Infantry Helmets of the British Army | 1938 - 2016
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- Опубліковано 20 сер 2024
- Since the start of the Second World War, the British Army has put into service eight different types of Infantry Helmets; from the Mk2 in 1937 to the Virtus in 2016. In this video, I discuss each one, detailing what set them all apart, what to look for when collecting them and the conflicts they would have been used in.
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Music: Inspiring Piano Background Music - Argsound Background Music
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NO PART OF THIS VIDEO MAY BE REPRODUCED IN ANY FORM (REACTIONS OR RE-UPLOADED) WITHOUT THE PRIOR PERMISSION OF THE CREATOR
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Funny how it took us decades to find the perfect helmet design which pretty much is a german stahlhelm from ww1 just made out of kevlar
Ewan Edgar The Stahlhelm IMO was the best helmet design in history.
If you look at most modern combat helmets, pretty much everyone arrived at the conclusion of Kevlar Stahlhelms
You forgot the comfy cushions!
@@tachibanacanada1978 ah so i did
Ewan Edgar ....it’s nothing like a German helm..
I was given my grandads MkII when I was a little lad (1970s) it was huge and heavy but I loved playing "war" in the garden, sadly it was stolen by some pikey kids from my shed only a few years ago so I can't give it to my grandson. Will have to look for another one now after watching this. Thank you.
why you don't search now ? it could be somewhere near those bastards houses ?
craig davidson that is so sad.....
@@westsideofnorway7505 thank you...I am sure to find another one soon.
@@craigdavidson2278 Bloody pikeys. They used to come into the shop where I used to work and steal everything through the back. The world is better off without them. Hope you find it, or if not then a new one to replace the old...
I hate people that steal things, they should be hung publicity.
G'day, Outstanding video, well done! Some years ago I found a relative's old MkII. Tried it on. At some stage it was knocked off my head, backwards. It darn near choked me. I'm a film maker who researches WW2 documentaries. I was interviewing an old digger and he not only agreed with me about the 'dangers' of the MkII but said it was all too real. He told me he'd seen some mates severely injured with crushed windpipes when the MkII was 'blown' off in contacts or by other means. He, and others I interviewed truly believed the MkII was more dangerous than protective and wore them only when they absolutely had to. I guess that's why you can see so much old footage of Aussies going into battle wearing their slouch hats.
It's fantastic to see the life saving capabilities of modern helmets today... as they should be. Protecting a soldier's head is just as vital as the wearing of body armour. Great channel, I've subscribed. Cheers, BH
Switching from the Mk7 to the Virtus has such a huge change, my Mk7 would constantly flop over my face and bounce around when running regardless of how tight i had it, not to mention it was massively heavier, the Virtus issue was welcomed with open arms from everyone i work with, brilliant helmet, nice video bro 👍🏼
i loved my MK VI helmet was with me for 4 tours in 2 different wars. until a bullet hit the metal plate protecting my heart and deflected it into my lung causing me to be Medically Discharged. ahh memories
Good video!
Pretty funny to notice that the evolution of the British helmet increasingly moulds into something that resembles the stahlhelm. Almost as if the German army were spot on with design style for practicality and protection.
Absolutely. Its sed though that a commando was traind to kill a German with his own helmet 🤤
It's amazing how wehraboos can see things that aren't there and find ways to exercise their superiority complex :)
Pel Tigers were wayy too expensive, very unreliable and impossible to maintain. The Luger was not as good as the 1911. Spandau was ok and Panzerfaust was par with allied stuff..
@Russ Hawthorne equipment? Not really. It was all horse drawn and made of leather. Weapons? Not that either since they used antique bolt actions until the end of the war, and most new designs were overly complex.
@Pel all of those things are awful
The MK7 was fantastic but we didn't get it untill after we got back from Afghan in 2010.
My god what a great video, learned a lot hope you keep making more just like this
Great video, I was issued the Mk5 then Mk6, didn’t realise how much they had evolved since I left the Army in 89.
