British SR6 Respirator number 1 - 1966
Manufacturer: Leyland & Birmingham Rubber Co, England
Model: SR6 NBC respirator
Country: United Kingdom, Turkey
Production run: 1966 - 1986
Replaced: Light anti-gas respirator
Availability: quite easy to find on ebay UK
Size: N (normal)
Produced: 1966
Condition: used but in very good shape
Price: £19.99
Source: Charity seller on ebay
Buying an SR6 gas mask for my collection has been a very long time coming. The delay hasn't been down to my lack of desire to own one. More down to the cost and availability of them over the past year or so.
Recently I was fortunate enough to obtain two SR6s quite cheaply from ebay and this is my appraisal of the first (and oldest) piece.
These things are fast becoming antiques now so as the age of the S6 goes up in years then so does the price on the open market.
Typically a full SR6/S6 kit can fetch as much as £50 on ebay which is quite pricey compared to the multitude of similar aged soviet masks out there.
This first example of an SR6 cost me a grand total of £20 which seemed a fair price.
A bit about the SR6
At the time of writing this post I have no idea why this mask has two different model numbers? Is it an S6 or is it a SR6? Both numbers are stamped on the face piece which is confusing never the less the British SR6 was originally designed in the late 1950s as a replacement to the light anti-gas respirator which has been knocking about in one form or another since the war.
The SR6 NBC respirator came into service in 1966 and was issued to all branches of the UKs armed forces including civilian police forces for a period of twenty years until it was officially decommissioned in 1986 when the S10 would replace it.
The SR6 actually continued to be used for much longer than that.
A mask made famous by the SAS
SAS assault on the Iranian embassy in London 1980
In 1980 a group of arab terrorists took 26 people hostage at the Iranian embassy in London.
Demanding the release of imprisoned comrades and safe passage from the UK they set about a sit-in siege which would last a full six days before the UK government got fed up and sent in the SAS to sort them out.
Operation Nimrod as it was known saw a small column of SAS troops dramatically assault the embassy and bring the situation under control. The operation was hailed a success and would forever cement the SAS reputation as being as hard as nails.
Millions of viewers around the world witnessed the assault on television and one memorable image were the soldiers wearing the S6 gas mask before, during and after the raid.
The SR6 will forever be associated with the SAS and the 1980 embassy incident.
Prime minister Margaret Thatcher was later photographed with the SAS members who took part in the operation when she met them to offer thanks from the government.
What came in the kit
- SR6 Face piece
- 40mm filter canister
What should be in the kit (to be complete)
- Original MK1 Haversack
- Decontamination outfit
- Survive to fight NBC booklet revision 1
- anti-dim outfit
Unfortunately this example of the SR6/S6 did not come with all of its original kit components. Not surprising considering the price I paid for it. Fortunately the absent accessories can be bought separately from ebay to make the kit complete if so desired.
The Face piece
Following in the footsteps of it's predecessor the MK2 light anti-gas respirator, the SR6 is another well made and well designed british mask. The rubber used for the face piece is the thick butyl type - strong yet supple to the touch.
The left side of the face piece is pretty much void of any notable features except perhaps for the date stamps. This particular mask was made in 1966, the first year of official deployment with the army.
The right side features the 40mm screw thread connection for the filter and the size stamp. This mask is an 'N' which means normal size.
The SR6 has a very innovative inflatable inner mask which can be inflated to ensure a custom fit for the user. The air bladder is operated by way of a tap which sits just inside the mask.
Looking much like the drinking straws found in other masks, this air straw is inflated by the user once the mask has been donned. This clever feature is quite unique and actually works really well in practice. I have no idea why other manufacturers never pickup up on this idea and carried it on.
The fixing harness at the rear of the mask is a six point design. The straps themselves are made from elasticated cotton and fixed to the mask with metal buckles. Over time and continued use these straps can start to fray but fortunately for me this example hasn't had that much use and so the straps are in very good condition.
The front of the face piece features the large round exhale valve/voice diaphragm and the curious looking eye pieces. The exhale/voice assembly whilst crude in looks is in fact very effective.
At the center of the assembly is a small black metal disc where sound is ejected. Surrounding the disc is a rubber ring which has a slit on either side to allow the exhaled air to escape the mask. The rubber ring is fixed to the mask with a type of tape which can deteriorate over time. Some good old black insulation tape can be used as a replacement should a repair be required.
Not only does the SR6 have a unique air bladder it also has unique eye pieces.
Most civilian and military gas masks have flat eye lens but the SR6 has curved lens instead.
One presumes the idea for this shape was to offer a much better field of view for the user, however they have proven to be quite contraversial among enthusiasts. Many people complained that they had experienced a feeling of nausia after just a few minutes of using the mask due to the fish bowl effect the curved lens presented. This unpleasant side effect wasn't felt by everyone and did not damaged the masks reputation among the soldiers of the british army.
I must admit the eye pieces are very distinctive and a nice feature in my opinion.
I have yet to come across another mask which has such radical eye pieces as this.
The Filter Canister
The photos above and below feature the MK1 PR130 NBC filter which originally shipped with the SR6.
Of course, it has long since expired and therefore no good for anything other than for collecting or display purposes.
Getting the SR6 on and off is simple, fast and easy.
The elasticated straps which attatch to the back of the head are very generous in terms of flexibility and allows for confortable adjustment once the mask is on.
Making an air tight seal around the face is made easy with the inflatable air bladder mentioned earlier. This added seal would be a huge benefit to the user in a real NBC situation as it could save them time in adjustments and reduce the possible risk of a mis-seal and subsequent breech which can happen sometimes.
Once the SR6 is properly fitted it tends to stay put. It doesn't seem front heavy or lob sided in any way, infact feeling reasonably light on the face.
Removing the SR6 is once again very quick and easy with the minimum of fuss.
Overall it's a very comfortable mask to wear all things considered.
Verdict
The SR6 respirator is another classic gas mask in much the same way as the S10 which came after. The build quality and inovations are remarkable for a mask design of over fifty years old. The SR6 is probably no good for preppers to use these days as its getting on in years and may not stand up to todays NBC situations but it still remains an essential mask for the serious collector. It has a character of all it's own.