Sustained operations of artillery crews in NBC and non-NBC environments

The capability of artillery crews to perform fire missions was studied as a function of sustained time on the task and clothing condition. Crews wearing either the standard Army field duty uniform (BDU) or a chemical protective ensemble (MOPP gear) attempted to conduct missions for up to 24 hours. Each of three MOPP crews were able to perform for only a limited time (about 2 hours), primarily because they had problems working in a hot environment (approximately 90 degrees F). A BDU crew completed its scenario, which was conducted under similar environmental conditions. Times to fire rounds were much greater in the MOPP crews than the BDU crew, exemplifying the performance difficulties associated with wearing a bulky, restrictive ensemble that can degrade important skills and functions.