Medical Aspects of Chemical Warfare (2008) - The Black Vault

Chemical Defense EquipmentabFig. 17-9. (a) The M45 mask (aircrew configuration) with hose assembly. (b) The M45 Land Warrior mask.Photographs: Courtesy of the Chemical Casualty Care Division, US Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense,Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md.interoperability hose assembly to allow both hoseandface-mounted configurations; a rubber facepiecewith an in-turned peripheral seal; a second skin; anda hood (Figure 17-9). The mask provides the requiredCB protection without the aid of forced ventilation air.It is used by all Army air crew members, except AH-64Apache helicopter pilots, in the conduct of aviationmissions anywhere in a CB environment. 14,15The M45 mask supports the Land Warrior program,as well as Joint Special Operations Command requirements,and serves as the mask for personnel whocannot be fitted with the standard M40A1, M42A2, orMCU-2/P protective masks. The M45 Land Warriormask does not include the hose assembly, hood, canisterbaffle, microphone, or microphone cable. 14,15,18Joint Service General Purpose MaskThe JSGPM (Figure 17-10) is provided in two modelswith individual national stock numbers to support majoroperational modes: the M50 for field use, the M51for use in combat vehicles. The M50 and M51 componentsare configured to reduce the overall profile of themask and to improve integration with future protectivesystems. Common to both models are the mask carrier,bag, individual equipment carrier, facepiece assembly,sunlight outsert, primary CBR filters, waterproof bag,and operator cards. 14,15,19The M50 and M51 facepiece assemblies are builton a butyl/silicone rubber faceblank with an invertedperipheral face seal and an integrated chin cup. Thefacepiece assembly forms a comfortable seal on thewearer’s face and protects the face, eyes, and respiratorytract from chemical and biological agents, designatedTICs, and radiological particulates. The facepieceassembly incorporates a flexible, single, polyurethaneeye lens that provides an overall field of vision greaterthan 80%. A front module assembly provides a directspeech capability and integrates the exhalation diskvalve, drinking system components, and communicationsinterface. Filtration is provided by two filtermount assemblies (left and right) that integrate theair inlet disk valves and self-sealing disk valves, anda nose cup that controls the flow of air throughoutthe mask and prevents fogging of the eye lens whilebreathing. 14,15The M51 includes the following items: combat vehiclehose assembly (connects the mask to the vehiclecollective protection system), protective hood, microphone,microphone adapter, and microphone lead(connects the microphone and microphone adapterto the individual’s combat vehicle crew helmet). One567