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This is an overview article, listing content appearing in multiple games. |
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Combat armor is among the best forms of protection in the post-War wasteland. Although extremely expensive, the protection value of this armor and its variants is surpassed only by the few incarnations of power armor. It was designed to sheath the human body as completely as possible in high durability armor.
Background
Construction
Combat armor was designed to sheath the human body as completely as possible in high durability armor. The primary skin of combat armor is composed of complex polymers and ceramics. This hard armor was manufactured as specific plates. The plates were manufactured with a matte-finish olive drab coloring suitable for woodland and/or urban camouflage. These plates are affixed to a flexible body suit interwoven with thermal-dissipative membranes and bulletproof material. This armor looks like the armor worn by Marines in the film Aliens, and it looks more modern than other armor featured in the Fallout series.
The combination armor layers of a suit of adequately-maintained combat armor conferred to the wearer significant protection against most types of damage, including laser, plasma, ballistic (bullets, shrapnel), and blast damage - uncommon for personal armor. Yet, it did so without the extreme weight inherent in most battle armor systems of the 20th and 21st centuries. Combat armor provided outstanding protection at comparatively low weight but high comfort levels.
Pre-War users
Combat armor ad from Fallout d20
Prior to the Great War, Combat Armor was nearly exclusively the property of military forces and police special units. Currently-available historical documentation shows users only in the North American continent, but allied nations were likely to posses identical or similar systems. Combat Armor was the de facto armor of the United States military, issued to all combat soldiers not in the Powered Armor units. Additionally, at least one Canadian partisan was caught on camera wearing a suit of combat armor.
Civilian ownership of Combat Armor was highly restricted. A special permit was required from the BADTFL for private ownership of advanced armors, including Combat Armor.
Considered to be the premier military body armor of wide availability at the time of the War, Combat Armor was nevertheless on its way to obsolescence thanks to the advent of the T-51b version of power armor.
 | The following is based on Fallout PnP d20 and is not canon. |
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According to the cancelled Fallout d20, the Combat Armor was developed in 2051 and a commercial version was available.
| End of information based on Fallout PnP d20 |
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Post-War users
As with all commodities, rarity confers cost. The relatively scarce nature of Combat Armor makes it a valuable item in the Wasteland. Consequently, only those who are either very wealthy, very well-connected, very lucky, or very skilled own Combat Armor, and even for those persons finding a suit can be a task.
Around the time of the Vault Dweller, Combat Armor was extremely rare. The Gun Runners of Adytum owned and wore several sets, and a few merchants had a suit available for sale at extremely high costs. The armor was also used by the Hub police. The Brotherhood Initiates used a superior variant.
By the time of the events surrounding the Chosen One, the armor became more popular, used by the Vault City Guard, New California Rangers, Hubologist guards and even some raiders, as evidence by Bishop's mercenary raider captains and Darion's elite raiders. The selling price was lower, but locating a set of the armor was still difficult. Shops in San Francisco often had a set or two in stock, but usually for $12,000 or more.
In the Capital Wasteland, the combat armor is more commonplace, probably due to the number of military bases and high concentration of armed forces around the D.C. area.
Variants
Basic combat armor
A basic suit of short-sleeved combat armor, with pauldrons and chestplates covering the torso, as well as the forearm guards..
Reinforced combat armor
In this more advanced and expensive pre-War model, the torso is covered by the primary armor assembly, including a split breastplate, pauldrons, gorget, and abdominal ring. The sleeves of the body suit are full sleeves, and include armor plate protection for the upper and lower arms, as well as gloves. The lower body is protected by woven trousers and incorporate no hard armor, save armored boots. In the interests of comfort and maneuverability, the armor encasing the foot and lower leg is articulated, not sealed. While this permits longer wear times and more comfortable and sure footing, it compromises the armor integrity. Consequently, water and other liquids can enter the armor and affect the user.
The helmet is a ballistic assembly, designed to protect the wearer from projectile and energy weapon impacts, bladed weapons, blunt trauma, and concussion. An integrated polarized visor protects the user's eyes from the ordinary battlefield hazards of grit and dust, but also laser blindness and fragments. Helmets also incorporate a combination camera/laser rangefinder unit built into the helmet's right side, just above the ear. Those suits of combat armor surviving in the wasteland still have the housing for that equipment, but no suit has been documented as having working hardware.
Reinforced combat armor mark II
An improved version of the combat armor mark II, it's a rare armor was to be a prototype at the time of the Great War. This suit of armor is even more durable than the standard reinforced combat armor, providing modestly greater protection against all forms of damage. Some of its variants are nearly identical visually to the older model, while others feature a modified design.
Winterized combat armor
This winterized version was used by the United States during the Anchorage Reclamation campaign in Alaska.
Winterized medic combat armor
A special winterized version was used by doctor during the Anchorage Reclamation campaign in Alaska. It closely resembles the winterized combat armor except that it doesn't have the mask and the black goggle for the helmet and have the medical symbol on the back.
Security uniform
A weaker, civilian version of combat armor used by the Tenpenny Tower Security and Rivet City security after the War. The Tenpenny Tower version is very similar to the basic combat armor but with a desert color, while the Rivet City one has a black color and a modified combat helmet resembling a riot helmet.
Talon combat armor
A dark black colored variations of the basic combat armor. The suit bears the Talon Company logo in white on the left breast. There is also a unique version - Lag-Bolt's Combat Armor.
Reilly's Rangers combat armor
A version of the basic combat armor used by Reilly's Rangers. This version offers superior damage resistance and bears the Reilly's Rangers insignia while retaining the standard olive-drab camouflage with matte finish.
Van Graff combat armor
A improved basic combat armor used by the Van Graff family. It is colored matte black for "brand recognition purposes" but has no matching black helmet. It closely resembles the Rivet City security uniform.
Brotherhood combat armor
The Brotherhood of Steel has also developed their own improvement on the Combat armor reinforced. Called, creatively, Brotherhood Armor, this version boasts significantly improved defensive ratings in all forms of damage. However, this armor did not see widespread use as its holdings were zealously restricted to the ranks of the Brotherhood and those who had been of unique assistance to the Brotherhood. Its distinguishing marks includes pale green/grey coloring of the armor panels, blue trim on the chest armor panels, a brilliant silver gorget and under-armor breastplate, and pronounced riveting on the pauldrons.
Sim regen armor
 | The following is based on Fallout 3 cut content. |
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A version cut from the final version of the Fallout 3 add-on, Operation: Anchorage. Identical in appearance to standard combat armor.
Other combat armor models
The armours listed below are similiar in function or design, but otherwise unrelated to the American modular combat armour.
NCR Ranger patrol armor
The NCR Ranger patrol armor is the classic combat armor worn by the NCR Rangers in 2281. A greatly reinforced combat armor with knife sheath on the right chest, a camelback style hydration pouch in the back and the Ranger insignia on both pauldrons.
NCR Veteran Ranger combat armor
Often referred to as the Black Armor, this armor is worn only by the NCR Veteran Rangers in 2281. It consists of the Desert Rangers' traditional duster worn with pre-War LAPD riot armor and a set of rodeo jeans, as seen in some other Ranger Outfits. The helmet that accompanies it is black pre-War military issue, complete with a gas mask and built-in low-light optics.
Urban combat armor
 | The following is based on information from Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel. |
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A recovery combat armor, crafted with Kevlar and metal plating put on a leather armor, created after the Great War and only seen in Texas.