M-1 Steel Helmet Origins
A steel helmet is designed to protect the user from flying fragments of exploded ordnance. By extending further down the sides and back of the wearer's head and neck, the M-1 was a big improvement over the M1917 WW I style helmet. The M1917 model was considered suitable for protecting the top of the head. By removing its brim, by adding side pieces and earpiece, and by incorporating the suspension system into a separate inner liner, the World War II "Army helmet" came into being. The original test item was known as the TS3, and it received a favorable report from the Infantry Board in February 1941.
The Army M1 steel helmet was standardized on 30 April 1941 and was approved on 9 June 1941. It was of two-piece design with an outer Hadfield steel shell and a separate inner liner containing the suspension system. Following adoption of the M1 steel helmet, the Ordnance Department retained development and procurement of the outer steel shell and the Quartermaster Department took over development and production of the inner liner and suspension system.
U.S. M-1 Steel Helmet and Helmet Liner.
Each M-1 helmet shell was stamped from a single sheet of manganese steel. The helmet has a chin strap "bail" or "bale" -- a rectangular wire loop -- on each side attached with either a hinge or welded directly to the helmet. A second component was the M-1941 helmet liner, a removable inner helmet constructed of resin-impregnated cotton canvas. The liner had an internal, adjustable suspension system and its own leather chin strap so it could be worn without the steel shell for duty that did not involve combat or combat training.
The steel outer helmet had a chin strap made of cotton webbing attached using the bail, its only attachment. The chin strap was often left undone (or buckled on the back of the helmet) with the unfounded idea that the force of an explosion could catch the helmet cause injury from the jerk of the chin strap. Although the interior suspension system of the liner was adjustable and would keep the helmet on the soldier's head even without the chin strap, there were times when an unstrapped soldier would have to hold his helmet on by hand. Commanders had to order the men to fasten their chin straps at all times.
During the course of the North African campaigns in 1943, the rigid hook fastener of the chin strap was found to be a source of potential danger. The strap remained fastened under the impact of a blast wave resulting from a nearby detonation, thereby jerking the head sharply and violently with the production of fractures or dislocations of the cervical vertebras. Therefore, it was necessary to redesign the helmet strap with a ball-and-clovis release so that it would remain closed during normal combat activities but would allow for a quick voluntary release or automatic release at pressures considerably below the accepted level of danger. Following extensive tests by Ordnance engineers, a new release device was developed which would release at a pull of 15 pounds or more. This device was standardized in 1944.
Several distinguishing characteristics are noted to determine the period of an M-1 helmet: World War II era helmets have the seam in front whereas post-war production will have the seam in back. World War II helmets had khaki (early) or OD #7 (late) webbing chin straps while the liners of the same period had leather chin straps. Early production helmets had fixed bales; a swivel bale was introduced in 1943. These and other differences useful for dating the M-1 helmet are found on this web page.
The helmets were painted with standard matte finish olive drab paint with shredded cork or sawdust grit mixed in to reduce glare, giving a bumpy finish. Unit insignia and/or individual rank often were painted or glued to both the shell and the liner. Medics had conspicuous Red Cross symbols on their helmets while the Military Police wore white helmets with MP stenciled on or OD helmets with a white stripe and MP letters. Other special services or units had their own colors and markings. Even chromed helmets were used for ceremonial units and parades.
Cotton cord camouflage netting was frequently attached to the helmet to hold materials (leaves, branches) that help break up its outline. Helmet nets were issued or made in the unit from large camouflage nets. The Army did not have a standard issue helmet net until the M-1944 helmet net which appeared in Europe in December 1944 or January 1945. The USMC camouflage helmet cover, first worn at Tarawa in late 1943, was made of herringbone twill material printed with a reversible green to brown pattern designed for use in tropical environments.
The M-1 was a popular helmet, worn by all services worldwide from early WW II through Korea and Vietnam, until its replacement in the mid-1980s by the PASGT Kevlar Helmet. Approximately 22 million of the steel helmet shells were manufactured during World War II, along with 33 million helmet liners. In addition to its mission as head protection, the M-1 steel helmet was used for boiling water to make coffee, for cooking and shaving, as an intrenching tool, to bail water from a landing craft, as a hammer, or even as a "pot to piss in".
Helmet, Steel, M1C, Parachutists
A variation of the M1 steel helmet designated the M-1C was issued to paratroopers, with a padded chin strap and a system that kept the liner and shell together during a jump. Helmet, Steel, M1C (Parachutist's) included a modification of the M1 helmet liner (Liner, Helmet, M1, Parachutist's) with a special chin strap which insured that the helmet would stay on during the opening shock and descent of the parachute. This liner chin strap was provided with a chin cup, and two snap fasteners secured the steel shell to corresponding fasteners on the inside of the liner and prevented the separation of the two components during parachute jumping. The regular helmet shell chin strap was worn behind the head.
M-1 Steel Helmet Specifications
| Depth: | 7 in. |
| Width: | 9.5 in. |
| Length: | 11 in. |
| Weight: | 2 1/4 lbs. |
The M-1 Steel Helmet in Vietnam
In Vietnam, the M-1 steel helmet, with minor modifications, was the soldier's standard headgear. A cloth helmet cover was designed with a disruptive camouflage pattern. The cover was reversible with leaf patterns in green or brown for fall or winter operations. The helmet cover also contained small slots for inserting natural foliage. The camouflage helmet band was designed to hold foliage in order to blend the helmet shape and color into the surrounding vegetation. In Vietnam, this band more commonly held cigarettes, insect repellent, or an extra rifle magazine. Early in 1967, writing on helmet covers began. Most commonly seen were nick-names, names of girl friends, names of home states or towns, or a short time list of dates of return to "The World".
U.S. Army Steel Helmet Books
For more comprehensive information on this subject, the following books are recommended:
- Steel Pots : The History of America's Steel Combat Helmets, Volume 1 by Chris Arnold
- The M-1 Helmet: A History of the U.S. M-1 Helmet in World War II by Mark A. Reynosa
Find More Information on the Web
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