Obsolete weapons

"Harry Andreas" wrote in message
...
In article , "Kevin Brooks"
wrote:

"M" *@*.* wrote in message
...
Paul J. Adam
Built Up Areas, we aren't necessarily just fighting there) which
means
a lot of voice communication: it's hard enough to hear shouted
commands from downstairs or around a corner as is, without ear plugs
in place. So, you risk ringing ears and partial HF deafness later
on,
in order to keep control of your fireteam during the action.

Why on Earth aren't active (electronic) ear mufflers used
nowadays? Like many hunters and shooters have done for
quite some time.

Trying to wear ear muffs under a kevlar helmet would be a bit of a
chore,
for one. I'd guess that some sort of hearing enhancement and noise
suppression system is included in the Army's various future soldier
equipment research efforts now underway, but the biggest stumbling block
to
all of these new systems (to include personal HUD's, etc.) right now is
*power*, and your muffs just add to that--another power-demanding
device.
Many Army leaders have identified the need for lightweight, long-lasting
batteries/power supplies as being the biggest single hurdle we have to
get
across if we are going to see "robosoldier" type systems go beyond the
R&D
effort to actual fielding; right now we are just not there yet.


I've been using Peltor electronic ears for over a year and they work
great,
but they are too big for some applications.
OTOH, I have seen the same principle in a hearing-aid sized device that
fits into the ear with custom earpieces.
These electronic ears don't seem to clip too much off the normal hearing,
just the peaks.

I did a program the year before last that needed to use LiMnO2 and
LiSO2 batteries. Found out that the US Army is the world's biggest
user of batteries.

Not a bit surprising. Every company level supply room I ever used or visited
had a full size refrigerator which was to be used for battery storage (and
of course for the supply sergeants lunch, etc...). Radios used the lithium
batteries, and you'd be surprised at the number of plain ol' D-cells a unit
required, to operate everything from the landlines (TA-312's) and
switchboard to the ubiquitous flashlights. I understand the R&D folks are
really pushing for lightweight fuel cells to take over a lot of the load in
the not-too-distant future.

Brooks


--
Harry Andreas
Engineering raconteur