Ventilatory Requirements of M1 Tank Crew Members during Simulated Battlefield Conditions
Abstract
Minute ventilation (vE) and heart rate values were recorded in armored vehicle crewmen during treadmill, armcrank, and a simulated loading experiment. The crewmen were found to have lower aerobic capacity but greater muscular efficiency than control subjects, but did not demonstrate greater upper body performance than controls. These results suggest that experiments loading ammunition in armored vehicles would not be restricted to trained crewmen. The laboratory experiment was followed by a field exercise in which tank crews performed strenuous loading exercises in order to simulate a defensive combat scenario. Minute ventilation, heart rate, and oxygen consumption were measured using OxylogR/VitalogR instrumentation. Mean maximal minute ventilation for loaders approximated 47 1pm, with a mean VE of 35 1pm. Recommendations were made for incorporating VE data into estimates of alveolar ventilation as a basis for estimates of carbon monoxide exposure utilizing the Coburn-Forster-Kane equation and for estimating peak inspiratory requirements when crewmen are utilizing supplied air systems. Keywords: Ventilation requirements; Military workload; Minute ventilation; MILSTD 1472C; Tank loaders.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 15, 1989
- Accession Number
- ADA217595
Entities
People
- David A. Smart
- David L. Parmer
- Gary R. Ripple
- Kenneth G. Torrington
- Robert H. Svihlik
Organizations
- United States Army Biological Warfare Laboratories