Body armor
M3 Personal Armor
Due to the devastating firepower, which is now deployed on the battlefield, personal protection for the Marine rifleman is essential. The major threats come not only from small arms fire, but also artillery blast and fragmentation. Marine Personal armour is designed to provide a balance between protection and weight, where it will not provide the protection of powered armour; it does require far less training and support. The M3 pattern personal armour consists of a sandwich of materials moulded to form a ridged shell. The outer layer of the sandwich is an ultra light duranium alloy, to provide structural strength and ablative protection against energy weapons. Beneath this is a core consisting of a layer of boron carbide resin bonded to a layer of carbon fibre, the boron carbide layer is designed to shatter a ballistic round on impact reducing the energy of the impact. Beneath this, the carbon fibre layer provides protection at the point of penetration by delaminating across a large area therefore absorbing more energy. Finally, on the inside of the armour is a woven liner designed to dissipate the remainder of the energy by deforming in the area of the impact, and is able to catch any spalling or fragmentation from the first three layers.
In practice, the protection provided by the armour is somewhat limited versus direct hits, particularly from high-velocity rounds and HEAP small arm rounds. However it is quite effective at dispersing direct energy based attacks, though protection degrades quite rapidly usually only providing for protection for between 2 and 3 direct phaser or disruptor strikes. Some stealth characteristics are also included, such as curved surfaces to reduce radar signature and infrared masking.
The M3 armour comes in several pieces. The main components is a rigid vest, with protects the thoracic-abdominal region, front and back, between the groin and neck This comprises a two-piece clamshell secured at the sides. There are a number of straps around the waist area of the armour. They are spaced 15 cm apart to allow the fitting of PLCE modules although there are only connection pins around the waist to allow standard Belt Kit to be attached to the Marine. Inside the clamshell are remote biomonitors, which measure the wearer’s lifesigns and an IFF transmitter these are connected to a PCR156 transmitter in the top right shoulder of the clamshell. Also included is a personal transport inhibitor designed to prevent enemies using transporters against marine units.
Below the armour vest is a separate section, which covers the front abdomen and groin. This is a flexible pad of ballistic armour secured by a ‘diaper’ harness. A rigid armour plate is fixed to the lowest part of the pad to protect the genitals.
Leg armour consists of a pair of clamshell greaves, which cover the whole of the lower leg from ankle to knee. The knee segments are articulated on webbing straps and are tied around the leg.
M3a Personal Armor Vest
There are times when it is not possible for a person to wear the full M3 personal armour; usually due to operational inhibitions. In these cases the more lightweight and flexible M3a Personal Armor Vest is issued. Essentially it is the same vest used in the M3 personal armour but with the sleeves removed designed to protect the major organs of most humanoid species.
The M3a vest is most often used by both Starfleet and Marine Pilots; stored in their fighter craft in case they are shot down in a hostile area. However, the M3a vest has found its place in hostage rescue operations to protect saved hostages as they are escorted out of the area. Starfleet Security has also found a use for these vests when entering particularly dangerous situations.
M16 Ballistic Helmet
Head protection is provided by the M16 ballistic helmet. Designed much like the M3 personal armour, the M16 helmet consists of two layers; an ultra light duranium alloy and a boron carbide resin bonded to a layer of carbon fibre. However, these layers are much thicker so as to offer more protection to the very vunerable brain.
The M16 helmet can also incorporate a tactical camera, boom microphone, and targeting sensors equivalent to a tricorder. Information is passed to a marine by a Integrated Helmet And Display Sight System (IHADSS), which flips down over the right eye superimposing the data as a Heads up display.
M4/M4A2 Boots
Of the boots issued to marines in the field, two main types are available, the standard M4 boot, which has a leather upper; and the M4A2 thermal lined artic boot. Both of these boots have synthetic soles incorporating several layers of armour to provide protection against spikes such as caltrops or panji sticks; there is also evidence to suggest that this armour has saved the feet of some land-mine victims from serious mutilation.