Ranger Body Armor

Front and rear view of the Ranger Body Armor (RBA) made by Protective Materials, Inc. in October 2003

Type| Bullet-resistant armor
Place of origin| United States
Service history
Used by| US Army
Production history
Designer| Natick Research, Development and Engineering Center
Specifications
Weight| Size medium:[1]

* 8 lb (3.6 kg) for vest only
* 16 lb (7.3 kg) for vest w/ 1 plate
* 24 lb (11 kg) for vest w/ 2 plates

Both the front and rear Small Arms Protective Insert (SAPI) plates of Ranger Body Armor, which offer protection against Caliber .30, Ball The label of Ranger Body Armor PS-930 – dated October 2003 (printed as 10/03, or mm/yy)

Ranger Body Armor (RBA) is a US military-issue ballistic vest that was designed for, and used chiefly by, US Army 75th Ranger Regiment operators ("Rangers") in the 1990s and 2000s. The RBA system has since been replaced by other specialized body armor systems adopted by the US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM).

Ranger Body Armor was designed by the US Army Natick Research, Development and Engineering Center (NRDEC) in Natick, Massachusetts to meet the operational needs of the 75th Ranger Regiment.[2] RBA was first manufactured by Protective Materials, Inc., then HS Manufacturing, and later by Ceradyne.

## Contents

* 1 Components
* 1.1 Soft armor vest
* 1.2 Ceramic plates
* 2 Fielding
* 3 Operational history
* 4 Users
* 5 See also
* 6 References
* 7 External links

## Components

RBA consists of two main components: a flexible soft armor vest, plus 1-to-2 rigid ceramic plates, both of which provide ballistic protection to the upper torso.[2]

### Soft armor vest

The base vest is a nylon Woodland camouflage-printed carrier that encases flexible soft armor panels, which consist of an aramid (Kevlar KM2) filler.[2][3] A size medium RBA without plates weighs approximately 8 pounds (3.6 kg).[4] The base vest (soft armor) provides ballistic protection to Threat Level IIIA,[4] according to the NIJ's ballistic resistance standards (formerly 'ballistic resistance of police body armor' standards), which provides protection from 9 mm and 44 Magnum threats.[2][3]

The base RBA vest provides fragmentation protection almost 25% greater than that of the Personnel Armor System for Ground Troops (PASGT) vest.[2][3]

### Ceramic plates

To be completed, an RBA vest will accept one-to-two ceramic plates (depending on model), each weighing 8 pounds (3.6 kg),[4] which make up its rifle protection capability. The ceramic plates are made up of repeating 2 in × 2 in (51 mm × 51 mm) aluminum oxide ceramic tiles.[2]

A size medium RBA vest loaded with one ceramic plate weighs 16 pounds (7.3 kg).[2] A size medium RBA vest fully loaded with both ceramic plates weighs 24 pounds (11 kg). [4] When plates are inserted into the pockets of the vest, it protects an area of about 10 in × 12 in (250 mm × 300 mm) from 5.56×45mm NATO and 7.62×51mm NATO rounds.[2][4]

## Fielding

In November 1994, the RBA was set to type classification (TC) limited procurement-urgent (LPU).[2] The RBA vest was available for purchase through the General Services Administration (GSA) contract GS-07F-6041A, from Protective Materials, Inc.[2] The flexible soft armor vest was available in three sizes: medium, large, and extra-large.[2] The negotiated cost through the GSA contract for a size medium vest with a single plate in the mid-1990s was US$738.[4]

## Operational history

Early versions of RBA (the first variant, which featured only a front plate and not a rear plate) first saw active frontline service in 1993, being used in combat in Operation Gothic Serpent (from 22 August 1993 to 13 October 1993), when Rangers of Task Force Ranger first arrived in Mogadishu, Somalia. There, it was used by the Rangers of B Company and Command and Control, 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment. The early RBA used only a front ballistic plate for protection from small arms (rifle) fire; this did not protect some of the Rangers in Somalia from serious injury or death, such as Sergeant James Joyce, who was killed by a gunshot wound to his back.[5]

During the 1990s, Rangers used RBA in the Balkans and in Haiti. In 1996, about 350 vests were sent to soldiers deployed in the former Yugoslavia.[2]

