Newsgroups: alt.war
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1992 12:38:41 -0500 
From: James William Stepanek <js43+@andrew.cmu.edu>
Subject: Armor Design

Well since I started this thread, I may as well keep at it. Oh , sorry I
think my roomate threw out the Discover issue in a cleaning frenzy, I am
still looking for it though.

>	Perhaps personnel interacting on this net can contribute to an actual
>conceptual armor design.
> 
>	Here are some design questions:
> 
>	1.  What function should the armor serve and how can this be achieved?
>		(i.e.   anti-ballistic only using ceramic plates,
>                        heavy weapons carrier using power assist, etc)
>		
>	2.  What type of projectiles should the armor be capable of defeating?
>		(i.e.   7.62 NATO AP, .50 cal BMG FMJ, etc) 
> 
>	3.  What type of power source should the armor use (if any)?
>		(i.e.   lithium batteries, 2 HP gas engine)
> 
>	4.  Should the armor be built for enhanced speed, power, protection?
> 
>	5.  What material can be used for the armor protection?
>		(i.e.   be careful, no unpowered armor with steel plates)
> 
>	6.  What type of armaments should equip the armor?
> 
>	7.  Should the armaments be integral with the armor or independent?
> 
> 
>	And don't forget the WHY to any of these questions.  It's great to have
>some MEGA-armed suit, but without a REALISTIC purpose it's nothing more than
>a collectors item.
> 
>Christopher Frame
>General Armaments 

I think this is a good seires of questions to answer.
1. There should be a certain amount of strength assist to enable
movement of heavier weapons, sensor pakages , and adequate armor
protection. I would reccomend spectra-2000 over ultra-high strength
steels. I know ceramics can be really hard, but their toughness sucks (
I am a materials scientist and when a high toughness ceramic is
mentioned , they have the toughness of the absolute worst of steels).
This is a problem such that the armor will stop the first hit, but
cracks will be there which will basically make the armor worthless on a
second hit. I believe I have read some about variable pressure
hydralics, which might enable the strength assist. Possible
piezo-electric materials could be used ( I don't know much about them,
but electricity to motion directly could be useful.)
2. The armor should stop shell fragments( definitely) and small arms
fire to a certain extent( no I really don't expect proof against 50-cal
AP or direct RPG hits, but a near miss from a grenade shouldn't be a
problem.) I would expect protection against at least a few direct hits
from an AK or some such. 
3. I think a dual set of power-plants would be optimal, such as in a
diesal sub , such that an engine could be used when stealth is not an
issue for rapid movement and to charge up batteries. Battery type, I
will leave up to those better associated with such technology.
4.The armor should enhance mobility, strength, senses, and possibly have
an improved reaction response for avoiding things that the user is
incapable of recting to. This las bit of course is a bit impossible
considering the level of processor ability to provide threat assesment
and analysis faster than a man could react.
5. (actually I allready said this in 1, but let's try it again) I would
use a layered approach to the armor, with spectra-2000 layered over
ultra-high strength steel. This would probably provide the maximum
strength/toughness to weight ability. I think toughness should be a
major criteria because if this amor becomes useless afterbeing hit once
it will not be usefull for the SAS, SEAL, SF missions which I think it
is optimized for.
6&7.As for armaments, I personally would go with a few integral
armaments, and then other optional system capable of being integrated
into the sesor package. I would reccomend some form of rapid fire cannon
or grenade launcher, a machine gun which longe range capabilities for
sniping, and maybe a flame-thrower. The flame-thrower may be a
logisitcal problem though, but would be quite effective in causing
confusion/mayhem behind lines and also psychological effects. Other
misson specifics armaments should be available.

Well that's  my two bits.
James Stepanek
esp


Newsgroups: alt.war.vietnam