M1 Helmet
The iconic American combat helmet that served from World War II through the Cold War.
The M1 helmet is a combat helmet used by the United States Armed Forces from 1941 to approximately 1985. It replaced the M1917 helmet, a variant of the British Brodie helmet used during World War I, and became an icon of the U.S. military, with its design inspiring copies and derivative designs used by other militaries worldwide.
- Material
- Hadfield Manganese Steel
Lore & Background
The M1 helmet was developed from the M1917 shell, which was a variant of the British Brodie helmet. In 1940, the Infantry Board, under Brigadier General Courtney Hodges, took the M1917 shell as the basis for a new prototype, trimmed the brim, and added a visor and skirt-like extensions. The resulting prototype, designated TS-3, was given official approval on June 6, 1941, and designated 'Helmet, Steel, M1'. Over 22 million U.S. M1 helmets were manufactured through September 1945, primarily by McCord Radiator and Manufacturing Company and Schlueter Manufacturing Company. The helmet was phased out during the 1980s in favor of the PASGT helmet.
In Their Own Story
The rain slicked the steel of his M1 Helmet as Mike crouched behind the crumbling stone wall, the cold water running down into his collar. A mortar round screamed overhead, exploding somewhere near the tree line, sending dirt and debris raining down on his gear. He adjusted his chinstrap with a gloved hand, the familiar weight offering a small sense of security against the invisible chaos above. 'Keep your heads down,' he muttered to the squad behind him, the sound muffled slightly by the helmet's interior liner as they waited for the next order.
Reader's Guide
The M1 helmet consists of an outer metal shell and a hard hat–type liner with an adjustable suspension system. The outer shell should not be worn by itself. The liner can be worn alone, providing protection similar to a hard hat. Helmet covers and netting are applied by covering the steel shell with extra material tucked inside and secured by inserting the liner. The helmet depth is 7 inches, width 9.5 inches, length 11 inches, steel shell thickness 0.044 inches, and weight approximately 3 pounds including liner and chinstrap.
Did You Know?
- The M1 helmet was designed to replace the M1917 helmet, a variant of the British Brodie helmet.
- Postwar analyses found that 54 percent of hits to the M1 helmet failed to penetrate, saving an estimated 70,000 men from death or injury.
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