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The GP-5 (Russian: Гражданский Противогаз — "Civilian Gas Mask") is a gas mask kit, manufactured from 1962 to 1990 by the Soviet Union, issued and stored for civil defence usage. The gas mask is based on the ShM-41 and itself was initially the ShM-62, which was replaced by the ShM-62u. The upgraded variants of the ShM-62 are the ShM-66mu and the PMK-G
Overview
The GP-5 was designed to protect civilians of the Soviet Union from radioactive fallout during the Cold War. This mask is a helmet-type mask which was made in white or black rubber. The lenses of these masks are held in place by metal rims, crimped onto the rubber of the mask. The bottom of the mask is made of metal, and in it is the 40mm filter inlet, and the inhale and exhale valves assembly. Air entered through the inhale valve, passed into the mask through Tissot tubes under the lenses and was breathed out through the exhale valve. Anti-fogging lens inserts were included with the kit to further reduce fogging in the mask.
The gas mask, being of the "helmet" type, requires it to have strong elasticity, and must be stretched over the head for it to be worn. This allows for a secure fit, while trading comfort. The mask itself is made of latex rubber, and thus it naturally adheres well to the skin which ensures an airtight seal. The facepiece of this mask was designated ShM-62. The ShM-62u was the newer upgraded version of the facepiece. The difference between these two facepieces is that the ShM-62 was made with more rubber (the rubber is thicker) thus making the rubber less flexible. The ShM-62u featured less rubber, so it was more flexible and weighed less.
Markings
The top row of numbers behind character "Ф" indicates the production lot number of the mask
Location:
- "M" = Moscow
- "С" = Saratov
- "T" = Tambov
- "Я" = Yaroslavl
- "O" = Orenburg
Date:
- 1 Dot = Made between January - March
- 2 Dots = Made between April - June
- 3 Dots = Made between July - September
- 4 Dots = Made Between October - December
Sizes:
- 0 = X Small - 63 cm
- 1 = Small - 63,5-65.5 cm
- 2 = Medium - 66,0-68,0 cm
- 3 = Large - 68,5-70,5 cm
- 4 = X Large - 71 cm
( "y" - u - added at the end meaning that it's the upgraded version)
Accessories
The mask was issued in a very basic khaki fabric bag with two straps, one to hold the bag over the shoulder, and the other to keep it tight around the waist, preventing it from moving around as the person walked. The bag also had two external pockets, one for a decontamination kit (IPP-51 or IPP-8), and the other for bandages or AI-2 and the bag also featured a smaller pouch inside for keeping the anti-fog inserts, issued with the mask to prevent the lenses fogging when the user exhaled.
Filter
Main article: GP-5 Filter Canister
The GP-5 kit included a 40mm GOST filter (itself designated as GP-5). STANAG 4155 filters don't screw on properly.
Lab reports from the Netherlands and Finland have confirmed the presence of asbestos in the GP-5 filter, in both the particulate filter, and the activated carbon, in filters produced up to at least 1988.[2] [3]
Variants
GP-5m
The GP-5m kit was issued with the ShM-66mu, which differs from the ShM-62u in several things such as the addition of a voice diaphragm and holes for ears. The military kit, designated PMG-2, was completed with a PMG type G bag, and an EO-62K filter, similar in appearance to the GP-5 filter.[4].
ShMP
The ShMP (Russian: Шлем Маска Промышленный - Helmet mask Industrial) is a designation for helmet style masks used in the industry (mainly ShM-62 and ShM-41 variants). All the ShMP masks with ShM-62 facepieces are black. Although, black ShM-62u face pieces did see their use with Civil Defense personnel.
Service
Soviet Union
It was the main civilian mask for Soviet citizens during the 1962-1980s period.
East Germany
Between 1981 and 1988, the government of East Germany imported at least 1,810,000 GP-5 units for a cost of 90,559,300 East German Marks, producing localised documentation. The bags used were the Soviet type. Its designation was Bevölkerungsschutz Maske GP-5 (Civil protection mask GP-5).[1]
Bulgaria
The GP-5 was issued in Bulgaria, with a smaller bag, (roughly the dimensions as the mask itself) anti-fog inserts, and an EO-18k filter.
Cuba
Cuba imported numerous masks, which are still in warehouses ready for use by both Military and the civilian population, Most of which appear to be black ShM-62u's, but it is possible that a few white ShM-62u's did find their way into Cuba.
Albania
Albania imported the mask during the Kosovo war and was interestingly used by the UÇK
US 'Evirstar' import
Soviet-manufactured GP-5 kits were imported and sold in the United States by Evirstar Defense Products as current CBRN protection, despite the age of the masks and contents of the filters.
Popular Culture
Team Fortress 2
The first-person shooter, Team Fortress 2, features the GP-5 as a wearable item for the Pyro class, known as Foster's Facade (a reference to the Killing Floor series' Mr.Foster, who is always seen wearing the mask).
SCP
The GP-5 makes an appearance on the SCP wiki as SCP-1499[5]
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.
The GP-5 makes an appearance on many full conversion mods for the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. games, both SHoC (Shadow Of Chernobyl) and CoP (Call Of Pripyat).
Such mods being:
- Dead Air (for CoP);
- RadioPhobia 2 (for SHoC);
Killing floor
Mr. Foster from Killing floor 1, 2 and Incursion wears a GP-5.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 http://www.atemschutzddr.de/025ea998a80d98f09/025ea998a80dc71f8/index.html (in German)
- ↑ File:337992e9-de99-4358-addb-3ced34dd6054.jpg (in Dutch)
- ↑ File:Photo_2017-08-09_10-29-35.jpg (in Finnish)
- ↑ http://www.mil.by/ru/forces/special/rhbz/459/8335/ (in Russian)
- ↑ http://www.scp-wiki.net/scp-1499