Combat helmet

A modern French combat helmet

.

A late fifteenth century sallet.

A combat helmet is a type of personal armor designed specifically for use during conflict. Helmets are among the oldest forms of personal protective equipment, and are known to have been worn by the Assyrians around 900BC, followed by the ancient Greeks and Romans, throughout the Middle Ages, and up to the end of the 1600s by many combatants.^[1] Their materials and construction became more advanced as weapons became more and more powerful. Initially constructed from leather and brass, and then bronze and iron during the Bronze and Iron Ages, they soon came to be made entirely from forged steel in many societies after about 950AD.^[2] At that time, they were purely military equipment, protecting the head from cutting blows with swords, flying arrows, and low-velocity musketry.

Military use of helmets declined after 1670, and rifled firearms ended their use by foot soldiers after 1700.^[1] By the 18th century, cavalry units often wore steel body cuirasses, and frequently metal skull protectors under their hats, called "secrets". The Prussian leather spiked helmet, or Pickelhaube, offered almost no protection from the increased use of heavy artillery during World War I, and in 1916 was replaced by the German steel helmet, or Stahlhelm, and afterwards it was worn merely for tradition.^[3][4][5]

The Napoleonic era saw ornate cavalry helmets reintroduced for cuirassiers and dragoons in some armies; they continued to be used by French forces during World War I as late as 1915, when they were replaced by the new French Adrian helmet.^[6] It was soon followed by the adoption of similar steel helmets by the other warring nations.

US Marine Corps M1917 Brodie helmet

World War I and its increased use of heavy artillery had renewed the need for steel helmets, which were quickly introduced by all the combatant nations for their foot soldiers. In the 20th century, such helmets offered protection for the head from shrapnel and spent, or glancing bullets.^[7]

Today's militaries often use high-quality helmets made of ballistic materials such as Kevlar and Aramid, which have excellent bullet and fragmentation stopping power. Some helmets also have good non-ballistic protective qualities, though many do not.^[8] Non-ballistic injuries may be caused by many things, such as concussive shockwaves from explosions, physical attacks, motor vehicle accidents, or falls^[9].

Types

Current

A modern British Army Mk. 6 Helmet

A modern German Army Gefechtshelm

United States soldier wearing the MICH TC-2000.

A side view of a Vietnam-era M1 helmet

6th century Spangenhelm

Model	Origins	Users	Notes
SPECTRA helmet	France	used by the French Army, Danish Army, United Nations peacekeeping forces[10]
MICH Combat Helmet	United States	developed for use by Special Operations Forces by the United States Army and became the basis of the Advanced Combat Helmet (ACH)[11][12][13]
Lightweight Helmet	United States	used by United States Marine Corps[14]
Mk. 6 Helmet	United Kingdom	used by British Armed Forces (British Army)[15]
BK-6 Helmet	Croatia	used by the Croatian Army
Enhanced Combat Helmet	Australia	[16]
CG634	Canada	Used by the Canadian Forces since 1998. [17][18]
PASGT	United States	Used by the USAF, but is being replaced by the ACH[19] US Air Force[20]
GOLFO Military of Chile	( Chile)	PASGT variant
QGF03	People's Republic of China PLA
QGF02	People's Republic of China	PLA
SSh68	Russia	Steel helmet Russian Army Russia[21]
6B7-1L	Russia	Kevlar helmet Russian army and Naval Infantry Russia[21]
STSh-81	Russia	Titanium helmet Russian Special Forces Russia
Kolpak 2	Russia	Kevlar helmet Russian army
OR 201	Israel	Kevlar helmet Israel Defense Forces
KASDA	Israel	Kevlar helmet Israel Defense Forces
Gefechtshelm Schuberth B826	Germany	used by the Bundeswehr, Swiss Army, Dutch Army and other countries - PASGT type helmet
MARTE	Spain	Protec type helmet replacing PASGT type helmets
Sistema Compositi SEPT-2 PLUS	Italy	used by the Italian Armed Forces[22]
Sistema Compositi SUPERUBOTT	Italy	used by Special Units (particularly GIS) of the Italian Law Enforcement community[23]
Tecnoplast TD-71	Italy	used by the Italian Law Enforcement community for riot control[24]
Type 88 Helmet	Japan	used by the JSDF - PASGT type helmet
M80 Helmet	Iraq	Plastic and cloth helmet, limited use
MKU helmets	India	used by over 40 countries [25]
M87	South Africa	Kevlar helmet South African Army
Hjälm 90	Sweden	used by the Swedish Armed Forces

Modern, no longer in general U.S. use, but is issued when new helmets are not available^[26]

Model	Origins	Users	Notes
PASGT helmet	United States	Army and Navy,  Australia[27][16]Australian Army

World War I - Vietnam

Model	Origins	Users	Notes
Adrian helmet	France	[6] used in  France,  Belgium,  Japan,  Kingdom of Serbia,  Yugoslavia,  United States,  Soviet Union,  Italy
Brodie helmet	United Kingdom	used in  United Kingdom,  Canada,  United States,  Australia [7]
Mk III Turtle helmet	Canada,  United Kingdom
Bulgarian M36 Helmet		Bulgaria[28]
M1 helmet	United States	Army, Marine Corps;  Canada [29]
Pickelhaube	Germany
Soviet helmets during World War II		Soviet Union
Stahlhelm[3][4][5]	Germany	Chile
Hełm wz. 31		Poland

Medieval and early modern period military

Model	Origins	Users	Notes
Bascinet
Burgonet[30]
Capeline		a steel skullcap worn by archers
Cervelliere
Great helm[31]
Kabuto	Japan	Samurai helmet
Pickelhaube[3][4][5]
Sallet
Spangenhelm[32]

Ancient military

Various periods

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Military helmets

External links

• Modern military helmets