U.S. Soldiers Question Use of More Armor

AP ^ | 1/7/06

[Toddsterpatriot]

Starship Troopers...nothing like the movie and much better by all accounts

Yes, the book was great. The movie made the soldiers and the military look silly. The book was just the opposite.

[calex59]

Other people are saying starship troopers, and I believe they are right, which is totally unlike the movie. This was written in the 1960s, at least that is when I remember reading it, a long time ago and I don't know why I didn't keep the book because I enjoyed it and usually keep them, but lots of moves have caused me to lose many items I once had. I will keep your title in mind and now, because of conflicting titles, I must do a web search to find out which one is correct:) The book I read was in the form of a narration by one of the troopers, going through training etc.

[Constantine XIII]

LOL!

[calex59]

Nope, sorry. Good try and I will have to look this one up, sounds interesting!

[calex59]

I think you guys are right, I have had several other people propose candidates for this book but yours sounds correct. The movie sucked and if I had known this was the same as that novel I would have really been steamed about it! Thanks to both of you.

[calex59]

Oh, yes the fact that Robert Heinlein wrote it cinches the fact that it is the book I was talking about. Been a long time since I read it, but still remember the story line and how fascinated I was by the characters and plot. I have never had a memory for titles and authors! Thanks again.

[robowombat]

It is interesting. The writing is rather flat and bland as befits a professional soldier writing an operations analysis. What is interesting is that Rigg was the first military professional to describe what future combat COULD look like based on extrapolation of then current R & D trends.He also was the first writer to describe a clash with the Soviets that didn't end in mutual annihilation. So Rigg in some ways prefigures Clancy and the group of British officers who wrote the two WW III books.

[brazzaville]

Good afternoon.

One of the local mountain hippy kids who's serving with the 101st took a round center mass that just left a bruise because of his insert. He called my friend on his cell phone and laughed about it to him.

Airborne all the way, eh.

Michael Frazier

[brazzaville]

Good afternoon.
"But back in my day, I hated wearing body armor..."

Back in the day my armor was a set of tiger fatigues and face paint. It worked very well for me, not so well for others.

Michael Frazier

[brazzaville]

Good afternoon.
"I believe what you've got ahold of there is Armor by John Steakley."

I couldn't remember the author's name, but that is one of my favorite books. I've long thought that it would make an excellent movie or two.

Michael Frazier

[<1/1,000,000th%]

That's an Imperial Marine!

[SFC Chromey]

Wonder what it is like wearing that stuff in 120 degree heat?

---

It's January, trust me it is not 120 degrees ANYWHERE in Iraq! :)

[SFC Chromey]

The SAAPI plates stop more than one round, as long as the rounds are not right on top of each other.

We 'tested' an extra SAAPI plate that we had, alongside some steel plate that was laying in the desert. Both took rounds from M-4 and AK-47, steel plate had eight holes, SAAPI plate stopped all eight rounds.

[Dementon]

Other people are saying starship troopers, and I believe they are right, which is totally unlike the movie.

Since it's been a long time since I read Starship Troopers and the movie has overwritten any memory that I have of the book, I'll have to take your word on it.

The book I read was in the form of a narration by one of the troopers, going through training etc.

That pretty much sums up the first part of Armor.

Either way, they're both good books.

[calex59]

I googled it and it is starship troopers, written by Robert Heinlien in 1959, I read it somewhere around 1963, IIRC, and I couldn't remember the title or the author's name, I am great for remembering books but can't seem to remember titles and/or authors! Thanks for your input and I will difinately check out Armor.

[MikefromOhio]

Wonder what it is like wearing that stuff in 120 degree heat?

It's not fun. And I wasn't even in combat, wearing that stuff, in 120 degree heat.

[MikefromOhio]

If you have the plates, it will stop ONE 7.62mm round, but after that, the manufacturer recommends you replace them.

[MeanWestTexan]

Yeah, but Denise Richards was unbelievably hot in the movie.

[MeanWestTexan]

Are you sure it was not the "Forever War" --- which followed a single grunt for 500 earth years or so starting in about 30 years with a bad "first contact" ---- him living a normal lifespan, but with periodic relativistic and suspended animation gaps.

Sounds very familiar.

[Toddsterpatriot]

Are you sure it was not the "Forever War" --- which followed a single grunt for 500 earth years or so starting in about 30 years with a bad "first contact"

Also an excellent book, but less contact with the enemy. Less tossing nukes around.