British ECBA Armour Review

[@stevewilliams2895]

the INIBA system (the improved Northern ireland vest) was designed to be worn under a field jacket because at the time they were fielded IRA snipers were a very large issue, having this under a field jacket would improve survivability quite significantly because when the IRA didnt see body armour they were more likely to aim center mass obviously,

[@Weaponsandstuff93]

That's an interesting point

[@0002EcM]

i have a CBA and a couple of those plates, the inside armor I thought was yellow in the one I have. I've read the soft armor was only rated to stop fragments and the plates will stop 7.62x51mm. So they're essentially a US NIJ level 3 standalone. They're about 6"x 8" making them equivalent to side plates in US carriers.

[@SashaTheDog]

I plan to buy a ECBA, sadly it's hard to find the liner for it. There's one for sale but the vest is most likely too big (I should wear 170/100, the one that's on sale 180/116)

[@ranger-rj2ym]

If you're still looking, Sportsmansguide (An American company to my knowledge) is selling these plate carriers for roughly $9 of this date of post, if I remember correctly.

[@outrighteight8205]

I am aware that this comment is 2 years after the fact but I would like to point out that this armour was never "retired" as it is still used today by reserve units when on guard duty at their unit. however it is correct that it was retired from frontline service.

[@kongoubongo1114]

I kinda want to take 2 identical T-shirts, sow them together to create pockets for 3A plates just to see if it can be done well.

[@Weaponsandstuff93]

Good luck

[@emelgiefro]

Sewing requires skills its not a thing you just do

[@chaowingchinghongfingshong3109]

What size are you wearing with the ECBA vest? Are they true to size? Cuz im 1,83m and I kinda feel like the 180 size sits a little bit too high, the vest ends at my belly button

[@showandtell4265]

7:37 you state that the soft armor portion is estimated to be level 2 or 3a in NIJ protection scale. I just wanted to note that the US PASGT was tested/estimated to be level 2 at best.... And comparing thicknesses of the main torso panels, PASGT is much thicker, as much as twice as thick.

[@Weaponsandstuff93]

PASGT was also older, you can easily get 3A rated kevlar sheets thinner than what's in this vest, it's mostly the quality of the kevlar filler not the bulk of it.

[@showandtell4265]

@@Weaponsandstuff93 it would be interesting to see the ballistics test of both soft and hard portions of this vest.

[@121kostasg]

Thank you for your video. May i ask you if you happen to know the use of the front vertical strap (under the plate pocket) ?

[@johnnydiamondsmusic1673]

To put rank slide on.

[@stahlhelmturtle9822]

I saw a serviceman say that he thinks it's for helmet retention

[@TheJtjensen]

it's so "funny" now you need a license for that in Denmark :-(

[@Weaponsandstuff93]

Yeah I can never understand laws on body armour.

[@ITicklefish08]

Weaponsandstuff93 oof I can find one in a pawn shop for 100 dollars with kevlar

[@solo_yt9015]

What!!!!! How why do u need a licence for that are y gonna Waco someone with a armour plate or something

[@donblade5405]

excellant video! THANK YOU!

[@GroundhogKim]

Love the videos dude🇺🇸to🇬🇧

[@Weaponsandstuff93]

Cheers

[@Anne14881]

Where did you get yours from and did it come with all the plates?

[@barrystroud4465]

Does anyone know for sure if the CBA and ECBA are completely different armour systems. From what I can see, it looks like the aramid filler is the same for both vests. Did they just redesign the carrier and and add rifle plates? I have the same vest as shown here and I have also replaced the cover with an MTP version, however I also own a CBA cover in desert DPM and the vest internals look the same. Also the CBA and earlier versions of the ECBA have have the same hook and loop opening for inserting the armour filler (if you think it's hard getting the armour in and out of the carrier on your vest, be glad you don't have the earlier versions. The seam only extends across the back section and not onto the front panels, unlike later models). P.S. I also have that same 70's olive drab flack vest and can attest that the thing is a pig.

[@trechtzach8151]

The CBA and the ECBA used the same fillers (frag only). There are a few generational difference and sub-variants with the ECBA though. Early ECBA vests are heavily based on the CBA design, later ECBA vests used a different closure method for the filler and removed the PLCE strap.

[@ThuleanNature]

Epic

[@kermit8731]

Hi I’m 11 and i just bought what looks exactly like a gp5 gas mask but at the surplus i bought it at they said it was a z14 which i couldnt find anything about and i saw some charcoal leaking through in the filter and im wondering if im going to get lung cancer from it if i use the filter with the mask for my halloween costume? I dont want to harm myself with the risk

[@Weaponsandstuff93]

Stop using the filter and you'll be fine, use the mask without the filter for a costume.

[@howardheffernan1574]

I really think should have neck protection help prevents a juggler or wind pipe injury

[@Weaponsandstuff93]

Lot's of armours now have add on neck protection to reduce bulk when not needed

[@trechtzach8151]

The journalist/civilian/EOD/export versions had neck protection, but for whatever reason it wasn't deemed necessary for the ones issued to everyone.

[@stevenwhitehead4015]

Probably couldn't effectively fire from prone with a collar and a MK6 helmet. Bad enough with just the lid.

[@carterdebates7887]

is there anywhere to buy after market kevlar fillers ? i’ve been having so much trouble finding a seller

[@chrismario6371]

Unlikely, it's an out dated system. Ebay and second hand market is the only source. Maybe the MOD will find a large batch and it will get sold off and you could get some cheap, but sadly this I rare. I hope you get lucky and find what you are after

[@carterdebates7887]

@@chrismario6371 thank you so much for the info ! there’s literally nothing out there

[@lam1991hahaha]

i' ve seen a navy blue one of this in a shop, is it for the navy?

