British S6 Respirator in Mk 2 S6 Haversack - 1980s

[@alqnax]

My recollection is that the small slit you referred to was actually a design feature and mentioned as such in our NBC lectures on the S6. The mask came in 3 sizes to take into account different face lengths (rather than head width / size ) and also in right or left-handed firer variants. The S6 filters were indeed used with the S10 for training although the "proper " filters were available from the start for familiarisation purposes and for issue at times of operational necessity.

[@RiflemanMoore]

Thanks for the info regarding filters! As for the slit you are quite right, I unfortunately did not know at the time of making this video, it is to allow moisture to drain to the bottom of the mask and, I believe, to then drain, at least to some degree from the exhale valve. I'm lucky to have picked one of the right hadn canister (left handed shooter) respirators a little while ago, I have done a video on it with it's special haversack.

[@jublywubly]

Interesting stuff. Thanks for making this video. I looked up "Anti-Dimming Kit MK7". It turns out it contains a cloth that's soaked in a chemical to be rubbed on the lenses of the gas mask, to stop them fogging up. It's not something that happens with modern gas masks, because they have a separate nasal/mouth cup within the main mask. (Essentially it's a mask within a mask.)

[@chazt8604]

We had to do a little mod to the haversack when we got those new combo pens, we had to cut a slit in the bottom of each pen holder to allow them to sit in properly as they were longer than the Atropine Autojets. We also all carried three colour detector paper in with the one colour. The loops in the top of the haversack lid was where our gloves inner and outer went.

[@RiflemanMoore]

Thanks for the info, I have a haversack which has had the bottom of the loops opened up, didn't really want to take a knife to this one to do the same though! Thanks for the heads up on the detector paper.

[@jonnyweir7756]

It’s not a huge deal, but there was also a cleaning cloth for the respirator in the inside pocket of the haversack. This was generally just a glasses cleaning cloth, but there was an ‘official’ design.

[@RiflemanMoore]

I believe I know what you mean and I do now have one, alas I didn't when I made this video.

[@coldwarkitbag9104]

Cloth, disinfecting.

[@coldwarkitbag9104]

The Wiseman spectacles are marked with the size, PD is Pupil Distance and the number is the distance between the pupils in mm. Your optician rarely tells you your pupil distance on your prescription. Useful to know if you ever get lenses installed as the wrong size could cause issues.

[@Yandarval]

HMS Sultan is the RN Engineering and Survival technical gear school. So this respirator set could have been used to train on either servicing or just normal NBC drills.

[@davel831]

My S6 had a little set of glasses which sat in them only trouble trying to take mine glasses off and putting this on in nine seconds. Then getting beasted by the NCO with a NCB suit on and this respirator on.

[@historicmilitaria1944]

nice to see the contents

[@billgriffin7346]

You seemed to have forgotten the paperback book, various choccy bars and fighting irons! Well that was in mine while I was in RAF load teams in the mid 80's.

[@RiflemanMoore]

Hah, true indeed!

[@ZvZd]

Great video!

[@RiflemanMoore]

Thank you!

[@harryb8945]

Do you know, why a lot of the sailors in the falklands, especially the those carrying stretchers. Are seen with the haversakes, was it due to a genuine fear of a CBRN attack, or just as a utility pouch?

[@RiflemanMoore]

As far as I know they were carrying respirators, you see most personnel employed on deck with the respirator haversack worn alongside life jacket and survival suit, I assume this was due to fear of the Argentinians dropping chemical ordnance on the ships, I'll look into it and try and get a solid answer for you. It's something I plan on doing a video on in the future.

[@harryb8945]

Rifleman Moore thanks and sounds good. Just made me wonder because I can't recall seeing soldiers or even Marines carry respirators.

[@davehopkin9502]

@@RiflemanMoore- It was more about protection from smoke and fumes from shipboard fires, when they burn there is a lot of plastic cables and fittings that give off toxic fumes

[@RiflemanMoore]

Ah, thank you! I shall remember that when questioned on this in the future.

[@66kbm]

@@harryb8945 All Marines and Soldiers would be carrying a Respirator Haversack plus contents. It was a War footing.

[@nickwilkinson5849]

Most sqaddies put part of their 24 hour rations in the haversack, but wow betide those who got caught.😲

[@nell7958]

My s6 came with the little red I.D disc is there anyway to work out what branch of the armed forces mine belonged to just interested to know more

[@annascustomsrepaints6775]

Hi, my son has recently purchased a Haversack NBC MK II with filters made in 1977 and 1980. He was concerned that they may have asbestos in the filters, is this likely to be the case? Thanks :)

[@violentbile]

There are no known harmful chemicals or asbestos within these filters.

