The ShMS (Russian: Шлем-Маска Специальная - "Special helmet mask"), designated the SchMS (German: Schutzmaske Spezial - "Special protective mask") in East German service, was a Soviet optical gas mask issued to snipers and artillery crew during the Cold war.
Overview[]
Similarly to other Soviet gas masks made during the Cold War, the ShMS was made in both grey and black rubber variants. The grey variant, like other soviet masks at the time has issues with UV light damage over time.
The ShMS has a voice diaphragm at the lower front area of the mask, which is covered by a protective metal cover with multiple holes. The voice diaphragm is fairly standard for the time, using a thin piece of plastic below the metal protector piece to detect speech on the interior of the mask and vibrates to amplify the speech for others. The diaphragm's cover is identical to the one used on the MM-1 and PMG-2.
The ShMS mask lacks an oral-nasal cup, much like other Soviet masks during the Cold War instead, it features Tissot tubes like that of the ShM-62u, PMG-2, and other Soviet masks of the time period.
The lenses of the ShMS are positioned so that soldiers can look through various optical devices while wearing the mask without worrying about optical distortion that is present on the ShM-41 masks.
Filter[]
The ShMS uses the standard Russian 40mm GOST thread design to attach a filter or hose, and was issued with a standard EO-16 "coffee can" filter.
The EO-16 filter has a 40mm GOST thread on the bottom to allow for a pre-filter to be attached such as the DP-1
Information Regarding Variants[]
Soviet Union[]
It was issued as a part of the RSh-4 kit along with other masks in the Soviet Union such as the ShM-41.
East Germany[]
In East Germany the ShMS was dubbed the Schutzmaske Spezial abreviated to: SchMS.
The Mask was first issued with the Blumentarnmuster camoflauge bag until 1965. Then it was issued with the LEM 1-1 bag and eventually the LEM 1-2 bag and finally the Strichtarn camouflaged bag was planned for the 1990s but never went into issue
Hungary[]
In Hungary it issued as the Pk-i gázálarc (Parancsnoki gázálarc - commander gas mask) between 1965-1974 in small numbers (the approximate number was 2000 pieces). It was most likely used with 60M kits including being issued with 60M filters.
Syria[]
This mask is currently in use by the Syrian armed forces as the standard gas-mask for their NBC squads. Syrians use the black variant as the black rubber held up better to UV light and doesn't damage unlike the grey variant of Soviet masks.
Vietnam[]
Much like the Syrian Army, the black variant of the ShMS is currently used by the Vietnamese People's Army.
Photo Gallery[]
Popular Culture[]
The ShMS mask has been used in many modern entertainment sources, notably with the band Slipknot, with the DJ Sid Wilson using the mask in the Self-Titled era and My Chemical Romance, using it in the "Welcome to the black parade" music video for the character Mother War. The Mother war ShMS features straps rather than a hood, likely to accompany for the actresses hair.
