Tyler, TX Shooter Body Armor Specs?

[Langenator]

Has any info been released on exactly what Mr Arroyo was wearing? I've seen several reports that stated he was wearing "body armor and a flak vest."

Flak vest to me means either the old Vietnam era type or the newer kevlar ones like I wore in Macedonia and Albania back in the 90s.

Body armor can mean lots of things, from the soft type the cops wear under thier uniforms to the IBA that our troops wear in Iraq, complete with ceramic plates that will stop an AK round cold.

 

[armoredman]

Don't know, but Trident Militaria still lists thier Russian Bullet resistant combat vests for $600. Wonder what they'll stop, 1/4" titanium encased in kevlar.

 

[Dorian]

Also, it could have been the same thing.

Most of the people I know here in the military interchange Flak Vest and Body armor all the time. A lot of people don't know the difference.

 

[Langenator]

Since some of the stories specifically stated flak vest AND body armor, that's why I think he had two different items.

Like maybe an army surplus flak vest with cop-type soft body armor underneath.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

Just to clarify things, a flak vest is a type of body armor. A ballistic or misnamed 'bullet proof' vest is similar, but designed to stop various ballistic insults and/or shrapnel as opposed to flak vests that are only for stopping shrapnel.

On top of that, stab vests are another type of body armor designed to stop stabbing (knife, ice pick, etc.) insults.

To clarify things on the Tyler incident, Arroyo was wearing both a flak vest and a ballistic vest, but I don't know the specs for either.

 

[Langenator]

The terms are used a bit differently in the Army, where they specify two different items.

Flak vest refers, in Army lingo (as opposed to official nomenclature) a fragmentation vest.

Body armor refers to either the current issue Interceptor Body Armor (IBA) or the older Ranger Body Armor (RBA), both of which have ceramic plate inserts to stop AK rounds. (I've heard that IBA with inserts will stop 7.62 NATO, but I take that with a large grain of salt.)

 

[Joejojoba111]

You could assume that the body armor is probably level II, and the flak vest is probably a PASGT kevlar vest, roughly level IIA. The body armor could be IIIa, but that's not as likely - or else he wouldn't need an extra flak vest.

Flak vest could also mean any vest made of ballistic nylon since the Korean war, most made for Vietnam. They're green, and look like a puffy jacket, without sleeves. They are level IIa at best.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

I don't think we can assume that either piece of armor is of any particular rating. He could have had on a IIIA vest with a flak vest over it, but not necessarily out of need for stopping incoming rounds, but for help in dissipating the energy transfer. While a flak vest may not stop most ballistic rounds (including pistol calibers), it will slow them down, absorbing some energy in the process, thereby lessening the punch Arroyo felt.

On top of this, you can have soft body armor that will stop rifle rounds such as from a 5.56 or 7.62x39. Kevlar will do it, but it takes a LOT of extra layers, so many that the wearer has lessened movement ability due to excessive weight and bulk, and then overheating from wearing the armor. While pistol rated vests might have 15-30 layers of kevlar or similar ballistic protection, it might take several times that amount to stop riflerounds.

Simply put, the more layers you have, the greater the chances of stopping incoming rounds. Just how much Arroyo knew about body armor isn't really known at this point. He may have had a lower ranked ballistic vest and felt the need to beef it up with the flak vest or maybe not.

You could assume that the body armor is probably level II, and the flak vest is probably a PASGT kevlar vest, roughly level IIA. The body armor could be IIIa, but that's not as likely - or else he wouldn't need an extra flak vest.

 

[Joejojoba111]

Well yes, it is pointless to try and protect against fmj rounds with soft armor, you can wear double IIIa vests and a rifle bullet will penetrate every layer and you in between.

On the other hand, take a several layers of kevlar in an appropriate resin matrix, and you have the PASGT helmet!