Doron plate (original) (raw)

Doron plate is a strong fiberglass-based laminate that was first used by the United States Marines as personal body armor for infantry in the Battle of Okinawa in 1945. The plates were approximately 3.2 mm (1⁄8 in) thick and cut into 130 mm (5 in) squares then inserted into pockets on a nylon vest that covered the front and back portions of the torso as well as the shoulders. The vest weighed approximately 3.6 kg (8 lb). The plates consist of fiberglass filaments bonded together with resin under pressure. The plates could be molded to fit the contours of the chest or back. Dow Company discovered the technology for the doron plate in May 1943 because a shortage of metal during World War II had stimulated research into non-metallic forms of body armor. The doron plate could not stop direct f