Shrimp armor

[COL Jagdog]

Five or six years ago, new blood-clotting military bandages were developed that would instantly stop a spurting wound
if one applied the bandage and kept good pressure on the wound -- the bandages contain chitin, which is found in crustacean shells and is a very effective blood-clotting agent.

The peacock mantis shrimp is now being studied for it's amazing abilities -- instead of having forelegs that end in small claws, the forelegs (at their ends) look like boxing gloves -- this brightly colored tropical shrimp (about 3-4 inches long) is renowned for it's ability to throw "punches" with it's forelegs that can smash thru clam shells, crush fish skulls, and shatter aquarium glass (which is how I first heard about them several years ago) -- these punches are thrown at 45 mph with 200 pounds of force -- incredible considering the density of water. Imagine Mike Tyson being able to throw a punch that would deeply dent the armor of an M-1 Abrams tank - Studies indicate that the mantis shrimp can throw about 50,000 punches before wearing out the foreleg (it then grows a new one). The military studies are centered on the lightweight, impact-resistant qualities of the shrimp's foreleg "boxing glove".

Potential military applications are said to include shock-resistant body armor (to prevent internal injuries), concussion-preventing helmets, armor plate for naval guns, helicopter/aircraft armor plate.

The shrimp's foreleg "boxing glove" has an exterior layer of hard crystalline minerals and two inner layers of softer materials that are layered/woven to absorb impact.

The peacock mantis shrimp have not been noted to bite off the ears of their opponents, however.

 

[jkc]

Discoveries like these are a good reminder of why we ought to protect seemingly insignificant small creatures and their ecosystems. Endangered Species Act enforcement may often seem silly or heavy handed, but it's the best tool we have for the worthwhile purpose.

 

[MrAmbassador]

A shrimp cocktail that will knock you out.

 

[Rule3]

As a keeper of Marine (saltwater fish and coral) the Mantis Shrimp is a evil hitchhiker on Live Rock (from Coral Reefs) if you stick your hand in a tank that has one hiding they can inflict a severe wound.

amazing mantis shrimp video - YouTube

 

[Stevens]

I believe that substance is used in Quik Clot dressings. I keep a couple of them in my car, home, and boat because I take blood thinners and bleed alot from even small cuts. I figure I would need one of these in case of a deep cut.
Supposedly they were developed during the Iraq war.
Never had to try one yet they are quite expensive.
Steve W

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

I believe that substance is used in Quik Clot dressings. I keep a couple of them in my car, home, and boat because I take blood thinners and bleed alot from even small cuts. I figure I would need one of these in case of a deep cut.
Supposedly they were developed during the Iraq war.
Never had to try one yet they are quite expensive.
Steve W

Actually they have come down in price a good bit and are a bit friendlier-the old ones could develop a great deal of reactive heat. I put together a first aid kit a few years ago for an offshore sailboat race and some of this stuff was included.

 

[zan516]

I use powdered cayenne pepper made into a paste to stop bleeders in minutes. It hurts less than washing the wound in water.

 

[DeadAye]

Sounds more like the shrimp has brass knucks than boxing gloves --- Just sayin'

 

[Sebago Son]

I haz a pretty good use fo' shrimps too....

 

[DeathGrip]

I haz a pretty good use fo' shrimps too....

DG likes this with beer.

 

[COL Jagdog]

I believe that substance is used in Quik Clot dressings. I keep a couple of them in my car, home, and boat because I take blood thinners and bleed alot from even small cuts. I figure I would need one of these in case of a deep cut.
Supposedly they were developed during the Iraq war.
Never had to try one yet they are quite expensive.
Steve W

Yes, that was where I first saw them - we were each issued one and had to turn them back in when we left theater.

 

[LVSteve]

Jagdog, what's your take on Dragon Skin armour?

 

[COL Jagdog]

Drew,

Looks like a great start of a shrimp dinner.

Shrimp stew, shrimp burger, shrimp etoufee, shrimp jambalaya,
shrimp and grits, shrimp sauce piquante, fried shrimps,
shrimp poboy ........................................................

By the way, my wife and sons are huge Maine fans -- they spent two weeks there last year -- Booth Bay area.

Bernie

 

[COL Jagdog]

Jagdog, what's your take on Dragon Skin armour?

