bobdina
09-28-2009, 12:14 PM
By Matthew Cox - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Sep 28, 2009 6:14:24 EDT
Call it an early New Year’s resolution, but the Army is pledging to give soldiers in Afghanistan new, lightweight armor plate carriers in early 2010.
The increasing focus on the mission in Afghanistan has meant more dismounted operations for combat troops. Soldiers routinely move and fight on foot over the country’s extremely rugged terrain. And carrying too much equipment can be as deadly as enemy bullets, particularly when soldiers are trying to outmaneuver Taliban fighters accustomed to traveling light in their mountainous homeland.
To help lighten the 130-pound loads many soldiers carry, Army equipment officials plan to select a new plate carrier at the end of September.
“The objective is to get it out there as soon as possible,” Brig. Gen. Peter Fuller, commander of Program Executive Office Soldier, told Army Times.
Currently soldiers wear body armor known as the Improved Outer Tactical Vest, which weighs about 33 pounds with all of its soft armor attachments. The new plate carriers, which would be issued as an alternative to the IOTV, could shave about 16 pounds while providing the same 7.62mm ballistic protection.
Army equipment officials hope to have 57,000 plate carriers, which are slated to be delivered in the Universal Camouflage Pattern, by February to begin issuing them to combat troops, according to the government solicitation.
PEO Soldier launched its plate carrier effort this spring as the Asymmetric Warfare Group and other Army commands prepared to conduct a battlefield assessment to find ways to reduce the heavy loads soldiers now shoulder in the mountains of Afghanistan.
For that assessment, a battalion from 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, was issued specially selected, ultra-light combat gear, which includes plate carriers, lighter packs and boots, before it deployed to Afghanistan in July.
About 500 soldiers from 4-4 are wearing the Eagle Industries Modular Body Armor Vest, a plate carrier that’s about 14 pounds lighter than the Army’s IOTV.
The MBAV plate carrier is standard issue to Special Operations Command units such as the 75th Ranger Regiment. The Marine Corps has been using another Eagle-designed plate carrier in Afghanistan since 2008.
While the Army has not decided what units will receive the new plate carriers, Fuller said, “I anticipate it would be [for units] in Afghanistan.”
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/09/army_platecarrier_092809w/
Posted : Monday Sep 28, 2009 6:14:24 EDT
Call it an early New Year’s resolution, but the Army is pledging to give soldiers in Afghanistan new, lightweight armor plate carriers in early 2010.
The increasing focus on the mission in Afghanistan has meant more dismounted operations for combat troops. Soldiers routinely move and fight on foot over the country’s extremely rugged terrain. And carrying too much equipment can be as deadly as enemy bullets, particularly when soldiers are trying to outmaneuver Taliban fighters accustomed to traveling light in their mountainous homeland.
To help lighten the 130-pound loads many soldiers carry, Army equipment officials plan to select a new plate carrier at the end of September.
“The objective is to get it out there as soon as possible,” Brig. Gen. Peter Fuller, commander of Program Executive Office Soldier, told Army Times.
Currently soldiers wear body armor known as the Improved Outer Tactical Vest, which weighs about 33 pounds with all of its soft armor attachments. The new plate carriers, which would be issued as an alternative to the IOTV, could shave about 16 pounds while providing the same 7.62mm ballistic protection.
Army equipment officials hope to have 57,000 plate carriers, which are slated to be delivered in the Universal Camouflage Pattern, by February to begin issuing them to combat troops, according to the government solicitation.
PEO Soldier launched its plate carrier effort this spring as the Asymmetric Warfare Group and other Army commands prepared to conduct a battlefield assessment to find ways to reduce the heavy loads soldiers now shoulder in the mountains of Afghanistan.
For that assessment, a battalion from 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, was issued specially selected, ultra-light combat gear, which includes plate carriers, lighter packs and boots, before it deployed to Afghanistan in July.
About 500 soldiers from 4-4 are wearing the Eagle Industries Modular Body Armor Vest, a plate carrier that’s about 14 pounds lighter than the Army’s IOTV.
The MBAV plate carrier is standard issue to Special Operations Command units such as the 75th Ranger Regiment. The Marine Corps has been using another Eagle-designed plate carrier in Afghanistan since 2008.
While the Army has not decided what units will receive the new plate carriers, Fuller said, “I anticipate it would be [for units] in Afghanistan.”
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/09/army_platecarrier_092809w/