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| Iraq | |
| Armoured suits are 'too goofy' say US troops | |
| 2006-05-09 | |
American troops have complained that a new armoured body suit designed to be worn in Iraq makes them look "goofy".
The protective suit, based on those worn by bomb disposal officers, was intended to cut spiralling casualties for one of the most dangerous jobs in modern warfare. But some troops have complained that the armour and headgear is inelegant. Others say the water-cooling system, designed for the soaring temperatures of an Iraqi summer, regularly breaks down. Nonetheless, the suits being tested in combat by US military police units in northern Iraq have produced good results. Capt Larry Bergeron told the military newspaper Stars and Stripes that the armour was credited with saving the lives of three men sprayed with shrapnel from roadside bombs. "One soldier's visor stopped a piece of shrapnel that hit dead centre," he said. "If he had not had that suit on, the effects could have been catastrophic." Gunners on Humvees have high casualty rates. While newly-installed armour protects those inside, the gunner stands with the upper half of his body exposed, making him far more vulnerable to roadside bombs and gunfire. Others have been crushed as vehicles overturn. But Specialist Michael Floyd, 19, said: "I am not a big fan of this thing. It is really hot and hard to move around in. I do feel safer, but only in an explosion. I would not feel safer in a rollover or in small-arms fire." Critics say the heavy suits also restrict movement during combat. | |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #21 TV Executive - summer repeats already? |
| Posted by: DMFD 2006-05-09 23:22 |
| #20 In the late 1990's the Army, DARPA and USDOD was supposed to had begun work on an ultra-light armored flex-isuit, allegedly powerful enough to deflect or protect a LandWarrior [except head]from any combat round, rifle or machine gun, save the .50 cal-size or higher, and while keeping the human body cool. For me, we're likely just looking at an early design deployed only to garner or verify real-time combat suitability for more advanced follow-on designs. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2006-05-09 21:20 |
| #19 ....Like the image of those vulnerable English Yeomen being impaled by Joan of Arc's Knights.... 72" of finely tillered Yew well used and commanded invaded and controlled the destiny of france for 100 years. One small skirmish does not a war win. History is not well written or even understood in the schools of France. |
| Posted by: pihkalbadger 2006-05-09 19:58 |
| #18 Armor the rest of the body, add a powered exoskeleton and replace one hand with a chain gun. Then you can leave the stinkin' Humvee at home. |
| Posted by: SteveS 2006-05-09 19:51 |
| #17 Body armor is great, if you are standing guard and have a bunker/foxhole to defend. IMHO, turret gunner is no different than a bunker. Just because the bunker has wheels doesn't make it any different. Yeah, it sucks if you have to dismount. |
| Posted by: Robert Crawford 2006-05-09 17:29 |
| #16 I'll bet there are 90 year old waist gunners looking at those suits and saying... YES! YES! YES! |
| Posted by: 6 2006-05-09 17:11 |
| #15 Body armor is great, if you are standing guard and have a bunker/foxhole to defend. If you are attacking and sprinting, ducking, rolling, throwing, aiming ... it sucks. Big Monkey balls. Not only does it tire you out faster, but it has a nasty tendency to hang on stuff when you are trying to get the hell out of the way of other stuff. Long story short (to late! - ed.) when we were out patrolling, we left it behind. When we were guarding, we wore it. |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2006-05-09 16:20 |
| #14 I remember reading a Michael Yon piece where he was talking about the body armor he wore when going out with a patrol (the "reptilian" kind, not the "robot" kind). He talked about how the soldiers ribbed him over how he looked and how long it took him to get ready. Apparently, they preferred to be less encumbered, especially when running around the alleys of Mosul. |
| Posted by: Xbalanke 2006-05-09 13:56 |
| #13 Extreme Mac Beekeeping. |
| Posted by: RD 2006-05-09 12:56 |
| #12 Poke fun if you will, but this gives me a fantastic idea for a new reality show: Extreme Beekeeping. |
| Posted by: TV Executive 2006-05-09 12:50 |
| #11 Poke fun if you will, but this gives me a fantastic idea for a new reality show: Extreme Beekeeping. |
| Posted by: TV Executive 2006-05-09 12:50 |
| #10 Poke fun if you will, but this gives me a fantastic idea for a new reality show: Extreme Beekeeping. |
| Posted by: TV Executive 2006-05-09 12:50 |
| #9 Poke fun if you will, but this gives me a fantastic idea for a new reality show: Extreme Beekeeping. |
| Posted by: TV Executive 2006-05-09 12:50 |
| #8 I always wondered what happened to the Michelin man lately. |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2006-05-09 11:19 |
| #7 Three words, accessories. |
| Posted by: 6 2006-05-09 11:16 |
| #6 Why does the image of over armored French knights slogging through muddy farmland being hammered [literally] by nimble English Yeomen come to mind? Like the image of those vulnerable English Yeomen being impaled by Joan of Arc's Knights in teh hollow road battle: an English troop who was marching in a hollow road was alughtered to a man when the knights came unexpectedly along the road and the steep roadsides prevented the English to disperse. After the release of Orleans this combat was decisive in consolidating Joan of Arc's aura. |
| Posted by: JFM 2006-05-09 11:15 |
| #5 LOL Sea! I wouldn't be caught dead in thatr. |
| Posted by: RD 2006-05-09 11:10 |
| #4 If you look closely you'll see that the soldier is giving the "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" hand signals... |
| Posted by: Seafarious 2006-05-09 10:53 |
| #3 Why does the image of over armored French knights slogging through muddy farmland being hammered [literally] by nimble English Yeomen come to mind? |
| Posted by: Elmeating Wherelet7630 2006-05-09 10:49 |
| #2 You can't possibly fight in combat in that getup. I would really like to see some of the idiots complaining about body armor attempt to walk a mile in that gear. |
| Posted by: Cyber Sarge 2006-05-09 10:28 |
| #1 Goofy isn't a word I would use. Dangerous maybe. For explosions, ya it might work, but any other time where the only differance between the living and the dead is moving quickly, the suit is a deathtrap. I would rather see a good, remote controlled turret on top with a 3D headset so the soldier has the view as standing outside. |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2006-05-09 10:11 |