Soldier toasts team behind Osprey body armour

Lance Sergeant Daniel Collins from the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards was shot in the back after coming under sporadic fire from insurgents whilst out on patrol in Helmand province in 2009.

His Osprey body armour, which is made of ceramic ballistic plates designed to protect vital organs, stopped the bullet from piercing his body, saving his life - see Related News.

LSgt Collins said:

"When I was shot I thought the worst, especially because it was from only about 200 metres away and I think it was a 7.62mm round - that's a high calibre bullet to be hit by.

"I was examined on the spot, expecting to be told bad news, but there was nothing there. The body armour had stopped the bullet and saved my life."

After receiving medical care for bruising he was ready for work and back on the front line within seven days.

LSgt Collins expressed his gratitude to the manufacturers of his life-saving body armour:

"I said after I had been hit that I wanted to meet whoever designed Osprey and buy him a pint - I didn't realise that quite so many people had been involved in getting it to theatre!"

True to his word, the soldier met Kevin Butterly of Coventry manufacturers NP Aerospace in Cardiff pub 'The Old Arcade' - and bought him a pint.

The body armour, which has been in service since early 2006, consists of hard armour protective plates and a fragmentation vest.

It was introduced to the operational theatre after a request from troops on the ground for armour that met defined requirements.

The process, from its conception by experts at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) in Porton Down, Wiltshire, to being manufactured by NP Aerospace, took just 12 weeks.

Defence Equipment and Support's (DE&S's) Defence Clothing Project Manager, Mike Pigott, who worked on the Osprey body armour, said it had been a real boost to the team to meet LSgt Collins.

He added:

"It was a big job for the team to deliver this essential kit in such a short time but we were determined to do it.

"The team is always thinking about the boys and girls out on operations and we are committed to delivering the best equipment to them.

"This body armour is one of the best in the world and we are proud that, collectively, our hard work has paid off. Daniel is living proof of this."

Chairman and Chief Executive of NP Aerospace, Roger Medwell, said that working on the body armour had been a great example of the MOD and industry working in partnership. He said:

"It was a challenge to get the armour produced in such a short time, as well as meet the high standards set by the MOD, but our staff was determined to work around the clock in order to meet this commitment.

"Not a day went by when we didn't think of the troops out in Afghanistan and this would drive us to get this armour out to them."

LSgt Collins concluded:

"It is a real honour to meet all the people who worked on it, from the guys at DSTL, who came up with the conception, to the team in DE&S, right through to those who produce it at NP Aerospace. If it wasn't for them I wouldn't be sitting here telling my story - they saved my life."

The Osprey body armour is just one element of troops' personal protection, which also includes the Mark 6A helmet and ballistic eye protection.