Australian M1 Helmet
2023.78
View from front
Name/Title
Australian M1 HelmetEntry/Object ID
2023.78Description
Australian made M1, Vietnam era helmet with canvas and leather liner and canvas chinstrap. Underside is marked "SGT SULLIVAN". Australian versions of this helmet used red primer, a different shade of green and a darker green on the webbing inserts. Additionally, the liner stamp started with CAT No. and used the number "50" as an identifier after the number "8415". This number is a standard NATO NSN, however, as Australia was not a NATO member at the time of manufacture, it was given one of the "spare" identifiers. Since 1974, NATO has used country code numbers in their NSN, therefore, any equipment supplied to Australia from this date onwards, will include the number "61".Use
The M-1 Helmet was adopted by the Australian military forces in early 1960, as part of its “new Army initiative" which began during 1958/1959. Surplus WW2 helmets were purchased from the USA, primarily for the regular Army at the beginning, before later expanding to include the Australian Army Reserve, and the Citizen Military Forces (CMF). Put out to Tender in December 1961, Rheem Australia Pty Ltd, won contracts to manufacture exact copies of the M1 helmet in 1964, 1967 and 1969. "New Army" advertising that ran during 1960-1962, included the Rising Sun insignia drawn on the front of the shell and liner, however this never happened and the M1 helmets were issued without any embellishments. Heavy, noisy when walking through trees and bushes, and easily identified at night, Australian soldiers in Vietnam preferred the "giggle hat" or bush hat. Although in certain situations, they were worn alongside the regulation flak jackets..Category
Equipment, Military Uniform, Personal Effects, War Memorabilia