The FM12 CBRN Respirator is a military
gas mask
A gas mask is a piece of personal protective equipment used to protect the wearer from inhaling airborne pollutants and toxic gases. The mask forms a sealed cover over the nose and mouth, but may also cover the eyes and other vulnerable soft ...
produced by
Avon Rubber
Avon Technologies plc is a British company that specialises in the engineering and manufacturing of respiratory protection equipment for military, law enforcement and fire personnel. Its corporate headquarters are south of Melksham in Wiltshi ...
.
History
The FM12 was introduced in 2000 as an intended replacement for the standard issue
S10 NBC Respirator in service from the 1980s. However, the FM12 was never widely adopted by the military as it was deemed too similar to the S10 to warrant total replacement of all existing S10s.
Characteristics
Two filter canisters are issued for the FM12, as with the S10; a light pressed metal type for riot control situations or training (marked with a painted red stripe or red tape), and a heavier plastic-encased type for protection against
CBRN
Chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear defense (CBRN defense) or Nuclear, biological, and chemical protection (NBC protection) is a class of protective measures taken in situations where chemical, biological, radiological, or nucl ...
agents. The latter have a maximum shelf-life of 10 years, and the mask itself (the facepiece) of 20 years. The mask was designed around the S10, but has several design differences. The characteristics it shares in common with the S10 are the fail-safe drinking device, two speech transmitters (one primary integrated in the exhale valve at the front, another secondary at the side port for telephone communications), and the ability to accept corrective lenses on the inside of the eyepiece.
However, the voice emitter and exhale valve cover is smaller than that of the S10, as are the lenses. The FM12 has an overall lower profile than the S10 and sits closer to the wearer's face. The FM12's drinking tube is also longer than that of the S10, making drinking easier while wearing the mask. The FM12 also has an inner mask to prevent fogging of the lenses. The 'ridge' present around the edge of the S10 is absent from the FM12.
The main noticeable difference between the FM12 and the S10 is the ability of some FM12's to mount two filters to the mask simultaneously, as was done by the
SBS in the
Gulf War
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. When only one filter is fitted to a mask that has the ability to accept two, a blanking plug must be used.
The harness of the FM12 consists of elastic strips, which connect to a mesh fabric piece on the back of the wearer's head. This change from the rubber straps of the S10 was designed to enable the mask to be worn for longer periods of time without discomfort, and also to hold the mask tighter to the face for a better seal.
Variants
CT12
Respirator used for counter-terrorism operations. The difference between the FM12 and the CT12 is that the CT12 has had the drinking straw removed and sealed at the factory. This is to reduce the overall weight of the respirator, as the straw is not needed in a counter-terrorist situation. This variant is considerably rarer than the FM12.
CT12-IM
This variant is very similar to the CT12, except it has a built in microphone in place of the drinking port for operations where communication is necessary. This variant is also rarer than the FM12 and the CT12 variant, with not much information about it being disclosed on the internet.
Users
* : Used in the Belgian Army
* : Used in the New Zealand Army Army
* : Used in the Danish Army - designated ABC-Maske M/93
* : Used in the Irish Army
* : Singapore Police Force
* : Used by most British police forces
CT12 &Fm12 are used by SAS forces
* : Los Angeles Police Department
* : Used in the Dutch Army
* : Used in the Norwegian Army
also used by the Norwegian civil defence
Gallery
Preparing to take a drink with some help, an Australian adjusts his with Avon FM12 Mask so his Marine partner can pull out the canteen adapter 020121-M-BH370-011.jpg, In Australian service, 2002
Brasília realiza simulação de defesa para a -Copa2014 (14382031151).jpg, A Brazilian serviceman in an FM12 gas mask without a filter and a hazmat suit
A hazmat suit is a piece of personal protective equipment that consists of an permeation, impermeable whole-body or one piece garment worn as protection against hazardous materials.
Such suits are often combined with self-contained breathing ap ...
Żołnierz Wojsk Specjalnych (01).jpg, A Polish SOF soldier in an FM12
151031 30thmedpao CBRN Danish Crosstrain 5 (22690590792).jpg, A Danish CBRN specialist in FM12 during Trident Juncture 2015 MILEX
US Navy 040218-N-8228R-023 An Italian police officer stands watch as another searches for possible threats.jpg, Italian police special unit (NOCS) officers (one in foreground, another in background) in CT12 gas masks
Officers of the St. Paul Police Dept. in FM12 gas masks.jpg, Officers of the Saint Paul Police Department
The Saint Paul Police Department (SPPD) is the main law enforcement agency with jurisdiction over the City of Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States. It was established in 1854, making it the oldest police organization in the state. In the begin ...
in FM12 gas masks on 2020 George Floyd protests in the city
Exercise Arden - MOCK terrorist attack in Birmingham (9516444270).jpg, West Midlands Police
West Midlands Police is the territorial police force responsible for policing the metropolitan county of West Midlands (county), West Midlands in England.
The force covers an area of with 2.93million inhabitants, which includes the cities of ...
CBRN exercise, 2012
Live Fire Shoot House Training (8252928862).jpg, In use by the US Federal Protective Forces
The Federal Protective Forces (FPF; also known as the Protective Forces or ProFor) are the law enforcement agencies of the United States Department of Energy (DOE) responsible for the protection of Category I special nuclear material. Officia ...
, 2008
Reservisten-met-zuurstofmasker-doen-een-schietoefening.jpg, Dutch reservists training, 2008
POLITI (3263965668).jpg, Norwegian police on a protest, 2009
References
{{Gas masks
Gas masks of the United Kingdom
British Army equipment