EQUIPMENT OF THE WORLD WAR II MARINE

	The M1 Steel Helmet

The steel helmet was one of the defining pieces of 782 gear. It epitomized the look of the American fighting man in World War II. From its introduction in 1941 until being replaced with the Kevlar helmet in the 1980's, the steel helmet was worn by Marines in every clime and place.

(above) A Marine of HQ, 3/8—Gaudalcanal, late 1942 wearing the M1917A1 helmet.

Marines first wore steel helmets in World War I. Adopted in 1917, the helmet was a copy of the British Army pattern trench helmet. Sometimes called the Brodie helmet, it was officially designated the M1917 helmet. A modification was made to the suspension system in the M1917A1 helmet. This version was worn in the interwar years and during the early campaigns of World War II.

First adopted for service in 1941, the M1 helmet was a quantum leap in protection. It was a simple and rugged piece of equipment. Intended to protect the Marine's head from low velocity fragments and shrapnel, the helmet saved the lives of many of its wearers over the years. Although it wasn't designed to protect from high velocity small arms fire, there were several recorded instances in World War II of Marines whose lives were saved from direct bullet hits to their helmets.

There were two basic components to the M1 steel helmet. Ballistic protection was afforded by a manganese steel helmet shell. A simple two piece web chin strap was sewn onto a bales attached to the shell's rim. Two firms built helmet shells in World War II: McCord Radiator and Manufacturing, and Schlueter Manufacturing Co. They built over 22 million helmet shells during the war.

The second part of the helmet was a fiber liner with "one size fits all" adjustable web suspension system. It had a simple leather chin strap attached to the interior. Shells were made by numerous American firms during the war. Among them were Firestone Tire and Rubber, Inland Manufacturing and Westinghouse Electric. Over 33 million liners were built during the war.

(left) A Marine wears the helmet liner without the shell. The narrow leather chin strap is worn over the front rim. still image from the Republic Pictures film Sands of Iwo Jima

A unique feature of Marine Corps helmets was the camouflage cover which became the hallmark of the World War II Gyrene. These covers were introduced in 1943 as a result of lessons learned on Guadalcanal. In the latter half of the Pacific war, the helmet cover was used by almost all Marines in combat.

	(left) A fully laden Marine prepares to board his landing boat—Iwo Jima, 19 February 1945. The steel helmet's distinctive profile is clearly visible in this photo. still image from USMC combat camera film

Although it was designed specifically to protect the wearer from fragmentation, the steel helmet soon developed multiple uses by Marines in training and combat. The shell made a serviceable entrenching tool for digging in, but this use was hard on the paint. It could also be used as a stool, although the chin strap bales sometimes broke from this use.

	(left) Marines standing by on their transport to land on Iwo Jima—19 February 1945. They wear their camouflage covers with the brown side out. All have their chin straps buckled. Marines seldom secured chin straps around the rear of their helmets as was common in the Army. still image from USMC combat camera film

Marine sometimes used their helmet shells to cook in, even though this risked lessening the steel temper. Another little noted but frequent use of the helmet was as a "chamber pot." Confined to long nights in fighting holes and dug outs, Marines often resorted to using their shells for this purpose. The shell was also a handy wash basin for taking "whore's baths" not only in combat, but also in garrison.

	(left) Sgt Mark Flowers of the USMC–HC wearing the M1 steel helmet with the camouflage cover green side out. photo courtesy USMC–HC

"Keep down," warned Technical Sergeant Joseph "Big Joe" Gumola, 25, of Yukon, Pa., as his defense line came in for peppering by machine guns. "Big Joe" remained standing and a bullet clanked off his helmet. "Guess I'm too high," he growled. His altitude was 75 inches." Peleliu Close–Ups Leatherneck Magazine March 1945

 

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