User:SergeantSelfExplanatory/sandbox - Soldier Integrated Protective Ensemble

"SIPE" redirects here. For other uses, see Sipe.

The Soldier Integrated Protective Ensemble (SIPE) program was a soldier modernization effort for combat ground troops of the United States Army. It focused on the areas of cooling, heads-up-displays, combat optics, and a modular clothing and equipment system. The Army began treating the individual soldier's combat equipment as one integrated system rather than an assortment of individual components. It was developed as a potential replacement for the standard Battle Dress Uniform (BDU), Battle Dress Overgarment (BDO), body armor (PASGT), and load bearing equipment (LBE, e.g. ALICE or IIFS) of past.

History

As a part of the Soldier Modernization Plan, the Soldier Integrated Protective Ensemble (SIPE) program was established by the Department of the Army as an Advanced Technology Demonstration (ATD) in 1990. The lead organization for the ATD was the US Army Natick Research, Development and Engineering Center. The SIPE system was intended to increase lethality, mobility, survivability, command and control and overall protection of troops.

Components

The SIPE system was designed for use by troops in temperate environments. The system begins with a Coolmax t-shirt next to the skin to help wick perspiration away from the skin surface. The next layer, which is worn when there is potential exposure to a chemical vapor threat, is a chemical vapor undergarment (CVU) made of cotton and polyester with carbon spheres. This is covered by the Advanced Combat Uniform (ACU) (replacing the current Temperate Battle Dress Uniform) which is both flame resistant (PROBAN) and water repellant (Quarpel).

The Advanced Shell Garment (ASG), which completes the basic uniform components, is made of nylon/Gore-tex components along with additional water repellant treatment, and serves to protect against liquid chemical threat as well as serving as standard wet weather gear. Standard SIPE equipment also includes a new combat glove, a new non butyl rubber chemical glove and a new Gore-tex lined combat boot with chemical protective gaiter to replace the green vinyl overboot. The new ballistic vest includes titanium plates to increase protective level and has built in pockets for carrying the standard rifleman's load. The SIPE system also includes a newly designed Load Bearing Component (LBC) for carrying some of the electronics integral to the system as well as some of the combat load.

Additionally, SIPE includes a portable cooling unit for delivering filtered ambient air to a torso microclimate vest (which fits in the Coolmax t-shirt) and to a protective mask to aid the soldier’s ability to thermoregulate through convective and evaporative heat loss.

SIPE components:

Integrated Headgear Subsystem (IHS)

• IHS ballistic shell, or Ballistic Shell Component (BSC), an open face helmet (OFH)
  • Ballistic Visor Subcomponent (BVS)
    • Ballistic Transparency (BT) – 2.5 mm thick thermal formed sheet of polycarbonate
    • Eye Protection
    • Electro-Optics (EOS) Vision Enhancement Receiver Group and Display Optics
      • GEN III Image Intensifier Tube, Hughes Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) and glass lenses for the helmet mounted display (display optics)
      • Driver electronics and power supply (carried in a backpack on the Load-Bearing Component)
  • Communications Subcomponent (COMS)
    • A bone conduction microphone (mounted within the brow pad of the SLS)
    • Two electronic earplugs (one for each ear), used for aural protection and communications
    • A pre-amp and ambient sound listening microphone with wiring
    • Connector for the COMS module (earned in backpack) interface
  • Suspension Liner Subcomponent (SLS)
    • a modified cradle suspension with a rigid, foam padded headband. Attached to the headband is an adjustable ratchet nape strap for increased stability along with a drawstring crown adjustment and pad. The SLS also uses the standard two-point chin strap with a webbing chin cup and adjustment buckles on both sides
  • Respiratory Protective Device (RPD) – A modified XM-44 protective mask that includes:
    • Reduced profile lenses and modified suspension
    • Hydration Liquid Nutrient (HLN) transport line (hose from canteen), hand pump, and connectors for mask and canteen
    • A mouthpiece inside mask, powered voicemitter for face-to-face communications
    • Double-shirted butyl rubber hood (interfaces with the XM-44 mask and Advanced Clothing Subsystem)
• IHS power supply, or Power Supply Component (PSC)
  • Main Power Supply Interface
  • Backup Power Supply – A battery pack that is housed within the EOS backpack and carried on the Load Bearing Component of the ACS
  • Helmet Control Unit (HCU)