The mk 2 is the most iconic helmet for me. In the days of the 'Tommy ' .
Great video. I used to subscribe to a magazine, back in the late 80s- mid 90s, "Combat and Survival" magazine. They always showed photos of British soldiers, in their uniforms, kit,and so on. Very interesting to me, since, I'm a Yank. Btw, I have a Mk 2, that I got years ago. Never realized what it was until years later.
The Mk 7 looks like a mix of US M1 steel helmet and Mk6 helmet battle bowler helmet.
As a Finnish Army Medic I sure would've loved to hear about the Virtus helmet too in this video instead of just seeing a couple of still-ish video clips of it. Othervise a splendid video!
It just hasn’t been out long enough to get an accurate idea of its efficiency. As time goes on we’ll hear more about it.
The virtus is literally just a Revision Cobra helmet with a slightly modified chin cup
@@fynnla.e The virtus is the exact same helmet as the Revision Cobra helmet but with a slightly modified chin cup
Thank you for the upload. Very informative.
I remember being issued the Mk5 way back in 1984 and then in the late 80,s doing the trials for the new Body armour and the armour kept pushing the back of the helmet up forcing the front of the helmet down obscuring the wearer's vision, the Mk6 cane came shortly after this and i still have my original issue Mk 6. Great informative videos, keep them coming.
This is actually a very moving video. The practical thoughts and designs behind those flat caps intended to keep our boys just a little bit safer and more comfortable while they're facing the unimaginable.
I like vids like this. Being a Yank in the USA. It's good to see how us brothers in arms went from the tin cans to our own versions of the Kevlar Specials Opps Helmets that almost look the same.
I don't know why we didn't take a note from the US style of helmets, instead we had dead head designers churning out tin pots for the first 50 years. I hated those ugly useless MK 5 .
The new Virtus helmet is American made. It's the exact same helmet as the Revision Cobra helmet but with a slightly modified chin cup
I remember correcting a corporal about the Mk 6 in the mid-'90s. The common misconception then being that it was made from Kevlar.
Killing DeadThings You weren’t even born in the 90s
@@ringochocostarr6380 Lmf@o. Dude I'm 40 yrs old. lmao, and had the pleasure of being issued one.
They were telling people they were made from kevlar in the mid 90s.
Killing DeadThings I did a search on the MK7 helmet and it seems it doesn’t offer much ballistic protection too.
@@HaggisMonster According to Wiki it has the same ballistic protection as the mk6a, just lighter and slightly more practical with Armour, etc. I'm surprised how little the designs and materials have changed over the years. I'd have expected better gear for troops by now with regards something so basic as a helm. Having said that, I'm sure I've seen footage of helms stopping bullets, so that's not to say they are not tough already and have saved lives.
I remember having to use the Mk5 and it was a cow. Especially when running. It flopped about mostly fore and aft and there was a constant fear that it would fall over the eyes when landing from a jump.
I never thought there was so fascinating facts about the humble soldiers helmet!👍
Jason Humphries May the designers of the Mark 7 helmet be blessed. I'm sure thier products saved many lives.
I remember standing there at as a 16 year old being measured for my Mk6 helmet fitting at Shorncliffe in 1988. Did a lot of tours with that Mk6, through thick and thin. Remember the lace on the inside top used to leave a pattern in your hair.
Were you Light Division, because in '88 i was 16 and joined the RGJ, Sir John Moore Barracks, Light Div depot. Lol, they didn't have a mark 6 small enough for me so i had to insert two field dressings in the bastard.
@@williamulsterman6771 Queens Division
my grandfather was issued the Mk3, i was issued the Mk6.
i dont know why but really love helmets .
I've never worn any of the older helmets. But the new Virtus helmets are so comfortable!
