The MM-1 (Russian: ''Маска Мембранная'' - "Mask, Membrane") was a Soviet made gas mask designed during the 1950s, it was designed to be used by radio operators, naval personnel and tank crewmen.
History and Use[]
As the mask was designed for radio operators and tankers, it used a head harness to connect the mask to the user rather than the normal Soviet "Helmet" type, this allowed the user to hear clearly. Following on from this, the mask featured an effective voice diaphragm so that the wearer could be understood more clearly. The mask also had eye lenses that pointed directly forward, allowing the use of tank periscopes and other optics. The mask's valve assembly is identical to that of the ShM-41mu and ShMS and it features Tissot tubes. It should be noted that the MM-1's head harness was updated around in start of 70's, resulting in its not having a rubberized mesh piece on the head, Soviets did this with all their masks that used head harness, they thought that without the rubberized mesh piece the mask would form a better seal on user's face.
The MM-1 was primarily manufactured in the Soviet Union, however Bulgaria was also a prominent supplier of this mask (along with the ShM-41 and ShMS). These Bulgarian sourced masks only differed by the colour and shape of the valve assembly, as well as stamping on the mask. (Bulgarian made masks will have a green paint, or an unpainted 'finish' depending on which year and factory they originate from). After 1975, East Germany standardized the Bulgarian variant.
The MM-1 has also seen service in the Yugoslavian navy. The most remarkable thing is that the Yugoslavian army used the M-1 which is 60mm and later the M-2 which is 40mm NATO, but the MM1 is 40mm GOST.
Here is some footage of the MM-1 in Yugoslavian service
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrIF6TcjaC4&t=968s
Filter[]
The MM-1 used a standard Soviet hose which was connected to a EO-16 filter located in a haversack, allowing the wearer to be exposed for long periods of time.
Kit[]
Although the more common ShMS was developed in the 1960's as an optical mask which also was a helmet mask, the MM1 still saw use with the RSh-4 kit up until the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.
In East Germany first it was issued with a simple "Blumentarnmuster" bag (similar to the Soviet Type A bag) alongside with SchM-41-M and SchMS. Then a simpler bag without camouflage and a waterproof rubberized bag was issued. A Strichtarn gas mask bag was supposed to be introduced in the 90s alongside the "UTV" kit, but it never saw any widespread issue, soldiers also has the option to purchase the bag separately.