Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
effective panel that provides the appropriate level of protection to that
area. A properly designed tactical vest also provides superior levels of
protection against bursts fired from a submachine gun, provides better
protection than SBA near the edges, and also is effective against rounds
striking the vest in close proximity to each other. Furthermore, the vest
carrier, which is the garment that holds the ballistic panels, also can
be fitted to hold hard armor plates. These plates are generally worn over
the center of the body in the front, thus protecting the heart, and in the
rear protecting the spinal cord. The types of plates must be selected care-
fully depending on the specific types of ammunition common to a par-
ticular area or country. In Exhibit 9.1, the hard armor begins with the
designation level III. Remember, IIIA is actually lower than III and is
designed only to provide protection against common handgun rounds.
Level III plates provide protection against some rifle rounds but not all.
For example, a level III plate will stop an ordinary jacketed lead bullet
fired by an M16 rifle (.223 caliber or 5.56 mm) or an AK-47 (7.62
39 mm). The problem is that much of the ammunition for these weapons
is not standard. The M16 ammunition issued to our soldiers and allies
abroad is a mild armor-piercing round
designated the M855 or SS109. For the
AK-47 there are many types of rounds
with steel cores or jackets. These rounds
will pierce level III plates as well as the
level IIIA armor beneath it and enter
the wearer's body. Someone familiar with
relative ballistic performance and body
armor and the type of ammunition used
by the potential assailants should be
tasked with selecting the hard plates to
be used.
RBR Tactical Products, Inc. offers ex-
cellent tactical vests that are very well
made. Specifically, the stitching (which
has a great deal to do with a vest's ability
to stop a round) is among the best in the
industry. The design of the throat piece
and shoulder harness also has proven to
be quite effective in preventing penetra-
tions to those areas (see Exhibit 9.5).
Exhibit 9.5
RBR Tactical Vest
Photo courtesy of RBR
Tactical Products, Inc.
