Military Unveils Goofy Suits

American troops have complained that a new armoured
body suit designed to be worn in Iraq makes them look "goofy".

The water-cooled "alien spacesuits" are being handed out to turret
gunners in their notoriously vulnerable Humvee vehicles.The new suit is
designed to protect against roadside bombs but has had mixed reviews from
soldiers

But some troops have complained that the armour and headgear is inelegant.
Others say the water-cooling system, designed for the soaring temperatures
of an Iraqi summer, regularly breaks down.

Nonetheless, the suits being tested in combat by US military police units
in northern Iraq have produced good results.

Gunners on Humvees have high casualty rates. While newly-installed armour
protects those inside, the gunner stands with the upper half of his body
exposed, making him far more vulnerable to roadside bombs and gunfire.
Others have been crushed as vehicles overturn.
But Specialist Michael Floyd, 19, said: "I am not a big fan of this
thing. It is really hot and hard to move around in. I do feel safer, but
only in an explosion. I would not feel safer in a rollover or in small-arms
fire."

Critics say the heavy suits also restrict movement during combat.

from the London Telegraph

The goal of rolling out a Robo-GI, invulnerable
to small arms, climate controlled and auto-sufficient, a sort of one-man
walking tank, is an admirable one, but maybe we should hold off on
the field testing until we get something with a little more mobility
than a full set of medieval armor on the Michelin Man….