Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Ballistic Trauma pp 47–62Cite as

Personal Armour Used by UK Armed Forces and UK Police Forces

  • Chapter
  • First Online:

Abstract

Personal armour is an overarching term used to describe personal protective equipment that is worn or carried by an individual to stop the penetration of projectiles into the human body (Table 6.1). Personal armour is most commonly used by the Armed Forces and the police, but other users include first responders (such as fire and ambulance personnel) and security professionals. The aim of this chapter is to provide information regarding (a) personal armour materials, (b) how personal armour protects the user, (c) the anatomical structures protected by personal armour and (d) the types of personal armour worn by UK Armed Forces and UK Police Forces. Comments are also made regarding likely behind armour injury and removal of armour.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   109.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   139.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   199.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    Areal density is the equivalent mass per square metre (kg m−2).

References

  1. Tobin L, Iremonger M. Modern body armour and helmets: an introduction. Canberra: Argros Press; 2006.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Lewis EA, Carr DJ. Chapter 8 personal armour. In: Bhatnagar A, editor. Lightweight ballistic composites: military and law-enforcement applications. 2nd ed. Woodhead; 2016.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Horsfall I. Key issues in body armour: threats, materials and design. In: Sparks E, editor. Advances in military textiles and equipment. Manchester: Woodhead Publishing and The Textile Institute; 2012.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Payne T, O’Rourke S, Malbon C. Home Office Body Armour Standard 2017. Home Office Centre for Applied Science and Technology.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Carr DJ. Chapter 4 fabrics and composites for ballistic protection. In: Chen X, editor. Advanced fibrous composites for ballistic protection. Manchester: Woodhead; 2015.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Smith JC, McCrackin FL, Schiefer HF, et al. Stress-strain relationships in yarns subjected to rapid impact loading: part IV: transverse impact tests. Text Res J. 1956;26:821–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Cunniff PM. An analysis of the system effects in woven fabrics under ballistic impact. Text Res J. 1992;56:45–60.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Roylance D, Wilde A, Tocci G. Ballistic impact of textile structures. Text Res J. 1973;43:34–41.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Morye SS, Hine PJ, Duckett RA, et al. Modelling of the energy absorption by polymer composites upon ballistic impact. Compos Sci Technol. 2000;60:2631–42.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Taylor SA, Carr DJ. Post failure analysis of 0°/90° ultra high molecular weight polyethylene composite after ballistic testing. J Microsc. 1999;196(2):249–56.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Sharma N, Carr DJ, Kelly PM, et al. Modelling and experimental investigation into the ballistic behaviour of an ultra high molecular weight polyethylene/thermoplastic rubber matrix composite. In: 12th International Conference on Composite Materials (ICCM-12) Paris, France, 1999.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Shephard RG. The use of polymers in personal baillistic protection. Polymers in defence. London: The Plastics and Rubber Institute; 1987.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Morye SS, Hine PJ, Duckett RA, et al. A comparison of the properties of hot compacted gel-spun polyethylene fibre composites with conventional gel-spun polyethylene fibre composites. Compos Part A. 1999;30:649–60.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Woodward RL, Egglestone GT, Baxter BJ, et al. Resistance to the penetration and compression of fibre-reinforced composite materials. Compos Eng. 1994;4:329–41.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Mouritz AP. Ballistic impact and explosive blast resistance of stitched composites. Compos Part B. 2001;32:431–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Gellert EP, Cimpoeru SJ, Woodward RL. A study of the effect of target thockness on the ballistic resistance of glass reinforced composites. Int J Impact Eng. 2000;24:445–56.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Sevkat E, Liaw B, Delale F, et al. A combined experimental and numerical approach to study ballistic impact response of S2-glass fiber/toughened epoxy composite beams. Compos Sci Technol. 2009;69:965–82.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Breeze J, Lewis EA, Fryer R, et al. Defining essential anatomical coverage provided by military body armour against high energy projectiles. J R Army Med Corps. 2015;162(4):284–90. https://doi.org/10.1136/jramc-2015-000431, [published Online First: Epub Date]

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Carr D, Lewis EA. Ballistic-protective clothing and body armour. Protective clothing: managing thermal stress, 2014. p. 146–70.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Breeze J, Lewis EA, Fryer R. Determining the dimensions of essential medical coverage required by military body armour plates utilising computed iomography. Injury. 2016;47(9):1932–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. British Standards Institution. BS EN 1078: 2012 1 helmets for pedal cyclists and for users of skateboards and roller skates. London: British Standards Institution; 2012.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Hurlich A. Metallurgical and ballistic investigations of fifty captured German helmets. Watertown: Wartertown Arsenal Laboratory; 1944.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  23. Beyer JC, Enos WF, Holmes RH. Personnel protective armor. In: Beyer JC, editor. Wound ballistics. Washington: Office of the Surgeon General, Department of the Army; 1962.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Carey ME. Ballistic helmets and aspects of their design. Neurosurgery. 2000;47:678–89.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Houff CW, Delaney JP. Historical documentations of the infantry helmet research and development. Aberdeen Proving Ground: Human Engineering Laboratory; 1973.

