NBC/MOPP kit in wet/cold?

[Britboy]

Hey all,

Recently done a course where we (amongst other things) revisited basics. It was good as a refresher really. :)
We did the usual NBC stuff (or CBRN as they term it now).
Now when we did this it was perfectly sunny, no dramas except it was bloody warm... Think I will use that old tropic shirt rather than my smock underneath my NBC suit next time tho!

On a later phase of our course, it got v rainy, and even cold at times - as I'm sure anyone who has experienced the British summer this year will understand :roll: Didn't have to contend with NBC in this phase of the course, but it got me thinking...

What do you do with NBC stuff when its damned wet and or cold? Like if you went to Norway for example?

Goretex over NBC suit?
Softy over NBC suit but under goretex jacket?
Where does the body armour go?
Do they wear a snow suit over ALL of this?
Can you decontaminate the above kit?

I realise in the UK its mostly academic and you'll probably just end up wearing a soggy NBC suit at worst. But in colder wetter places blokes would be going down with hypothermia if there was no way to keep the elements out and not get gassed at the same time....

MP.net, I realise its geeky in the extreme, but the floor is open to your stories of freezing/gassy woe.

Regards
BB

[oscarni]

Hey all,

Recently done a course where we (amongst other things) revisited basics. It was good as a refresher really. :)
We did the usual NBC stuff (or CBRN as they term it now).
Now when we did this it was perfectly sunny, no dramas except it was bloody warm... Think I will use that old tropic shirt rather than my smock underneath my NBC suit next time tho!

On a later phase of our course, it got v rainy, and even cold at times - as I'm sure anyone who has experienced the British summer this year will understand :roll: Didn't have to contend with NBC in this phase of the course, but it got me thinking...

What do you do with NBC stuff when its damned wet and or cold? Like if you went to Norway for example?

Goretex over NBC suit?
Softy over NBC suit but under goretex jacket?
Where does the body armour go?
Do they wear a snow suit over ALL of this?
Can you decontaminate the above kit?

I realise in the UK its mostly academic and you'll probably just end up wearing a soggy NBC suit at worst. But in colder wetter places blokes would be going down with hypothermia if there was no way to keep the elements out and not get gassed at the same time....

MP.net, I realise its geeky in the extreme, but the floor is open to your stories of freezing/gassy woe.

Regards
BB

You are not to cover the trousers or pants in any way, the suit was designed to fit over issued gear, thats why it has the detector paper patches on the knees etc. I have seen people wear their goretex, under their gear, but it gets damm hot and restrictive. I have only wore the suit with body armor and smock and to be honest, it is pretty resistant to water, but again I would rather be wet that boiling.

I did hear that the mod were looking at uniforms with an integrated type of protection, similar to what the over trousers and jacket are meant to do.

- Phil

[wildcat]

Hey all,

Recently done a course where we (amongst other things) revisited basics. It was good as a refresher really. :)
We did the usual NBC stuff (or CBRN as they term it now).
Now when we did this it was perfectly sunny, no dramas except it was bloody warm... Think I will use that old tropic shirt rather than my smock underneath my NBC suit next time tho!

On a later phase of our course, it got v rainy, and even cold at times - as I'm sure anyone who has experienced the British summer this year will understand :roll: Didn't have to contend with NBC in this phase of the course, but it got me thinking...

What do you do with NBC stuff when its damned wet and or cold? Like if you went to Norway for example?

Goretex over NBC suit?
Softy over NBC suit but under goretex jacket?
Where does the body armour go?
Do they wear a snow suit over ALL of this?
Can you decontaminate the above kit?

I realise in the UK its mostly academic and you'll probably just end up wearing a soggy NBC suit at worst. But in colder wetter places blokes would be going down with hypothermia if there was no way to keep the elements out and not get gassed at the same time....

MP.net, I realise its geeky in the extreme, but the floor is open to your stories of freezing/gassy woe.

Regards
BB

Are you talking about the carbon based combat NBC MOPP gear or the level A/B suits.

In the US Army, the NBC is worn over the uniform, so in winter it helps keep you very warm, if it turns wet out, then the wet weather go over the NBC. In the US they issue a wet weather and gortex, wet weather is really what you want to wear in field type muddy exercise. The gortex for me was to look nice in garrison. In hot climates, you need to keep drinking, I was chemical, so I trained a lot in MOPP, including 100 degree F+ just keep drink liquids.

[Seraphim]

I think they told us that water/liquid will make the suit lose its "protection" quicker. So I would think wet weather gear goes overtop. It was 100F the other day and I was in MOPP level 4 for only about 10 minutes and I was sweating bullets. Well not to mention I was already sweating balls.

[wildcat]

I think they told us that water/liquid will make the suit lose its "protection" quicker. So I would think wet weather gear goes overtop. It was 100F the other day and I was in MOPP level 4 for only about 10 minutes and I was sweating bullets. Well not to mention I was already sweating balls.
a wet mopp suit is not as effective, but you can wash them 5/6 time before they loose protection, trust me that is the procedure in the US Army's decontamination Facility, where they train Chemical Soldier/Marines etc with live G and V nerve agents.

[Lerch]

The CF MOPP suits could be washed 5 or 6 times before degrading to an 'unserviceable' level, in which case they would be used for training purposes instead.

All in all, I'd think if you have a new (or relatively new) MOPP suit, the charcoal liner should be in good enough shape to repel a good deal of moisture.