A combat helmet or battle helmet is a type of personal armor

Personal armor

Personal armor is the whole of protecting clothing, designed to absorb and/or deflect slashing, bludgeoning, and penetrating attacks. They were historically used to protect soldiers, whereas today, they are also used to protect police forces, private citizens and private security guards or...

 designed specifically to protect the head during combat

Combat

Combat, or fighting, is a purposeful violent conflict meant to establish dominance over the opposition, or to terminate the opposition forever, or drive the opposition away from a location where it is not wanted or needed....

. Helmets are among the oldest forms of personal protective equipment

Personal protective equipment

Personal protective equipment refers to protective clothing, helmets, goggles, or other garment or equipment designed to protect the wearer's body from injury by blunt impacts, electrical hazards, heat, chemicals, and infection, for job-related occupational safety and health purposes, and in...

 and are known to have been worn by the Akkadians/Sumerians in the 23rd century BC, Mycenaean Greeks

Mycenaean Greece

Mycenaean Greece was a cultural period of Bronze Age Greece taking its name from the archaeological site of Mycenae in northeastern Argolis, in the Peloponnese of southern Greece. Athens, Pylos, Thebes, and Tiryns are also important Mycenaean sites...

 since 17th century BC, the Assyrians around 900 BC, ancient Greeks and Romans

Ancient Rome

Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....

, throughout the Middle Ages

Middle Ages

The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...

, and up to the end of the 17th century by many combatants. Their materials and construction became more advanced as weapons became more and more powerful. Initially constructed from leather

Leather

Leather is a durable and flexible material created via the tanning of putrescible animal rawhide and skin, primarily cattlehide. It can be produced through different manufacturing processes, ranging from cottage industry to heavy industry.-Forms:...

 and brass

Brass

Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc; the proportions of zinc and copper can be varied to create a range of brasses with varying properties.In comparison, bronze is principally an alloy of copper and tin...

, and then bronze

Bronze

Bronze is a metal alloy consisting primarily of copper, usually with tin as the main additive. It is hard and brittle, and it was particularly significant in antiquity, so much so that the Bronze Age was named after the metal...

 and iron

Iron

Iron is a chemical element with the symbol Fe and atomic number 26. It is a metal in the first transition series. It is the most common element forming the planet Earth as a whole, forming much of Earth's outer and inner core. It is the fourth most common element in the Earth's crust...

 during the Bronze

Bronze Age

The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...

 and Iron

Iron Age

The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...

 Ages, they soon came to be made entirely from forged steel

Steel

Steel is an alloy that consists mostly of iron and has a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most common alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used, such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten...

 in many societies after about 950AD. At that time, they were purely military equipment, protecting the head from cutting blows with sword

Sword

A sword is a bladed weapon used primarily for cutting or thrusting. The precise definition of the term varies with the historical epoch or the geographical region under consideration...

s, flying arrow

Arrow

An arrow is a shafted projectile that is shot with a bow. It predates recorded history and is common to most cultures.An arrow usually consists of a shaft with an arrowhead attached to the front end, with fletchings and a nock at the other.- History:...

s, and low-velocity musket

Musket

A musket is a muzzle-loaded, smooth bore long gun, fired from the shoulder. Muskets were designed for use by infantry. A soldier armed with a musket had the designation musketman or musketeer....

ry.

Military use of helmets declined after 1670, and rifled firearms ended their use by foot soldiers after 1700. By the 18th century, cavalry units often wore steel body cuirasses, and frequently metal skull protectors under their hats, called "secrets". The Prussian leather spiked helmet, or Pickelhaube

Pickelhaube

The Pickelhaube , also "Pickelhelm," was a spiked helmet worn in the 19th and 20th centuries by German military, firefighters, and police...

, offered almost no protection from the increased use of artillery during World War I

World War I

World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...

, and in 1916 was replaced by the German steel helmet, or Stahlhelm

Stahlhelm

Stahlhelm is German for "steel helmet". The Imperial German Army began to replace the traditional boiled-leather Pickelhaube with the Stahlhelm during World War I in 1916...

