Description
U.S military helmet from the Korean war (L:28cm x W:24cm)
The U.S. military helmet used during the Korean War was the M1 helmet, which had been in service since World War II and continued to be used throughout the Korean War (1950–1953). The M1 helmet consisted of two parts:
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The steel shell: This was the outer part of the helmet, made of steel, and provided the primary protection against shrapnel and other projectiles. The steel shell was slightly round with a rim around the edge and was painted in an olive drab color.
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The liner: Inside the steel shell, there was a separate, removable liner. This liner was typically made from a lightweight material, such as fiberglass, and helped provide additional cushioning and comfort. It also featured a webbing suspension system to distribute the weight of the helmet more evenly across the wearer’s head.
During the Korean War, the M1 helmet was often used with additional accessories like a helmet net (sometimes used for camouflage) and a chin strap for securing the helmet in place. The M1 helmet design proved to be highly durable and was used by U.S. forces until it was replaced by the M1A1 helmet in the mid-1980s.