    Google Scholar 

  26. IPAC, editor. Analysis of fragmentation protection for two commercial helmets. In: Personal Armour Systems Symposium 2010; 2010 13–17 September; Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac, Quebec City, Canada.

    Google Scholar 

  27. IPAC, editor. Impact of soldier helmet configuration on survivability. In: Personal Armour Systems Symposium 2010; 2010 13–17 September; Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac, Quebec City, Canada.

    Google Scholar 

  28. McManus LR, Durand PE, Claus WD. Development of a one piece infantry helmet. Natick: U.S. Army Natick Research and Development Command; 1976.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  29. British Standards Institution. BS EN 960: 2006 headforms for use in the testing of protective helmets. London: British Standards Institution; 2006.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Breeze J, Baxter D, Carr DJ, et al. Defining combat helmet coverage for protection against explosively propelled fragments. J R Army Med Corps. 2013;161(1):9–13. https://doi.org/10.1136/jramc-2013-000108, [published Online First: Epub Date]

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Payne T, O’Rourke S, Malbon C. Home Office Body Armour Standard 2017 – Guidance. Home Office Centre for Applied Science and Technology.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Between Iraq and a hard plate: recent developments in UK military personal armour. In: Personal Armour Systems Symposium 2006; 2006 18–22 September; The Royal Armouries, Leeds, UK.

    Google Scholar 

  33. Lewis EA, Pigott MA, Randall A, et al. The development and introduction of ballistic protection of the external genitalia and perineum. J R Army Med Corps. 2013;159(Supp 1):i15–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Gotts PL, Kelly PM, editors. UK body armour and helmets. In: Personal Armour Systems Symposium (PASS94); 1994 21–25 June, 1994; Colchester, UK.

    Google Scholar 

  35. Carr D. Assessment of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene composites as candidate materials for UK millitary helmets. In: ECCM-7 Seventh European Conference on Composite Materials: Realising Their Commercial Potential 1996:335.

    Google Scholar 

  36. McBride R. IACP/DuPont Kevlar Survivors’ Club®, 2012.

    Google Scholar 

  37. Carr DJ, Horsfall I, Malbon C. Is behind armour blunt trauma a real threat to users of body armour? A systematic review. J R Army Med Corps. 2013;162(1):8–11. https://doi.org/10.1136/jramc-2013-000161.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Bleetman A, Dyer J. Ultrasound assessment of the vulnerability of internal organs to stabbing: determining safety standards for stab resistant body armour. Injury Int J Care Injured. 2000;31:609–12.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Malbon C, Croft J. PSDB Protective Headwear Standard for UK Police: Public Order Helmet. Publication number 21/04. Sandridge: Home Office Police Scientific Development Branch; 2004.

    Google Scholar 

  40. Cannon L. Behind armour blunt trauma – an emerging problem. J R Army Med Corps. 2001;147(1):87–96.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Lewis EA, Watson CH, Horsfall I. Behind armour blunt trauma effects after low-velocity ballistic impact. In: Burman N, Anderson J, Katselis G, editors. 21st International Symposium on Ballistics. Adelaide: Defence Science and Technology Organisation with the cooperation of the International Ballistics Committee; 2004.

    Google Scholar 

  42. Lewis EA, Johnson P, Bleetman A, et al. An investigation to confirm the existance of ‘pencilling’ as a non-penetrating behind armour injury. In: JLMJ v B, editor. Personal Armour Systems Symposium 2004 (PASS2004). The Hague: TNO Prins Maurits Laboratory; 2004.

    Google Scholar 

  43. van Bree JLMJ, van der Heiden N. Behind armour blunt trauma analysis of compression waves. In: Gotts PL, Kelly PM, editors. Personal Armour Systems Symposium 1998 (PASS98). Colchester: Defence Clothing and Textiles Agency, Science and Technology Division, UK MoD; 1998.

