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OP-1 Combined Arms |
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OP-1 Combined Arms |
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The OP-1 Chemical The Soldier is Wearing: He is also wearing the ShMS field protective mask. This protective mask allows the user to wear corrective lenses. |
Operational History
The OP-1 Zashitnii Plash or chemical protective suit was developed in the late-1950's to replace the SK-01 field protective suit that had been used during the Patriotic War. The OP-1 was constructed out of impermeable rubberized fabric. It would prove to be easier to don when compared to the one piece coverall that it replaced. Furthermore, the suit also provided greater protection against 'dusty' agents such as certain types of mustard as well as the newer persistent nerve agents that were being deployed in the mid-1950's.
The chemical protective suit was used alongside the L-1 protective suit for the duration of the Cold War. Troops wearing the OP-1 were seen during the 1986 Chernobyl accident, during Warsaw Pact exercises in East Germany, and it was even seen on a few occasions in during the Soviet Intervention in Afghanistan.
Following the breakup of the Soviet Union the OP-1 continued to see service with the armies of many of the former Soviet republics. As of 2006 the OP-1 was still in active service as the most common form of protective clothing in the Russian army.
| The OP-1 protective chemical suit is
comprised of three major components: the oversuit, a pair of overboots,
and a pair of gloves. The oversuit is a multi-purpose garment produced in five sizes and designed to be worn in three different ways. It can be worn as a cape with the sleeves inside the oversuit. It is more commonly worn with the sleeves outside as an overcoat. It can also be worn as a coverall with the lower portions of the suit wrapped around the legs and secured in place by straps. |
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Apart from its protective use, the OP-1 oversuit can be used also as a raincoat, groundsheet, field shelter, floatation bag, and even as an emergency carrier for casualties. It should be mentioned that the OP-1 oversuit is not completely airtight and for more complete protection wearers must first don ZFO-58 chemically treated coveralls. The OP-1 ranges in color from orange to pale green and weighs 1.6 kilograms.
| The OP-1 overboots are usually knee-length and secured below the knee by tie wrap. Hip length versions which secured to the wearer's uniform belt by straps are also said to be available. They weigh 1 kilogram. The size of overboot worn is based on the size of the soldier's combat boot, and can be seen on the table at right. |
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The gloves of the OP-1 are designed to be worn over gloves provided with the standard field protective mask set. They come in two versions: a temperate climate version with five fingers, and a cold weather version with two fingers and a thermal lining. The gloves weigh .4 kilograms.
Tactical Use and Limitations
| The OP-1 chemical protective suit is
manufactured from impermeable rubberized fabric and provides excellent
production against most NBC agents.
Its primary disadvantage of the suit is that it is impermeable and can become very hot and uncomfortable to wear under certain conditions. The table at right show the Soviet regulations regarding safe use of the OP-1 in different temperatures. |
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Because the suit is impermeable and is difficult to use in warm environments the wearers were required to wear different undergarments. In warm temperatures over +30 C the user would wear only shorts and an undershirt.
| In cooler environments a light uniform could be
worn, while the standard uniform was mandated for temperatures between 0 and
-10 C. If the temperature fell below -10 C then the wearer was
required to wear insulated clothing to keep warm. When carried, the suit is usually transported rolled upon the straps of the 'fighting load' harness or at the top of the rucksack. In this way the soldier could still don the suit in an emergency. |
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When compared to Western suits the OP-1 is uncomfortable, but the suit provides very good protection against all chemical and biological agents. They have been considered to be primitive by Western observers, but they are no less effective when used as designed. Like most chemical protective suits, the OP-1 provides no protection from Gamma radiation (but it does block out alpha and beta particles).
Service Chronology
Since its introduction in the late 1950's the OP-1 chemical protective suit has been one of the most widely produced chemical defense overgarments in the world. It has had a long service life and can still be found in service with the former Soviet republics today. In this section you will be able to discover what uniform the OP-1 replaced. You will also be able to read more about this uniform when it is obtained and added to the website.
| This Uniform Replaced... | OP-1 Protective Suit | This Uniform was Replaced by... |
| SK-01 Field Protective Suit | Nothing, the OP-1 is still in active service with the Russian Federation military forces. |
Here are some of the most informative sources that we have discovered on this topic. In the first two you can find a wealth of information about early Cold War protective suits, while the next two sources are a basic catalog of Soviet NBC equipment. The final source is a good primer for a beginner on the topic of Soviet NBC gear. We hope you can find these sources as useful as we have.
Radioaktivnii i Otravlyayushie Veshestva, Bakterialnii Svetsva i Zashita ot Nik, published by the Military Publisher of the Ministry of Defense of the USSR, 1962
TM 30-430 'Handbook on USSR Military Forces', by the US War Department, Washington D.C., 1945
Jane's NBC Protection Equipment 1995-1996, Edited by Terry J Gander, published by Jane's Information Group, Alexandria, VA, 1995
Jane's NBC Protection Equipment 1988-1989, Edited by Terry J Gander, published by Jane's Information Group, Alexandria, VA, 1988
Inside the Soviet Army Today, Osprey Elite Series, by Steven J. Zaloga, illustrated by Ron Volstad, published 1987
