Modern military helmets

[penna]

I am certainly by no means an expert in modern military equipment. It just appeared to me that most helmets in this day and age seem to follow two distinct shapes: the russian/eastern european style, and the american/german "fritz" shaped helmet. The British have their own shape of helmet. Am I correct in this observation? i only ask because i am a modeler and wanted to start work on some Coalition troops in Iraq.

thank you for any help

perhaps i should clarify, i'm speaking more of the western countries than anything else.

[Knutsen]

There's a spanish website :
www.cascoscoleccion.com
It's about 20th century military helmets. It's pretty interesting, but it's in Spanish. Anyways it's easy to find the pictures even if you can't speak spanish.

[penna]

thank you Knutsen, i'm not a spanish speaker but i'll do my best

[Deuterium]

Don't forget the Iraqi Spaceballs helmet.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid58/p42e618da277b2f9b40b372ef15596654/fc672a79.jpg

[Rantanplan]

What scale are you modeling Penna?

[Knutsen]

Deuterium wtf?? is that spaceball helmet real??
hahaha, i had a good laugh.

[KDF]

the helmet is for real..among collectors its known as the 'Iraqi Darth Vader', alot of them flooded places like ebay last year. Its a practically useless helmet made of fibreglass. Was issued to units of the Saddam Fayadeen and even has a little rubber Saddam crest on the side. So far nobody has given a good explanation for the Star Wars looks..maybe somone just thought it was cool or something.

[Lazy Lob]

I am certainly by no means an expert in modern military equipment. It just appeared to me that most helmets in this day and age seem to follow two distinct shapes: the russian/eastern european style, and the american/german "fritz" shaped helmet. The British have their own shape of helmet. Am I correct in this observation? i only ask because i am a modeler and wanted to start work on some Coalition troops in Iraq.

thank you for any help

perhaps i should clarify, i'm speaking more of the western countries than anything else.

Some east European countries are going fritz. Some Baltic states have the PSGT and Poland has its own version. The Swiss are swapping their M71 for a Fritz. Even the Chinese are at it.

[Scrim]

I remember seeing some pictures of Marines in my old unit from GW1, who found some of the "Darth Vader" helmets ,they were having a good old time re-enacting Star Wars, funny as hell.
Now this was a long time ago so my memory is a bit fuzzy. I was given the explanation that they were either specifically for AA gunners or RPG gunners, something to do with the back-blast. It was one of those two, but like I said it was a long time ago, and I cant prove anything.
Personally I just think the Iraqis are insane.

[Lazy Lob]

Hey Scrim nice XM8 in your avatar. Is it yours?

[Scrim]

No its not mine (i wish!!)
Apparently its worth a pretty penny.
http://www.quanonline.com/military/military_reference/helmets/experimental_3.html

[perdurabo]

I am certainly by no means an expert in modern military equipment. It just appeared to me that most helmets in this day and age seem to follow two distinct shapes: the russian/eastern european style, and the american/german "fritz" shaped helmet. The British have their own shape of helmet. Am I correct in this observation? i only ask because i am a modeler and wanted to start work on some Coalition troops in Iraq.

thank you for any help

perhaps i should clarify, i'm speaking more of the western countries than anything else.

Some east European countries are going fritz. Some Baltic states have the PSGT and Poland has its own version. The Swiss are swapping their M71 for a Fritz. Even the Chinese are at it.
WTF?? loooll this USA-centrism is funny but its not true Poland has its own helmlet line and our new kevlar helmlets are based on this line that has it beginings in pre39 times

[Porta_jon]

british helmets look good

[Lazy Lob]

WTF?? loooll this USA-centrism is funny but its not true Poland has its own helmlet line and our new kevlar helmlets are based on this line that has it beginings in pre39 times

Too quick off the mark m8. I implied that every one was going fritz not PASGT. The wz31 was a true Polish helmet. The wz50 was a Soviet look alike, the wz67 was a mixture but the new wz93 has nothing to do with the "line" you mention. It is a brand new design with its own new suspension system but it is still "fritz". Apart from the Germans and Ausstrians with their Berndorfers, M16's, M18's and then M35's the US was the first with the composite fritz, the PASGT. Like it or not the US started a trend that a lot of countries are following. The wz93 has nothing to do with the PASGT or the ACH but it is still a fritz. It is the basic shape that is called "Fritz" coz it was the Germans who started it with their teutonic helmet design.