, and afterwards was worn merely for tradition.

The Napoleonic era saw ornate cavalry helmets reintroduced for cuirassier

Cuirassier

Cuirassiers were mounted cavalry soldiers equipped with armour and firearms, first appearing in late 15th-century Europe. They were the successors of the medieval armoured knights...

s and dragoon

Dragoon

The word dragoon originally meant mounted infantry, who were trained in horse riding as well as infantry fighting skills. However, usage altered over time and during the 18th century, dragoons evolved into conventional light cavalry units and personnel...

s in some armies; they continued to be used by French forces during World War I

World War I

World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...

 as late as 1915, when they were replaced by the new French Adrian helmet

Adrian helmet

The M15 Adrian helmet was a combat helmet issued to the French Army during World War I. It was the first standard helmet of the French Army and was designed when millions of French troops were engaged in trench warfare, and head wounds became a frequent cause of battlefield casualties...

. The French Adrian helmet was the first modern steel helmet and was soon followed by the adoption of similar steel helmets by the other warring nations.
World War I and its increased use of artillery had renewed the need for steel helmets, which were quickly introduced by all the combatant nations for their foot soldiers. In the 20th century, such helmets offered protection for the head from shrapnel and fragments.

Today's militaries often use high-quality helmets made of ballistic materials such as Kevlar

Kevlar

Kevlar is the registered trademark for a para-aramid synthetic fiber, related to other aramids such as Nomex and Technora. Developed at DuPont in 1965, this high strength material was first commercially used in the early 1970s as a replacement for steel in racing tires...

 and Aramid

Aramid

Aramid fibers are a class of heat-resistant and strong synthetic fibers. They are used in aerospace and military applications, for ballistic rated body armor fabric and ballistic composites, in bicycle tires, and as an asbestos substitute. The name is a portmanteau of "aromatic polyamide"...

, which offer improved protection. Some helmets also have good non-ballistic protective qualities, though many do not. Non-ballistic injuries may be caused by many things, such as concussive shock wave

Shock wave

A shock wave is a type of propagating disturbance. Like an ordinary wave, it carries energy and can propagate through a medium or in some cases in the absence of a material medium, through a field such as the electromagnetic field...

s from explosion

Explosion

An explosion is a rapid increase in volume and release of energy in an extreme manner, usually with the generation of high temperatures and the release of gases. An explosion creates a shock wave. If the shock wave is a supersonic detonation, then the source of the blast is called a "high explosive"...

s, physical attacks, motor vehicle accidents, or falls.

