Ranger Body Armor
Encyclopedia
Ranger Body Armor is a U.S. Military issue ballistic vest that was designed for, and used chiefly by, military personnel of the U.S. Army's 75th Ranger Regiment, beginning in the early 1990s, and possibly into the early 2000s. The 'RBA' system has since been replaced by other specialized body armor systems adopted by the United States Special Operations Command
.
The RBA was first manufactured by Protective Materials Company, then HS Manufacturing, and Ceradyne. At least two major versions of the RBA were produced, with the first variant using only a front rigid ballistic armor plate, and an unmodified nylon fabric carrier. The second variant used both a front and back ballistic armor plate, and featured a small storage pocket added to the front plate storage pocket, and a nylon equipment retention strap on each shoulder.
Early versions of the RBA first saw active frontline service in 1993, being used in combat in 'Operation Gothic Serpent', when U.S. Army Rangers of 'Task Force Ranger' first arrived into Mogadishu, Somalia. (These RBA were mainly the first variant vests, which featured only the front ballistic armor plate, and no back armor plates.)
When using the two standard aluminium oxide
plates
, a Ranger Body Armor vest weighs 11.4 kg (25.1 pounds). As the early RBA used only a front ballistic plate, it offered only frontal protection from small arms (rifle) fire. This limited protection resulted in serious injury and/or death for some Rangers in Somalia, such as Sergeant James Joyce, who was killed due to receiving a gunshot wound to his back.
Ranger Body Armor (RBA) was designed by the United States Army Soldier Systems Center in Natick, Massachusetts
to meet the operational needs of the 75th Ranger Regiment.
RBA consists of two main components: flexible soft armor vest panels, and one or two rigid ceramic plates, both of which provide some ballistic protection to the upper torso.
The flexible soft armor vest panels consists of an aramid
(Kevlar
KM2) filler encased in a nylon
M81 Woodland
camouflage-printed carrier. The vest weighs approximately 8 pounds in size medium, and provides front and back torso NIJ
Level IIIA protection, able to stop 9x19mm Parabellum and .44 Magnum
rounds. It also provides fragmentation protection similar to that of the Personnel Armor System for Ground Troops
(PASGT) vest. The flexible soft armor vest is available in three sizes: medium, large, and extra-large.
The 8 pound Ceramic Upgrade Plates are fabricated of 2" x 2" aluminium oxide
ceramic tiles. When the upgrade plates are inserted into the pockets of the vest, it protects an approximate 10" x 12" area from 5.56x45mm NATO
and 7.62x51mm NATO full metal jacket bullet
s.
United States Special Operations Command
The United States Special Operations Command is the Unified Combatant Command charged with overseeing the various Special Operations Commands of the Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps of the United States Armed Forces. The command is part of the Department of Defense...
.
The RBA was first manufactured by Protective Materials Company, then HS Manufacturing, and Ceradyne. At least two major versions of the RBA were produced, with the first variant using only a front rigid ballistic armor plate, and an unmodified nylon fabric carrier. The second variant used both a front and back ballistic armor plate, and featured a small storage pocket added to the front plate storage pocket, and a nylon equipment retention strap on each shoulder.
Early versions of the RBA first saw active frontline service in 1993, being used in combat in 'Operation Gothic Serpent', when U.S. Army Rangers of 'Task Force Ranger' first arrived into Mogadishu, Somalia. (These RBA were mainly the first variant vests, which featured only the front ballistic armor plate, and no back armor plates.)
When using the two standard aluminium oxide
Aluminium oxide
Aluminium oxide is an amphoteric oxide with the chemical formula 23. It is commonly referred to as alumina, or corundum in its crystalline form, as well as many other names, reflecting its widespread occurrence in nature and industry...
plates
Ceramic plate
Ceramic plates are commonly used as inserts in soft ballistic vests. Most ceramic plates used in body armor provide National Institute of Justice Type III protection, allowing them to stop rifle bullets. Ceramic plates are a form of composite armor...
