New gear to make soldier's task easier
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Body armour
SELF-DEFENCE: Wearing his new 'load-bearing' vest, a soldier shows off the new body armour. -- LIANHE ZAOBAO
NEW body armour is now being issued to Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) soldiers on special peacekeeping missions abroad, or for emergency operations here at home.
Weighing about 4kg, it is designed to protect the chest, back and neck from small-arms fire and shell fragments. Using a combination of armour, the vest can stop anything from a 9mm handgun bullet to a 7.62mm machine gun round.
'Load-bearing' vests
WHILE the body armour is only for special missions, all SAF troops are being given new 'load-bearing' vests, much like the ones worn by photographers, to carry their hand grenades, ammunition for their weapons, and other essential gear.
The new vests replace the 20-year-old belts, pouches and straps soldiers now use to tote their equipment. Made from a flexible polyester nylon fabric, which is soft yet high in tensile strength, the vest also has the ability to dissipate body heat.
The broadened shoulder straps also allow soldiers to take greater loads without tiring as easily.
Lightweight Kevlar helmets
TOPPING off the change in wardrobe will be new lightweight Kevlar helmets.
First introduced to the SAF in mid-1990, to replace the steel versions, it has since undergone a number of upgrades. It has lost weight - down from 1.6kg to 1.25kg - and been made more comfortable and secure with an added inner cushion and improved support system.
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No more SBO!
Wonder it is with effect from when onwards, which batch of recruits will get to use them... Enlisting 14th January, hope to use it! -
i think for now only combat units like infantry, commamdo etc get to use the new LBV. recruits and support units i don't think will be issued with those.
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aiyah good meh...can it stop .347 Magnum Bullets???
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Will reservists get it too?
I don't mind getting the new helmet. -
Other people? Yes. You? No.Originally posted by ceecookie:aiyah good meh...can it stop .347 Magnum Bullets??? 
Reservist can swap sbo for the vest or not? -
i wanna try them too! but i think the chances of me getting them are far from remote...
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i want 1 too. but i'm in a support unit.
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i got chance to use
Very effective and easy to wear leh... -
but i still have misgivings about its ability to dissipate heat. its design would probably increase the heat load on the soldier. so have you experienced any adverse effects due to increased heat load from wearing the vest?Originally posted by Master -_-:i got chance to use
Very effective and easy to wear leh...
also, would putting it on (+ the extra buckles or velcro straps) take a longer time? similarly in taking it off?
and what about in cases of RCO, when one has to put on the life-jacket over it? what will happen in the event of a need to jettison? one has to remove the life-jacket first??? -
Will it be on sale at eMart?
Can do kit exchange for it or not?
Haven't returned my old webbing yet, even though my unit's stood down. -
Helmets and SBOs are not sold at the E-marts. They are issued by the units.Originally posted by Moxie:Will it be on sale at eMart?
Can do kit exchange for it or not?
Haven't returned my old webbing yet, even though my unit's stood down.
I don't think I'll get the new vests too. Going to ROD very soon. -
i still remember some hero back in military nuts claim that MINDEF have email him n say that SAF wont issue LBV..
its only for show....darn funny...
after reading this article..u will realize some people can be such a fool...
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i wonder if this LBV will increase your chances of passing SOC?
cos it's very tiring to run in SBO. -
if you carry the same amount of weight, it shouldnt.Originally posted by Gordonator:i wonder if this LBV will increase your chances of passing SOC?
cos it's very tiring to run in SBO.
well. there may be unknown psychological effects though - thoughts that one can move more easily and all. but i doubt really. -
yeap..pls bear in mind..it is not a perfect system...Originally posted by wuming78:if you carry the same amount of weight, it shouldnt.
well. there may be unknown psychological effects though - thoughts that one can move more easily and all. but i doubt really. -
i asked my friend who used the LBV before. he said it's heavier than the SBO even without water in the water bag.
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anyone can enlighten me on my queries above?Originally posted by wuming78:but i still have misgivings about its ability to dissipate heat. its design would probably increase the heat load on the soldier. so have you experienced any adverse effects due to increased heat load from wearing the vest?
also, would putting it on (+ the extra buckles or velcro straps) take a longer time? similarly in taking it off?
and what about in cases of RCO, when one has to put on the life-jacket over it? what will happen in the event of a need to jettison? one has to remove the life-jacket first???
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I will love to have one...but no chance liao la..haiz..why i ord so early?Originally posted by Gordonator:i asked my friend who used the LBV before. he said it's heavier than the SBO even without water in the water bag.
Gordonator: Do you have one since you still in service?!? -
i'll trade in everything i have to get my hands on the LBV. but sadly the LBV is only for combat units (at least for now). while i'm in a support unit.Originally posted by gnoik:Gordonator: Do you have one since you still in service?!? -
I think those are used by the POI Bn...
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yes...6SIR is the 1st unit to test it out....Originally posted by deathscythe99:I think those are used by the POI Bn... -
the thing is a big freaking jigsaw puzzle lao.....much worse than SBO.... ...plus is much hotter n heavier.....tester here try liao
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what u mean jigsaw puzzle??Originally posted by duotiga83:the thing is a big freaking jigsaw puzzle lao.....much worse than SBO.... ...plus is much hotter n heavier.....tester here try liao
does it live up to its namesake of being "load bearing"? -
jigsaw puzzle as in is not together....you have to piece in one by one just as the same as what you did to the SBO except this is more pieces........i take 1 hr to fix it........Originally posted by wuming78:what u mean jigsaw puzzle??
does it live up to its namesake of being "load bearing"?