Why doesn't the U.S. Military use full body armor?

[Nemesis77]

Maybe not full body armor, but how about powered combat exoskeletons?

 

[StageLeft]

<< Maybe not full body armor, but how about powered combat exoskeletons? >>

OMG that's crazy. Now all soldiers can afford to carry around 150 lbs of armor and run with full kit as if they were running with shorts and a t-shirt. HOly moly!

 

[Beau]

<<

<< Maybe not full body armor, but how about powered combat exoskeletons? >>

OMG that's crazy. Now all soldiers can afford to carry around 150 lbs of armor and run with full kit as if they were running with shorts and a t-shirt. HOly moly! >>





I AM THE TERMINATOR

 

[Hammer]

AFSOC_Commando: I know Delta was wearing the Pro-tech, but the other guy was asking why they were wearing heavier armor, and as you know, the Pro-tech is a LOT lighter. Since this was a fast daylight raid lots of thing were considered unnecessary (like NV goggles, canteens, etc).

Like I said in my post above, Kevlar with a Ceramic plate will stop a 7.62mm round, but a lot of them had taken them out because of weight. Also, a Spectra plate will stop even more.

EDIT: I wanted to add that the Pro-tech is useless as 'armor'. Its basically for bumping into things or if you fell.

 

[jjones]

<< Maybe not full body armor, but how about powered combat exoskeletons? >>


that, full body armour, and a small a/c unit.

 

[oLLie]

AFSOC_Commando may be right w/ the body armor that can stop a few 7.62 rounds, but Beau6183, still brought up some good points: What about the internal organs, and also, what about head armor (a.k.a. helmets)? Is there a helmet that can stop a 7.62 mm round? From what I heard, the shape of a helmet is designed to deflect bullets because they cannot stop a rifle round straight on. Hmmm?

 

[b0mbrman]

So hot, so heavy, so expensive...Just the helmet feels like too much weight sometimes (Especially in South Carolina, Georgia, and North Carolina...where Airborne guys can expect to pass through)

 

[BeauJangles]

The other problem is that when you are being shot at by high calibre bullets there isn't really too much you can do to stop them. Most Kevlar armor is ineffective against higher calibre military bullets.

 

[Hammer]

I believe the Spectra Helmet does, not sure who uses that though as it is very expensive. I think only the SAS and GSG use them standard.



<< AFSOC_Commando may be right w/ the body armor that can stop a few 7.62 rounds, but Beau6183, still brought up some good points: What about the internal organs, and also, what about head armor (a.k.a. helmets)? Is there a helmet that can stop a 7.62 mm round? From what I heard, the shape of a helmet is designed to deflect bullets because they cannot stop a rifle round straight on. Hmmm? >>

 

[frail]

Years ago in high school I remember channel one did some sorta report on new bullet proof vests made of spider silk. Like 5 times as strong, and 10 times lighter, etc.

 

[b0mbrman]

<< Ever tried to work with ANY of that crap on? The helmet gives you a headache and is a constant PIA when you're trying to shoot. The LBE webbing is even worse! (But much better than the old belt, ammo pouches, and suspenders.) The flak jacket is alreight but heavy and does restrict your mobility. I am thankful for this gear when needed to do my job, but there willbe no tear in my eyes when I turn this gear in for the last time before retirement. >>



I hear these may be getting 86'd in favor of camelbak's and other stuff

 

[Angrymarshmello]

Body armor isn't made to make you invincible - it's to help protect you - you can't really expect it to deflect all head shots or keep from giving you bruised ribs

 

[Beau]

<< or keep from giving you bruised ribs >>




Bruised ribs is not the issue. Pistols, when fired at a bullet resistant vest, hit with a force great enough to crack your ribs and cause them to puncture a lung. That's traveling at 1000 FPS. Now imagine a rifle round, two to three times as large, and travel 4 to 5 times faster.

 

[Hammer]

Which is one of the points of ceramic, steel, or spectra plates. They also spread the impact out.



<< Bruised ribs is not the issue. Pistols, when fired at a bullet resistant vest, hit with a force great enough to crack your ribs and cause them to puncture a lung. That's traveling at 1000 FPS. Now imagine a rifle round, two to three times as large, and travel 4 to 5 times faster. >>

 

[Beau]

<< Which is one of the points of ceramic, steel, or spectra plates. They also spread the impact out.

<< Bruised ribs is not the issue. Pistols, when fired at a bullet resistant vest, hit with a force great enough to crack your ribs and cause them to puncture a lung. That's traveling at 1000 FPS. Now imagine a rifle round, two to three times as large, and travel 4 to 5 times faster. >>

>>



That's even with the plates for blunt force. My company has done testing on these plates (second chance brand, as that's the line that we sell). Even though the plates stop the round, it still leaves an impact protrusion that is anywhere from non-existant to 3/4", more than enough to cause good damage.

 

[AndrewR]

and travel 4 to 5 times faster

Last time I looked at ballistics for the 7.62mm NATO, it clocked at around 3500 fps, not in the neighborhood of 4000-5000. That's still high, yes, but let's not exaggerate. I'm fairly certain that the Soviet's 7.62mm round (AK-47) is slower because the cartridge isn't nearly as large (was trying to find ballistics on 7.92mm or 8mm Mauser for my rifle).

Also, I'd rather take a cracked rib and a nasty bruise with the slight possibility of a punctured lung over an assured HUGE hole in my torso, but maybe that's just me...

 

[Magicthyse]

Maybe not full body armor, but how about powered combat exoskeletons?

This is revolutionary? Jeesus, if you've been watching Japanese cartoons for the last 30 years you'd have had this idea a dozen times over...

I wonder how PDW's would influence armor design... I hear the FN Herstal P-90 goes through just about anything at short ranges, and to a lesser extent the Five-Seven pistol...

 

[CocaCola5]

On hindsight, it looked like the best thing they could have done was to go in with a more armored personel carrier(the later UN ones looked the business though) than the Hummer, although they would have been way more lethargic going at first.

 

[jemcam]

<< exactly how much do they restrict mobility, if i had to choose between being hot, and carrying around heavy crap, or losing my life, i would do the carrying/being hot anyday. >>



Soldiers in good shape suffer heat casualties with what they wear now. I don't think you understand what it is to be hot and have to run to save your life.

It just is not possible to carry all that crap, plus a ruck sack, weapon, and enough water to keep you going if you're infantry.