Identifying M40 series Masks
Information is taken from personal experience as well as US Army TM 3-4240-300-20&P. This guide only covers characteristics to check to verify the identity of a mask. Some eBay sellers try to sell old M40s as "M40A1" or "M40A2" models when in fact they are not the same mask at all.
PAGE LAST UPDATED: 19 DECEMBER 03
HOODS:
SPECIAL NOTE: The hood with velcro nose tabs is also issued to soldiers in the 10th
Mountain. They suffer from terrible warping in the chin-pocket due to poor
stitching under the outlet-valve cover. This can be modified without hindering
performance.
M40 is issued with a hood with integral black butyl rubber "second skin" facepiece and hook-and-loop retention fasteners below the "nose" area of the mask. M40A1 series issued with Quick Doff Hood, characterized by elasticized round facepiece opening without integral "second skin." Has quick-release tabs on the underarm straps.
"SECOND SKINS":
M40 second skin is integral to hood as mentioned above. M40A1 has close-fitting second skin without hook-and-loop fasteners, not integral to hood. Has small rubber tabs to help hold it onto the mask's facepiece. The USMC M40A1 variation is same except has hook-and-loop fasteners in the "nose" area of mask.
NOSECUPS:
M40 has black rubber nosecup. M40A1 has improved green rubber nosecup.
Photo: At top is an M40 mask, at the bottom is an M40A1. On the M40, note the black nosecup and stitching at the bottom of the facepiece/hood. On the M40A1, note the green nosecup and elastic hood with no obvious stitching. Same is seen on A2.
Photo: Former issue M40/M40A1/M42/M42A1 mask bag (right) and current issue M40A1, etc. mask bag (left, with tag attached). Note the old bag is "hardsided" with plastic backboard inside and the new bag is softsided with no supports inside.
PAGE UPDATED 10 October 2003
PAGE CREATED 21 December 2002
Comments are welcome and encouraged!
