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The purpose of this facepiece is to give the user respiratory and facial protection against war gases. It is used in conjunction with a military canister.

No markings of any significance for identifying the facepiece are present. Manufactu-rer's and goverment markings are present, however, including the size number, 1, 2, or 3, molded in the rubber facepiece.

There are two types of the facepiece; the magnetic and the non-magnetic. The older type, the non-magnetic facepiece, has its non-magnetic metal fittings painted a field gray color; while the newer type, the magnetic facepiece, has most of its magnetic me-tal fittings, painted a blue color. The blue painted fittings generally include the eyepiece rims and parts of the connecting piece assembly. In other respects, the facepieces are identical, although slight changes in the construction of the head-harness may be pre-sent.

The facepiece is molded black or green rubber, with an intergrally molded rubber fit-ting band. The head-harness has five points to attachment to the facepiece and is made of cotton tape and fabric covered coiled springs. It is joined to the facepiece by means of metal loops sealed into the rubber facepiece. The chin straps is cotton tape and loca-ted on the inside of facepiece. A cotton tape carrying strap is attached to the lower edge of the facepiece, while a rubber hanging tab is at the upper edge. The eyepiece are plastic and are held in place by metal eyepiece rims crimped to the rubber facepiece. Spring metal fastening rings hold the anti-dim discs against the inner surfaces of the eyepieces.

A cast metal connecting piece contains the rubber disc type inlet valve and the outlet valve. The outlet valve may be either the old mica, coiled spring type or the new molded rubber type. On the inner side of the outlet valve is a fine metal gauze or screen. The edges of the connecting piece assembly on the inside of the facepiece are covered with a one-piece rubber guard. Over the outlet valve, on the outside, is a perforated grill. The drum (snout) type of canister used with the facepiece is normally screwed directly into the threaded receiver of the connecting piece.

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