Transmitter (SST) on the side which can accept special microphones, and corrective lenses can be fitted to the eyepieces. The mask also contains an inner mask to decrease fogging on the lenses.Variants
Variants include:- SF10, intended for security and special forcesSpecial forcesSpecial forces, or special operations forces are terms used to describe elite military tactical teams trained to perform high-risk dangerous missions that conventional units cannot perform...
use, - AR10 for police forces
- N10, a commercial version.