Flak jacket

Flak jacket

A flak jacket or flak vest is a form of protective clothing designed to provide protection from shrapnel and other indirect low velocity projectiles. Today it frequently refers to bulletproof vests, particularly Type III and above which have added steel, titanium, ceramic or polyethylene plates which can withstand high-powered rounds such as those from rifles.

RAF Flak Jacket

The first usage of the term refers to the armour originally developed by the Wilkinson Sword company during World War II to help protect Royal Air Force (RAF) air personnel from the flying debris and shrapnel thrown by German anti-aircraft guns' high-explosive shells (flak itself is an abbrevation for the German word for "anti-aircraft gun" ("Fliegerabwehrkanone")). The jacket consisted of manganese plates sewn into a waistcoat made of ballistic nylon (a material engineered by the DuPont company); therefore, flak jackets functioned as an evolved form of plate armour.

Unfortunately, flak jackets proved to be too bulky for wear within the confines of the RAF's standard bomber aircraft, the Avro Lancaster. The Royal Air Force subsequently offered the jackets to the United States Army Air Forces, which adopted them as a Defense Standard. Ultimately, however, the jackets proved to be less effective than hoped, and are now generally considered to be inferior to body armor.

Other

During World War II, flak jackets and steel helmets were worn by US Navy personnel on aircraft carriers during battle, since the ships and especially their flight decks offered little protection for their crew. Known as "flash gear", this was supposed to protect against shrapnel and heat.

External links

* [http://www.rt66.com/~korteng/SmallArms/flak.htm Users of flak jackets]


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • flak jacket — flak jackets N COUNT A flak jacket is a thick sleeveless jacket that soldiers and policemen sometimes wear to protect themselves against bullets …   English dictionary

  • flak jacket — flak ,jacket noun count a heavy jacket with a metal layer inside that soldiers and police officers wear for protection against bullets …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • flak jacket — ► NOUN ▪ a sleeveless jacket made of heavy fabric reinforced with metal, worn as protection against bullets and shrapnel …   English terms dictionary

  • flak jacket — n. a vestlike, bulletproof jacket worn as by soldiers …   English World dictionary

  • flak jacket — flak .jacket n a special coat made of strong, heavy material to protect soldiers and policemen from bullets …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • flak jacket — 1. U.S. Air Force. an armored garment made of steel plates covered by a padded fabric, designed to protect vital parts of the body from shrapnel. 2. a protective vest, esp. one that is bulletproof. Also called flak vest. [1955 60] * * * noun, pl… …   Useful english dictionary

  • flak jacket — UK / US noun [countable] Word forms flak jacket : singular flak jacket plural flak jackets a heavy jacket with a metal layer inside that soldiers and police officers wear for protection against bullets …   English dictionary

  • flak jacket — flak′ jack et n. clo a protective vest. Also called flak′ vest …   From formal English to slang

  • flak jacket — noun Date: 1950 a jacket containing metal plates for protection against flak; broadly a bulletproof vest called also flak vest …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • flak jacket — /ˈflæk dʒækət/ (say flak jakuht) noun 1. a sleeveless jacket with reinforcement designed to protect the wearer against gunfire, worn by police officers, soldiers, etc. 2. a fashion garment of similar appearance …  

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