The Rifugio L.B./V.N. is the 25th gas mask approved by the S.C.M. (Servizio Chimico Militare, chemical military service) on 6 March 1939.
Mask overview[]
The Rifugio L.B./V.N. is a helmet style mask designed to be cheap enough for civilians to buy it and easy to operate for people with long hair.
The faceblank is made of a thin sheet of dark grey rubber, to which the following are attached:
- Inlet assembly
- Outlet assembly
- Eyepieces
The inlet assembly is placed at the bottom; it has a 40 mm thread and accommodates the inlet valve, much like the T.33.
The outlet assembly can vary, with earlier production featuring one identical to the T.33 part, and later ones featuring one identical to the T.35 part. It's placed in front of the mouth. It's made of rubber, it opens under the light pressure of exhaling and closes hermetically under the negative pressure produced by the inhalation. It can be inspected and possibly replaced by unscrewing the lid of its housing.
The lenses, made of cellulose acetate, are inserted each in a circular pocket and secured with aluminium frames.
Kit[]
Some UNPA volunteers trying out various masks, including Rifugio L.B./V.N.
The Rifugio L.B./V.N. came with the following kit:
- Cardboard box, which contained all of the rest of the kit. Sometimes it was discarded after the mask was purchased and unboxed
- Pirec38 filter, made by Pirelli for passive use
- Anti-fogging soap, contained in a tube wrapped in cloth and inserted in a small box
- Cloth bag, made by Lenci (doll company), with two straps, a string and a button to close it and an internal pocket
- Pseudo-filter, a red assembly with a female and a male thread that mimic filter respiratory resistance made to allow training with the filter without actually opening it
- Manual
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Manual[]