, a Ranger Body Armor vest weighs 11.4 kg (25.1 pounds). As the early RBA used only a front ballistic plate, it offered only frontal protection from small arms (rifle) fire. This limited protection resulted in serious injury and/or death for some Rangers in Somalia, such as Sergeant James Joyce, who was killed due to receiving a gunshot wound to his back.
Ranger Body Armor (RBA) was designed by the United States Army Soldier Systems Center in Natick, Massachusetts
Natick, Massachusetts
Natick is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. Natick is located near the center of the MetroWest region of Massachusetts, with a population of 33,006 at the 2010 census. Only west from Boston, Natick is considered part of the Greater Boston area...
to meet the operational needs of the 75th Ranger Regiment.
RBA consists of two main components: flexible soft armor vest panels, and one or two rigid ceramic plates, both of which provide some ballistic protection to the upper torso.
The flexible soft armor vest panels consists of an aramid
Aramid
Aramid fibers are a class of heat-resistant and strong synthetic fibers. They are used in aerospace and military applications, for ballistic rated body armor fabric and ballistic composites, in bicycle tires, and as an asbestos substitute. The name is a portmanteau of "aromatic polyamide"...
(Kevlar
Kevlar
Kevlar is the registered trademark for a para-aramid synthetic fiber, related to other aramids such as Nomex and Technora. Developed at DuPont in 1965, this high strength material was first commercially used in the early 1970s as a replacement for steel in racing tires...
KM2) filler encased in a nylon
Nylon
Nylon is a generic designation for a family of synthetic polymers known generically as polyamides, first produced on February 28, 1935, by Wallace Carothers at DuPont's research facility at the DuPont Experimental Station...
M81 Woodland
M81 Woodland
Woodland pattern is the name of the default camouflage pattern issued to United States soldiers, Marines, airmen, and sailors from 1981, with the issue of the M81 Battle Dress Uniform until nearly the present day...
camouflage-printed carrier. The vest weighs approximately 8 pounds in size medium, and provides front and back torso NIJ
National Institute of Justice
The National Institute of Justice is the research, development and evaluation agency of the United States Department of Justice. NIJ, along with the Bureau of Justice Statistics , Bureau of Justice Assistance , Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention , Office for Victims of Crime ,...
Level IIIA protection, able to stop 9x19mm Parabellum and .44 Magnum
.44 Magnum
The .44 Remington Magnum, or simply .44 Magnum, is a large-bore cartridge originally designed for revolvers. After introduction, it was quickly adopted for carbines and rifles...
rounds. It also provides fragmentation protection similar to that of the Personnel Armor System for Ground Troops
Personnel Armor System for Ground Troops
Personnel Armor System for Ground Troops, sometimes abbreviated to PASGT, was a combat helmet and ballistic vest used by the American military from the mid 1980s until 2005, when the system was succeeded by the Lightweight Helmet, Modular Integrated Communications Helmet, and Interceptor body...
(PASGT) vest. The flexible soft armor vest is available in three sizes: medium, large, and extra-large.
The 8 pound Ceramic Upgrade Plates are fabricated of 2" x 2" aluminium oxide
Aluminium oxide
Aluminium oxide is an amphoteric oxide with the chemical formula 23. It is commonly referred to as alumina, or corundum in its crystalline form, as well as many other names, reflecting its widespread occurrence in nature and industry...
ceramic tiles. When the upgrade plates are inserted into the pockets of the vest, it protects an approximate 10" x 12" area from 5.56x45mm NATO
5.56x45mm NATO
5.56×45mm NATO is a rifle cartridge developed in the United States and originally chambered in the M16 rifle. Under STANAG 4172, it is a standard cartridge for NATO forces as well as many non-NATO countries. It is derived from, but not identical to, the .223 Remington cartridge...
and 7.62x51mm NATO full metal jacket bullet
Full metal jacket bullet
A full metal jacket is a bullet consisting of a soft core encased in a shell of harder metal, such as gilding metal, cupronickel or less commonly a steel alloy. This shell can extend around all of the bullet, or often just the front and sides with the rear left as exposed lead...
s.