M52B body armor: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 03:46, April 24, 2019

A UNSC crate containing first version models of M52B body armor.

M52B body armor is a designation for certain armored protective vests worn by members of the UNSC Marine Corps. M52B body armor is usually worn with the CH252 helmet for greater ballistic protection. Nicknames for the body armor include BA, BO, Gear, and Shell.^[1]

Design

M52B body armor is a designation encompassing at least two versions of general-use protective torso-wear primarily utilised by the UNSC Marine Corps.^{[note 1]}

The first version of the M52B body armor was worn by Marines in 2552 during the earlier stages of the Battle of New Mombasa as well as the Battle of Cleveland, and consists of a chestplate and backplate assembly with a supplemental abdominal plate and linked lower-back plate that collectively maximise torso coverage. The chest, abdominal and lower-back plates are frequently affixed with varying configurations of pouches. The chestplate and backplate themselves are distinguished by their relatively square overall shape and the shallow, shaped cut-outs over its surface. The chestplate reaches up to either side of the wearer's collar and entirely over the wearer's trapezius in order to connect with the backplate, lacking prominent buckles or straps. The abdomen plate links with the lower backplate around the wearer's side in a similar manner. This version of the M52B does not feature a material layer beneath the plating and lacks integrated pauldrons, though separate pauldrons are typically worn with it, utilising their own distinct strapping system.^[2] Crates on which this version of M52B body armor are depicted and labelled were commonly encountered throughout UNSC staging areas and combat zones during the Battle of Earth, including the Crow's Nest base near Voi,^[3] and the Marine holdout in the Uplift Reserve Section B visitor center during the Battle of New Mombasa.^[4]

Front and rear views of the second version of M52B armor.

The second version of the M52B body armor features a heavy chestplate with a layered surface and characteristic buckles securing it to the backplate. The chestplate and backplate are fixed over a thick vest with a black-colored flexible material exterior which covers the entire torso and runs partially down the upper-arms. An additional buckle is located centrally on the bottom of the chestplate. The arm coverage of the vest extends only over the outwards-facing portion of the arm, is strapped over the underside, and features integrated pauldron assemblies. Below the pauldrons on each side, small shapes consistent in coloration the other hard armor portions extrude from the black material, textured by a number of circular cut-outs. This version of the M52B does feature a raised protective collar around the side and back of the neck. It lacks an abdominal plate, instead sporting a raised, brown-coloured patch of additional material over the stomach which tapers into a groin covering, and a flat-topped discoloured plate at the bottom of the back with two attachment loops on it. It was utilised by Sergeant "Ghost" and his unit some time prior to its continued usage in the Algolis Invasion,^[5] as well as heavily during the latter-stages of the Battle of Earth.^[6]

Performance

Performance-wise, the M52B armor is lightweight and durable, capable of sustaining surprising amounts of damage before buckling. The pockets and pouches which are often affixed to M52B body armor systems are an efficient method of storage for sufficiently sized items.^[1]

Gallery

The M52B body armor as it appears in its first version in Halo 2.
A Marine wearing full battle dress with the second version of the M52B, as it appears in Halo 3.
Concept art for the M52B as it appears in its second version in Halo 3.
UNSC soldiers wearing the first version of M52B body armor as it appears in Halo: Uprising.
A UNSC Marine wearing the second version of M52B body armor in Halo: Uprising.

List of appearances

Halo 2 (First appearance)
Halo: Uprising
Halo: Landfall
- Halo: Arms Race
- Halo: Combat
- Halo: Last One Standing
Halo 3
Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe
- The Return - motion comic
Halo 3: ODST
Halo Legends
- Origins
- Prototype
Halo: Initiation

Notes

^ The Halo Encyclopedia, when referring to the M52B body armor, does so alongside illustrations of UNSC infantrymen as they appear in their Halo 3 style. However, in-game crates can be found within Halo 2, Halo 3 and Halo 3: ODST which depict the Halo 2 depiction of Marine body armor, labelled as M52B body armor. In addition, Halo: Uprising features depictions of Marines in different instances that resemble both Halo 2 and Halo 3 incarnations, indicating that the relevant body armor systems exist alongside one another in-universe. Thus, this article treats both the Halo 2 and Halo 3 designs as canonical and separate versions that are both known as M52B body armor.

