Sunday, May 27, 2012

Praxis: Marines and Army Eyeing Protective Face Shields

"These face shields do pretty much exactly what you'd think: they protect the wearer's face from fragmentation debris and rounds as large as 9mm."

20 comments:

FG said...

Imperial Storm Troopers traditionally wear face masks. So do Zeta drug hitmen, bank robbers, highwaymen, and assorted individuals who are ashamed of their actions.

Oh, and riot control police wear face shields as well.

Anonymous said...

Oh yea great idea. Obviously who's ever thought of this does not know about a practical application cheek weld for a rifle....

Anonymous said...

Some research has shown that significant brain tissue disruption is caused by a blast wave, like like one from a nearby IED or mortar round, as it passes through a soldiers head. Even though there is no visible damage, damage similar to that caused by a concussion has been done and is cumulative. That research showed that something as simple as a face shield attenuated such waves enough to prevent this type of damage.

Anonymous said...

That is why I am going updrage to a 45 xdm and will use my 9mm xdm for practice.

Anonymous said...

If it protects UP TO 9MM, the solution to that is to use a 223 or a 308 when the nazi's come calling.

Anonymous said...

I would imagine cheek weld wouldn't be a problem when using red dots, however some well placed paint balls would mess with their vision a bit.

Torque said...

I like the concept to keep are fighting men safer. However, with all that gear, it makes it hard to communicate effectively, shoot-n-scoot and see beyond a side effect of purposed tunnel vision.

May have to go with a heads up display to sen/receive Comms, track targets 360 deg. and an integrated weapons targeting system. Seems like a lot of gear to maneuver.

Perhaps a prelude to intended human short-comings to excuse the reason for mechanised/cyborg/skynet terminator style end use?

A water balloon w/ thinned paint or muddy water would be a bear to wipe off and see thru in the heat of the moment. A squeegees being issued as well? Hooligans in the UK, seemingly has fun with the bobbies and autos over there, with like tactics.


Cheers,

Torque

Ed said...

Is that why some require .40 S&W, .45 GAP or .45 ACP?

Dakota said...

Although I can see extra protection .... it will come at a price, lack of peripheral vision is a big deal in a combat environment. Like it or not we see better and are more aware unencumbered with gadgetry. What happens to the wearer when a projectile be it bullet or grenade fragment shatters it ..... it is going to destroy the face and eyes. The battlefield will never be a safe place.

Of course it matters very little if rounding up "sheeple" in the grand scheme of things ..... that wqy mommy can't see.

Disciple of Night said...

They look expensive, and therefore, Congress will never grant the funding.

Pat H. said...

Did you know that Federal Cartridge makes a 12 gauge slug round that has a projectile weight of 328 grains, at 1900 fps at the muzzle and maintains over 1800 fps at 25 yards, and has over 2600 ft. lbs. of energy at the muzzle?

The projectile is by Barnes.

Anonymous said...

who carries a 9mm any more?

Chuck said...

The Battle of Agincourt springs to mind. Heavily armored, slow moving troops against Bodkin points and quick men on foot.

Being blinded by blood splatter and unable to sense someone stalking me because my ears are covered in some faulty whizbang headgear sounds like a new kind of Hell to me. All this hardware offers little defense against a a desperate man in a loincloth armed with a machete or dagger and willing to use it.

How does the helmet work when it's on fire?

Chuck
III

Chase said...

The Crye Precision AirFrame helmet with cheekpiece attachments probably won't stop 9mm, but it'd do wonders against shrapnel, and it won't prevent breathing, talking, and peripheral vision.

http://www.militarymorons.com/gear/crye5.html#airframe

Anonymous said...

Recently saw a utube video on "Cut Shotgun Shells" where all the shot stays together until it hits the target, causing the shot to then fly apart. It is equivalent to an exploding slug.

Anonymous said...

A video of CUT SHELLS can be seen at http://www.2ndamendmenttv.com/videos/shotguns/lost-arts-pt-1.htm

Anonymous said...

"Up to, and including 9mm." I've taken a 9mm +p to a IIIA vest, and it wasn't a pleasant experience. I can only imagine taking one to a face-shield. Can you say 'whiplash'?

31B

Bill St. Clair said...

Somehow I doubt it will help much against my 12-pellet 00 buck rounds, or the 1-ounce slugs I alternate them with.

Anonymous said...

Pelvis and femoral artery shots, people.

Anonymous said...

Your all retarded the face sheild is for riot gear that is all. No soldier would wear this in a war zone.maby you should know the aplication before you run your hillbilly mouths