[@annascustomsrepaints6775]

@@violentbile Thank you. I've not been able to find confirmation anywhere else.

[@violentbile]

@@annascustomsrepaints6775 No worries.

[@WinstonWenthworth]

Are these safe to wear ? I know the WW2 ones had asbestos filters etc

[@RiflemanMoore]

I believe these are safe, yes, they don't contain asbestos and I'm not aware of them containing any harmful chemicals.

[@WinstonWenthworth]

Ah thank you ! Your knowledge is invaluable!

[@RadioactiveSaddam]

What are these "later S6-filters" called? I bought a S10 and it came with one of theese.

[@simongarfunkel4040]

what is the function of the small side pocket on the bottom with the string?

[@RiflemanMoore]

It holds the string when not in use.

[@k_m8443]

Can it use a 40mm nato filter?

[@RiflemanMoore]

Yes, this uses a standard NATO 40mm thread.

[@idbtrinity7196]

Hi there, commented about a Jack Knife before and mentioned I bought an S6 Well it finally arrived. A size L, perfect. Two problems though The inner seal has some cracks which could turn to punctures, is there a rubber friendly way to patch these? I was thinking bike tire patches Also sadly the bottom straps had stress points from not being adjusted in years. They tore in half. So to anyone wanting to buy one of these: look for cracks and make sure the head strap is in good condition Because it just Woop Came apart

[@coldwarkitbag9104]

Elastic is the cheapest part to replace though. A Shame it won't be 100% but not the worst case scenario

[@idbtrinity7196]

@@coldwarkitbag9104 funny thing is the very next day I found out my local surplus shop had a better condition S6, so I just went and bought that! No torn straps, very lovely

[@coldwarkitbag9104]

@@idbtrinity7196 Nice, you done a video on them ?

[@idbtrinity7196]

@@coldwarkitbag9104 Soon, friend has my tripod. I have like 4 reviews backed up because of this

[@coldwarkitbag9104]

@@idbtrinity7196 nothing worse than being backed up. I ate a whole jar of pickled eggs once and didn't shift anything for four days solid. Just snagged a minty 1987 haversack for my S10 and just about got the complete Survive to Fight Edition II kit. Collection is shaping up nicely, links to my blog and photos on my channel.

[@chazt8604]

I did forget about one thing that was on issue in the 1980's for use when driving etc and the threat was high. NBC facelets commonly called the "Donald Duck Mask". We were supposed to wear them when doing high intensity work like bridging or tasks where it would be awkward to be in respirator like driving, hard to get to your respirator in the 9 seconds. It was supposed to give you maybe one or two quick breaths so you could get your respirator on.

[@RiflemanMoore]

I know the one, great nickname, completely understand why it was called that. Interesting to hear the rationale behind the design, I'd often wondered exactly what the purpose of it was. I'll cover it when I do a video on the PLCE haversack and contents. Thanks for the info!

[@coldwarkitbag9104]

@@RiflemanMoore the facelets feature in Survive to fight Edition II in 1990 but not in 1983 and 1995. In the 4th version there's an Oro nasal mask but I'm reliably informed they're practically impossible to find.

[@reddevilparatrooper]

Very much better than our US M17A1 Protective Masks back in the day. The filters were harder and very difficult to change. The Iranians had this problem when they were issued M17s during their war with Iraq in the 1980s. The US Military went to the British design after Gulf War I. By the mid 90s we had British style respirators. The British respirators are better designed than the German Draegers or American M17 series.

[@RiflemanMoore]

I have to say it is one area the UK came up trumps. As you say the M17 cheek filter concept is flawed at a basic level when it comes to changing filters. Interesting to hear of the Iranian's issues, I didn't know they had problems, thanks for commenting!

[@coldwarkitbag9104]

Typical British design ethos. If you're never going to use it it's the finest in the world, if you rely on it every day it'll fall apart.

[@Ks-zv6js]

Could I display on mk6 helmet

[@RiflemanMoore]

You could, the S6 was in use by some British units into the early 1990s.

[@Ks-zv6js]

Ok thanks😀

[@louisbeerreviews8964]

Made in Wiltshire

[@RiflemanMoore]

Jolly good quality.

[@Ks-zv6js]

Do the filters have asbestos

[@RiflemanMoore]

No, these ones are free of asbestos.

[@Ks-zv6js]

Thanks