Current

Model	Origins	Users
SPECTRA helmet SPECTRA helmet The SPECTRA helmet or CGF Gallet Combat Helmet is the ballistic helmet currently in use in the French military, as well as in the armies of several other countries. Built by CGF Gallet , it weighs , is available in two sizes, and is made from Spectra fibers, produced under license from Honeywell...		used by the French Army French Army The French Army, officially the Armée de Terre , is the land-based and largest component of the French Armed Forces.As of 2010, the army employs 123,100 regulars, 18,350 part-time reservists and 7,700 Legionnaires. All soldiers are professionals, following the suspension of conscription, voted in... , Danish Army, United Nations United Nations The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...  peacekeeping forces
Modular Integrated Communications Helmet		developed for special operations United States Special Operations Command The United States Special Operations Command is the Unified Combatant Command charged with overseeing the various Special Operations Commands of the Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps of the United States Armed Forces. The command is part of the Department of Defense...  use by the United States Army United States Army The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services... , it became the basis for the Advanced Combat Helmet Advanced Combat Helmet The Advanced Combat Helmet is the United States Army's current combat helmet. It was developed by the United States Army Soldier Systems Center to be the next generation of protective combat helmets for use by the U.S. Army...  which is now the standard issue helmet of the US Army.(ACH)
Lightweight Helmet Lightweight Helmet The Lightweight Helmet is the U.S. Marine Corps replacement for the PASGT combat helmet. As it is nearly identical to untrained eyes in shape to the PASGT, it is still called the Fritz helmet or K-pot...		used by United States Marine Corps United States Marine Corps The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
Mk. 6 Helmet Mk. 6 Helmet The Mk. 6 helmet is the standard combat helmet of the British Armed Forces. The Mk6 replaced the Mk. 5 Helmet in service from 1986 and is designed to accept modern ear protection, personal radios, and respirators...		used by British Armed Forces British Armed Forces The British Armed Forces are the armed forces of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.Also known as Her Majesty's Armed Forces and sometimes legally the Armed Forces of the Crown, the British Armed Forces encompasses three professional uniformed services, the Royal Navy, the...  (all arms). being replaced by the Mk. 7 Helmet Mk. 7 Helmet The Mk. 7 helmet is the newest helmet of the British Armed Forces. Officially known as the GS Mark 7 combat helmet. It is now replacing the previous Mk.6A helmet and Mk. 6 Helmet, introduced in 2005 and 1982 respectively....
Mk. 7 Helmet Mk. 7 Helmet The Mk. 7 helmet is the newest helmet of the British Armed Forces. Officially known as the GS Mark 7 combat helmet. It is now replacing the previous Mk.6A helmet and Mk. 6 Helmet, introduced in 2005 and 1982 respectively....		used by British Armed forces British Armed Forces The British Armed Forces are the armed forces of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.Also known as Her Majesty's Armed Forces and sometimes legally the Armed Forces of the Crown, the British Armed Forces encompasses three professional uniformed services, the Royal Navy, the...
BK-6 Helmet		used by the Croatian Army, Czech Army, Bulgarian Army, United Arab Emirates Army United Arab Emirates Army As part of the military of the United Arab Emirates the United Arab Emirates Ground Force is responsible for land operations.-History:In 1971 the Trucial Oman Scouts were renamed Union Defence Force upon the formation of United Arab Emirates and consisted of 2,500 regular military personnel... , Lithuanian Armed Forces, Mexican Army Mexican Army The Mexican Army is the combined land and air branch and largest of the Mexican Military services; it also is known as the National Defense Army. It is famous for having been the first army to adopt and use an automatic rifle, , in 1899, and the first to issue automatic weapons as standard issue... , Spanish Army Spanish Army The Spanish Army is the terrestrial army of the Spanish Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is one of the oldest active armies - dating back to the 15th century.-Introduction:... , Turkish Army Turkish Army The Turkish Army or Turkish Land Forces is the main branch of the Turkish Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. The modern history of the army began with its formation after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire... , Pakistan Army Pakistan Army The Pakistan Army is the branch of the Pakistani Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. The Pakistan Army came into existence after the Partition of India and the resulting independence of Pakistan in 1947. It is currently headed by General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. The Pakistan... , Malaysian Army Malaysian Army The Malaysian Army is the land component of the Malaysian Armed Forces. Steeped in British Army traditions, the Malaysian Army does not carry the title ‘royal’ as do the Royal Malaysian Air Force and the Royal Malaysian Navy... , Saudi Arabian Army Saudi Arabian Army The Saudi Arabian Army , also called Royal Saudi Land Force . Is a branch of the Saudi Armed Forces. The total number of active troops is estimated to be 233,500The current Chief of the Saudi General Staff is Field Marshal Saleh Al-Muhaya.... , Finnish Army Finnish Army The Finnish Army is the land forces branch of the Finnish Defence Forces.Today's Army is divided into six branches: the infantry , field artillery, anti-aircraft artillery, engineers, signals, and materiel troops.