[@Weaponsandstuff93]

Normally blue ones are for reporters/UN peacekeepers

[@stevewilliams2895]

@@Weaponsandstuff93 theres a UN blue one and a navy blue one, the navy blue one was for the navy as far as im aware

[@seniorscouse3346]

Did we only use m69 in nothern ireland

[@neil_castell]

interesting tit bit ... when body armour first became mandatory, i was privy to a conversation between a Major and a Colonel, ... the major was complaining about the weight of the armour, the colonel told him to remove the Kevlar and replace it with a couple of layers of foam from a roll mat, And said that's what the other (HQ staff) officers were doing.

[@Weaponsandstuff93]

Kevlar isn't all that heavy anyway, but seems stupid to me to take armour out of the armour and replace it with something that will offer no protection.

[@neil_castell]

Weaponsandstuff93 .... well add in webbing, weapon, helmet and it all adds up, ... in training I guess they figured they didn’t need protection. The rank and file didn’t have the luxury to cheat like that, I hate to imagine what would have happened if some squaddie got caught with roll mat inserts instead of Kevlar,

[@howardheffernan1574]

@@neil_castell if for training yeh can see why

[@TheScottishSpartan]

@@neil_castell Heard about some guys on Senior Brecon getting caught doing that, it didn't go well for them iirc lol

[@jesusismylord1496]

Great armour

[@Weaponsandstuff93]

Yeah you can at least move around in it easily, compared to the heavier larger plate vests

[@francescokeller9890]

Why in this body armor the plate carrier is very small referred to the jacket..?if someone fall in an armed fight the probability to being bit is very hight..

[@trechtzach8151]

Mobility. The plate goes over your heart. Medical studies show a shot in the lungs is terrible, but survivable with treatment.

[@l.f.c9973]

Make the ecba an cba in arma 3 please

[@NG-lb8yt]

I bougt deser dpm one last day

[@Weaponsandstuff93]

Cool

[@phittuc]

Isn't there an ECBA looking vest with two pockets on the front instead of one for the plate that the British army used. I think it was a very early pattern one but i can't find the name

[@Weaponsandstuff93]

That's just called the CBA, the ECBA is literally that with the pouches for the plates.

[@pyrogothica3906]

So will a standard body armor plate fit in these or nah?

[@Weaponsandstuff93]

Not the full size ones.

[@pyrogothica3906]

@@Weaponsandstuff93 do you know roughly what size they would take?

[@trechtzach8151]

@@pyrogothica3906 These are designed for 6x8 plates. The soft armour is a proprietary cut and the military version only offers frag protection.

[@kuriboh635]

Im a little late to this vid but what size plates are those.

[@trechtzach8151]

6x8 inches. Basically a side plate size.

[@kuriboh635]

@@trechtzach8151 thanks.

[@1brytol]

In my opinion, ECBA is too light. Osprey and stuff like this is perfect. OLV and IOTV are too heavy.

[@trechtzach8151]

Because they really skimped on the layers when it comes to aramid. There's a journalist version of the ECBA with full sized plates and actual 3A protection, and that's pretty heavy, comparable to the American OTV (interceptor).

[@seniorscouse3346]

Yes could anyone make the ecba in arma 3 so i can have a good gulf war british vest

[@ARM_THEAS]

got my ECBA same as one in the start of video with metal plate both sides and kevlar inside, i got it for free

[@ARM_THEAS]

i just wanna say, about the ECBA arm protection, i have a difficult idea, if i grab trousers of the same camo and do stiching, i could in theory, get my hands on some kevlar, and maybe create some kevlar sleeves for me legs or arms or both and be straight up rocking since its lightweight and not only keeps u hot asf but protects u from somethin like a bouncing betty which may just knock ur balls off anyway

[@Skeeter_Dee]

what size are those plates?

[@Weaponsandstuff93]

Would measure it for you but can't find my vest atm, I imagine about 4" across 6" high

[@trechtzach8151]

6x8 inches.

[@karenschafer5202]

Do you have a russian schm-41m gas mask

[@Weaponsandstuff93]

Yes, although if it's Russian it's called the ShM-41, the SCHM designation is East German

[@britishmilitaria2947]

Is it possible to buy a RIF with a ukra licence ?

[@Weaponsandstuff93]

Yes

[@johnnydiamondsmusic1673]

So you have Ecba and added extra protection. So what do you need it for, a War Zone?

[@AzureRoseMarshal]

Knife

[@howardheffernan1574]

This isnt stab proof though isit?

[@Weaponsandstuff93]

Kevlar will slow a knife down penetrating it but actual stab vests are generally kevlar with a bit of metal in them. The ECBA plate will basically stop anything though including knives.

[@trechtzach8151]

They are not stab proof. The aramid is super thin and there's not any stab resistant components built into it. They don't stop handgun either, they are only sufficient for frag. Civilian/journalist/export versions are rated for handgun, but those are super rare. You know one when you see one because the plate size is different.

[@bprepping2432]

I have the desert one with green filter is it stab proof??

[@bprepping2432]

Ps I know it’s a fragmentation vest but would it stop a knife?

[@r.m.l2665]

Yes and no I have same one as in vid and I've stabbed it before and it stopped it think it will stop 45 ACP 22 long maybe 9mm it also stops arrows from a 40lb hunting bow and a 80lb crossbow

[@trechtzach8151]

@@bprepping2432 No. There aren't any stab protective components built in. A proper stiletto type knife will go right through. It's not rated for handgun either, the aramid is super thin, it's only for frag.

[@greenleggedpipehen3048]

You are ready to raid xD

[@Weaponsandstuff93]

I think it's a bit late for area 51

[@MegaGreggs]

Get the large plate out