I drove a centurion AVRE just after joining up, the Centurion just missed WW2 and saw action in the first Gulf War, it was finally retired in 1993!
The combat body armour consists of a layering system:
Tier 1 silk boxer shorts - Silk is very resistant to puncture, it was worn as body armour back in the days of bows and arrows, it wouldn't stop the wearer from being shot by an arrow but would wrap the arrowhead as it entered the wearer enabling the arrow to be pulled out without inflicting further injury. (No I'm not old enough to confirm this!) I have a few pairs if you want to try them
The problem with explosive blasts (from a mine or IED) is that even with the best first aid, infection from debris entering the body can cause gangrene and other types of infections, even dirt gets forced deep into the limbs and body of the victims.........no one wants to lose their tackle from infection!
Tier 2 is a Kevlar crotch cover known as the combat codpiece! (uncomfortable) this is designed to absorb as much blast & fragmentation as possible.
this eqpt is worn by all troops when outside their patrol base.
There's a pic of me in the museum
