Stahlhelm and the US Kevlar Helmet

The Chief · Post by **The Chief** » Mon Oct 21, 2002 6:00 pm

Anyone else notice how the modern American Kevlar helmet has the same basic shape as the 1916 Steel helmet? I'm wondering why the United States finally adopted that shape after so long.
Also the modern German helmet looks like a cross between the Swiss para helmet and the US helmet from WWII. Anyone have any ideas why?

gorbag · Post by **gorbag** » Mon Oct 21, 2002 8:40 pm

They purposely designed the Kevlar helmet in that fashion when they adopted the PAGST body armor back in the early '80s. They studied helmet shapes, and found it to give better all around protection against fragments. There was a whole big stink about adopting the "Fritz" helmet, as some didn't want to be seen emulating the Germans and promoting a "warmongering" image.

Stefan · Post by **Stefan** » Tue Oct 22, 2002 6:03 am

As the following photos show, the modern Gefechtshelm of the Bundeswehr is very similar to the american one.

The Chief · Post by **The Chief** » Tue Oct 22, 2002 6:16 am

Stefan, thanks for those pics, I must have an older modle from the 50's or 60's

Abwehr · Post by **Abwehr** » Tue Oct 22, 2002 2:36 pm

Am I the only one that thinks that Bundeswehr camoflauge looks suspiciously like a combination between Waffen SS burred edge and 44 dot?

charlie don't surf · Post by **charlie don't surf** » Tue Oct 22, 2002 2:39 pm

It's called flecktarn and, yes, it's related to the waffen ss pattern.

regards