NBC DEFENSIVE PREPAREDNESS TAB P

File: 082896_jun96_decls3_0004.txt
Page: 0004
Total Pages: 5

Subject: NBC DEFENSIVE PREPAREDNESS TAB P                                

Box  ID: BX000260

Document Number:         14

Folder Title: VII CORPS OPERATON DESERT STORM DOCUMENTATION - MISCELLANEOUS                                   

Folder Seq #:         17

Unit: VII CORPS   

Parent Organzation: ARCENT      




              ISSUE: Priorities were established during OPERATION DESERT
              SHIELD/STORM regarding production and spare part support of the
              currently fielded protective masks versus the new M40 series of
              protective masks. The resultant shortages indicated the
              inadequacies of the production base.

              DISCUSSION: During Operations'Desert Shield/Storm, over 314,000
              M17 series masks were issued to U.S. and coalition forces. Prior
              to this time, the demand for the M17 series mask had been 5,150
              per month. Initially, end item and spare part requirements were
              being sustained through draw down of depot stocks. This
              eventually precipitated a reqairp-mpnt for new procurement of
              spare parts for the M17, M24, and M25AI Masks. In many cases,
              the Government looked to Mine Safety Appliances (MSA) as MSA was
              both the designated mobilization producer for the M17 Mask and
              also had existing Army production contracts for the M40, M42, and
              M43 ProtectiVe Masks.' Air Force contracts for the MCU-2A/F
              Protective Mask. All this workload plus additional spare parts
              contracts eventually necessitated prioritization decisions as
              requirements exceeded production capacity. To a minor degree,
              the aforementioned problem seems to have been further aggravated
              by the following:

                  a.  (U) Upon type classification of the M40 and M42
              Protective Masks in 1987, protective mask and protective mask
              spare part mobilization re        ents started to be stated in
              terms of the standard 'A" M40 series protective mask.
              Unfortunately, however, the M40 and M42 Protective Masks
              production facilities are yet to demonstrate full production
 was
              slowly being dismantled. The most acute situation occurred with
              the M13A2 Filter Element production equipment package which was
              in the final stages of being excessed when operation Desert
              Shield began.

                  b. (U) During Operation Desert Shield/Storm, the
              serviceability of both protective masks and their spare parts
              became recurring issues. Tww were dispatched to Saudi Arabia
              to verify the aforesaid equipment in the hands of the troops was
              of acceptable quality. During this period, over 200,000 M17
              series protective masks outlet values were declared unserviceable
              and over one million M6A2 Protective Hoods were suspended from
              use.

                  c. (U) The greatly increased demands resulted in the
              necessity to substitute where possible. As an example, M40
              Protective Mask Carriers were issued in   lieu of the MISAI Carrier
              (for the M17 Mask).

              RECOMMENDATION: AMC must:

                  a. Ensure that the production base    for systems being

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Document 5 f:/Week-25/BX000260/VII CORPS OPERATON DESERT STORM DOCUMENTATION - MISCELLANEOUS/nbc defensive preparedness tab p:08239614360528
Control Fields 17
File Room = jun96_declassified
File Cabinet = Week-25
Box ID = BX000260
Unit = VII CORPS
Parent Organization = ARCENT
Folder Title = VII CORPS OPERATON DESERT STORM DOCUMENTATION - MISCELLANEOUS
Folder Seq # = 17
Subject = NBC DEFENSIVE PREPAREDNESS TAB P
Document Seq # = 28
Document Date =
Scan Date = 24-JUN-1996
Queued for Declassification = 01-JAN-1980
Short Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Long Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Permanent Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Non-Health Related Document = 01-JAN-1980
Declassified = 23-AUG-1996