An armour
vest includes front and rear portions that realize or otherwise
mount armour plate or soft armour pads over a wearer's vital organs. A floatation bladder is stored and deployed under the protection of the armour. The armour
vest is expandable to accommodate and at least partially protect the floatation bladder when it is inflated. In either a single or multi-stage process, the armour
vest's volume is increased by automatically releasing buckles that increase separation between the front and rear portions around the
waist and, in an embodiment, also at the shoulders of the armour vest. In a deflated state, shoulder connectors provide a load-bearing connection between the front and rear portions of the armour vest. Inflation of the bladder, either manually actuated by pulling a
webbing trigger
handle or automatically with immersion, causes a different load-bearing shoulder bridge to be brought into operation at the shoulders of the amour vest. The shoulder bridge is realized by the taking up of folds of fabric, which folds are released with the breaking of the buckle connection. Increased comfort and manoeuvrability are therefore afforded to the wearer of the vest.