Registered Phenomena Code: 712
Object Class: Alpha-White
Hazard Types:
Containment Protocols: RPC-712 is to be kept at Site-002 on a mannequin display head in a 1.7 meter by 1.7 meter display case when not in use for experiments or personnel protection. Due to the anomalous properties of RPC-712, personnel are allowed to wear it with permission from one Level 3 researcher if an experiment involves the possibility of ballistic damage to the head.
Description: RPC-712 is a British "Brodie" steel helmet manufactured in 1940. RPC-712’s anomalous properties are consistently present even when no one is wearing it. RPC-712 appears to be immune to all conventional ballistic damage up to .50 BMG (see Test Logs 712-1), as well as some, but not all non-conventional ballistic damage (See Test Logs 712-2). RPC-712 is not immune to large explosives (See Test Logs 712-2). RPC-712 does, however, exhibit signs of general wear, with minor pre-existing dents possibly caused by shrapnel or debris, and a non-removable mud stain near the back of RPC-712. RPC-712 is different from regular steel upon tests of the metal composing the helmet. It appears to be constructed of an alloy composed of mostly iron, with titanium, platinum, gold, and some unidentified metals (See Test Log 712-3). RPC-712 has a name, William █████, written on the leather inside, however, records show that this was not the name of the P.O.W that originally possessed the helmet. Below that, "God Save The King!" is written. Due to RPC-712's anomalous property to completely absorb the energy of bullets (See Test Logs 712-4), the Authority is currently testing the applications of a replicated material as body armor. (See Test Logs 712-5).
Discovery:
After its previous owner was captured by German soldiers in 1943, RPC-712 was intended to be used for target practice by the 1st Infanterie Division, the occupiers of the Stalag ███-█ P.O.W. camp. A German Soldier named █████ ██████ fired at it, and was surprised when the bullet did not damage the helmet. He wrote about RPC-712 in his journal. “I shot at the helmet. Nothing happened. I heard a ding, but it is like the bullet vanished…”. RPC-712 was obtained when American soldiers liberated the Stalag ███-█ P.O.W camp in 1945. One of the American soldiers could speak German, and read the journal out of curiosity. The soldier decided to test the statement recorded in the journal, and then searched for the helmet mentioned in the journal. He shot every captured helmet until he eventually "stumbled upon" RPC-712 and fired at it. He was surprised to see that RPC-712 was, in fact, anomalous. After discovering RPC-712 and the journal entry, RPC-712 was sent to the American government, who did testing of their own, and later to the Authority with video evidence of RPC-712's anomalous properties.
Test no. 1: 2/28/1950:
Weapon used: Colt M1911A1 pistol, .45 ACP
Effect: No damage observed on RPC-712
Test no. 2: 4/9/1951
Weapon used: M1 Garand, .30-06 Springfield
Effect: No damage observed on RPC-712
Tests on RPC-712 were stopped until 7/6/1984, due to lack of caliber variety at the disposal of the RPC Authority.
Test no. 3: 7/6/1984
Weapon used: Barrett M82A1 anti material rifle, .50 BMG
Effect: Dent left on RPC-712, no critical damage to its structure, however.
Test no. 4: 7/7/1984
Weapon used: Smith and Wesson model 29, .44 magnum
Effect: No damage besides previous dent observed on RPC-712.
Test no. 5: 8/7/1984
Weapons used: Beretta 92, Smith and Wesson 686, Colt M16A2, Simonov Sks, H&K G3, Dragunov SVD, and Remington 870. Calibers: 9mm, .357, 5.56, 7.62x39, 7.62x51, 7.62x54, 12 gauge buckshot
Effect: No damage besides previous dent observed on RPC-712. Conventional Ballistic Tests concluded.
Test no. 6: 8/8/1984
Weapon used: Franchi SPAS-12, 12 gauge slug
Effect: Minor dent left on RPC-712, no critical damage to its structure.
Test no. 7: 8/9/1984
Weapon used: Colt M16A2, 5.56 incendiary
Effect: Burn marks left on RPC-712, No dents besides the previous ones were noted, marks have since been cleaned off
Test no. 8: 8/11/1984
Weapon used: Ruger 10-22 Rifle, .22lr minor explosive rounds
Effect: Very small dents left on helmet. Burn marks from previous test cleaned up. No larger explosive calibers are to be used, due to fears of Neutralizing RPC-712.
Test no. 9: 2/21/1990
Weapon used: unnamed prototype, given by FN Herstal, 5.7x28mm
Effect: No damage besides previous dents observed on RPC-712.
Test no. 10: 5/17/1995
Weapon used: Desert Eagle pistol, .50AE
Effect: Miniscule dent left on RPC-712.
Test no. 11: 7/4/1997
Weapon used: Lahti L39 Anti tank rifle, 20mm
Effect: The rifle was purposely aimed at the left side of RPC-712. A small piece of the out-most diameter of RPC-712 chipped off.
Test no. 12: 7/4/1997
Weapon used: Beretta 92FS, 9mm (this test was to confirm that RPC-712 was not neutralized.)
Effect: No damage from the 9mm rounds observed on RPC-712. Non-Neutralization confirmed.
Test Log 712-3:
Date: 9/18/2007
The chipped piece of RPC-712 was scanned with a Metal Composition Analyzer, showing 4 existing known elements, with 3 unknown elements. The elements were Iron, Platinum, Gold, And Titanium. The 3 unknown elements were analyzed for their composition, showing no amounts of anything on the periodic table present, except for the second unknown element, which included trace amounts of Uranium.
Test Log 712-4:
Date: 10/13/2007
RPC-712 was placed upon a scale and filmed by thermal imaging cameras. Researcher █████ was assigned to fire at RPC-712 with a Beretta 92FS, the baseline testing gun. █████ fired at RPC-712 five times and then proceeded to observe the effects. the thermal cameras showed the footage of the bullets hitting RPC-712, and then vanishing, with the energy being completely absorbed by RPC-712. The scale showed no change in mass.
Date: 2/13/2008
After the results of 712-4, The authority saw the potential of RPC-712 replication-based body armor. The chipped piece of RPC-712 was examined once more, with researchers noting every detail of the unknown elements. Many replication materials were tested, with tests still ongoing.
Date: 2/14/2008
The first replication material was made into an armor plate and inserted into a standard security vest. A D class was assigned to put on the vest. Researcher █████ Fired a single 9mm round at the vest. The replication material instantly shattered, fragmenting inside of the D class. the D class was declared dead moments later.
Date: 5/6/2009
The second replication material was made into an armor plate and inserted into a standard security vest. As with before, A D class was assigned to put on the vest. Researcher █████ again fired a single 9mm round at the replication plate. The bullet initially did no damage to the plate or the D class, but, it burst into flames exactly 5 minutes and 41 seconds after, burning the D class alive.
Date: 8/17/2012
The third replication material was made into an armor plate and inserted into a standard security vest. As with the other two tests, A D class was assigned to put it on. Researcher █████ fired a single 9mm round at the vest. The D class reported pain. the vest was taken off and inspected. The tests showed identical results to ones of a ballistic vest with an AR500 steel plate inserted. The D class was sent back to his cell, unharmed.
Date: 4/21/2016
The fourth and final (As of 4/21/2016) replication material was made into an armor plate and inserted into a standard security vest. as with the other 3 tests, A D class was assigned to put on the vest. Researcher █████ fired at the vest with a single 9mm round. The D class reported slight pain. The vest was taken off and inspected. The fourth replication material showed better resistance results than any military or commercially available armor plate, and production of this material is slated to begin if a better alternative is not found.