## Users

* Estonia[6]
* United States

## See also

* PASGT vest
* Interceptor Body Armor

## References

1. ↑ "Ranger Body Armor Sent to Bosnia | The Warrior magazine". SSCOM Public Affairs Office. December 1995. http://www-sscom.army.mil/warrior/95/dec/armor.htm. "RBA is a two part system; a flexible vest and a rigid plate. The flexible vest consists of an Arimid (Kevlar KM2) filler encased in a nylon woodland camouflage printed carrier. The RBA vest weighs approximately 8 pounds (size Medium). (___enter___); The heart of RBA is the 8 pound ceramic upgrade plate. With the ceramic plate inserted in the vest, the system weighs sixteen pounds. (___enter___); [The RBA is] Available in three sizes; medium, large and extra large (...)"
2. ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 "Ranger Body Armor Sent to Bosnia | The Warrior magazine". SSCOM Public Affairs Office. December 1995. http://www-sscom.army.mil/warrior/95/dec/armor.htm. "Along with the 20,000 U.S. Peace-keepers being sent to the former Yugoslavia are 350 sets of Ranger Body Armor (RBA). RBA was designed by SSCOM's Natick Research, Development and Engineering Center (NRDEC) to meet the operational needs of the 75th Ranger Regiment. Initially used during missions in Somalia, RBA is credited with saving lives and reducing injuries to Rangers under fire. (___enter___); RBA is a two part system; a flexible vest and a rigid plate. The flexible vest consists of an Arimid (Kevlar KM2) filler encased in a nylon woodland camouflage printed carrier. The vest protects the front and back torso from most 9mm and 44 magnum threats, as well as fragmentation protection similar to that of the Personnel Armor System for Ground Troops (PASGT) vest. The RBA vest weighs approximately 8 pounds (size Medium). (___enter___); The heart of RBA is the 8 pound ceramic upgrade plate. With the plate inserted into the front pocket of the vest, it protects the approximate 10" X 12" area of vital organs in the front torso from both 5.56 mm and 7.62 mm ball projectiles. The plate is made of 2" X 2" aluminum oxide ceramic tiles. The vest and plate meet the National Institute of Justice Standards, Ballistic Resistance of Police Body Armor. With the ceramic plate inserted in the vest, the system weighs sixteen pounds. (___enter___); RBA was Type Classified Limited Procurement Urgent in November 1994. Available in three sizes; medium, large and extra large, it is available for purchase through General Services Administration (GSA) contract GS-07F-6041A, Protective Materials, Inc."
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Life Protection | Military | Ranger Vest". http://www.dupont.com/kevlar/lifeprotection/military.html.
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 "Ranger Body Armor | SSCOM Products & Programs". 1 August 1997. http://www-sscom.army.mil/prodprog/survive/rba.htm. "Ranger Body Armor (___enter___); Overview: (enter); Ranger Body Armor (RBA) was designed by the U.S. Army Natick RD&E Center to meet the operational needs of the 75th Ranger Regiment. (___enter___); RBA consists of a two part system: a flexible vest and a rigid plate, both of which provide ballistic protection to the upper torso. (___enter___); Description: (enter); The Flexible Vest consists of an Aramid (Kevlar KM2) filler encased in a nylon woodland camouflage-printed carrier. The vest weighs approximately 8 pounds in size medium, and protects the front and back torso from most 9 mm and 44 magnum threats, in accordance with Level IIIA of the National Institute of Justice Standard 0101.03, Ballistic Resistance of Police Body Armor. It also provides fragmentation protection similar to that of the Personal Armor System for Ground Troops (PASGT) Vest. The vest is available in three sizes: medium, large, and extra-large. (___enter___); The 8 pound Ceramic Upgrade Plate, which provides front torso coverage, is fabricated of 2" x 2" aluminum oxide ceramic tiles. When the upgrade plate is inserted into the front pocket of the vest, it protects an approximate 10" x 12" area from 5.56 mm and 7.62 mm ball projectiles. (___enter___); Fielding: (enter); RBA was Type Classified Limited Procurement Urgent, and is available for purchase through GSA contract GS-07F-6041A, Protective Materials, Inc. The negotiated cost through the GSA contract for a size medium vest and plate is $738."
5. ↑ Bowden, Mark (1997-11-27). "Left, right, left - lost and bloody". Blackhawk Down. Philadelphia Newspapers Inc. http://inquirer.philly.com/packages/somalia/nov27/default27.asp. Retrieved 2008-11-12. "[Joyce] had been hit through the vest in the upper back where the Rangers' new flak vests had no protective plate. The round (...) lodged in the front of the vest, which did have an armored plate."
6. ↑ [0=68.ARC5MteJ8zP7E9Q51l7bJpUKGS3SReNV8olz214U0hajH8AhJcPwv1N4I1p00GsnjLlPd_wlxP0jFKeTIFU2E7AGIvQ1msV5VWSHC0cXpS58x-HwYcBUHttqWFwQ-s8_fri9vguaHm4ncyndV5gK1FqrXM6graoPg5pSWP6ArlXqHWalcb-BBouvPjobKeyIjBHDLawVhPaUzl76KwnZXjjnyc5C0WqG9gm2CBMhB0y9cIHbMWo4FxD1ImtNhb2v1ZAIU_4_bcTqCiv5L592A08UjMOH_C9HJCzmeSZt1_Ts6Uo0HFov_I0IfQgSmQ2Fy0HPhxYTfLQEqSteiwRfgA9v-LvKI0cF6WJGGPWclvp6pRrHNepxtg&__tn__=-R "S21K"] (in en). https://www.facebook.com/S21K.Co/posts/588863168377230?__xts__[0]=68.ARC5MteJ8zP7E9Q51l7bJpUKGS3SReNV8olz214U0hajH8AhJcPwv1N4I1p00GsnjLlPd_wlxP0jFKeTIFU2E7AGIvQ1msV5VWSHC0cXpS58x-HwYcBUHttqWFwQ-s8_fri9vguaHm4ncyndV5gK1FqrXM6graoPg5pSWP6ArlXqHWalcb-BBouvPjobKeyIjBHDLawVhPaUzl76KwnZXjjnyc5C0WqG9gm2CBMhB0y9cIHbMWo4FxD1ImtNhb2v1ZAIU_4_bcTqCiv5L592A08UjMOH_C9HJCzmeSZt1_Ts6Uo0HFov_I0IfQgSmQ2Fy0HPhxYTfLQEqSteiwRfgA9v-LvKI0cF6WJGGPWclvp6pRrHNepxtg&__tn__=-R. Retrieved 14 March 2020.