The 1980's tin lid was shit, if you ran with on the thing would bounce around and the spider centre spigot fixing would dig in your head with each bounce. Add this to the 58 pattern large pack bouncing and it made you run like you were pissed. Then some MP like Douglas ice cream head would tell some reporter that the UK armed forces had the best kit !
Just one to note, the secondary button on the Mk7 chinstrap offers you the ability to lengthen the strap for use with a respirator.
I thought that would be added to the MK6 since it was used in Iraq where everybody thought Saddam had chemical weaponry so everybody wore chemical suits 24/7, why would it be on the MK7?
Some of us used to add a key ring to the chinstrap of our mk 6 for ease of fitting with respirator
I cant believe how much the kit has changed. My dad joined up in the final days of the MK5 and left at the end of the MK7s life. Thats a long time.
I'm writing a novel, a horror story and I'm using some of your work, if you don't mind. The tactics and techniques of soldiers. The book story is that the world has fallen and humanity is driven underground... The humans have patrol team's that go up on the surface during the day but never at night. My main character gets a team together to go up on the surface during the night with submachine guns and heavy weapons. They soon discovered the nightmares are true and soon return to base, underground. They left without authorisation and have to answer, they left base with 500 men patrol and 8 men returned, one of the survivors, being my main character. He had to go an action report to the commander and he's is shocked what he seen and how he survived. He soon volunteers to return to the surface once again with a larger team and more weapons. Disaster happens. I'll send you the book when written, if you want.
Hey lad a little late but i got pretty interested by the idea I would like to know the name of the book I love post apocalyptic stories
Nice. I've just finished my 17th Post apocalyptic book in just over 2 months so you could say I'm addicted, how long do you think until you finish mate and how to get a copy?
500 men is a little large for a patrol... something more like small battalion is probably what you are thinking of
I have an old mk1 ww1 Helmet that was refitted for use in ww2 with the changes made for the mk2 I imagine there’s a lot of history under that helmet.
What a great vid...thanks for taking the time to explain those differences in the Mk 3 - 5.
i love the mk2 it has such an iconic look
Nice video, narration or voice-over in post-production is always a good way to do it. Well done..
That was “pukka” vid, mate! Never seen a vid about our old “Battle Bowlers” and never thought that I would....hats off to you for doing it (no pun intended)! Btw, good pace on the delivery!
I didn't like the MK6. It was never the right size for me. It would flop down in front of my eyes. I had to rest the front lip of it on the SUSAT, in order to see anything. If I tried tightening the string inside, it would sit so high up on my head it looked stupid and probably wasn't even going to do a proper job.
I never did 'grow into it'.
I used to use a mk6 for airsoft, although it’s only airsoft, it is a real used mk6, and Iv had the same problem with it, I know just keep it as like a collectible 😂😂
@@absolutelad7733 I have a big head maybe it would fit me better, but for airsoft it would sit on top of the goggles so it may rest fine anyway.
Martyn M. The String was a nightmare Felt like it was cutting into the top of my head So uncomfortable
I took the string out and used a bit of foam from an ammo tin wrapped up in an FFD. Moulded to my head and made it so much more comfy, the virtus helmet is so much better!
@@colp9492 My mate sewed the foam into the elbows and knees of his dpm. I thought it was a great idea.
I wore the MK 5 and MK6 in my service. I remember them telling us it was the best thing since sliced bread. Sure enough it was a huge leap forward to the MK5 but i watched a video on here were they carried out a balistic test to see what it would stop. In the end all it would save you from was someone giving you a side ways glance.
Gary Cumningham
T’was also good for getting launched by a thunderflash
@@davedickinson822 Good for punting the MK 5 70 -80 foot in the air LOL
I have a Mk.V, and oh my days it is bloody comfortable to wear.
the Germans had the most sophisticated helmet design since the newest helmets imitate their shape in most ways. even the reversible camo was years ahead of the game...
Both Mainland China and Taiwan adopted a new ballistic helmet which is identical to the Virtus helmet(the last helmet shown in the video) around the same time as the Brits.