-History of the Finnish Army:Between 1809 and 1917 Finland was an autonomous part of... , National Army of Colombia, Armed Forces of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Italian Army Italian Army The Italian Army is the ground defence force of the Italian Armed Forces. It is all-volunteer force of active-duty personnel, numbering 108,355 in 2010. Its best-known combat vehicles are the Dardo infantry fighting vehicle, the Centauro tank destroyer and the Ariete tank, and among its aircraft... , Military of Hungary Military of Hungary The Hungarian Defence Force is the national military of Hungary. It currently has two branches, the Hungarian Ground Force and the Hungarian Air Force.... , Armed Forces of the Argentine Republic and by the police forces of the following countries: Croatia Law enforcement in Croatia Law enforcement in Croatia is the responsibility of the Police , which is a public service of the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Croatia, carrying out certain tasks, the so called, police activities, laid down by law.... , UK Metropolitan Police Service The Metropolitan Police Service is the territorial police force responsible for Greater London, excluding the "square mile" of the City of London which is the responsibility of the City of London Police... , Spain Ministry of the Interior (Spain) The Ministry of Interior of Spain which historically could be known as Ministerio de la Gobernación, Ministerio del Orden Público, Ministerio del Interior y la Gobernación or Ministerio del Interior y Justicia is the executive branch responsible for policing, national security, and immigration... , Republic of Macedonia, Egypt Ministry of Interior (Egypt) The Ministry of Interior of Egypt is part of the Cabinet of Egypt. It is responsible for law enforcement in Egypt. The current minister is Mansour el-Essawy, appointed 5 March 2011.... , Russia, Saudi Arabia Ministry of Interior (Saudi Arabia) The Ministry of Interior is the responsible authority for national security of Saudi Arabia, Including Police divisions, Rescue and Civil Defense.-Aircraft inventory:! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Aircraft... , Colombia Colombian National Police The National Police of Colombia is the national police force of Colombia. Although the National Police is not part of the Military of Colombia , it constitutes along with them the "Public Force" and is also controlled by the Ministry of Defense. They are the largest police force in Colombia... , Italy Carabinieri The Carabinieri is the national gendarmerie of Italy, policing both military and civilian populations, and is a branch of the armed forces.-Early history:... , Ukraine and by Argentina and by the UN demining committee.
CCB (Combat Ballistic Helmet)		Used by the Brazilian Armed Forces in two versions: Polymer Polymer A polymer is a large molecule composed of repeating structural units. These subunits are typically connected by covalent chemical bonds...  and Kevlar Kevlar Kevlar is the registered trademark for a para-aramid synthetic fiber, related to other aramids such as Nomex and Technora. Developed at DuPont in 1965, this high strength material was first commercially used in the early 1970s as a replacement for steel in racing tires... .
Enhanced Combat Helmet		introduced into Australian service in 2004, replacing the PASGT.
CG634 CG634 The CG634 are the Canadian Forces' main combat helmet. Introduced in 1997 and based on the French SPECTRA helmet.-History:The Canadian military sought a replacement for the steel M1 Helmet in the 1980s. It trialled the American PASGT and the related French SPECTRA helmets, before deciding to adopt...		Used by the Canadian Forces Canadian Forces The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...  since 1998.
PASGT Personnel Armor System for Ground Troops Personnel Armor System for Ground Troops, sometimes abbreviated to PASGT, was a combat helmet and ballistic vest used by the American military from the mid 1980s until 2005, when the system was succeeded by the Lightweight Helmet, Modular Integrated Communications Helmet, and Interceptor body...		Used by the USAF, but is being phased out by the ACH US Air Force.
GOLFO		Military of Chile Military of Chile Chile's armed forces are subject to civilian control exercised by the president through the Minister of Defense. Military service of 12 to 24 months is mandatory for all male citizens upon turning 18. This conscription service can be postponed for educational or religious reasons... , Similar to the PASGT.
QGF03		People's Liberation Army People's Liberation Army The People's Liberation Army is the unified military organization of all land, sea, strategic missile and air forces of the People's Republic of China. The PLA was established on August 1, 1927 — celebrated annually as "PLA Day" — as the military arm of the Communist Party of China...
QGF02		People's Liberation Army People's Liberation Army The People's Liberation Army is the unified military organization of all land, sea, strategic missile and air forces of the People's Republic of China. The PLA was established on August 1, 1927 — celebrated annually as "PLA Day" — as the military arm of the Communist Party of China...
SSh68		Steel helmet Russian Army Russia Russia Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
6B7-1L		Kevlar helmet Russian army and Naval Infantry Russia Russia Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
STSh-81		Titanium helmet Russian Special Forces Russia Russia Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
Kolpak 2		Kevlar helmet Russian army
6B27		Kevlar helmet Russian army
6B28		Kevlar helmet Russian army
6B26		Kevlar helmet Russian army
6B7		Kevlar helmet Russian army