I never tried it -- some of the SF guys/Delta guys with MNF-I
(Multi-National Forces - Iraq) that I met and worked with on different projects (how to work the interrogations process and how to collect/process evidence on bad guys they policed up so we could prosecute them in the CCCI (Central Criminal Court of Iraq) -- had DS armor -- they liked it apparently and I read quite a few articles on it. It is an interesting design vs the commonly used ballistic carrier vests with hard plates.

We, of course, had IBA (Interceptor Body Armor) -- Kevlar carrier vest with front and rear pockets for your SAPI plates
(small arms protective inserts -- boron carbide ceramic armor);
sized to your frame (XS up to XXL). I liked it and was very comfortable with it -- even though it was heavy, it gave me a great deal of peace of mind. I thankfully never had to put it to the "acid" test of taking a 7.62 mm round and seeing how I felt afterwards. Saw some guys saved by it though. My IBA took a few nicks here and there -- tough stuff.

You got really used to wearing it -- kind of like putting your underwear on except it went on last. Under our general orders,
we had to have it available with us everywhere -latrine, chow hall, flag football field, swimming pool, the gym, on and off duty. I have a great picture of me and my troops playing flag football on a rare November afternoon off, on an Iraqi soccer field, with our body armor/weapons arranged on both sidelines (with 2 non-playing troops on both sides guarding it). Felt weird returning to CONUS and dressing every morning
and not having to put IBA on.

Most interesting experience -- an afternoon off at the Republican Palace pool, about 30 troops in the pool, ANQ -37's detect incoming, sirens go off, I am looking at my IBA on a chaise lounge with my weapon about 35 feet away -- dilemma: do I jump out of the pool, grab armor/weapon and dash 50 meters to a bunker or just stay in the pool (it's below ground level, of course) -- I just made a gut call and ordered everyone in the pool to stay put. The rockets arced over us and impacted several hundred meters away, so all was well.
Never thought I would experience a rocket attack wearing just a Speedo (I was a college swimmer).

 

[mwtdvm]

Snapping shrimp

There are also commensal shrimp that live close to anemones that have a well developed pincher that produces a "snap". You can hear it from a couple of feet away and it apparently has enough force to stun a fish or other critter that is in the neighborhood. The shrimp gets a meal and the anemone is protected. I used to tap the anemone with a plastic wand, gently of course and the shrimp would start snapping and come out to "do battle" with whatever was hassling his buddy, the anemone. IIRC they were usually olive drab and had a small USMC crest on their carapace,

 

[Sebago Son]

Drew,

Looks like a great start of a shrimp dinner.

Shrimp stew, shrimp burger, shrimp etoufee, shrimp jambalaya,
shrimp and grits, shrimp sauce piquante, fried shrimps,
shrimp poboy ........................................................

By the way, my wife and sons are huge Maine fans -- they spent two weeks there last year -- Booth Bay area.

Bernie

Bernie, Our shrimp season is mid-winter and the catch has been attenuated over the years. So much so that the market seems to have lost interest and all the canneries closed. I can remember buying them from roadside vendors at 5 pounds for a buck. Nothing like fresh Maine Prawns caught from deep, cold waters. Boothbay is nice... I have friends there and in Wiscasset. I can remember eating too many raw Oysters and drinking too much beer (to do anything about the Oysters ), then falling down the stairs at Geppetto's a thousand times... Drew

 

[OFT II]

Drew, you aren't really drunk until you can fall up the stairs.

 

[Rule3]

There are also commensal shrimp that live close to anemones that have a well developed pincher that produces a "snap". You can hear it from a couple of feet away and it apparently has enough force to stun a fish or other critter that is in the neighborhood. The shrimp gets a meal and the anemone is protected. I used to tap the anemone with a plastic wand, gently of course and the shrimp would start snapping and come out to "do battle" with whatever was hassling his buddy, the anemone. IIRC they were usually olive drab and had a small USMC crest on their carapace,

Snapping Shrimp and Goby (Watchman) fish are "buddies" I have both in my tank.

 

[Sebago Son]

Drew, you aren't really drunk until you can fall up the stairs.

I actually did that once.... at the Casa`Del Norte. I remember the taste of those polished rose marble stairs....

 

[DustyJacket]

I can remember buying them from roadside vendors at 5 pounds for a buck.

My grandfather was a fisherman who lived in Rhode Island.
I stayed with him for a month after his wife died.

We fished and did stuff. One time, coming into Narragansett bay, we came alongside a shrimp boat and bought a newspaper full of shrimp, all the while both boats were moving.........