'Mamba' Tactical Boot
Conceptualisation
In response to developing technology and constant efforts to improve combat performance, the Lyran Protectorate Research and Development Commission has recently released from testing the 'Mamba' Tactical Boot. The new boot is set to completely replace existing stockpiles and inservice boots with two years.
Development and Background
For nearly fifty years Lyras has utilised the same form of GP boot, in one of four different and evolving marks. The boot was a sizeable step up from the previous GP, which had been inherited from the diverse militaries that had together formed the Lyran state after the disintegration of the Storn League. The new boot, christened 'Mamba' features a revolutionary new design that has been heralded as the most advanced combat boot in the world. User trials, just completed at Lughenti’s Military Testing Area, have found widespread and enthusiastic acceptance for the new boots amongst combatant and non-combatant personnel. Personnel deployed on Exercise Sundered Straits alongside TPF, were the first people in Lyras to wear the new boots, and reports were universally positive, with a number of further suggestions taking advantage of the early phases of production to implement still further advances.
While the old boots have taken the Lyran forces admirably through the major campaigns of the last half century, through Kush, Fehnmar, Verenberg, Londim and Mokastana, they also generated a number of issues – the old boot absorbed moisture like a sponge, drained poorly – an issue for foot hygiene, and was often a very poor fit resulting in twisted toes and blisters. Often, as in many armies, it was a case of the foot ending up fitting the boot, rather than the boot being fitted to the foot.
Field Marshal Wallington, commander of the world-renowned Protectorate Research and Development Commission, stated that the new boots were the result of new experiences, new techniques and new technologies that were previously unavailable and combines all the latest high quality design features.
“The new boots are lighter, more comfortable, far more water resistant, dry out quicker, breath more freely and are superior to any product that we either know or have heard of, currently available, anywhere on the market” he said, in an interview conducted for the Lyran Governmental Trade Department.
Made to the highest technical specifications, ‘Mamba’, which reaches half way up the calf, has triple density rubber soles for better shock absorbency, para-chord strength lacing and fast-locking eyelets which allow the wearer to ‘lock off’ the area to be kept tight on the lower part of the boot. The new boot also offers a choice of moulded footbeds for additional comfort – either tropical climate or cold climate footbeds – and a velcro pocket in the tongue that incorporates a teardrop cushion which can be replaced for comfort, depending on the conditions and the individual wearer’s choice.
A new foot-measuring device that gives very accurate sizing (within five millimeters) has been designed and developed in conjunction with a company based in Casior, Varessa, and it is a development that Colonel Bonham, the podiatrist contracted to the R&D Commission, is particularly happy about. He says the most important thing, from a medical perspective, is a good fit and how this effects the biomechanics of the wearer.
Providing an accurate fit generates far fewer short, medium and long term lower limb problems, and ensures the endurance of combatants in the field. Further, the decreased incidence of blisters and sores lowers the chances of infection, and puts less strain on combat, medical and logistics units in turn, to say nothing of maintaining unit morale. While the sizing system itself has not changed, the new fitting system allows for a wider range of fittings – from two-and-a-half right up to fourteen as well as half sizes and a range of length and width fittings.
The unique combination of blended spidersilk – a spinoff from research into the 'Dauntless' ballistic armour, and Lyran cattle leathers used in the new combat boot was devised by scientists from PR&DC’s Fabric Research Centre in Port Tal. Lieutenant-Colonel Dr. Louis Kostayenkis said that his brief from Executive Command, was for a “high performance leather that was waterproof, highly breathable but still tough and strong. It was for this reason that the recent developments made at Lughenti with reference to spider silk had such interest for us. Not only was the material being produced soft, flexible and breathable, but it was also extraordinarily tough – perfect material for footwear”.
The resultant boot was a combination of spider silk and cow leather – cow for its thickness and substance and spider silk for its extreme toughness. Special attention was paid to a) enhancing and preserving the strength in the cow leathers spidersilk and b)waterproofing, in the manufacturing process while still preserving the breathability of the footwear. The process involves treating the leathers with a silicon compound which in turns makes the leather more water repellent yet still able to ‘breathe’.
Numerous flexing and waterproofing tests were also undertaken by PR&DC to ensure that the leather lived up to the specifications taking particular note of the infantry anecdote that “one kilo on the foot is like ten kilos on the back.”
The new boots bring together a range of local companies and technologies and will result in a 98% Lyran content. The manufacturing facility will be Highcairn MZ994, although MZ995 and MZ996 are nominated as export centres, should demand exceed the supply from MZ994.
In addition to being the cutting edge in military, parmilitary and police footwear, the new boots could also find a ready market with farmers, miners and hikers.
Features
The 'Mamba' boot incorporates a large number of features, designed both individually and in concert to maximise wearability, durability, foot protection and mobility. These features include;
1) An air cushioned midsole, utilising millions of tiny air bubbles to give shock absorption, energy return & a high level of heel-shock reduction at the point of impact thereby reducing lower limb injuries and 'road wear'.
2) Tough Lyran designed outsole for a combination of durability and protection.
3) Aggressive sole design and hi-traction compound for generation of superior grip, slip resistance and durability.
4) Improved protection with a thicker sole & profile. An anti-pronation profile has been incorporated into the moulded sole for additional torsional stability of the foot.
5) More reliability of performance despite wear, through usage of a high pressure direct-molded sole, with across-linked bond to each leather fibre.
6) Orthopedic comfort by means of the unique design and sizing system. 'Mamba' aims to set new benchmarks by applying a logical and systematic approach to matching available boots to the wide range of foot shapes and sizes. As a consequence, the system aims to improve the long term health and performance of the foot and related structures, and by extension the combatant. The anatomic sole profile, quality of components and ergonomic boot shape is designed to reduce arch movement/collapse (sagging) and subsequent foot fatigue and referred leg and back ache. This profile encourages normal foot biomechanics, including maintaining forefoot flexibility, fore-to-hind foot mobility, and heel stability.
7) Waterproof / Breathable Full Grain Bovine Leather
8 ) Waterproofing agents added in the tanning process - giving low maintenance high performance upper and fast drying xylane-treated spidersilk mesh sides.
9) Nonferrous, corrosion resistant speed-lacing hardware and a locking cleat system for rapid donning of footwear if required.
10) One-way valve breather holes for rapid water exclusion, promoting hygiene, comfort and personnel endurance, in addition to allowing extrusion of the weight that water represents.
11) A padded collar for comfort and leg seal to mid-calf.
12) Padded tongue inserts for instep comfort. This insert is cushioned and lightweight, and is removable for fit adjustment.
13) Shock absorbing foot-beds with leather lining, contoured heel cup, arch support and ventilation holes for additional comfort, support & hygiene.
14) Superior heel support, with better and longer lasting lateral stability and heel shape due to the triple layer heel counter design with no rough edges.
15) Anatomic support by way of trilaminated insole and passivated laddered shank to grant extra torsion strength and arch/ tendon support.
16) Improved penetration resistance, derived from the extruded ultra-lightweight spidersilk core in the insole.
Export
'Mamba' tactical boots are available from Lyran Arms at NS$200 per pair.
DPRs are available at NS$20bn.
OOC: With thanks to Major Bielenberg at DSTO, Canberra. For helping in so many ways.