[oldsoak]

The Germans did some pretty thorough investigation to come up with that design and its the best compromise shape. Most modern designs are variations of that theme. The UK helmet did not follow that design and I'm not sure why. It might have been the desire to have a helmet with an add on visor for internal security purposes necessitated the current shape, it might also have been that the presence of Fritz type helmets in Northern Ireland may have had unfortunate associations with the SS. ( There was a riot helmet that was issued for internal security usage called the "Cromwell" - and this name was dropped as it was regarded as insensitive, Cromwell having been a rather nasty b*st*rd to the Irish. )

[Lazy Lob]

The Germans did some pretty thorough investigation to come up with that design and its the best compromise shape. Most modern designs are variations of that theme. The UK helmet did not follow that design and I'm not sure why.

Even the US when testing new types for the Brodey replacement tried the XM5 and "deep salad". These were discarded partially because of the similarity to German designs. The PASGT nearly went the same way. But the PASGT prevailed. One step on with the MICH or ACH has proved the PASGT still the best. The MICH or ACH are showing that they can only be used in very limited operations. As for the UK Mk6, well its a very good helmet, I suppose lateral visibility was a major concern for the MOD.

[wholagun]

british helmets look good

look like ***** heads...lol rofl can't stop laughing when i see them

[perdurabo]

WTF?? loooll this USA-centrism is funny but its not true Poland has its own helmlet line and our new kevlar helmlets are based on this line that has it beginings in pre39 times

Too quick off the mark m8. I implied that every one was going fritz not PASGT. The wz31 was a true Polish helmet. The wz50 was a Soviet look alike, the wz67 was a mixture but the new wz93 has nothing to do with the "line" you mention. It is a brand new design with its own new suspension system but it is still "fritz". Apart from the Germans and Ausstrians with their Berndorfers, M16's, M18's and then M35's the US was the first with the composite fritz, the PASGT. Like it or not the US started a trend that a lot of countries are following. The wz93 has nothing to do with the PASGT or the ACH but it is still a fritz. It is the basic shape that is called "Fritz" coz it was the Germans who started it with their teutonic helmet design.
what is this fritz?
i thought that helmets similiar to this one:
http://www.diggerhistory.info/images/uniforms/german-helmet-feldbleu.jpg

and this
wz 93
http://www.geocities.jp/utr1980/polishuniformphotos/IMG_0416.jpg
is for me more smiliar to this
http://www.italianfront.com/polish_helmet_new_1.JPG

i'm not expert in this (my "area" is 17th century...) so could you explain? (in simle words pls im not too good at english)

@ wholagun WTF?? could you stop posting BS?

[mack pl]

sorry for polish

Perdurabo-najpierw był niemiecki hełm, potem amerykanie zrobili sobie kevlarową wersję(i nazwali ją Fritz, bo była podobna do niem.hełmu), a póżniej reszta świata zaczęła robić podobne hełmy(np.nasz wz.93)....end of story :)Aha, jakbyś popatrzył na te hełmy bez pokrowców to byś zobaczył, że są do siebie jakoś tam podobne.

ale zasadniczo"Piersi byli Amerykanie" ;) :lol:

Regards

PS> LazyLob is right IMO :)

[Lazy Lob]

sorry for polish

Perdurabo-najpierw był niemiecki hełm, potem amerykanie zrobili sobie kevlarową wersję(i nazwali ją Fritz, bo była podobna do niem.hełmu), a póżniej reszta świata zaczęła robić podobne hełmy(np.nasz wz.93)....end of story :)Aha, jakbyś popatrzył na te hełmy bez pokrowców to byś zobaczył, że są do siebie jakoś tam podobne.

ale zasadniczo"Piersi byli Amerykanie" ;) :lol:

Regards

PS> LazyLob is right IMO :)

Mack Pl. don't know what you said but thanks for the last part. BTW I also think UoUo is an "ass".

