Trauma plates with soft armor

[Leatherneck556]

I've never understood these. What's the deal? Do you need a trauma plate when running a soft-armor-only system (like a concealable vest)?

[DocGKR]

No, you don't. A "trauma" plate may be useful in stopping ice picks and other such objects. Depending on the type, it might also provide higher threat level ballistic protection over the heart and great vessels.

[Leatherneck556]

Thanks, Doc. I had always read something along the lines of "you need a trauma plate because even if the kevlar stops a round, it will still break your ribs and damage your organs." I had always been skeptical of that notion.

[TOM1911]

The original intent of trauma plates in soft armor are to spread the impact loading over a greater surface area lessesning the pointed blunt trauma cocentration in a small area that would promote fracture of the sternum and possibly causing secondary missile damage to the heart and pericardium....