Saturday, May 19, 2012

Evolution of the Combat Helmet.

WW I Helmet
WW II thru Vietnam Helmet (with modifications)
PASGT
MICH
ACH
OPS CORE
ACH with Mandible
The evolution that we're seeing with combat helmets is .... unexplainable.

From World War 1 up until the Second Gulf War we saw a movement toward more coverage.  During the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan we see a new movement toward less coverage.

Then Special Ops decided that they basically only needed a shell covering only a portion of the head.  Conventional forces followed suit and brought the MICH first and then the ACH into service.

Now we have the services deciding that mandible protection is needed.

WHO IS COMING UP WITH THIS STUFF!

At least from the outside looking in, this makes absolutely no sense at all.  I wish PEO Soldier would explain the rationale behind this...or if you can then please hook me up!

9 comments :

  1. I think this is someone's pet project. There is no other way to explain it.

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  2. A look out, Guard or trench watch where the SNM has to face the enemy and keep watch would need Mandibular as would any vehicle crewman sticking his head out a hatch.
    It's the envisioned direction of the threat that decides which helmet to utilize.

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  3. i don't know if i buy that. if thats the case then why isn't this being coupled with the crewman's vehicle helmet?

    if you're mech infantry you're still going to get out and patrol..setup vehicle security etc...these mandibles would get in the way.

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  4. Shouldn't that OPS CORE have a Magpul logo on the front? ;-)

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  5. shhhh! Costa might hear ya! oh wait he left....ok, we can say that.

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  6. somebody's been playing too much halo.

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  7. I can't get over this face mask shit. It's going to take a lot of money and time to perfect the usability of face coverings. The end product will look something like a stormtrooper, which I'm not against - as long as looks scary.

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  8. I watched a video available via this blog in which the mandibular and eye protective helmet shown at he bottom of the pictures in this post was tested against a close detonation. The eye protection is seen politely flapping upward sufficiently to allow passage of objects the size of a fist, thus negating its protective properties. Maybe it's time to re-evaluate the whole "man-as-tank" philosophy. Lighter is better. Ask anyone who has ever humped that shit...

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  9. there has also been more work done in IUD blast/shockwave protection, IIRC the older helmet was focusing the wave at the back of the head

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