Well made video, entertaining and informative.
As a civilian I like the profile of the Second World War infantry helmet.
So British.
Mk 6 was 1986 , as we were issued with them prior to a Northern Ireland tour
When we got our Mk 6s issued to us, we attached a pair of grenade pin rings to the chinstrap ring so we could still fasten the chin strap when wearing the new S10 respirators we got.
LOVE IT! YOU EARNED A SUB!
Respect from 🇵🇭
underated yt channel. needs more subs.
The helmet i was issued was always called the DDay helmet (1983) and it was bloody uncomfortable. And then came the Mk 6 with helmet covers that did not fit........The Mk 6 had very poor ballistic protection. Tests are on U tube.
My grandpa was a major in the British army in India and a captain in hong kong
Canadians troops in Italy wearing the Mk2 helmet usually wore them more like a top hat than as a protective helmet. They were slung back on their heads exposing most of the wearers skull or worn at a jaunty angle that only protected a small portion of their heads on the side where the helmet was angled too. I spoke to a veteran of Italy years ago and he said that the Mk2 was the stupidest helmet in the entire war providing minimum protection to the troops and this is why the helmet was merely placed on your head knowing it was useless. He wondered how many head wounds occurred in the Commonwealth armies that used this helmet through out the war as he seen a few in his time in battle.
Thank you for a very informative and interesting presentation.
Fantastic presentation mucker DS info.
New vert helmet excellent at the moment 🇬🇧.👍
very interesting
Jeez I bloody hated the mk5 steel helmet when we got issued them !
The Americans have basically modified the German helmet of WW2, and Britain should do the same, as it's clearly the best design.
Clearly the best design, you say? The Germans didn't seem to think so and that's why they redesigned their helmets and had a new model ready. Unfortunately, they lost the war and it was up to the East German People's Army (Nationale Volksarmee) to implement the improved helmets, since the newly reconstituted West German army (Bundeswehr) simply wore the WWII Septic lids given to them by the US.
MsG
@@gionncaomhinmorpheagh4791 Exactly.
@@gionncaomhinmorpheagh4791 Yes, - the best design which is why the current US army helmet is an evoilved form of that original design. The tradition soup bowl British helmet was merely an historic artifcact dating back centuries that offered almost no protection and was difficult to run in. If you've even worn one you'd understand.
@@richardduplessis1090 100% right,I definitely agree with you.
@@gionncaomhinmorpheagh4791 - as a matter of interest which helmets do you consider to be better than the German helmit, or its modern American variant.?
Oddly fascinating - thank you
When I was in 606 Sqdn we had the mk6. When I was in the RN in the '70's & had to freeze my bits of in a moth eaten Watch coat on Petrol pier HMS Dolphin, we were issued a helmet that looked like it had been rejected by the Para's. It had a single bolt in the middle & you could turn round & the helmet would stay still. For defence, strangely, as I had learned how to shoot an SLR in basic at Raleigh, we had a small piece of wood. With a metal end. I often wondered how far I could throw it before running away.
You mean a "pick helve" the mainstay of British military guards for decades.
@@chaz8758 Yep.
Was issued the Mk5 in basic training........horrible.....the rest of my service i used the Mk 6, was a major step up but because it was much more closely fitted you always had an itchy head when hot, to the point you wanted to rip it off and do without
kits come a long way from when I was in...… thank god :)
Was in the RCT - We still had Mk 5s in 1989, every one had itchy heads and the liners were always filthy and worn out, who knows how many others had worn the helmet i had, doubt the liner had ever been changed, never had any liner replacements. Only those being posted to Northern Ireland got the MK 6s when they got there and normally had them taken of them before they left, but some of our guys, stole them, so we had a few with them in 1988/89. I got issued my MK 6 which was too small for me, always felt like my head was in a vice, QM would not give me a larger size, so i cut out some of the padding and also made my own one from army compo boxes, masking tape and stealing some rags from the rag bin in the REME work shop. (The rags were old uniforms) and i say stealing due to if you got caught taking any of the rags you could be charged (which nearly happened to me once) I had the lightest helmet in the whole world.
