SAF Body Armour?

last SG · 2004-04-15T00:10:27+00:00

The scene from the movie seemed to portray that the soldier was shot from the front - noticed the scene in which exit of the round was through the back inste...

SingaporeTyrannosaur SG

Hey, from watching footage of our troops (presumed to be regulars) gathering to go to P. Tekong, I noticed that they were wearing a green, full torso vest that covered their number 4. It's certainly no SBO and it looks exactly like body armour.

So have we been using body armour for combat purposes for some time liao, but just that it goes to the regulars?

the Bear SG

those maniacs running around have handguns and probably a pump-action shotgun...

the armour will probably stop those..

bcoy SG

Certain PDF units have been wearing body armour as part of their expected roles they play. Body armour has been in use for sometime already. But I hope they introduce better ones for tropics.
Certain things are used or shown only in reservest training, depending on unit. Not during full time NS.

wuming78 SG

i suspect its been issued for troops from certain units. and these units have been activated today.

SingaporeTyrannosaur SG

Hopefully they never get to be really tested in combat, though raising awareness of the issue does help.

Notice how all our PASGT helmets are M size? Causing them to fit ridiculusly high on our troops with larger heads? This means that a lot of our guys will go into action with a less protection then they should be getting from their K-pots.

ditzy SG

I’ve worn one of those b4 during my duties and have to wear one too if i’m sent out. Its basically a vest with 2 pockets front and back, though i remember only got 1 pocket in front. In the pocket, you put a big thick heavy metal plate. Instructions on the plate says its level good against protection from shrapnel, not projectiles such as bullets. Hope this helps.

Gedanken SG

So it’s a flak vest and not proper body armour?

Enigmatic1 SG

Why can’t they just issue Kevlar vests and helmets? They should be better than a normal flak jacket, considering the fact that those robbers are using handguns and probably shotguns.

Guile SG

My friends in ADF are using the body armour as well.

They told me its damn heavy and u cant buckle yr SBO properly after putting it on.

I can't imagine how u do fire and movement wearing it though.

gary1910 SG

Sorry for my ignorant, actually what does ADF stand for and their purpose?

Never heard of it during my NS time in the 80s.. Embarassed

SingaporeTyrannosaur SG

Wonder how the Americans and British do it… They protest if they are sent out without body armour. Over here, we seem happy to dump it.

Moonstriker SG

kevlar vest is NOT as light as you think it is. Wore one before during Year 2000 NDP Carnival at Marina Bay at the MP5 livefire range.

ditzy SG

Well, on fine print written on the ballistic metal plates. it read "For effective levels of protection, we recommend the yellow pages." Mr. Green

My vocation requires me to wear one if deployed. But I expect the aggressor to be shooting projectiles at me, not shrapnel. Very Happy

SingaporeTyrannosaur SG

That wasn't just kevlar dude, if you talked to the commandos, you will realize that it is a kevlar vest with composite insert plates that can stop 7.62 FMJ rounds. It's pretty hefty but it's sure worth the protection.

Forget what you see in the movies, it's almost impossible to dodge bullets and if some guy has point indexed you, it's almost impossible to take cover before he cuts lose. Body armour is worth the extra weight when you realize that 70 percent of deaths from fire in war were caused by projectiles that would have been easily stopped by body armour.

Gedanken SG

Mr. Green

A case of "what you don't know won't hurt you"?

Moonstriker SG

emz.. i didn't ask the Cdos how come so heavy. was experimenting with the vest already. opened the flap that contained the composite plate.. very hard and heavy. then the Cdo saw me doing that... i quickly put it back in Mad

Shotgun SG

I would expect body armor to be used in more fibua roles. Where range is a bit too close for reaction. I would still prefer to be “light” out in the vegetation. Quicker movement as well as “comfort”

wuming78 SG

yup

ditzy SG

Yeah, its no fun wearing that thing. Its even less fun carrying it around.

SingaporeTyrannosaur SG

Eh, once firefight starts, you’ll wish that you had some.