M-1952 Flak Jacket
{{Short description|Flak Jacket}}
{{Infobox military gear
|name=Armor, Body, Fragmentation, Protective, Vest Type, M-52
|image=File:1967, 27 February,Company C, 9th Marines, Operation Chinhook.jpg
|image_size=300px
|caption=1967, 27 February, Company C, 9th Marines, Operation Chinhook
|service=1952-1980+
|used_by=United States Marine Corps
United States Navy
|wars=Korean War
1958 Lebanon Crisis
Vietnam War
|weight=8.5 pounds (~3.8 kg)
}}
M-1952 Flak Jacket was a 20th century American flak jacket. It was used during the Korean and Vietnam wars.
History
The M-1952 Flak vest, or "Armor, Body, Fragmentation, Protective, Vest Type, M-52" was a flak vest designed for the United States Marine Corps during the Korean war. Following the joint US Army and Marine Corps designed M51 Flak Jacket, the M-52 used aluminum plates instead of Doron.{{Cite web |date=2021-01-27 |title=U.S. Military Body Armor Korean War |url=https://www.olive-drab.com/od_soldiers_gear_body_armor_korea.php |access-date=2022-12-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210127165142/https://www.olive-drab.com/od_soldiers_gear_body_armor_korea.php |archive-date=2021-01-27 }}{{Cite web |title=Lightweight Body Armor, Doron 1953 |url=https://qmmuseum.lee.army.mil/korea/lightweight_body_armor.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000126161617/http://www.qmmuseum.lee.army.mil/korea/lightweight_body_armor.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 26, 2000 |access-date=2022-12-19 |website=qmmuseum.lee.army.mil}}
Design
The M-1952A Body Armor was an 8.5 pound vest made up of twelve layers of flexible laminated nylon.{{Cite web |last=Department |first=U. S. Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) History |title="This Vest May Save Your Life!" |url=https://arsof-history.org/articles/19oct_body_armor_page_1.html |access-date=2023-12-17 |website=arsof-history.org |language=en-us}} It had epaulets, a zip front closure and adjustable elastic draw cords on each side. It had cargo pockets with the left one having a pen compartment.{{Cite web |title=M1952A Flak Vest |url=http://www.vietnamgear.com/kit.aspx?kit=21 |access-date=2023-12-17 |website=www.vietnamgear.com}}
Combat use
The Marine Corps first used the M-1952 during the Korean War. It reached frontline troops in late 1952, and only in relatively small quantities. They continued to use it throughout the 1958 Lebanon Crisis and during the early stages of the Vietnam War.{{Citation |last=PHOTO |first=DEFENSE DEPT |title=English: Company C, 1/9 Marines advance through elephant grass during Operation Prairie III |date=1967-03-19 |url=https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:A188524.jpg |access-date=2022-12-19}}{{circular reference|date=February 2024}}
The U.S. Navy used them quite heavily in Vietnam, including with their Mobile Riverine Force. The M-1952 was phased out of use by the M-1955 vest during the Vietnam Conflict.{{Cite web |date=2021-09-28 |title=U.S. Military Body Armor Vietnam |url=https://olive-drab.com/od_soldiers_gear_body_armor_vietnam.php |access-date=2022-12-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210928094940/https://olive-drab.com/od_soldiers_gear_body_armor_vietnam.php |archive-date=2021-09-28 }} The Marine Corps used the vest into the 1980s during training.{{Citation |last=USMC |title=English: A close view of a combat-ready Marine officer candidate as he checks the backpack of another candidate. Both of them are wearing camouflage paint on their faces. The Marines are students of The Basic School for Marine Officers Combat Training. |date=1980 |url=https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:A-close-view-of-a-combat-ready-marine-officer-candidate-as-he-checks-the-backpack-a9513d.jpg |access-date=2022-12-19}}{{circular reference|date=February 2024}}
Users
=Former users=
- {{USA}}: United States Marine Corps, United States Navy.
Croatia Homeland war,1991-1995