Advanced Clothing Subsystem (ACS)

• Load Bearing Component (LBC)
• Ballistic Protective Vest (BPV)
• Advanced Shell Garment (ASG, jacket/trouser)
• Advanced Combat Uniform (ACU, jacket/trouser)
• Chemical Vapor Undergarment (CVU)
• Active Cooling Vest (ACV)
• Waste Management System, a personal adsorptive device (PAD)
• Handwear – Combat glove and chemical protective glove
• Footwear – Combat boot and chemical protective gaiter

Microclimate Conditioning/Power Subsystem (MCC/PS), mounted to LBC

• MCC Blower
• MCC Filter
• Power source

System testing

Doriot Climatic Chambers tests

A test was conducted using the Doriot Climatic Chambers at Natick Laboratories. The human thermoregulation qualities of the standard Temperate BDU and BDO were compared to the SIPE's ACU and ASG/CVU.

The environmental chamber study compared physiological responses of volunteers exercising in MOPP 0, MOPP 1, and MOPP 4 with equivalent SIPE configurations, including SIPE 4 with and without ambient air microclimate cooling (MCC). Responses to all uniforms were compared over 100 minutes of continuous treadmill walking at 30.0° C, 50% rh. Responses to MOPP 4 and SIPE 4 with no cooling were also compared over 100 minutes at 18.5° C, 50% rh. Responses to MOPP 4 and SIPE 4 MCC were compared over four hours of intermittent work-rest cycles at 30.0° C, 50% rh. There were no differences between MOPP 0 and SIPE 0, MOPP 1 and SIPE 1, and MOPP 4 and SIPE 4 with no cooling (in both environments). Core temperature, skin temperature, heat storage, and heart rate were lower in SIPE 4 MCC than in MOPP 4; while evaporative cooling was greater in SIPE 4 MCC than in MOPP 4. Three volunteers completed the 4-hour tests in SIPE 4 MCC with similar advantageous trends apparent from the cooling. It is concluded that the SIPE clothing did not increase thermal strain compared to equivalent MOPP levels, and MCC, (although increasing uniform weight by approximately 10 kg (22 lb)) reduced thermal strain at 30.0° C.

The test subjects consisted of eight male soldiers, selected from members of the Natick test volunteer platoon or recruited from military units at other posts. There were 11 experimental tests in standard MOPP and SIPE configurations. This research compared the thermoregulatory responses and performance of male soldiers wearing MOPP and SIPE clothing in equivalent NBC and non-NBC configurations during moderate exercise in two environments. The equivalent clothing levels were based on the level of protection against NBC threat. The test environments were a warm (30.0°C, 86°F, 50% rh) environment with minimal dry heat loss in MOPP 4, and a cool (18.5°C, 65°F, 50% rh) environment which allowed increased dry and evaporative heat loss in MOPP 4. Experiments in the warm environment included SIPE with ambient cooling in one MOPP 4 equivalent configuration. These experiments provided comparative information which determined if heat strain was reduced and performance was improved in soldiers wearing the developmental SIPE system relative to the standard MOPP system. Because the clothing system is developmental with ongoing refinements, there are potential differences in the fabric weights, and amounts of water repellant and flame resistant chemicals used in the fabric for these experiments and the clothing worn by volunteers at the Ft. Benning field demonstration.

Fort Benning test

The field portion of the Soldier Integrated Protective Ensemble (SIPE) Advanced Technology Demonstration (ATD) was conducted at Fort Benning, Georgia, from September through November 1992. Individual task performance-data were collected by the Test and Experimentation Command (TEXCOM) Close Combat Test Directorate, and collective task performance data were assessed by personnel from the US Army Infantry School (USAIS). Soldier impressions on and suggestions for the SIPE equipment were collected. As a technical advisory service to the SIPE ATD, US Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences (ARI) personnel collected this data.

The SIPE, configured as a head-to-toe individual fighting system, demonstrated considerable potential for enhanced soldier capabilities and operational effectiveness. The enhanced communications capability and thermal sight on the rifle, as well as some items of clothing, were deemed very acceptable; other items were rejected or insufficiently tested. It was concluded that further testing would be beneficial.

See also

• Future Force Warrior