History[]
A 1916 example of the MCG. Photo from Guerre des Gaz.
In 1916, the French military began experimenting with copying and upgrading the GM15. Originally the prototype that would become the ARS, known as the MCG, had a faceblank made from a layer of rubberized cloth and no Tissot deflectors. Because of fogging and the inability of the mask to resist tear gas, the MCG was updated to include Tissot deflectors and a backing of cloth boiled in linseed oil. Also added to the MCG was the same head harness as that on the M2.
In January 1917, the upgraded MCG was adopted as the ARS, but issues with supplying made it so that the mask started to be delivered to the army only in February 1918. It would continue to see service in the French army even after the First World War with over 5,270,000 examples being produced.
Facepiece[]
A postwar ARS.
The faceblank is made from a layer of rubberized cloth backed with a sheet of cloth boiled in linseed oil. To support the lenses, a rubber rectangle is sewn into the faceblank. The lenses themselves could be made of either celluloid or glass. The artillery model of the A.R.S. had reinforced lenses. Within the facepiece is a set of Tissot deflectors made from rubberized cloth. All seams on the facepiece are reinforced and made airtight with rubber cement and the peripheral seal is made from a roll of the facepiece's fabric sewn in place.
A diagram of the ARS' inlet/outlet assembly. Picture from Guerre des Gaz.
At the mouth of the mask is the inlet/outlet assembly. The filter port of which is 42mm. Inside of this port is the inlet valve. Air passes through this assembly into the aforementioned Tissot deflectors. Exhaled air passes through a hole in the center of the assembly, the other side of which resides the exhale valve. The exhaled air then passes through a tube leading outside of the mask.
The head harness is a seven-point design. Those of wartime examples are identical to that of the M2 and made from cotton elastic while postwar examples the sport coil spring head harness used on the A.N.P. T-31 and TC-38. The nape strap is disconnected from the rest of the head harness as it is on the M2, A.N.P. T-31, and TC-38.
The facepiece came in three sizes, small, marked P.T (petite taille).; medium, marked T.O. (taille ordinaire); and large, marked G.T. (grande taille).
Filter[]
The canister, as stated earlier, has a 42mm threading. Within, there are three layers of absorbent. The first layer consists of charcoal and soda ash, the second layer is made entirely of charcoal, and the third layer is a series of impregnated gauze pads. Throughout the rest of the war, there would be many chemical updates to the absorbents in order to increase efficacy.
Carrier[]
The ARS was carried in a metal can, similar to those used by the Germans. These carrying cans would protect the mask from shocks and water to a great degree. Instructions for using the mask can be found on the inside of the can's lid.
Use in Poland[]
ARS gas masks are included in the so-called General Haller's Blue Army, which was equipped with French equipment. The Blue Army was transported in 1919 with all equipment to the territory of the newly created Poland. ARS gas masks have been replaced over time by licensed in France R.S.C. gas masks produced in Poland.
Gallery[]
