British officers told: Don’t tell troops their gas masks are useless
THE British Army knew Novichok nerve agents could penetrate military protective clothing 30 years ago but withheld the devastating information from soldiers, it was claimed last night.
While senior officers were informed that the Soviet Union had developed deadly nerve agents, rank and file troops were kept in the dark, according to military sources.
The shock intelligence emerged during a training lesson for officers in Warminster, Wiltshire, in 1989, a former Grenadier Guards officer told The Mail on Sunday.
NBC instructors told officers the nerve agents could penetrate the rubber of the Armed Forces’ S10 respirator – the gas mask issued to all military personnel.
The officer said they were told not to tell their soldiers amid fears it would have a damning impact on morale. Last night the MoD said: ‘All military personnel supporting the emergency services’ activity in Salisbury have appropriate protection.’