Help Identifing Russian Chem equipment....

[drownte]

So I was looking into the Zelinski Kummant mask and came across the below picture. I know that's a Russian Zelinski Kummant mask but what is that Chemical suit? is it a Bolshevik or imperial Russian equipment item?

[cuprum]

This particular photo is not familiar to me. But as Ican see - it is chemical-protection costume Red Army 30s. It seems mask Avalov (modernized sample mask Zelinsky-Kummant). This mask was used in the Red Army until 1932.





By the way - on the second photo the horse's legs, they are protected from toxic substances.

[drownte]

I knew you'd have the answer!!! Any chance you might know of some places I could look for more info on the Avalov Mask and Early russian chemical suits? Like what did the first one issued to the troops look like and was it rubberised fabric or chemically treated uniforms? Did the Tsarist goverment ever issue or come up with a chemical protective suit against phosgene mustard gas etc? Sorry to hit you with so much but this is pretty exciting.

[cuprum]

Unfortunately, I can not much help. In my area of interest includes only the use of chemical weapons during the Civil War. My quest in the Russian segment of the Internet on your issue gave little results.
Avalov complement mask outlet valve for air, greatly facilitate the process of breathing. Gas mask Zelinsky-Kumant-Avalov produced in several versions (with round and rectangular box).
The Russian Imperial Army was not developed any chemical-protection costume.
I did not find the information, the material from which produced the first Soviet costumes. I suppose that of rubber.
Here are some books on that topic. You'll have to use GOOGLE translator to read. Also there are some photos.

http://www.supotnitskiy.ru/book/book5.htm
http://militera.lib.ru/tw/figurnovsky_na/index.html
http://www.himvoiska.narod.ru/archive18-41.html

[drownte]

Thank you! The selection on Gasmasks during the Imperialists war is exactly what I was looking for Thank you!

[drownte]

So got another question. I found this picture and if you look in the fore ground you can see what looks like a russian soldier in a chemical suit. Not to question you I'm just honestly perplexed. I found this on the chemical weapon use in WW1 anniversary website http://ieper100.org/russia/. It attributes the picture to WW1 Russia. Thoughts cuprum? I've attached the photo and a zoomed in version.

[drownte]

The close up of the above....

[cuprum]

This I know nothing. I'm not sure that this photo is related to the Russian army - I have never seen such a device for the gas spraying.

[Etranger]

Isn't it a flamethrower of some form?

[drownte]

Indeed it appears to be an emplaced flamethrower. Which i read that the russians had some of in the articles you sent me CUPRUM. The soldiers uniforms on the far right appear to be Russian as well..... Maybe I'll try some other chemical weapon forums. If I get an answer I'LL POST IT HERE.

[cuprum]

Me flamethrower this design is not familiar ... Perhaps this is the test of a prototype ...

[drownte]

Okay so I've done a bit of side research and here is my hair brained theory. I think this is an indigenous static flamethrower test. (cuprum if you can counter this please do, my google-fu on russian ww1 flamethrowers has been weak so far). I think it has to be a tsarist test of the Tovarnitski trench flamethrower or the  General Ershov System. I think the latter is unlikely as from what I've read the General Ershv system had wheels, which the photo seems to indicate this one does not. As far as the Chem suit is concerned it is oddly similar to the first one I posted. At one point you see one of the operators with those odd, lightly colored gloves pulling on some lever. So could this be a Russian Flame-Chemical Training Battalion demonstration of a static flamethrower? I've seen that soldiers of these detachments preferred leather jackets to protect them from the heat of their weapons plus face protection can easily come in the form of a gas mask (hence the Avalov Mask) I'll message my source and see if he has anymore details but what are your thoughts?