Perdurabo the term Fritz refers to the general shape of the helmet shell. The Germans (aka Fritz) made helmets which came down over the ears and stayed down behind the neck. Also the shell has a slight square shape. The wz93 is a cool helmet of 100% Polish design but is still a "fritz". But unlike other fritzes the wz93 stands out as is cannot be confused with the PASGT. In Europe the most individual helmets are the wz93, the Swedish Hjälm 90 and the British Mk6. All the rest either nylon, kevlar or spectra can be easily confused with the U.S. PASGT in shape.

[mack pl]

Mack Pl. don't know what you said but thanks for the last part.

I was trying to explain your opinion for Perdurabo.Im not an expert,but I think you have right....


BTW I also think UoUo is an "ass".

ohh well, my location is a joke-I like UoUo, but I must agree with you that he is an ass sometimes :lol:

Regards :)

[b.scheller]

The Germans did some pretty thorough investigation to come up with that design and its the best compromise shape. Most modern designs are variations of that theme. The UK helmet did not follow that design and I'm not sure why. It might have been the desire to have a helmet with an add on visor for internal security purposes necessitated the current shape, it might also have been that the presence of Fritz type helmets in Northern Ireland may have had unfortunate associations with the SS. ( There was a riot helmet that was issued for internal security usage called the "Cromwell" - and this name was dropped as it was regarded as insensitive, Cromwell having been a rather nasty b*st*rd to the Irish. )

Oliver Cromwell was just a bastard, period.

[Uncle Sam]

Military helmets should be made of Titanium. Like Ulbricht's (http://www.army-technology.com/contractors/personal/ulbrichts/).

[Lazy Lob]

Military helmets should be made of Titanium. Like Ulbricht's (http://www.army-technology.com/contractors/personal/ulbrichts/).

The U.S. carried out some tests at Lincloe with an M1 variant made with titanium. It was smaller, much lighter but unstable on the head. I have one woot

[M1A2U2]

check out my post (Update #1) Modern Nato Combat Uniforms. I have a bunch of western kevlars there

[ShadowNeo]

Since this kinda fits in with the discussion, i'm gonna ask about it :).

Is there a reason why US helmet covers dob't have the built in elastic straps on them (for attaching foliage etc)? I.e the same as the ones the British/Dutch/German forces use.

[penna]

Since this kinda fits in with the discussion, i'm gonna ask about it :).

Is there a reason why US helmet covers dob't have the built in elastic straps on them (for attaching foliage etc)? I.e the same as the ones the British/Dutch/German forces use.

they used to have slits in the covers to put foliage in i thik

[Bluezoo]

Hey guys, do youhappen to know what the French Legions are using> I saw a picture where they were wearing the standards NATO helmet but they had some sort of "flaps" at the to cover their ears and the back of their head. They remind me of the japanese troops in WWII.
Thanks.

[M1A2U2]

yeah check my nato uniform page it has the french helmet

[Bluezoo]

I think it looks like this picture from the Army Technologies web to wit:

http://www.army-technology.com/projects/vbci/images/VBCI_2.jpg

[PaddyASCUK]

Yay. Ferengi :D

Off topic, I read the comment about the UK not going for the "Fritz" because of the SS appearance...The Metropolitan Police (London) were all set to introduce the US style Side Handled Batton, when the Rodney King business occured. It was then decided by the political high and mighty that it might offend Londons Black community if the Police carried the same batton as used to assault Rodney King...

[Ritter]

Back to the "Polish problem" - is the new kevlar helmet wz. 93 similar to "Fritz" or maybe more to the old steel wz. 67 ??... ;)

US "Fritz"
http://www.man.poznan.pl/~ritter/tmp/Fritz.jpg
Polish wz.67
http://www.man.poznan.pl/~ritter/tmp/wz67.jpg
Polish wz.93
http://www.man.poznan.pl/~ritter/tmp/wz93.jpg

For me answer is: it is similar to both just because like them it is helmet too... :D p-)

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[Lazy Lob]

For me answer is: it is similar to both just because like them it is helmet too... :D p-)

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Very drole :D