Powered Combat Vest

	Warning! This article has yet to be cleaned up to a higher standard of quality, per our Cleanup Project. It may contain factual errors and nonsense, as well as spelling, grammar and structure issues, or simply structure problems. Reader's discretion is advised until fixing is done.
	You can help clean up this page by correcting spelling and grammar, removing factual errors and rewriting sections to ensure they are clear and concise, and moving some elements when appropriate. Please notify the administrators before removing this template.

	This article may contain original research, unverified claims or fanon.
	Please improve the article by adding references and/or removing unverified information.

Powered Combat Vest
General information
Faction	Hazardous Environment Combat Unit
Usage
Used by	HECU Adrian Shephard Military Police
Game information
Entity	item_suit

 

"As you can see, you are not dead. Your PCV absorbed the damage at the cost of some of its power. Keep your PCV charged and your chances of survival in the field are very high."

― Drill Instructor Sharp

The Powered Combat Vest, also simply known as the PCV, is a protective vest worn by the Hazardous Environment Combat Unit Marines and the Military Police in Half-Life and its expansions.

Overview

The PCV in situ.

Upon military approval, it entered use by the Hazardous Environment Combat Unit and certain elements of the Military Police.

Part of the combat equipment used by the HECU in their initial incursion into Black Mesa and during the events that occur throughout Half-Life storyline, the PCV is designed to protect the user from chemical, biological, radiological and physical threats during operations in the unit's defined battlespace. The vest increases the effectiveness and versatility of the user, allowing them to operate in environments that are outside the normal bounds of the regular infantry.

The PCV is compatible with a gas mask resembling the M40 Field Protective Mask with built-in night-vision goggles. In addition, the PCV includes a Geiger counter, morphine administrator (which allows the soldier to function normally even after serious injury), tactical radio, and a head-up display (HUD) in the protective mask lens which tracks the user's medical condition and weapon ammunition. The vest contains an onboard computer system that constantly monitors the user's health and vital signs, and reacts to any changes in the user's condition, though, unlike the HEV, there is no audible computer which alerts the user and instead uses the HUD in the helmet. Like the HEV, it absorbs 66% of the damage the user takes.

It may be noted that the PCV is comparable to the HEV Suit, which is worn by several Black Mesa personnel, including Gordon Freeman. This similarity is mostly attributed to the types of equipment included in both. In addition, the PCV's armor charge is also rechargeable at civilian, military, or government electrical chargers, including those that are designed specifically for HEV Suits.

List of appearances

Main games

• Half-Life (Retcon)
• Half-Life: Opposing Force (First identified as Powered Combat Vest)
• Half-Life: Blue Shift
• Half-Life: Decay

Other

• Half-Life: Day One (First appearance) (Retcon)
• Half-Life: Uplink (Non-canonical appearance) (Retcon)
• Half-Life 2: Raising the Bar

See also

• Hazardous Environment Suit