OR-201		Kevlar helmet used by the Israel Defense Forces Israel Defense Forces The Israel Defense Forces , commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew acronym Tzahal , are the military forces of the State of Israel. They consist of the ground forces, air force and navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security forces, and has no civilian jurisdiction within Israel... , Some units of Special forces of Indian Army Indian Army The Indian Army is the land based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. With about 1,100,000 soldiers in active service and about 1,150,000 reserve troops, the Indian Army is the world's largest standing volunteer army... , Lebanon Lebanon Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...  (Lebanese Forces Lebanese Forces The Lebanese Forces is a Lebanese political party. Founded as a militia by Bachir Gemayel during the Lebanese Civil War, the movement fought as the main militia within the Christian-dominated Lebanese Front... , South Lebanon Army South Lebanon Army The South Lebanon Army , also "South Lebanese Army," was a Lebanese militia during the Lebanese Civil War. After 1979, the militia operated in southern Lebanon under the authority of Saad Haddad's Government of Free Lebanon... , Hezbollah, Lebanese Army), Honduran Army, Guatemalan Army, Peruvian Army Peruvian Army The Peruvian Army is the branch of the Peruvian Armed Forces tasked with safeguarding the independence, sovereignty and integrity of national territory on land through military force. Additional missions include assistance in safeguarding internal security, conducting disaster relief operations... , Romanian Army, Nicaragua Nicaragua Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...  (National Guard and Police), Portugal Portugal Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...  (Portuguese Marine Corps Portuguese Marine Corps The Portuguese Marine Corps are a special operations force unit in the Portuguese Navy. The corps is specialised in amphibious warfare, coastal reconnaissance, maritime interdiction and boarding operations... ), Irish Defence Force, South African Defence Force South African Defence Force The South African Defence Force was the South African armed forces from 1957 until 1994. The former Union Defence Force was renamed to the South African Defence Force in the Defence Act of 1957... , Sri Lanka Sri Lanka Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...  (Army and Police), and other countries.
KASDA		Kevlar helmet Israel Defense Forces Israel Defense Forces The Israel Defense Forces , commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew acronym Tzahal , are the military forces of the State of Israel. They consist of the ground forces, air force and navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security forces, and has no civilian jurisdiction within Israel... , Guatemalan Army
Gefechtshelm Schuberth B826		used by the Bundeswehr Bundeswehr The Bundeswehr consists of the unified armed forces of Germany and their civil administration and procurement authorities... , Swiss Army, Dutch Army, Estonian Defence Forces, Czech Army and other countries - PASGT type helmet
MARTE		Protec type helmet replacing PASGT type helmets
Sistema Compositi SEPT-2 PLUS		used by the Italian Armed Forces
Sistema Compositi SUPERUBOTT		used by Special Units (particularly GIS Gruppo di Intervento Speciale Gruppo di Intervento Speciale is an elite Special Operations counter-terrorism tactical response unit inside the Italian Carabinieri military police, first formed in 1978... ) of the Italian Law Enforcement community
Tecnoplast TD-71		used by the Italian Law Enforcement community for riot control Riot control Riot control refers to the measures used by police, military, or other security forces to control, disperse, and arrest civilians who are involved in a riot, demonstration, or protest. Law enforcement officers or soldiers have long used non-lethal weapons such as batons and whips to disperse crowds...
Type 88 Helmet		used by the JSDF - PASGT type helmet
Type 66 Helmet Type 66 helmet The Type 66 is a combat helmet that is used by the Japanese Self-Defense Forces. Other GSDF, MSDF and is also used. It has now been replaced by the Type 88 helmet. Like the American M1 helmet upon which it was based, it is made of iron alloy.-Overview:...		Variant of M1 Helmet M1 Helmet The M1 helmet is a combat helmet that was used by the American military from World War II until it was succeeded by the PASGT helmet beginning in 1985. For over forty years, the M1 was standard issue for the U.S...  used by some elements of the JSDF Ground Forces
M80 Helmet Iraqi M80 Helmet The Iraqi M80 Helmet is a military helmet made of compressed canvas used by the Iraqi Armed Forces from the early 1980s onwards. They were used in the Iran-Iraq War, The Gulf War/Operation Desert Storm and the 2003 Invasion of Iraq/Operation Iraqi Freedom...		Plastic and cloth helmet, limited use
M87		Kevlar helmet South African Army South African Army The South African Army is the army of South Africa, first formed after the Union of South Africa was created in 1910.The South African military evolved within the tradition of frontier warfare fought by commando forces, reinforced by the Afrikaners' historical distrust of large standing armies...
Hjälm 90		used by the Swedish Armed Forces Swedish Armed Forces The Swedish Armed Forces is a Swedish Government Agency responsible for the operation of the armed forces of the Realm. The primary task of the agency is to train, organize and to deploy military forces, domestically and abroad, while maintaining the long-term ability to defend the Realm in the...
Composite Helmet K96		used by the Finnish Defence Forces Finnish Defence Forces The Finnish Defence Forces are responsible for the defence of Finland. It is a cadre army of 15,000, of which 8,900 are professional soldiers , extended with conscripts and reservists such that the standard readiness strength is 34,700 people in uniform...
RBH303IE		Used by the Irish Defence Force
Mile Dragić M-97		Used by the Serbian Army - PASGT type helmet
Mile Dragić M-05		Used by Serbian Special Forces—MICH type helmet

