life jacket
Report a Mistake- Object Number 19730289-005
- Event 1939-1945 Second World War
- Affiliation --
- Artist / Maker / Manufacturer --
- Date Made --
- Category Distribution and transportation artifacts
- Sub-category Water transportation accessory
- Department Arms and Technology
- Museum CWM
- Service Component Royal Canadian Navy
- Caption Royal Canadian Navy Life Vest
- Additional Information In 1943, the Royal Canadian Navy introduced this pattern of life vest, which largely replaced the inflatable life belt. The life vest's design incorporated improvements learned through bitter experience. A collar (top) kept an unconscious wearer's head out of the water, while a small blinking red light, missing from this vest, helped rescuers locate survivors. A hook and line attached to the vest allowed survivors to attach themselves to floating objects like life rafts. A groin pad (bottom) helped reduce injuries caused by explosions of depth charges.