Body armor that protects from bullets seems to be standard issue now. When did that trend start? Why weren't soldiers in WW2 equipped with rudimentary metal plates or other forms of armor? -
![Original U.S. Vietnam War M-1952A Flak Body Armor Vest by Stein Bros - – International Military Antiques Original U.S. Vietnam War M-1952A Flak Body Armor Vest by Stein Bros - – International Military Antiques](https://www.ima-usa.com/cdn/shop/products/ONSV4982__06.jpg?v=1594810478)
Original U.S. Vietnam War M-1952A Flak Body Armor Vest by Stein Bros - – International Military Antiques
![M-1952A Vest - Use by Non-US UN Forces in Korea and Correct Lacing - BODY ARMOR - U.S. Militaria Forum M-1952A Vest - Use by Non-US UN Forces in Korea and Correct Lacing - BODY ARMOR - U.S. Militaria Forum](https://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/uploads/monthly_02_2016/post-160078-0-40304600-1455489760.jpg)
M-1952A Vest - Use by Non-US UN Forces in Korea and Correct Lacing - BODY ARMOR - U.S. Militaria Forum
![Original U.S. Vietnam War M-1952A Flak Body Armor Vest by Foster - Dated 1954 – International Military Antiques Original U.S. Vietnam War M-1952A Flak Body Armor Vest by Foster - Dated 1954 – International Military Antiques](https://www.ima-usa.com/cdn/shop/products/on4223__09.jpg?v=1601320666)
Original U.S. Vietnam War M-1952A Flak Body Armor Vest by Foster - Dated 1954 – International Military Antiques
![I went to buy a backpack when the old timer hit me with “Want this for $25?” What do I have? : r/tacticalgear I went to buy a backpack when the old timer hit me with “Want this for $25?” What do I have? : r/tacticalgear](https://i.redd.it/i-went-to-buy-a-backpack-when-the-old-timer-hit-me-with-v0-l8dqesau4lbb1.jpg?width=2646&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=eab19f4d00b43c7257f20031a0452ac0839ca28a)
I went to buy a backpack when the old timer hit me with “Want this for $25?” What do I have? : r/tacticalgear
![Original U.S. Korean War to Cold War Era US Marine Corps M-1952 Flak J – International Military Antiques Original U.S. Korean War to Cold War Era US Marine Corps M-1952 Flak J – International Military Antiques](https://www.ima-usa.com/cdn/shop/files/ONSV24DWG075__06.jpg?v=1708096834)
Original U.S. Korean War to Cold War Era US Marine Corps M-1952 Flak J – International Military Antiques
![Giving This Original Korean War M1951/m1952 Flak Vest Some New Life | Repairing The Past EP. 2 - YouTube Giving This Original Korean War M1951/m1952 Flak Vest Some New Life | Repairing The Past EP. 2 - YouTube](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Cu8CZoyk0FQ/hqdefault.jpg)
Giving This Original Korean War M1951/m1952 Flak Vest Some New Life | Repairing The Past EP. 2 - YouTube
![Original U.S. Vietnam War M-1952A Flak Body Armor Vest by Stein Bros - – International Military Antiques Original U.S. Vietnam War M-1952A Flak Body Armor Vest by Stein Bros - – International Military Antiques](https://www.ima-usa.com/cdn/shop/products/ONSV4982__08.jpg?v=1594811112)
Original U.S. Vietnam War M-1952A Flak Body Armor Vest by Stein Bros - – International Military Antiques
![US protective fragmentation body armour, M-1952a, 1955 (c) | Online Collection | National Army Museum, London US protective fragmentation body armour, M-1952a, 1955 (c) | Online Collection | National Army Museum, London](https://collection.nam.ac.uk/images/960/98000-98999/98097.jpg)