Army helmets, how sterdy are they?

Question

grandpa told me that the helmets during WWII were kinda sterdy, but still vulnerable. They improved it since then?

Answer 1

Well considering the old WW2 helmets were steel pots, and todays helmets used by the military are made of light weight kevlar...they have improved just as any piece of mlitary technology has over the last half century. Comparing a Kevlar helmet to a steel pot is like comparing a  baseball hat to a metal salad bowl...

Answer 2

When I came in 20 years ago, we still rocked the M-1 steel pots in infantry OSUT lol.

I knew dozens of guys who were saved by the Kevlars. I survived bad jumps and falls due to mine. I knew guys shot  or had fragments to the head and who were saved when I was in Afghanistan with my unit in the 82nd.

From me, mine saved me again in Iraq when a suicide car bomber blew up 15 feet away from me. I still have my head but even my ear plugs melted from the blast and the concussion jellified my insides. The ACH worked that day in Ramadi though and kept the fragments out (along with the wiley-X goggles and the Nomex goggles, gotta give 'em props). All the Marines with me had Kevlars and they lived too, hurt like me, but we all lived.

Answer 3

our helmets now actually save lives, a buddy in my company got shot in head while wearing one, although the bullet actually penetrated the helmet, it curved along the top side of the inside of the helmet and went out the opposite side.  It really rang his bell (haha, that was his name too), but he was alive.  good guy...

Answer 4

If sturdy you mean doesn't flop around?  The new kevlar ones made are much more resistant to bullets and shrapnel.  They also have a better suspension system to ride better on your head.  Now the old GI steel pot, you could cook in it, wash in it,  it was really durable.  But did not have the best suspension system.

Also if you see the old pictures of WW II thru Vietnam, most soldiers wore them without the chin strap attached or fastened.  I was told by some veterans that it was the belief that if a explosion went off near the area the blast would get caught up in the helmet and would choke them or rip their head off.  If the strap was loose then it would just fly off.  

Answer 5

There is no comparison!

Yesterday's steel helmets can not be compared with the strength of the lightweight Kevlar.  

Today's helmet is comfortable, padded, protects against concussions and other impacts, and does a decent job deflecting the impact of small arms fire.  

While any piece of equipment will still have its "vulnerable" points, today helmet is a good piece of gear!  Its even improved since 2004 with the ability to place the padding where you need it and the new and improved chin strap that also fits behind your head.