World War I–Vietnam

Model	Origins	Users
Adrian helmet Adrian helmet The M15 Adrian helmet was a combat helmet issued to the French Army during World War I. It was the first standard helmet of the French Army and was designed when millions of French troops were engaged in trench warfare, and head wounds became a frequent cause of battlefield casualties...		used in , ,   Japan Imperial Japanese Navy Land Forces Imperial Japanese Navy Land Forces of World War II originated with the Special Naval Landing Forces, and eventually consisted of the following:... ,  Kingdom of Serbia,  Kingdom of Yugoslavia, , , Irish Free State, , ,  Manchukuo,
Brodie helmet Brodie helmet The Brodie helmet, called Helmet, steel, Mark I helmet in Britain and the M1917 Helmet in the U.S., was a steel combat helmet designed and patented in 1915 by the Briton John Leopold Brodie...		used in , , , , ,  Estonia,
Mk III Turtle helmet Mk III Turtle helmet The Mk III Helmet was a steel military combat helmet developed for the British Army in 1941. First worn in combat by British and Canadian troops on D-Day, the Mk III was used alongside the Brodie helmet for the remainder of the Second World War...	,
M33 helmet		Italy,  Finland
Bulgarian M36 Helmet Bulgarian M36 Helmet The Bulgarian M36 helmet was the basic helmet of the Bulgarian Army prior to the outbreak of World War II and during the Bulgarian participation in the war...		Bulgaria Bulgaria Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
M1 Helmet M1 Helmet The M1 helmet is a combat helmet that was used by the American military from World War II until it was succeeded by the PASGT helmet beginning in 1985. For over forty years, the M1 was standard issue for the U.S...		U.S.Army United States Army The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services... , U.S.Marine Corps United States Marine Corps The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States... ; , , Guatemalan Guatemalan Guatemalan may refer to:* Something of, from, or related to the country of Guatemala* A person from Guatemala, or of Guatemalan descent. Not Mexican at all. For information about the Guatemalan people, see Demographics of Guatemala and Culture of Guatemala. For specific persons, see List of... , Philippines Philippines The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam... ,
Pickelhaube Pickelhaube The Pickelhaube , also "Pickelhelm," was a spiked helmet worn in the 19th and 20th centuries by German military, firefighters, and police...	German Empire	German Empire
Soviet helmets during World War II Soviet helmets during World War II Over the course of World War II the Soviet Union employed three main helmet designs; the M-36, the SSh-39, and the SSh-40, each being designated with the year in which they were introduced. Standard practice was to stamp the size, location, and year of manufacturing on the interior of the helmet.-...	Soviet Union	Soviet Union,  People's Republic of China,  North Korea,  North Vietnam,  Finland, Warsaw Pact Warsaw Pact The Warsaw Treaty Organization of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance , or more commonly referred to as the Warsaw Pact, was a mutual defense treaty subscribed to by eight communist states in Eastern Europe...
Stahlhelm Stahlhelm Stahlhelm is German for "steel helmet". The Imperial German Army began to replace the traditional boiled-leather Pickelhaube with the Stahlhelm during World War I in 1916...	German Empire	Chile Military of Chile Chile's armed forces are subject to civilian control exercised by the president through the Minister of Defense. Military service of 12 to 24 months is mandatory for all male citizens upon turning 18. This conscription service can be postponed for educational or religious reasons... , ,  Irish Free State,  Nazi Germany,  Poland,  Weimar Republic,  Estonia,  Finland
Hełm wz. 31		Poland Poland Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...

