Protecting the American Warrior: Helmets and Body Armor 1917 - 2015 | Collector's & History Corner

ASP's Blog: (http://autoshowcaseproject.blogspot.com/)

ASP PRESENTS:
Protecting the American Warrior | Helmets and Body Armor of the 20th and 21st Century.

The use and implementation of helmets and body armor for American Forces was first utilized in the early 20th century. Helmets for the Americans began during World War 1 where the British Brodie helmet was adopted by the American Forces. The Americans coming over to fight the Central Powers in Europe also used the French Adrian helmet, but this was only specific to African American soldiers like the 369th Infantry Regiment (aka Harlem Hellfighters). Prior to WW1, American soldiers were only protected by a layer of thin cloth from their campaign hats.

After WW1, the Americans retrofitted existing British Brodie helmets with new linings for durability and comfort which became the M1917A1 Kelly helmets. The Kelly helmets immediately were phased out when the M1 helmets were being produced during the onset of World War 2.

The M1 helmets was vastly an important head gear and tool for the American soldier or Marine. It protected the individual from raining debris and shrapnel, but it was not bullet proof. The M1 helmet was not intended to stop bullets as many would believe. The M1 helmet soldiered on after WW2, the Korean War, Vietnam, Grenada, and up until the end of the Cold War in the 1980s. The M1 helmet can still be found in some places today within the Navy on board seafaring vessels.

The M1 helmet was then phased out for the PASGT (Personnel Armor System for Ground Troops) helmet and the MICH (Modular Integrated Communications) helmet. These helmets offer better protection to the soldier, airmen, Marine, and SOF operator in the field today.

Similarly, body armor to the American Warrior also started in the 20th century especially to bomber crews during WW2. Like the helmets, body armor for the American Forces evolved through the years. From flak vests, to nylon, to kevlar, and now to impact armor plates, the survivability to the wearer has increased substantially.

***CORRECTION:
Today's body armor that a US Army soldier carries weighs 33lbs and not 50lbs. With helmet, water and ammo, the total weight adds up to50 lbs.

Also the Steel Pot helmet was used as A) Cooking utensil, B) For bailing out your foxhole, C) Pillow, D) Driving tent stakes into the ground E) Emergency Latrine F) Protecting you from shrapnel and grenade fragments. It was never designed to stop bullets.

Special thanks to Stan for presenting his collection of helmets and body armor for the ASP.


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TAGS
Brodie helmet, M1917A1 Kelly helmet, M1917 helmet, Adrian helmet, Harlem Hellfighters, M1 helmet, WW1, WW2, Korean War, Vietnam War, Grenada, Iraq War, PASGT helmet, MICH helmet, Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, SOF operator, armored protection, body armor, helmet collection, history of body armor, steel pot helmet, American helmet, M1 steel pot, M1 helmet, helmet covers, M1 helmet covers

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