Introduction

Wartime publications by EPRON and later ASU WMF contain several articles on oxygen decompression after deep diving. Experiments were carried out during the nineteen thirties. The tests were described in detail and published in 1945. However, no description is given on the equipment that was used. Russian navy diving manuals from 1945 and 1946 only show western manufactured equipment like MkV mixed gas, Buie helmets, and the Draeger DM 20 and 40. All this equipment is referred to as the "Injector Skafanders".

SKD

GKS3

In this era also the GKS3 helmet was developed. It's injector was attached to the same place on the helmet as it was with the SKD prototype; right in front of the divers mouth. American helmets have the injector at the right back of the helmet, just in front of the CO2 absorbent cannister. German Draeger helmets have the injector placed in the backpack just after the CO2 absorbent cannister).

The GKS helmet was designed for diving at depths between 60 and 200 meters. GKS3 stands for (translated) Helium Oxygen Equipment 3. So far, I could not find out exactly when the first GKS3 was taken in service with the Russian Navy, but the earliest manual on the GKS3 I came across is dated 1954 (and marked SECRET). Soon, the GKS3 was succeded by a modificated version; the GKS3-M. The only modification was a faster venturi. The old helmet had 6 cycles, the new one had 10.

The design remained the same and that might be why the first GKS3-M had "GKS3M" engraved in large letters under the faceplate on the injector housing. The earliest GKS3-M I came across is dated 1954.

WKS57

In 1957 an "Air-oxygen" helmet is adopted by the Russian Navy. It is called the WKS57 which stands for (translated) Air Oxygen Helmet 57. The design of this helmet resembles the GKS3(M). It also has the injector right in front of the diver's mouth but it has no bailout system in the front weight and no by-pass in the injector system. The injector system of a GKS3(M) is built in a ring which is part of the helmet. The WKS57 has it's injector system built in a seperate ring that can be placed between the breastplate and the bonnet.

According to the Russian Navy diving manual of 1968 the WKS57 was operated on an air-oxygen mixture until 60 meters and on an air-helium mixture until 100 meters. The design of the WKS57 is of interest since it was equiped with the GKS3(M) handle on top and the first helmet with a space for a microphone built out next to the faceplate. Both features became standard modifications on the former UWS50 "ventilated helmet" that was called UWS50M after the modifications were made to it. The WKS57 seems to be produced in small numbers only. The last Russian Navy diving manual I came across that had this helmet in it was 1973. The GKS3-M however served a lot longer; the youngest one I came across was manufactured in 1982.

SVG-200B

At that time it's succesor was already introduced in the Navy. A rebreather of a very modern design that could be operated on the same surface system as the GKS3-M. It was called the SVG-200B. This new equipment was designed around the IDA72 rebreather which is carried at the diver's back. Even though the diver wears a full face mask that is integrated in the drysuit, he still wears a helmet. This helmet is made of aluminum and was originally used as the shell of the "K4" high altitude aviation helmet.

Photo courtesy of David Dekker

To find out more about the SVG-200B equipment follow this link

Fonies

We would like to send out a fonie alert to our viewers: In 1999 fake WKS57 helmets were offered for sale. These helmets were UWS50M with imitation tags and stampings. They featured fake (empty) injector system rings but had original cannisters.

Related topics:

• Russian air helmets
• Deep diving
• Fonie section

Many thanks to David Dekker for his enormous help on this section

• Last edited 9th September 2008