SAS Bulletproof vest.

[junior]

Hi all,
I had a bulletproof vest from my grandfather consisting two plates strapped on to eachother, some straps to attach the whole thing to your body. Does anyone has some pics of this? What's it worth?
Regards,
Junior.

[DJT]

Junior,

I will email some photos to you (need to have a look around first!). Last set of body armour on ebay sold for 1000 euro. Your selling yours?



I had a bulletproof vest from my grandfather consisting two plates strapped on to eachother, some straps to attach the whole thing to your body. Does anyone has some pics of this? What's it worth?
Regards,
Junior.[/QUOTE]

[Gary Jucha]

MRC Body Armour ?

Junior,
Are the plates anything like the items in the attachment to this message ?

Regards

Gary J.

[Adrian Stevenson]

Hi Junior, sounds like a set of MRC (Medical Research Council) pattern body armour. The set Gary has shown is the early issue without the canvas covering. They were worn by many units of the Airborne Forces & SAS.


Here is me wearing a set Mine shown here is actually a set made for the Belgian Army in 1953. The only difference is the rivetts are set in the opposite way to a WW2 made set. Impossible to see unless you you very close up.

Cheers, Ade.

[Gary Jucha]

Nice Photo

Nice Photo Ade,
... I wonder where that was taken ???? (And who is that is with you ?????)


Regards

Gary J.


Here is me wearing a set Mine shown here is actually a set made for the Belgian Army in 1953. The only difference is the rivetts are set in the opposite way to a WW2 made set. Impossible to see unless you you very close up.

Cheers, Ade.[/QUOTE]

[Adrian Stevenson]

Hi Gary, I thought you would like this pic Gary was there when this one was taken.

It shows myself with Michael Sosabowski, who is the Grandson of the famous Polish Airborne General. The photo was taken at Driel last month.

Cheers, Ade.

[leigh kitchen]

5,000 sets initially produced for evaluation in 1941, 500,000 ordered in 1943 (reckoned that 2 1/2 million were required).
In 1944 the initial order for 500,000 was reduced to 300,000 due to lack of interest shown by the various commands, production stopped at 200,000.
Only about 79,000 were issued, about 65,000 to RAF & about 15,000 to the army in all theatres.
The majority of the army ones went to 21st Army Group, the majority of those to airborne.
About 300 to Italy for Royal Engineers. Remaining stocks held in WO Depots, unissued.
(British Army Uniforms & Insignia of WWII, Brian Leigh Davis, Arms & Armour Press 1983).

[junior]

Sad to say but... it's gone. Burned, trowed away, etc.


@Ade: thanks for the belt, received it this morning. I will sent a letter to you.

[Adrian Stevenson]

I was just talking to Junior and I found this link:

http://www.canadiansoldiers.com/equipment/mrc.htm

I was interested to read the stats on the performance of the armour taken from this site.

"Simon Dunstan also gives a rather detailed description of the testing that the MRC Body Armour was subjected to in his book "Flak Jackets 20th Century Military Body Armour". "The body armour, when tested, proved favourable and withstood a .38 bullet at five yards, a .303 bullet at 700 yards and a 'Tommy Gun' single shot (.45 cal) at 100 yards. After further field exercises it was found that the armour, although well padded, tended to cut into the soft-skin areas of the body causing chafing, with the result that violent and rapid movements were significantly impaired. Moreover, it causes a man to perspire so profusely that his powers of endurance were affected."

Cheers, Ade.