PROTECTIVE CLOTHING

Various types of clothing are useful in CBR defense aboard ship. Some examples are impregnated clothing, the CBR protective suit, wet weather clothing, and ordinary work clothing.

Impregnated Clothing

This is sometimes called permeable clothing. It is supplied to ships in quantities large enough to outfit 25 percent or more of the ship's complement. Impregnated clothing is olive green in color. A complete outfit includes impregnated socks, gloves, trousers with attached suspenders, and a jumper (parka) with attached hood. Impregnated clothing is treated with a chemical that neutralizes the nerve agent VX and the mustards; a chlorinated paraffin is used as a binder. These chemicals give the impregnated clothing a slight odor of chlorine and a slightly greasy or clammy feel. The impregnation treatment should remain effective for 5 or 10 years or possibly even longer. If the treatment is to last that long, the clothing must be stowed in unopened containers in a dry place with cool or warm temperatures, and protected from sunlight or daylight. Wet weather clothing should be worn over the impregnated clothing topside. This combination is designated as X/Z clothing.

Impregnated protective clothing should not be worn longer than necessary where there is a threat of heat injury, especially in hot weather. Prolonged wearing may cause a rash to develop where the skin is in contact with the impregnated material.

NOTE: Impregnated clothing is being phased out and will be replaced with the CBR protective suit.

INSPECTION OF IMPREGNATED CLOTH IN G.- Make a visual inspection of each impregnated garment. Look for defects such as rips, tears, and worn places that might permit the passage of chemical agents. Test them for strength by taking a single layer of cloth in both hands and giving it a quick jerk; if the cloth gives way, it has rotted and must be discarded. Another method of testing for strength is to try to force the thumb or the blunt end of a pencil through the cloth; if this can be done easily, the clothing must be discarded.

CARE OF IMPREGNATED PROTECTIVE CLOTHING.- Observe the following precautions to prolong the life of impregnated protection clothing.

. Do not use impregnated clothing as general-purpose coveralls or for any purpose other than CBR defense or CBR defense training.

l Stow impregnated clothing in a dry, wellventilated place and protect it from daylight.

l Do not allow impregnated clothing to remain in contact with oil, grease, moisture, dirt, or any type of organic solvent, such as gasoline, dry cleaning agents, or similiar compounds. Even the vapors from such solvents are harmful to the clothing. Do not use mothproofing agents on impregnated clothing.

. Do not place deteriorated impregnated clothing in contact with serviceable garments.

CBR Protective Suit

The CBR protective suit consists of two pieces-smock and trousers (fig. 10-3). The smock has two layers of materials: inner (antigas)

Figure 1O-3.-CBR protective suit.

and outer (modacrylic/nylon). The smock is generously cut and has a back gusset to allow complete freedom of movement. There is a large front flap pocket for gloves and so forth, and a sleeve patch where you can place detector paper for easy visibility. You can make quick and easy adjustments by hook-and-pile and tape fastenings at the wrist and waist. The trousers are made of the same two layers of material and are cut with front gusset to allow for ease of fit. The trousers have suspender-type fittings located at the waist and across the shoulders. Front-tying and hookand-pile fastenings are located at the base of each leg for adjustment. The CBR protective suit is issued in a mylothene envelope that is pressure pocketed, air evacuated, and heat sealed. It is then placed in a polyethylene bag and heat sealed. The suit has a shelf life of 5 years when unopened.

The protective suit protects against all CBR agents and is permeable to water vapor. Once removed from its protective envelope it will have a shelf life of 14 days in a nonchemical environment. If it is opened but uncontaminated, keep it for training purposes. Once exposed to chemical contamination, the CBR suit provides 6 hours of continuous protection after which it should be discarded.

Wet Weather Clothing

This ensemble, made of chloroprene-coated nylon, resists all liquid chemical warfare agents in a cold and/or wet climate. The parka is a jacket style with vulcanized side, neck, shoulder, hood, and sleeve joining seams. The parka has a permanently attached hood, adjustable fastener tapes at the neck closure, take-up straps at the sides of the hood, foam lined cushion around the face opening, and a flexible visor. The parka also has two front patch pockets with flaps, a slide fastener front closure with moisture barrier flaps, a tunnel hem with adjustable drawcord at the bottom, and adjustable fastener tape tabs at sleeve bottoms.

The overalls have a bib front, high-back style, with vulcanized side seams, center front and back seams, and leg inseams. The overalls have a double buckle stitched to the back bib and secured to the bib front buttons. They have a gusset-type closure located on the right side and secured by a waist tab and adjustable patch assembly. Each hemmed leg bottom has a leg tab and an adjustable patch assembly attached.

The wet weather clothing ensemble is worn over the CBR protective suit to provide extra

protection from chemical warfare liquid agents and under wet conditions. It may also be needed in high wind conditions to prevent liquid agents from penetrating the CBR suit. It will protect against chemical agents for 6 hours in a contaminated environment and may be decontaminated and reissued.

Ordinary Work Clothing

This type of clothing provides only limited protection against liquid agents and vapors. If other protective clothing is not available, two layers of ordinary work clothing (with improvised neck and sleeve closures) will provide some protection.