Still using my Mk7, had to beg to get that issued and didn't get it until 2014! Was running around with the bloody heavy Mk6A from 2007 for 7 years. Will probably have to beg to replace my Mk7 with Virtus just as a new one comes into service.
Amazing how it took them until the late 80s to do something that everyone else had been doing since the 60s.
When all the other officer cadets had Web-tex daysacks that rode high on your back and made it a pain to shoot prone wearing a Mk6 helmet, but your mum spoils you with a shorter but fatter 5.11 backpack for your birthday, giving you that precious free head movement.
My battalion was issued kevlar helmets similar to the Mk6 while resident Bn in Hollywood, Belfast 1975-76...... not popular as the collar of the flak jacket pushed the helmet over one's eyes when firing from the prone position. Incidentally I recall it being trialled along with DPM pattern combat suits and boots combat high ac k in '67!
Rarely ever wore a helmet before the Mk6, always carried. Nightmare when we did have to wear, uncomfortable, bounced around, spider spike hit top of your head, hence why many photos show Regimental headwear worn before. Mk6 wasn't ideal but, a revolution. Most of feeling neck strain were from this being the first time we wore helmets for any extensive period
The 6A and Mk 7 were never officially taken into core as a replacement for the Mk 6. They were always regarded as a UOR and so only issued if a unit or individual was deploying. It would then be allowed for use post tour. The official issue helmet was still the Mk 6 and this is what the guys usually left basic with until VIRTUS was adopted a couple of years ago.
The Mk6 was supposed to have improved ballistic properties over the 5, however it was still crap. We (unofficially) tested a couple back in the 90s on the range. It wouldn't stop 9mm rounds from a P5C at 20m and I saw one penetrated by a .380 from a police issue Walther PP. I still gave a scar on top of my head from the stupid bloody head support system (bit if string with a knot in it), and you couldn't fire from prone properly as your body would push the brim forward over your eyes, which was even worse when in body armour. The chin strap couldn't be fastened if you had a resi on so everyone had elastic strips sewn onto their covers for this. Plus there's nothing like the feeling of a cold, wet leather chin pad being fastened first thing in the morning on ex. So other than being uncomfortable, unergonomic and having the ballistic properties of a sausage roll, it was great. [/rant]
Top job mate. I see your channel doing well. Subscribed.
In the past 22 years, it seemed we changed the helmets every 5 minutes. With the people in my Sqn turning up with completely different helmets and body armour to each other. Mk6 helmet, Mk6A, a lighter para version(?), Mk7, Mk8 virtus.
The British have always been experimental with armor systems, compared to American experiments with weapon systems.
The Brits took care with implementing more rifle and helmet armor systems to accommodate the smaller size of the force, thus they could revamp for cheaper.
The Americans can only really ship out modified equipment on 7 year cycles. Brits got it down to about 4.
Mk6 was a pain in the neck!
Literally
i have 2 mk 2 helmets at home one has the remnants of the sprung chin strap the other is rusted to hell and looks like it has been in the sea for a while i also have 2 mk 5 helmets.
nice and informative film thank you.
Were not the MkII helmets not given a rehash in the 50's ? painted with a olive drab paint with sand in it to give a rough finish and the webbing chin strap replaced with a fully elastic one ? I have owned several of these type
Great video thanks. Answered all the questions I had!
I wore the Mk6 helmet, it'd not long been introduced when I enlisted. It was comfy but if I dropped prone while carrying a bergen the helmet would be pushed up at the back and completely cover my eyes at the front.
Fantastic video! Cheers for uploading!
