Plate carriers?

[45commandorm]

hey all, looking for a low profile plate carrier that will take an osprey plate - front and back obviousley.

any help would be apreciated

[ShakesFIST]

I've never heard of Osprey plates. What are the dimensions?

[45commandorm]

not to sure on dimensions off the top of my head. its the new british armour. the whole thing is just big and bulky, so i want a plate carrier to carry just the plate with out the bulk.

[James]

If those plates will fit in 10"x12" pockets you have many many choices.

[Sabre]

I think the osprey plates will fit in carriers designed for the yanks 10x12 plates.

As far as sources in the UK, I think some lads are using Warrior kit now.

http://www.uktactical.com/acatalog/warrior-assault-systems-vests-and-rigs.html

Can't vouch for it myself, but I've been looking at a plate carrier from them too. To be honest, most blackhawk and other yank kit I've seen here is overpriced and of average quality, so I can't imagine Warrior would be any less good.

Not a ringing endorsement, but it's all I can offer you!

[SARGE!!!!]

If you go to U.K.Tactical, I think the R.I.C.A.S. vest is the one you're after, got one a few weeks ago no problems with it at all.It looks to be a copy of the Yank C.I.R.A.S. vest. Really good quality!

[Shrapp]

I love my R.I.C.A.S. It is the best kit you can buy for the money. I prefer this over my Eagle PC and my Phantom CIRAS replica. has some great details like the lower 3/4 of the inside of each mag pouch is rubberized. you can fold and loop the flap inside like a BH ouch or roll and attach to the velcro on the top. It really is top notch gear.
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h236/Shrapp/IMG_0076.jpg
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h236/Shrapp/IMG_0074.jpghttp://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h236/Shrapp/IMG_0070.jpg

all pouches came with the rig except the hydration pack.

Shrapp

[christopherh]

looking at the picture above i cant see how our osprey plate will fit in there i have 40 sets of osprey in my armoury in camp at the moment ready to issue out for iraq if you need dimensions etc let me know..

[Catch22]

Then just kindly post these dimensions (height&width&thickness). From what Ive seen they are typical SAPI/ESAPI standard shape, L-size plates. The question arises if they are standalone or not, because if latter is the case, a typical plate carrier might be not enough, and it'd to be worn over some soft armor vest, or at least should have additional soft IIIA NIJ inserts underneath the plates.

[Sabre]

Most lads who wear plate carriers wear them over the standard ECBA, without the small ceramic plates. I don't know if the Osprey plates are stand alone, but I wouldn't think it was advisable to wear no kevlar underneath. Depends on what you're doing I suppose, but they're designed to be used in conjunction with each other...for obvious reasons.

Shrapp, do you know if the RICAS accepts the soft kevlar inserts from ECBA or Osprey? It looks a bit bulky and hot if all it does is hold the plates front and back.

Oh, and christopherh, welcome to the forum, but do you think giving away all that info about your job/unit and future ops on the net is wise? Not wanting to summarise for any would-be jihadists, but I already know that you are a 28 year old REME/RAC bloke who works in or on Challies and other armoured vehicles, that you are based in Germany and your unit is off to Iraq soon. Please for your own sake, if not for your muckers', have a think before you type anything too sensitive or identifying. Just look at that plot to nab that lad in Brum, you don't want personal info to be widely available. Just a friendly word! ;)

EDIT: Woops! Gone while I was giving him some advice....oh well....I try...

EDIT #2: Christ, looking at his other posts it sounds like this guy is a full time big-timer. A storeman in a BFG-based armoured unit HQ, eh? Shouldn't be too hard for some blokes here to get on the old grapevine and give him an e-kick-up-the-arse. F***ing walting storeman disclosing deployments, weapon scalings and trying to flog buckshee kit.....that f***s me off, that does.

[Argyll]

RICAS will take BALCS cut soft armour........

Low profile?.......you need ultra thin plates for that, CIRAS/RICAS rigs are not Low Pro.......you need soft armour under such carriers, to bring them up to the required NIJ level.....

If you're a Bootie as your name suggests, what's wrong with the Osprey vest complete, if you're about to be deployed?

[Sabre]

Booties have to look good of course! ;)

I think there was a penchant for plate carriers among the Recce/Patrols lot, perhaps that has filtered down from 'haute ally' to 'highstreet ally'.

I believe the logic is that it allows you to wear just the ECBA soft armour, ECBA with plates, or just plates depending on where you are, likely range of contact, how hot it is, how mobile you are etc etc.

Personally I think the individual chances of being shot at/blown up/RPG'd are usually equal enough in Afghan to warrant wearing the lot, plus your skid lid, but that's just me, maybe I'm the worrying type! :lol:

[Argyll]

Yep........wear everything you get issued!!......The CIRAS/RICAS is a good bit of kit.

[Catch22]

Or jump into one of these babies.
http://www.med-eng.com/products/force/index.html

I'm just about to review some IDAS sets for Afg vehicle gunners - there are some thoughts about sending it in with the next rotation.

Arg, if you don't mind what hard plates do you use level/manufacturer, and how much you paid for them? My friends are currently dealing some ballistics and standalone multi-hit level IV (ceramic+aramid lined) are at some 150 Euro a piece, Standalone III's are at 130 Euro (also ceramic+aramid) and Lightweight Polyethylene III's (1,2kg each, by size L) are at 240 Euro IIRC.

[Andy007]

dude iv already posted an article on the RICAS warrior vest ... its excellent.. Iv just got back from afghan Oct 2007 and i had it lined with NIJ IIIA. I bought it from www.specialforceskit.co.uk (http://www.specialforceskit.co.uk) and they also supplied the Bulldog soft armour. The front and rear OSPREY standard Brit plates fit in it with a small amount of manipulation but settled in very well.

Its now lasted 2 afghan tours with only a minor repair to the velcro which is only natural when your working in sandy dusty enviroments with velcro fasteners.. We were on constant ops not like the airsofters who generally wear this stuff at weekends! A very popular set up with the lads!

Try this link mate http://specialforceskit.co.uk/store/ricas-assault-system-p-338.html or uk tactical at www.uktactical.com (http://www.uktactical.com) iv used both stores and they are both helpful...

Utrinque Paratus

[muttbutt]

It's interesting that places like UK tactical and SFkit are spinging up in the UK now, they are very much like the US tactical gear companies, I guess overpriced places like Silvermans ect won't be doing too well anymore:roll:, good stuff.

BTW thanks Andy for pointing out SFkit's stuff:), never knew about them before.

[Andy007]

If you still require the dimensions of the Osprey drop me a line and ill try and get some accurate measurements ... Yes I am a kit pest!

[Hollis]

If you still require the dimensions of the Osprey drop me a line and ill try and get some accurate measurements ... Yes I am a kit pest!

This post is no longer needed


Thanks.

H.

[Hollis]

A heads up for everyone, Andy007 is good to go.


Thanks for links, Andy.

Hollis