Iraqi used Gas masks (Saddam era)

This page will cover the known gas masks used by the Iraqi Army under Saddam Hussein.

Yugoslavian M59 gas mask

IRAN-IRAQ WAR:YES
DESERT STORM: YES
​OIF: YES

The Yugoslavian M59 gas mask saw extensive service with the Iraqi Army from the beginning of the Iran Iraq War in the 1980's all the way to the fall of Saddam in 2003. These gas masks are easy to identify due to their unique green mask design and the fact that they use a 60mm filter instead of the 40mm NATO standard filter. The bag features a chest and waist strap to secure it to the individual, and closes with 3 lift the dot snaps. This particular mask above included an unopened decontamination kit. These masks are one of the most common iraqi used gas masks to find, 

german m65 gas mask copy

IRAN-IRAQ WAR:YES
DESERT STORM: YES
​OIF: YES

The Iraqi Army used both German M65 gas masks and foreign made copies of them. The mask above is one of those copies based off the true M65 gas mask. The gas mask can be identified as a copy by the construction, lack of German markings, and the roman numeral "2" on the forehead. The gas mask bag is made of a nylon material with a chest and waist strap to secure it on the individual and 3 snaps to close the bag. A pocket on the exterior is meant to hold a decontamination kit, which the mask above still contains. Some also include a tube to drink water while wearing the mask. These were first seen in the Iran Iraq War all the way to 2003.

Iraqi Full Face Gas Mask

IRAN-IRAQ WAR:no
DESERT STORM: no
​OIF: YES

The Iraqi full face gas mask is made in Iraq, not imported, unlike many of the other masks shown here. It comes with an adapter that screws in to fit a 60mm filter but also fits the regular 40mm filters, and a tube that allows the wearer to drink water while wearing the mask. This one displays the Hussein Camel Industries manufacturing mark (leaning Hadba tower) which is a company in Iraq. The bag for this mask is very crude and is made from a thin fabric, features a waist and chest strap to secure it to the wearer, 2 snaps to close the bag, and an exterior pouch for a decontamination kit. These masks were only used post 1991 up to the fall of Saddam in 2003.

Uncommonly used masks

This subsection will cover masks used by Iraqi forces that were not standard.

​IRAQI USED WW2 BRITISH MKI GAS MASK

IRAN-IRAQ WAR:unknown
DESERT STORM: unknown
​OIF: YES

Another oddity is this WW2 era British MKI gas mask that was captured from Iraqi Forces in Desert Storm or OIF. It is unknown how they got their hands on these, but likely when Britain sold them supplies in the 1980's or possibly leftovers from their past presence in the Middle East. Nevertheless, Iraqi troops have been documented using these, but on a small scale.

british avon s10 gas mask

Here's an oddity when it comes to Iraqi gas masks. This is a British issued Avon S10 gas mask that somehow made its way to Iraq, likely when the British sold them desert DPM camouflage uniforms before the Gulf War broke out. They were not standard issue in Desert Storm, which was when this one was captured. The bag that holds this mask is for a separate Iraqi gas mask but was used to hold this one. These gas masks continue to be used by Iraqi Forces in the post Saddam era because of their reliability.