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Fragmentation, Flak Vests, Body Armor


craig_pickrall
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craig_pickrall

These are QM pics of the EOD suit used in the 1960's. I have two versions of the face mask and one pair of the boots. If anyone is interested I can take additional pics. The flak jacket and helmet are standard.

 

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  • 10 months later...
craig_pickrall

This is the rear neck area protection. It hangs from the helmet clips attached to the face mask.

 

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craig_pickrall

This is a second type method for raising and lowering the face shield. It is similar to the method used to secure the face shield on pilot helmets.

 

post-5-1196822897.jpg

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craig_pickrall

This is the ballistic boot attachment. It raises the soldier a few inches above the ground and also has a narrow tread to give a very small boot print.

 

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  • 2 weeks later...
knowing what I know about today's body armor, which is a lot as I have to wear the shinola every day, I'd rather just drop the weight than wear those old vests back in the day. Gah!

 

that diaper's interesting. no thanks, though

 

'Attention. Body armor MAY save your life' Notice the key word there. Gah! again

 

great images

 

They weren't real popular in RVN either. All the excuses - too hot, too humid, too heavy, too far from home. 11B10s and 40s didn't like 'em. I have seen pix of gun crewmen on the old M-113s POS we had, gun truckers, etc., wearing 'em, though.

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  • 5 months later...

Hi Guys

My name is

Kammo man and I think I know Camouflage .

But I need some help.

Does any body armour collector know the vest worn by the Yankee Papa 13 crew??

It is not my field and I would appreciate some info on this.

thanks in advance

o

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Spathologist
Hi Guys

My name is

Kammo man and I think I know Camouflage .

But I need some help.

Does any body armour collector know the vest worn by the Yankee Papa 13 crew??

It is not my field and I would appreciate some info on this.

thanks in advance

o

 

Looks likeregular ground flak vests. Here's a link with the pics:

 

 

http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/showthread.php?t=42846

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Thanks for the link but it the vest has no pockets or collar.

This is not a regular USMC infantry vest.

It is something a little different .

Thanks once again

o

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Spathologist
Thanks for the link but it the vest has no pockets or collar.

This is not a regular USMC infantry vest.

It is something a little different .

Thanks once again

o

 

http://www.vietnamgear.com/kit.aspx?kit=658

 

The U.S. Navy’s BUAER (Bureau of Aeronautics) Flak Vest was made from ballistic nylon and protected the upper torso from low velocity fragments. It featured a zip front closure protected by a snap fastener cover and was issued with a matching groin protector. The BUAER vest was worn by Navy and Marine Corps aircrews early in the Vietnam War.

 

???

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Thanks guys

I think you nailed that one for me .

I have a maniqinne with a tiger flight suit but he has a chicken plate on .

I have never been able to find the correct vest for him .

Now I have the info .

Anybody know where one might live??

thanks

o

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  • 5 months later...
Greg Robinson

I just noticed a USMC M52 flak vest on ebay described as "Korean War" and that got me interested so I got out my USMC Pictorial history book. Well....technically is IS Korean War vintage since the one Craig owns was contracted before the cease fire. But here's the flak vest, the development of which was pioneered by the Marine Corps, that saw combat use in Korea. In fact, during the Korean War, the Army purchased some of these from the Marines since they had no such item of their own.

 

Here's a couple of period pics of the initial version of the flak vest which saw service in Korea. Not sure of the official nomenclature or dates of contract. The noticeable difference from the M52 is the lack of a zipper cover with snaps. In one photo a Marine officer is testing it's protective capabilities and in the other a Marine is showing a buddy the vest that saved his life.

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It is very difficult in photographs to tell the difference between a M-51 and M-52 flak vest as IIRC most M-51 vests were depot modified to M-52 standard by adding a zipper cover made out of webbing and press studs. This 2 in webbing zipper cover is shorter than the cover on standard M-52's and is very noticable.

 

In Korea the Australian Army made use of a large number of USMC flak jackets.

 

Here is a pic of a Digger with a standard M-51.

 

flak.jpg

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The following pics show Diggers with what I believe to be the deopt modified M-51's.

Note that some pics show the zipper cover opening from the right and not the left as was intended.

These around the wrong way modifications are NOT reversed negatives. They appear to have been incorrectly modified.

 

Opens to the left

flak1.jpg

 

Opens to the right.

flak2.jpg

 

Opens to the right.

flak3.jpg

 

Opens to the right.

flak4.jpg

 

Sorry about the small photos. They have come from the AWM and you can not save the larger images. (you have to buy them!)

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More pics of diggers.

 

Opens to the left.

flak5.jpg

 

Opens to the right.

flak6.jpg

 

Opens to the right.

flak7.jpg

 

Note in all the pics above the very narrow 2 in Web zipper cover of the Modified M-51.

 

Compare that to the standard M-52 with wide nylon cloth zipper cover below.

2335_1.jpg

 

Also note that as the zipper cover on the M-52 is made of the same nylon cloth as the flak jacket shell is does not stand out like the Modified M-51 the Diggers are wearing.

0db7_1.jpg

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  • 5 weeks later...

Im the guy who owns the M1952 Mr-X posted pictures of :)

 

Anyway heres a picture of a M1952 being used in Vietnam.

 

The picture is of a US Marine at Khe Sanh in January 1968. You can clearly see there is no collar and no rope.

 

IMG_2238.jpg

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More pics of diggers.

 

Opens to the left.

flak5.jpg

 

Opens to the right.

flak6.jpg

 

Opens to the right.

flak7.jpg

 

Note in all the pics above the very narrow 2 in Web zipper cover of the Modified M-51.

 

Compare that to the standard M-52 with wide nylon cloth zipper cover below.

2335_1.jpg

 

Also note that as the zipper cover on the M-52 is made of the same nylon cloth as the flak jacket shell is does not stand out like the Modified M-51 the Diggers are wearing.

0db7_1.jpg

 

 

 

Here's one with a label that looks different, doesn't say 'Armor,Body,Fragmentation..'

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Wow! you've really got some great items there! very nice pictures as well, I've only got one M1969 with 3/4 collar Army flak vest. I bet that flak diaper was uncomfortable!

great stuff- Joe

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  • 1 month later...
  • 9 months later...
Paul Reijnders

Hi to all :

 

See here a very rare experimental armor jacket USMC

I think this is discussed also in this topic but didn't see pics

 

Kind regards , Paul

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