Sources

^ ^a ^b Halo Encyclopedia, page 49
^ Halo 2
^ Halo 3, campaign level Crow's Nest
^ Halo 3: ODST, campaign level Uplift Reserve
^ Halo Legends, Prototype
^ Halo 3

[2] The Halo Encyclopedia, when referring to the M52B body armor, does so alongside illustrations of UNSC infantrymen as they appear in their Halo 3 style. However, in-game crates can be found within Halo 2, Halo 3 and Halo 3: ODST which depict the Halo 2 depiction of Marine body armor, labelled as M52B body armor. In addition, Halo: Uprising features depictions of Marines in different instances that resemble both Halo 2 and Halo 3 incarnations, indicating that the relevant body armor systems exist alongside one another in-universe. Thus, this article treats both the Halo 2 and Halo 3 designs as canonical and separate versions that are both known as M52B body armor.

[ENC-1] Halo Encyclopedia, page 49

[3] Halo 2

[4] Halo 3, campaign level Crow's Nest

[5] Halo 3: ODST, campaign level Uplift Reserve

[6] Halo Legends, Prototype

[7] Halo 3

[1]

[note 1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

@@ Line 6: / Line 6: @@
 M52B body armor is a designation encompassing at least two versions of general-use protective torso-wear primarily utilised by the [[UNSC Marine Corps]].<ref group="note">The [[Halo Encyclopedia]], when referring to the M52B body armor, does so alongside illustrations of UNSC infantrymen as they appear in their [[Halo 3]] style. However, in-game crates can be found within [[Halo 2]], Halo 3 and [[Halo 3: ODST]] which depict the Halo 2 depiction of Marine body armor, labelled as M52B body armor. In addition, [[Halo: Uprising]] features depictions of Marines in different instances that resemble both Halo 2 and Halo 3 incarnations, indicating that the relevant body armor systems exist alongside one another in-universe. Thus, this article treats both the Halo 2 and Halo 3 designs as canonical and separate versions that are both known as M52B body armor.</ref>
-The first version of the M52B body armor was worn by Marines in 2552 during the earlier stages of the [[Battle of New Mombasa]] as well as the [[Battle of Cleveland|Battle of Cleveland]], and consists of a chestplate and backplate assembly with a supplemental abdominal plate and linked lower-back plate that collectively maximise torso coverage. The chest, abdominal and lower-back plates are frequently affixed with varying configurations of pouches. The chestplate and backplate themselves are distinguished by their relatively square overall shape and the shallow, shaped cut-outs over its surface. The chestplate reaches up to either side of the wearer's collar and entirely over the wearer's trapezius in order to connect with the backplate, lacking prominent buckles or straps. The abdomen plate links with the lower backplate around the wearer's side in a similar manner. This version of the M52B does not feature a material layer beneath the plating and lacks integrated pauldrons, though separate pauldrons are typically worn with it <ref>'''[[Halo 2]]'''</ref> Crates on which this version of M52B body armor are depicted and labelled were commonly encountered throughout UNSC staging areas and combat zones during the [[Battle of Earth]], including the [[Crow's Nest]] base near [[Voi]],<ref>'''[[Halo 3]]''', ''campaign level [[Crow's Nest (level)|Crow's Nest]]''</ref> and the Marine holdout in the [[Uplift Reserve]] Section B visitor center during the [[Battle of New Mombasa]].<ref>'''[[Halo 3: ODST]]''', ''campaign level [[Uplift Reserve (level)|Uplift Reserve]]''</ref>
+The first version of the M52B body armor was worn by Marines in 2552 during the earlier stages of the [[Battle of New Mombasa]] as well as the [[Battle of Cleveland|Battle of Cleveland]], and consists of a chestplate and backplate assembly with a supplemental abdominal plate and linked lower-back plate that collectively maximise torso coverage. The chest, abdominal and lower-back plates are frequently affixed with varying configurations of pouches. The chestplate and backplate themselves are distinguished by their relatively square overall shape and the shallow, shaped cut-outs over its surface. The chestplate reaches up to either side of the wearer's collar and entirely over the wearer's trapezius in order to connect with the backplate, lacking prominent buckles or straps. The abdomen plate links with the lower backplate around the wearer's side in a similar manner. This version of the M52B does not feature a material layer beneath the plating and lacks integrated pauldrons, though separate pauldrons are typically worn with it, utilising their own distinct strapping system.<ref>'''[[Halo 2]]'''</ref> Crates on which this version of M52B body armor are depicted and labelled were commonly encountered throughout UNSC staging areas and combat zones during the [[Battle of Earth]], including the [[Crow's Nest]] base near [[Voi]],<ref>'''[[Halo 3]]''', ''campaign level [[Crow's Nest (level)|Crow's Nest]]''</ref> and the Marine holdout in the [[Uplift Reserve]] Section B visitor center during the [[Battle of New Mombasa]].<ref>'''[[Halo 3: ODST]]''', ''campaign level [[Uplift Reserve (level)|Uplift Reserve]]''</ref>
 [[File:Body armor frontback.png|250px|thumb|Front and rear views of the second version of M52B armor.]]