Armor is too heavy!

Felix The Assassin · 02-12-2009, 11:00 PM

Well now, I smell BS, but will not divulge any truths from the "public release" statements.
http://www.military.com/news/article...ESRC=army-a.nl

However, I weighed 225 for the majority of my career. Hypothetically speaking, put on uniform, 'suit' up for mission, step on scale, scale read 295lbs. That included the vest, ESAPI (front and rear), cranium housing group protector, 9mm with 30 rounds, hip holster, bayonet, M-4 with 210 rounds basic load, CCO sight, quick grips with pistol grip, 4-cell mag light, 100oz of water, "Plugger" (Army issue hand held GPS), and two items never to be discussed, one in right boot, the other in left boot...

5 1/2 lbs?! WOW!

wellard · 02-13-2009, 12:52 AM

An extra 1/2 pound for better protection does not seem much. Maybe they can look at other areas of weight saving like the cloth for the jacket and trousers?

So Felix do you miss lugging all that weight around in the heat huh?

Ilander · 02-13-2009, 01:29 AM

Sounds like an excuse to buy less armor, as far as I'm concerned.

The way we train our soldiers these days...they can handle that weight. Poor guys, I know they work their collective butts off, and I sure as hell wouldn't want to get into a tossle with one.

Variol (Farseer) Elmwood · 02-13-2009, 04:26 AM

..article is too dang long! ..it's 5:15am...

ElfBane · 02-13-2009, 09:52 AM

Ahhh! The eternal gripe of the foot soldier.."the armor is too heavy", until, of course, it does it's job, then it seems to be just about right!!
Being Navy I never armored up, but we had PLENTY of summertime drills with NBC gear.....remember those wonderfull summers days with NBC gear on, Felix?

Betelgeuse · 02-13-2009, 10:13 AM

"and two items never to be discussed, one in right boot, the other in left boot..."

let's let the world in on a massive secret. i know what those items are. in the right boot he stores... his right foot. in his left boot, his secret weapon... his smelly left foot.

Variol (Farseer) Elmwood · 02-13-2009, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Betelgeuse

"and two items never to be discussed, one in right boot, the other in left boot..."

let's let the world in on a massive secret. i know what those items are. in the right boot he stores... his right foot. in his left boot, his secret weapon... his smelly left foot.

Actually, it's Dr Scholl's!

Felix The Assassin · 02-13-2009, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Betelgeuse

"and two items never to be discussed, one in right boot, the other in left boot..."

let's let the world in on a massive secret. i know what those items are. in the right boot he stores... his right foot. in his left boot, his secret weapon... his smelly left foot.

I was 'gelling' before "gelling" became popular!

And my commander could never figure out why he could not hold my pace!

Felix The Assassin · 02-13-2009, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wellard

An extra 1/2 pound for better protection does not seem much. Maybe they can look at other areas of weight saving like the cloth for the jacket and trousers?

So Felix do you miss lugging all that weight around in the heat huh?

I have become "FAT", I weighed in at 242lbs in my skivvies!

Felix The Assassin · 02-13-2009, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ElfBane

Ahhh! The eternal gripe of the foot soldier.."the armor is too heavy", until, of course, it does it's job, then it seems to be just about right!!
Being Navy I never armored up, but we had PLENTY of summertime drills with NBC gear.....remember those wonderfull summers days with NBC gear on, Felix?

Yes those days were fun!

IBA has been around for several years now, it's in it's third revision. For the sake of the soldiers body, I can understand the weight issue. However, just about everything has been made smaller and lighter, and gear has been removed from the standard patrol uniform. The old LBE or LVE, or if you were privy, the modern quick release pouches have been streamlined. The vest itself holds a 100oz "camel back", all pouches needed (ammo, first aid, storage) the old "pistol belt" has long been gone. The type three "kevlar" helmet is much revised, many don't like it (too small, and lite). Yet an average man will still carry 65lbs once he is in patrol uniform! The larger the person, the more weight, due to the increase size of the vest and plates.

