Thermal Responses of Tank Crewman Operating with Microclimate Cooling under Simulated NBC Conditions in the Desert and Tropics

摘要

As part of the overall field testing of the M1E1 tank, evaluations were made of the thermal responses of crewmen wearing an air-cooled system (vest and ventilated facepiece) designed by the U.S. Army Natick Research, Development and Engineering Center (USANRDEC). Crewmen performed continuous operations for up to 12 hours in MOPP level 4 over the CVC uniform. Testing took place in both desert (Yuma Proving Grounds, AZ) and tropic (Tropic Test Center, Republic of Panama) environments. During the two desert tests, ambient temperature ranged from 23-37 C and from 26-38 C with relative humidities from 20-60%, and 22-64% respectively. During the first desert test, the equipment used to cool the air to the USANRDEC system was insufficient. Regardless, when the test was aborted after 7.5 hours, the greatest core temperature (T sub re) increase was 0.2 C. During the second desert test, the mean increase in T sub re was 0.1 C over 12 hours. The tropic test was carried out with ambient conditions of 27-36 C db, 40-81% rh. The crewmen exhibited a decrease in T sub re during the first hour in the tank and then a mean increase of 0.5 C over the next 11 hours. This was with the M1E1's air conditioning system providing air which had not been cooled to specifications. These results indicate that the air-cooled system designed by USANRDEC increases the capabilities of tank crewmen operating in MOPP level 4 in both desert and tropic environments.