Bulletproof Vest

From the beginning of the Second World War, the United States developed armor for infantry, but most models were too heavy and too constrained movements. Moreover, these armors were incompatible with existing equipment. The company Wilkinson Sword developed along a jacket proof of Shrapnel Flak (Flugzeug Hasbwehr Kcustard apple) German pilots for the RAF (Royal Air Force). This bulletproof vest, made of manganese plates inserted in a ballistic nylon jacket developed by the firm Dupont, however, could not stop a bullet.

The Japanese army produced a few types of armor to the infantry during the Second World War, but they saw no point. Attempt by the U.S. military resumed in mid-1944 with the production of several types of armor such as T34, T39, M12 and T62E1.

Red Army developed for its models called SN-38 SN-39 SN-40 and SN-42. “Stalynoi Nagrudnik” is the translation of “steel jacket” and the number representing the year of conception. Only the SN-42, made of two steel plates pressed, finally entered production. With a thickness of 2 mm and weighing 3.5 pounds, it was provided to SHISB (Combat Engineer) at Tankodesantniki (infantry soldiers embarking on the tanks in an assault) and some tank brigades. SN Armor protects against bullets of German MP-40, fired more than 100-125 meters, which gave a significant advantage in urban battles (as in Stalingrad). Nevertheless, his weight made it unusable for dismounted infantry and the 7.92×57 mm driven by Mauser Karabiner 98k, And MG42 traversed easily.