Helmet: Is this a joke?

[renesch93]

I found these pictures of a helmet-type supposedly uesd by Sadaam Hussein´s Fedayeen. Is this a joke?

http://nuke.combat-helmets.com/IraqiFedayeen/tabid/100/Default.aspx

[Mofreaka]

Looks like Darth Vaders helmet. lol.

[SBL]

http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/showthread.php?t=31684

[Kevlarhead]

Well, it´s no joke. They really were in use. Today they go fo a smaller fortune on ebay among collectors, btw.

[Skutatos]

No, they were actually used:
http://www.unc.edu/~sstaff/images/vader.jpg

Made of fiberglass and pretty much useless for protection.

[CamoDeafie]

i now wonder if they could be combined with soviet/warsaw-bloc gas masks......;)

[click]

Vader helmet with US style suspension system FTW!

[LineDoggie]

Those are worth a pretty penny to collectors

[Titani]

Saddam was impressed with the movie... LoL

[James]

No, they were actually used:
http://www.unc.edu/~sstaff/images/vader.jpg

Made of fiberglass and pretty much useless for protection.

I went into the USMC when most of the young GWI vets were getting out, One Corporal who was out processing from my platoon had a souvenir helmet; it looked like a regular Steel Pot type helmet, but it was also just fiber glass, more like an old helmet liner.

[JJB1970]

Very real and as Linedoggie said worth some serious $$$$ to collectors.

I am not sure if I'll be able to do it today, but I'll try to take photos of our complete uniform before I go home.

[Soldat_Américain]

Lord Helmut where art thou?

[Recceboy]

Dark Helmet would be proud.............

[PhillyMobster]

one of those used to be on display in my chowhall until someone jacked it. can't blame them.

[victor1-1actual]

looks like an old turkish ww1 helmet

[JJB1970]

I managed to get what we have pulled out and I managed to get a few photos for you.

http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii224/fenderwreck/DSC_0241.jpghttp://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii224/fenderwreck/DSC_0244.jpg
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii224/fenderwreck/DSC_0245.jpghttp://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii224/fenderwreck/DSC_0248.jpg
The helmet is basically plastic fiberglass and to my knowledge it was ceremonial and not intended for fighting.

http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii224/fenderwreck/DSC_0235.jpghttp://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii224/fenderwreck/DSC_0249.jpg
My understanding is that this is was their more typical headgear.

http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii224/fenderwreck/DSC_0225.jpg
Horrible photo of the black coveralls (I only had 20 minutes:-(). Rank insignia could be worn and displayed on shoulder boards. I have seen them with medals on the chest. Web belts and pouches would be worn over the coveralls. I didn't pull them out because they look like belts and pouches. Black leather combat boots were worn (possibly sandals in late-2003?)--we have the boots but I didn't pull them out--they look like black combat boots.p-)

http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii224/fenderwreck/DSC_0228.jpg
Another set of black coveralls--slightly different (but a similarly horrible photo).

So, yes the helmet is historically real. I have no direct firsthand experience with them--I've only handled the items as "war trophies" and historical artifacts.

Anyhow, my point is that this stuff was "real" and not made up. There just might be a few around on this forum that can tell you a bit more.

Cheers.

[Jarhead]

^^ Thanks for posting.

[panzrman]

I went into the USMC when most of the young GWI vets were getting out, One Corporal who was out processing from my platoon had a souvenir helmet; it looked like a regular Steel Pot type helmet, but it was also just fiber glass, more like an old helmet liner.


Like this?

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii182/BraveRifles85/Iraq2/DSC06739.jpg
http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii182/BraveRifles85/Iraq2/DSC06738.jpg
http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii182/BraveRifles85/Iraq2/DSC06736.jpg


They seem to like the cheap, lightweight helmets. Not good for crap as far as what a helmet is supposed to be though. Here is a more recent one, and was used by the then Special Police Commando, now known as the National Police...

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii182/BraveRifles85/Iraq2/DSC06741.jpg
http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii182/BraveRifles85/Iraq2/DSC06742.jpg

[miguelencanarias]

Like this?

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii182/BraveRifles85/Iraq2/DSC06739.jpg
http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii182/BraveRifles85/Iraq2/DSC06738.jpg
http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii182/BraveRifles85/Iraq2/DSC06736.jpg


They seem to like the cheap, lightweight helmets. Not good for crap as far as what a helmet is supposed to be though. Here is a more recent one, and was used by the then Special Police Commando, now known as the National Police...
This is a Iraqi-made M90 helmet, made with a mixture of balistic carlon and fiberglass. They were more resistant than the previous model, the M80, and its outer design is clearly based on the US M1. Their liners were at first Riddell-type and later a cradle system.

[miguelencanarias]

As for the Darth-Vader helmet, find here lots of pics and in-deep study (alas, in Spanish):
http://www.cascoscoleccion.com/iraq/iradarva.htm

[Connaught Ranger]

Iraqi Fedayeen Ballistic Helmet.

During the recent Gulf War the Iraqi Fedayeen were created as an "elite paramilitary" unit and deployed on the Bassora Front.

These troops were issued with a new light ballistic fiber helmet that resembled the "Darth Vader" helmet from the Star Wars movies.

On the right side of the helmet is an oval badge with the inscription "The Lord, the Homeland, the Leader."

Info on the Fedayeen:-


http://www.militaryp...read.php?t=1359 (http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/showthread.php?t=1359)

The helmets were about as much use as an ashtray on a motorbike. rofl


Connaught Ranger :)

[Connaught Ranger]

looks like an old turkish ww1 helmet

The Turkish style were modified from the German steel helmet M 16 design, and produced under license in Turkey, these too are considered rare and command a nice price amongst collectors in there original state.

Connaught Ranger.:)

[kramer]

Badmother****ingass. I want one.

[crazyman]

I asked a couple Iraqis I advised about it once...basically, Udai and Qoussay were star wars nuts, and so they made the call on the helmets

[JJB1970]

^^That's basically the same thing I have been told. I don't know if this is true or not--it might just be fancy storytelling--but I read somewhere that they (Fedayeen) used to march to the Star Wars "Imperial March" music. It might not be true, but by all accounts Udai and Qoussay were nutty enough.

[crazyman]

Even if that last bit about the imperial march isn't true....I'm just going to pretend it is, and laugh.

[oregongrunt]

The Fedayeen that I saw in Hilla and Baghdad wore black scarfs on their faces with those blackcoveralls. They didn't have the belt in them though. Only a few guys had the helmets on. They sure liked using those RPG-7s on us!