Mk 5 was hardly worn. In BAOR it was your beret. In Irelandcwe had another type of helmet with visor. Mk 6 looked like an egg cup on somesoldiers. But was worn on exercise all the time unlike Mk5. For years in the 1970 to early 1990s our boots, waterproofs, nylon socks and sleeping bags were crap. Gortex appeared in civi camp shops( Bivi bag cover) and boots. We bought these out of our own money. After Gulf one we were asked to fill in a questionnaire on our kit and how it performed, it was ignored. Not until1/2 way through 2nd Gulf war ie Iraq did things improve. A lot of lives lost through bad kit.
I am, not for one moment, disagreeing with the history in this video. However all through my service in REME in Egypt and Libya 1953 to 1956 we had Mk1 Tinhats and 2 spells in BAOR -1957 to 1959 and 1963 to 66 we had Mk2. Think I saw some infantry in 1965 while on maneuvers with one different to ours.
I’ve worn mk7 and the new Vertis, gotta say the mk7 is way more comfortable and just feels far more solid. Also the straps are far less easily broken.
I was issued the Mk 6. Hated it.
Really good video mate really enjoyed it thank you
Fascinating video for a vital piece of British militaria
Great video, great helmets!
The brodie helmet is elite! I'd wear that in any battle for sure 😊😉.
Basically the modern helmet designs are just proof the rest of the world took the long way to arriving at the same conclusion as the Germans did 100 years ago, maybe 70 years ago, considering the bulkiness of the M1916 Stahlhelm.
Very good video very impressed well thought out and put together great strong content
Really interesting. Thank you for the video.
You gave a very succinct oration on the development of the British helmets development. Very interesting. 👍🏻🇦🇺😁
I wore a Brit airborne helmet 60 and 70s one of the problems with it was getting a gas mask on at speed, also trying to wear radio head phones was difficult especially if you had to listen in on more than one net.
Great video! You should do one one the history of British uniforms
Ideally a helmet should be as light as possible -- all that weight pushes down on to the atlas grinding it down. The classic german helmet has always been the best in my opinion, it protects the back of the neck and cerebellum.
Most well known gotta be the mk 2
Ya probably
Back in 2016 when i started Phase 1 i was issued a Mk6A helmet and they were horrible. Too heavy and when aiming down sights it hit the sights. Then in 2018 i was issued the Vertus Helmet which is without a doubt the best helmet going Also the Mk6a was still in service until 2017 until they got replaced
Great crash course, thank you for your time!
Never used one nor do I have any experience with it, but the MK6 helmet was the most aesthetic IMO.
I bought a British MK7 helmet and it’s pretty comfortable although like a lot of the others I own regardless of how padded they are, they all get hot and uncomfortable after a while
Interesting video, thank you. I can attest to the fact that my mark V was, as far as I was concerned, rubbish. Running around in it and negotiating obstacles was really annoying. The single chin strap was the problem. It was a real bag of nails compared to modern helmets.
damn man this is some good educational footage .👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽
Good video. I have a 1917 Mk.I with a very rare phlorescent painted FGH (Fort Garry Horse) on both front and rear. I also have a unissued Mk.II with spring type strap, a second pattern parachutist helmet with the leather harness straps ( stamped 1955 ), and a early Mk. VI. Oh yeah, also a new Canadian Ballistic helmet with a canpat cover.
...EXCELLENT VIDEO!!!!!!!!!!!!!! VERY MUCH ENJOYED THAT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GREAT MUSIC TOO...
Nice vid mate. Could you do one about Dutch helmets as well perhaps? Cheers.
A really good and informative video, i enjoyed it ! Thanks for your effort. Keep it comeing and all the best from the "Stahlhelm-Country" :-)
Отличное видео! Прекрасно изложенный материал!!
Nice video, well put together and informative.
I left in 2012 and still had a mk6a they are painfully slow to issue new kit once it is decided to change
What amazing video well done I loved it so much and all good information .
This video will get 100K views