The M15 gas mask is Israel's current and standard-issue military respirator that has been used for decades by their Defense Forces as well as their law enforcement.
Mask overview[]
It was designed to withstand an NBC disaster. It takes threaded 40mm NATO filters, each lasting approximately 8 hours upon taking it out of the seal and attaching it to the mask. It includes an integrated speech diaphragm, that can take M7 clamp on style VPUs with the simple folding back of the rubber lip around the diaphragm, known as the foreskin, as well as a side voice emitter (in M15-A1T and S-80 models) to talk effectively with a phone and includes a drinking tube attachment to connect a straw, further increasing the comfort. It's fully adjustable with five elastic straps that connect to a head harness and the mask's body and orinasal cup are built from soft rubber. The triangular lenses are made out of impact-resistant plastic and are compatible with prescription lenses using a frame mount assembly. The M15 is based on the German M65 series.
M15 Gas Mask Models(Military)[]
There are 4 different types of models for the military issue M15, all of which are NBC rated:
- M15-A30 Model- The most basic form of the M15, this mask has no voice emitter or drinking system and is used by their law enforcement and homeland security for various situations due to its versatility
- M15-A1 Model- Similar to the A30 model but includes a drinking tube for use in contaminated areas
- M15-A1T Model- Standard military mask with a side emitter for telephone communication as well as a drinking tube
- M15-S80 Model- Standard mask used by IDF(Israeli Defense Force) tank crews, includes a built-in microphone, a flexible rubber breathing hose, and the side voice emitter like the A1 model; overall, the most advanced M15
Filters for the M15[]
The mask is issued with a greenish, tan color STANAG 4155("NATO") compliant canister designated as Type 80. The filters were originally developed for the IDF to protect against NBC contaminants but also work with civilian masks too. The filter is lightweight and has a shelf life of 15 years.
