S10 NBC Respirator

S10 CBRN Respirator
A S10 respirator with a filter
TypeGas mask
Place of originUnited Kingdom
Service history
In service1986–present
Used bySee Users
Production history
ManufacturerAvon
VariantsSee Variants

The S10 CBRN Respirator is a military gas mask that was formerly used within all branches of the British Armed Forces. Following the mask's replacement by the General Service Respirator in 2011, the S10 is now widely available to the public on the army surplus market.

History

A British soldier with the S10 respirator during Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) warfare exercises

The S10 was introduced in 1986 as a replacement for the S6 NBC Respirator[1] in service from the 1960s, and is manufactured by Avon Rubber.[2] 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.

The S10 respirator was originally due to be replaced by the new General Service Respirator (GSR) in 2007, although replacement efforts officially began in 2011 and all S10 Respirators have since been replaced with the GSR. All issued filters for the S10 have expired, the last of which expired in 2014. No new S10 Respirators will be bought.[3]

Characteristics

The mask includes a fail-safe drinking device, a Secondary Speech Transmitter (SST) on the side[4] which a Clansman radio system microphone can be clipped to, and corrective lenses can be fitted to the eyepieces. The mask also contains an inner oro-nasal mask to decrease fogging on the lenses. This mask is fitted with optical insert hooks, and therefore can be used by soldiers who wear glasses.

Variants

Variants include:[1]

  • SF10, intended for security and special forces use (replaced, at least in SAS service, by the CT12 version of the FM12). Does not contain a drinking port.
  • AR10 for police forces
  • N10, a commercial version.
  • SF10-IM, Similar to the SF10, but has a built in microphone in place of the drinking port.

Users

Australian Army Cadets in gas masks

Current

Former

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Avon S10-series gas masks.
  1. ^ a b "Avon S10". Archived from the original on 4 September 2012. Retrieved 9 August 2010.
  2. ^ "British S6". Gas Mask King. Archived from the original on 27 February 2020. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  3. ^ "General Service Respirator". YouTube. 20 February 2012. Archived from the original on 22 December 2021. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  4. ^ "Guide for the Selection of Personal Protective Equipment for Emergency First Responders (Respiratory Protection) NIJ Guide 102–00" (PDF). Office of Justice Programs. November 2002. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2 February 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  5. ^ "Australia's CBRNE Defense | CBRNe Portal". www.cbrneportal.com. Archived from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
  6. ^ "SDUpro Kit". Archived from the original on 13 October 2007. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  7. ^ "INFOGRAPHIC: Flying tigers | South China Morning Post". Scmp.com. 30 August 2014. Archived from the original on 19 October 2020. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  8. ^ "Equipment". geocities.com. Archived from the original on 24 June 2008. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  9. ^ "Hong Kong Police riot squad's equipment in detail | South China Morning Post". Scmp.com. 17 February 2016. Archived from the original on 16 November 2019. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  10. ^ Wetherell, Anthony (18 November 2003). "The UK General Service Respirator" (PDF). Defence Scientific and Technical Laboratory. Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 February 2017. Retrieved 27 February 2020.