More Chemical-War Suits Made

A Tennessee mill has stepped up production of specially designed military uniforms that repel deadly poison gases, intended for use by American troops being sent to the Persian Gulf area.

Officials of Camel Manufacturing Inc., longtime makers of tents for the military and for the camping public, say that since Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait, they have been told by the Defense Department to increase production of suits intended to protect troops from deadly nerve and mustard gases. Iraq used such gases in its war with Iran.

The news came just as Camel was tapering off production because of the end of the Cold War and subsequent federal military budget cuts.

The original Defense Department contract called for 327,000 suits, but that was trimmed to 81,000 in July. The plant has a capacity of 1,200 suits a day.

The hazardous-duty uniforms are made with cotton-nylon material, rubber and laminated charcoal and are meshed together with a heavy-duty sewing stitch.

“That material absorbs the gas agents. It works the same as a home air-conditioner filter. When it gets full it has to be replaced.” said Chris Arnold, Camel vice president.

The deadly gas is heavier than air and flows from the disposable suits like rain from a roof and cannot gather in the suit’s pockets or creases, according to Arnold.

But the lightweight uniform is hot, adding the equivalent of 10 degrees to the temperature, and the olive drab color stands out in the desert, where it may be used.