I do have a question to teh experts. Of course we all know that WW1 brought a lot of trials in body armour to all participants. Also the French army did some trials.
In Osprey Campaign Series No. 11 "Kaiserschlacht" on page 50 you find a plate with a French soldier in Body armour. The drawing doesn't show it clearly and
I can't find anything in the net. Was this body armour painted (like the German ones) or was it stiched off in textile?
Chris: This is a piece of French WWI Adrian Abdominal Plate Trench Armor
Designed by Louis Adrian, who developed the French steel helmet, this full version of abdominal body armor, known as the “cuirasse abdominale” in French, was introduced in January 1916.
It consists of four steel plates, a large curved piece to fit the stomach area and three separate plates to protect the groin and upper thighs.
Each plate is covered in thick tan canvas and an outer layer of two different shades of horizon blue wool uniform cloth, the reverse is lined in dark blue wool.
All four a connected in the center by strong brown leather hinges. An olive web and leather adjustable sling was attached to the top of the primary plate to support the unit around the neck and two iron flat hooks fit over the soldier’s equipment belt to proved further support.
This is the Daigre pattern personal armor shield made of 8mm thick ballistic steel, 58.5cm long x 34.5cm wide, convex profile, with pointed base, large rifle firing notch cut in the right corner, and a considerably smaller mobility cut in the left shoulder. Interior has three stout metal attachment brackets, with a black leather strap attached to the top two. Bashford Dean reported that several models of this particular shield were made in France early in the war, invented by "M. Daigre."
The Daigre armor pictured in Bashford Deane's reference appears to have a base that is more flat across the bottom but is otherwise the same. His photos and description read, "It weighs 21 pounds and encloses a nineteen-pound plate of chrome steel; this is .275 inch thick and is covered on either side with a thick layer (half an inch) of gelatinous material (woodite) which is continued over the top edge of the shield so as to furnish a marginal cushion which helps to stop lead splash or flying splinters. Over all is a sheath of blue tent-cloth which firmly adheres to the surface of the shield. For ease in handling, arm straps are provided and also loops by means of which shields can be supported from the neck and belt and carried as a breastplate." According to Dean, the French ordered approximately 65,000 of these.
he drawing I mentioned in the Osprey book shows a Little different body armour. It seems that it shows the same armour you showed us, but it has ... how shall I explain? .... additional smaller overlaying armour plates in the middle.
-- Edited by elbavaro on Thursday 8th of November 2018 12:44:59 PM
-- Edited by elbavaro on Thursday 8th of November 2018 02:15:14 PM