@Ilander, the Army has finally broken the code, "all" recruits now go through a redesigned basic training before they go to their specialized training. Correct, they have all learned the basics of hand to hand, and go ahead and let one body slam you while wearing (x)lbs of Individual Body Armor.

02-12-2009, 11:00 PM	#1
Felix The Assassin The Dreadnoks Join Date: September 27, 2001 Location: Orlando, FL Age: 61 Posts: 3,608	Armor is too heavy! Well now, I smell BS, but will not divulge any truths from the "public release" statements. http://www.military.com/news/article...ESRC=army-a.nl However, I weighed 225 for the majority of my career. Hypothetically speaking, put on uniform, 'suit' up for mission, step on scale, scale read 295lbs. That included the vest, ESAPI (front and rear), cranium housing group protector, 9mm with 30 rounds, hip holster, bayonet, M-4 with 210 rounds basic load, CCO sight, quick grips with pistol grip, 4-cell mag light, 100oz of water, "Plugger" (Army issue hand held GPS), and two items never to be discussed, one in right boot, the other in left boot... 5 1/2 lbs?! WOW! __________________ The Lizzie Palmer Tribute Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty. John F. Kennedy 35th President of The United States The Last Shot Honor The Fallen Jesus died for our sins, and American Soldiers died for our freedom. If you don't stand behind our Soldiers, please feel free to stand in front of them.

02-13-2009, 12:52 AM	#2
wellard Dracolisk Join Date: November 1, 2002 Location: Australia ..... G\'day! Posts: 6,123	Re: Armor is too heavy! An extra 1/2 pound for better protection does not seem much. Maybe they can look at other areas of weight saving like the cloth for the jacket and trousers? So Felix do you miss lugging all that weight around in the heat huh? __________________ fossils - natures way of laughing at creationists for over 3 billion years

02-13-2009, 01:29 AM	#3
Ilander 20th Level Warrior Join Date: December 28, 2003 Location: Kentucky Age: 38 Posts: 2,820	Re: Armor is too heavy! Sounds like an excuse to buy less armor, as far as I'm concerned. The way we train our soldiers these days...they can handle that weight. Poor guys, I know they work their collective butts off, and I sure as hell wouldn't want to get into a tossle with one. __________________ Is that what you really want to say?

02-13-2009, 04:26 AM	#4
Variol (Farseer) Elmwood Jack Burton Join Date: May 16, 2003 Location: Dartmouth, NS Canada Age: 58 Posts: 5,634	Re: Armor is too heavy! ..article is too dang long! ..it's 5:15am... __________________ A MAN WHO WANTS FOR NOTHING HAS INFINITE WEALTH. (me)

02-13-2009, 09:52 AM	#5
ElfBane Mephistopheles Join Date: March 21, 2004 Location: Cape Canaveral, FL Age: 69 Posts: 1,443	Re: Armor is too heavy! Ahhh! The eternal gripe of the foot soldier.."the armor is too heavy", until, of course, it does it's job, then it seems to be just about right!! Being Navy I never armored up, but we had PLENTY of summertime drills with NBC gear.....remember those wonderfull summers days with NBC gear on, Felix? __________________ They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. Benjamin Franklin (1706 - 1790), Historical Review of Pennsylvania, 1759. Iraq and Afghan fatalities: 6,855 and counting. Silence IS consent.

02-13-2009, 10:13 AM	#6
Betelgeuse Zhentarim Guard Join Date: January 31, 2004 Location: Melbourne, Australia Age: 45 Posts: 310	Re: Armor is too heavy! "and two items never to be discussed, one in right boot, the other in left boot..." let's let the world in on a massive secret. i know what those items are. in the right boot he stores... his right foot. in his left boot, his secret weapon... his smelly left foot. __________________ Insert witty or insightful message here.

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