Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2014 July 30

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July 30

How much protection do the "Press" armored vests provide?

Can't find specifics online. What level of ballistic protection do those iconic, blue, flak jackets/bulletproof vests with the word "PRESS" worn by reporters in war zones provide? Acceptable (talk) 16:10, 30 July 2014 (UTC)

According to their website, Reporters Without Borders "lend journalists bulletproof jackets and helmets for free. The category 3 jackets, donated by the French defence ministry have “Press” marked on the front and back, come in three sizes and weigh about 15 kg"[1]. The corresponding French page ([2]), describes these jackets as gilets pare-balles de catégorie 3 which might help finding specifics of protection at the Ministère de la Défense or elsewhere. ---Sluzzelin talk 16:25, 30 July 2014 (UTC)

Is that "Press" label to let the snipers know who to shoot at? ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 19:39, 30 July 2014 (UTC)

The article on ballistic vests has a section on performance standards. Assuming the standards are similar in France (which they probably are, considering the French are members of NATO), the class III vest should give protection against 'normal' full calibre rifles.

That is when they were new, at least... to the best of my knowledge ballistic vests has to be maintained. WegianWarrior (talk) 20:30, 30 July 2014 (UTC)

(ec) The article Ballistic vest contains a table with details of the protection level of NIJ Type III bullet resistant vests used by law enforcement. In the European Union, vest protection above NIJ 4 is restricted to military use. 84.209.89.214 (talk) 00:35, 31 July 2014 (UTC)