## External links

* Ranger Body Armor Sent to Bosnia | The Warrior magazine – www-sscom.army.mil (1995)
* Ranger Body Armor | SSCOM Products & Programs – www-sscom.army.mil (1997)

* v
* t
* e

Armour types

* Body armor
* Vehicle armour

Historical armour types|

* Linothorax
* Gambeson
* Buff coat
* Lorica segmentata
* Manica
* Lorica hamata
* Lorica plumata
* Lorica squamata
* Lamellar armour
* Laminar armour
* Scale armour
* Chain mail
* Hauberk
* Transitional armour
* Mail and plate armour
* Coat of plates
* Brigandine
* Jack of plate
* Splint armour
* Mirror armour
* Klivanion
* Breastplate
* Cuirass
* Muscle cuirass
* Plate armour
* Munition armour
* Greenwich armour
* Almain rivet
* Kasten-brust armour
* White armour
* Gothic plate armour
* Maximilian armour
* Lame (armor)
* Karuta (Japanese armour)
* Kikko (Japanese armour)
* Kusari (Japanese mail armour)
* Ō-yoroi
* Dō-maru
* Karuta
* Haramaki
* Tatami
* Boiled leather (cuir bouilli)
* Ring armour

Modern armour types|

| Trauma plate|

* Ceramic plate
* Doron Plate
* Steel plate

|

Ballistic fabrics|

* Gold Flex
* Aramid
* Kevlar
* Kevlar KM2
* Twaron
* UHMWPE/HPPE
* Spectra Shield
* Ballistic nylon

Fictional armour types|

* Banded mail

* Portal
* Category:Armour

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