Abstract: In a body armor assembly and method of forming the body armor assembly a strike plate is provided that is formed of a number of sheets layered on each other. Each sheet of the strike plate is formed of fibers having a parallel orientation greater than 70%. The sheets are oriented such that the parallel-oriented fibers of all of the plural sheets are oriented or aligned in a single direction. The body armor assembly includes a backing plate formed of a metal or a metal alloy with randomly oriented atoms, or fibers that have a random orientation. The backing plate and the strike plate are joined, or bonded, or cross-linked together. Each strike plate sheet can be formed of ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibers. The backing plate can be formed of polyethylene thermoplastic fibers.