    Google Scholar 

  44. Proud WG, Goldrein HT, Esmail S, et al. A review of wound ballistics literature: the human body and injury processes. In: Leixeira-Dias F, Dodd B, Torres Marques A, et al., editors. Security and use of innovative technologies against terrorism. LWAG light-weight armour for defence & security. Aveiro: Universidade de Aveiro; 2009.

    Google Scholar 

  45. Cannon L, Tam W. The development of a physical model of non-penetrating ballistic injury. In: Crewther IR, editor. 19th International Symposium of Ballistics. Interlaken, Switzerland, 2001.

    Google Scholar 

  46. Stuhmiller JH, Shen WS, Niu E. Modeling for military operational medicine scientific and technical objectives. San Diego: Jaycor; 2003.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  47. Carroll AW, Soderstrom CA. A new nonpenetrating ballistic injury. Ann Surg. 1978;188(6):753–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  48. Goldfarb MA, Ciure TF, Weinstein MA, et al. Technical Report EB-TR-74073. A method for soft body armor evaluation: medical assessment. Edgewood Arsenal. Aberdeen Proving Ground: Department of the Army; 1975.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  49. Prat N, Rongieras F, Sarron J-C, et al. Contemporary body armor: technical data, injuries, and limits. Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg. 2012;38:95–105. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00068-012-0175-0.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  50. Firth N. British soldier had sniper’s bullet pulled from his back by comrade after being shot by Taliban. Available at http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1191872/Soldier-snipers-bullet-pulled-comrade-shot-Taliban.html [access date 19/02/12]: Mail online, 2009.

  51. Shephard GH, Ferguson JL, Foster JH. Pulmonary contusion. Ann Thorac Surg. 1969;7:110–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  52. Ministry of Defence. Body armour saves soldier’s life in Afghanistan. Available online http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/MilitaryOperations/BodyArmourSavesSoldiersLifeInAfghanistan.htm [date accessed 19/02/12]: Ministry of Defence, 2010.

  53. Ministry of Defence. Body armour saves UK soldiers in Helmand fire fight. Available online http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/MilitaryOperations/BodyArmourSavesUkSoldiersInHelmandFireFight.htm [date accessed 19/02/12]: Ministry of Defence, 2011.

  54. Weaver T. Soldier survives sniper’s bullet after stopping to eat. Available online http://www.stripes.com/news/reporter-s-notebook-soldier-survives-sniper-s-bullet-after-stopping-to-eat-1.34885: Stars and Stripes, 2005.

  55. Galbraith KA. Combat casualties in the first decade of the 21st century – new and emerging weapon systems. J R Army Med Corps. 2001;147:7–14.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  56. Ryan JM, Bailie R, Diack G, et al. Safe removal of combat body armour lightweight following battlefield wounding – a timely reminder. J R Army Med Corps. 1994;140:26–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Defence Equipment and Support, Ministry of Defence, Abbey Wood, Bristol, BS34 8JH, UK

    Eluned A. Lewis

  2. Academic Department of Military Surgery and Trauma, Royal Centre for Defence Medicine, Birmingham Research Park, Birmingham, B15 2SQ, UK

    Johno Breeze

  3. Impact and Armour Group, Centre for Defence Engineering, Cranfield University, The Defence Academy of the UK, Shrivenham, SN6 8LA, UK

    Chris Malbon & Debra J. Carr

Authors
  1. Eluned A. Lewis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Johno Breeze
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Chris Malbon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Debra J. Carr
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Eluned A. Lewis .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham , Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom

    John Breeze

  2. Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle, United Kingdom

    Jowan G. Penn-Barwell

  3. Department Military Anaesthesia, Royal Centre for Defence Medicine Institute Research & Development, Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom

    Damian Keene

  4. University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, United Kingdom

    David O'Reilly

  5. Academic Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, Royal Centre for Defence Medicine Birmingham Research Park, Birmingham, United Kingdom

    Jeyasankar Jeyanathan

  6. Department Military Anaesthesia, Royal Centre for Defence Medicine Institute Research & Development, Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom

    Peter F. Mahoney

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2017 Springer International Publishing AG

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Lewis, E.A., Breeze, J., Malbon, C., Carr, D.J. (2017). Personal Armour Used by UK Armed Forces and UK Police Forces. In: Breeze, J., Penn-Barwell, J., Keene, D., O'Reilly, D., Jeyanathan, J., Mahoney, P. (eds) Ballistic Trauma. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-61364-2_6

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-61364-2_6

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-61363-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-61364-2

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation