The+Evolution+of+the+American+Combat+Helmet

=**What's Old Becomes New Again: The Evolution of the American Combat Helmet**= We have all heard the saying, "What's old becomes new again." Well, that is definitely true in the case of the American combat helmet. During World War II, American soldiers wore the M-1 combat helmet (pictured below). The M-1 consists of a thin steal shell, a removeable fiber liner, and a cotton or ryan suspension. All things considered, this helmet is rather well designed and continued to be used by U.S. forces until the mid 1980s.

Conversly, the Germans began putting a lot of time and effort into the development of a metal combat helmet beginning in the early years of World War I. The German authorities were greatly concerned by the number of head wounds their forces were suffering and began experimenting in earnest. In 1916 they issued a style of helmet that would continue to be improved upon and lasted through World War II. It was far superior to that of any other nation at that time. A version of the German Army M35 helmet is pictured below. It consists of a much thicker steel shell than the American combat helmet, and a fixed alumnium liner and leather suspension.

Beginning in the mid 1970s the united states developed what officially came to be known as the Personnel Armor System Ground Troops (PASGT) helmet. However, to the troops who wore it, it was more effectionately known as the "Fritz" thanks to its roots in German Design. The helmet shell is made from 19 layers of Kevlar (a light, strong, para-aarmid synthetic fabric treated with a phenolic resin system) and hasa fixed liner/suspension made from a durable nylon.

When you compare the two side-by-side, you can definitely see what's old becomes new again!

It is interesting to note that after World War II, the West Germans adopted the American M-1 helmet for their civil defense forces because the "old-style" helmet was associated with Germany's Nazi past.

For more information on these helmets, I recommend the following to get you started:

[|U.S. Combat Helmets of the 20th Century]by Mark A. Reynosa

[|German-Helmets.com]

[|Kevlar Helmet Overview] (a You Tube video)