Uploaded May 2013 | Updated September 2026, 8 hours ago
Starting in 1952, the Chemical Corps began work on a new mask to replace the M9 series. The corps wanted a mask that was more reliable, suitable for any face size and skin texture, and more comfortable in any climate. Utilizing previous work on canisterless civilian masks and an earlier military prototype, Dr. Frank Shanty, a young engineer assigned to the Army Chemical Center, thought of the concept for a new mask on a late-night train to Cincinnati, Ohio. The final result was the M17 Protective Mask, the first canisterless military mask, which was standardized in 1959. The new mask eliminated the problem of having left- and right-handed masks, weighed less, and had reduced breathing resistance. Other mask work included the first tank mask,
the M14, standardized in 1954 as part of the M8 3- Man Tank Collective Protector. In 1959, the corps standardized an improved head-wound mask, designated the M18, that allowed soldiers with head wounds to wear protective masks in contaminated environments. This is clipped from the 1962 film made by the Army Chemical Corps. The film shows various protective gear developed by the U.S. to protect soldiers and civilians in case of chemical warfare, including protective masks and clothing, as well as gear that helped people remove contaminants from clothing and skin.
Starting in 1952, the Chemical Corps began work on a new mask to replace the M9 series. The corps wanted a mask that was more reliable, suitable for any face size and skin texture, and more comfortable in any climate. Utilizing previous work on canisterless civilian masks and an earlier military prototype, Dr. Frank Shanty, a young engineer assigned to the Army Chemical Center, thought of the concept for a new mask on a late-night train to Cincinnati, Ohio. The final result was the M17 Protective Mask, the first canisterless military mask, which was standardized in 1959. The new mask eliminated the problem of having left- and right-handed masks, weighed less, and had reduced breathing resistance. Other mask work included the first tank mask,
the M14, standardized in 1954 as part of the M8 3- Man Tank Collective Protector. In 1959, the corps standardized an improved head-wound mask, designated the M18, that allowed soldiers with head wounds to wear protective masks in contaminated environments. This is clipped from the 1962 film made by the Army Chemical Corps. The film shows various protective gear developed by the U.S. to protect soldiers and civilians in case of chemical warfare, including protective masks and clothing, as well as gear that helped people remove contaminants from clothing and skin.
