New human body armour saves soldier's lifestyle in Afghanistan

A soldier has defended the army's new system armour following he credited it with saving his life when he was shot on patrol in Helmand. auto bbc

Ranger Ryan Boyd from The Royal Irish regiment was shot inside the facet, nevertheless the bullet went into the steel plates in his armour as opposed to his system.

The Osprey armour has been criticised for currently being too restrictive to move freely as well as the plates currently being too heavy.

But 27-year-old Boyd from Northern Ireland thinks the criticism is unfair.

"It's an wonderful bit of kit," he said. "People give it poor press but I assume it's excellent.

"If I hadn't received the brand new system armour as well as the facet plates fitted, the circular would have surely passed straight by way of my lungs and my coronary heart and i possibly wouldn't be right here now."

The Osprey Assault system armour has the many stopping energy of prior kit nevertheless the Ministry of Defence (MoD) says it's much more tailored for troops in areas like Afghanistan.

They say it's nearer fitting, less cumbersome and easier to move in despite the criticism.

Even though the newest armour weighs the similar as older devices, it's a third of your thickness and spreads the load in between the shoulders as well as the waist.

You can find also new pockets inside the sides which enable soldiers to put in smaller armoured plates roughly the size of a notepad, one among which saved Ranger Ryan Boyd's life.
On patrol

Boyd was on a routine patrol inside the Nad-e Ali area when he came underneath fire by insurgents.

He said: "When I used to be shot it hit me inside the facet, it spun me right circular and i ended up inside the ditch on my again like a turtle."

He describes getting shot as similar to "getting punched inside the ribs 20 occasions in one go".

When he acquired up he felt something operating down his chest, but it wasn't blood.

The bullet received gone by way of his water bottle ahead of hitting his armour.

He says he did not realise how close a shave he received received right up until he acquired again from patrol.

"Once I acquired again into camp I used to be pretty shook up, it kicked in what took place.

"When it took place I used to be laughing about it inside the ditch but then it kicked in and i started to feel the concern of it.

"But I am again out on patrol. I am all right."