Article

2014-04-22 Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia

Russia Now Surpasses Everyone in Infantry Body Armor and Firearms

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Posted by Bubba Graiting8281 2014-04-22 00:00|| || Front Page|| [11126 views ] Top

#1 Time to move off of 'center-of-mass' targeting.

Posted by Skidmark 2014-04-22 00:58|| 2014-04-22 00:58|| Front Page Top

#2 The new age of chivalry downing?

Posted by g(r)omgoru 2014-04-22 02:15|| 2014-04-22 02:15|| Front Page Top

#3 Individual Body Armor [IBA] is a good piece of kit, but it is not seamless and like everything else, it has downsides.

IBA has non-plated areas which can be defeated by a well trained marksman or golden BB. Obviously, a head shot is nearly always fatal. A non-lethal neck, shoulder, army, hand, groin, leg, or foot wound is worse. Non-lethal wounds not only take the casualty out of action, but those evacuating him as well. Medical evacuation vehicles and evac sites can become high-value targets.

IBA is bulky, heavy, and decreases mobility difficult. It is hot in the summer and dramatically increases target size, especially when wearing cold weather clothing and equipment.

IBA does not like DshK 12.7mm [see Romanian ISAF AFG partner happy-snap] or M2 Browning .50 caliber rounds at any range. IBA particularly dislikes IED's, RPG's, ground emplaced mines, mortar, and arty fire.

Posted by Besoeker 2014-04-22 04:17|| 2014-04-22 04:17|| Front Page Top

#4 Besoeker

IBA is not imprevipous to tac nukes but the problem is few :-) infantrymen carry tac nukes. Ditto for Ma Deuce or RPGs. Also if the enemy can shoot at any part of your body while you are restricted to about one third of his the end result is you lose. As simple as that.

Finally if my memory is any good firing at med evac vehicles and sites could land you in front of a firing squad or with a rope around your neck depending if you are field executed by the enemy as a war criminal (yes, a captain or above may sentence you to death for violating Generva Conventions and it is perfectly leagl) or if your own side sends you in front of court martial.

Posted by JFM 2014-04-22 05:42|| 2014-04-22 05:42|| Front Page Top

#5 JFM:

My number three is primarily from the internets, books, and from watching the teevee. Appreciate your updates.

Posted by Besoeker 2014-04-22 07:42|| 2014-04-22 07:42|| Front Page Top

#6 Good body armor is a easy procurement. Well trained soldiers in comat first aid, efficient and quick evac to very skilled med personnel, not a easy buy. One without the other means in some cases, you just bleed out slower.

Posted by P2Kontheroad 2014-04-22 08:04|| 2014-04-22 08:04|| Front Page Top

#7 ...err...combat...

hate tapping this little tablet, grrrr..

Posted by P2Kontheroad 2014-04-22 08:06|| 2014-04-22 08:06|| Front Page Top

#8 I wonder how it holds up to the old-fashioned .30-'06 bullet? Or .303 Enfield? Even if they don't penetrate, I would think just the 'thump' would slow one down a lot. And there are still quite a few rifles out there that shoot that stuff.

Posted by Glenmore 2014-04-22 11:37|| 2014-04-22 11:37|| Front Page Top

#9 Given a choice in combat, would you rather be wearing American or Russian armor?

Posted by gorb 2014-04-22 12:32|| 2014-04-22 12:32|| Front Page Top

#10 American. Battle tested against the large caliber stuff and explosives the Iraqi and Afghanis use, and allows for proper tactical mobility. Nothing drives military innovation quite so well as sustained combat.

Posted by OldSpook 2014-04-22 14:58|| 2014-04-22 14:58|| Front Page Top

#11 But more importantly, I'd rather carry a 7.62NATO than a 5.56. Nobody has anything that stops that and still remains mobile enough for tactical use.

Posted by OldSpook 2014-04-22 15:00|| 2014-04-22 15:00|| Front Page Top

#12 One other note: the article says "Elite" Russian units. This means spec ops. Not line troops. Same goes with the US - Spec Ops have access to the cutting edge stuff that are never practical/affordable for line troops. Go check the examples shown in the Crimea. Same old russian gear on the line troops. So don't compare their Spec Ops to our line or vice versa. Apples to Apples, folks.

Posted by OldSpook 2014-04-22 15:03|| 2014-04-22 15:03|| Front Page Top

#13 Regarding gear - with the possible exception of German field rations, US made weapons and gear are the best in the world, hands down.

Posted by Besoeker 2014-04-22 15:19|| 2014-04-22 15:19|| Front Page Top

#14 I believe all of the body armor can be penetrated by the small caliber SLAP projectiles. I saw a write up on the modern SLAP. The 30-06 was able to penetrate 2 inches of armor plate. The 5.56 was able to make it through 1 inch.

Posted by Chuckles Thaitch7040 2014-04-22 18:02|| 2014-04-22 18:02|| Front Page Top

#15 Whatever. Russian equipment is not terrible. Not the best, but better than nothing.

If you contemplate opposing the Russias, then expect a fight.

That is the nature of things.

Posted by rammer 2014-04-22 23:12|| 2014-04-22 23:12|| Front Page Top

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