Medieval and early modern militaries

Model	Origin	Users
Bascinet Bascinet The bascinet was a Medieval European open-faced military helmet, typically fitted with an aventail and hinged visor. The term is also written as bassinet or basinet.-Early versions:...	circa 1300	Europeans during the Hundred Years' War Hundred Years' War The Hundred Years' War was a series of separate wars waged from 1337 to 1453 by the House of Valois and the House of Plantagenet, also known as the House of Anjou, for the French throne, which had become vacant upon the extinction of the senior Capetian line of French kings... (1337 to 1453) amid the kingdoms of France France The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France... ,  Aquitaine, Burgundy and  Kingdom of England
Burgonet Burgonet The burgonet helmet was a Renaissance-era and Early modern combat helmet. It was the successor of the sallet....	circa 1600	Europeans, especially by militias of  Poland &  Switzerland
Capeline Capeline Capeline is the name given to two distinct types of post-Renaissance helmetThe first was a steel skullcap usually worn by archers that continued to be worn into the 17th century by musketeers and horsemen who wished to wear fashionable broad-brimmed hats but also retain some level of protection...	late 16th century	Europeans during 17th century, including the English Civil War English Civil War The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...  in  Kingdom of England & Thirty Years' War Thirty Years' War The Thirty Years' War was fought primarily in what is now Germany, and at various points involved most countries in Europe. It was one of the most destructive conflicts in European history....  across the  Holy Roman Empire
Cervelliere Cervelliere The cervelliere is a round, close-fitting steel skull cap. It was worn as a helmet during the medieval period.- History :It was first introduced during the late 12th and was the primary head protection for Crusaders at that time and was worn either alone or over chainmail...	late 13th century	Christian Europeans in Crusades Crusades The Crusades were a series of religious wars, blessed by the Pope and the Catholic Church with the main goal of restoring Christian access to the holy places in and near Jerusalem...  during the 14th century
Great helm Great helm The great helm or heaume, also called pot helm, bucket helm and barrel helm, of the High Middle Ages arose in the late twelfth century in the context of the crusades and remained in use until the fourteenth century...	1189	Christian Europeans in Third Crusade Third Crusade The Third Crusade , also known as the Kings' Crusade, was an attempt by European leaders to reconquer the Holy Land from Saladin... ; other Europeans until 1540
Kabuto Kabuto A kabuto is a helmet used with traditional Japanese armour as worn by the samurai class and their retainers in feudal Japan....	circa 1600	Samurai Samurai is the term for the military nobility of pre-industrial Japan. According to translator William Scott Wilson: "In Chinese, the character 侍 was originally a verb meaning to wait upon or accompany a person in the upper ranks of society, and this is also true of the original term in Japanese, saburau...  especially during the 17th century of the Edo Period Edo period The , or , is a division of Japanese history which was ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family, running from 1603 to 1868. The political entity of this period was the Tokugawa shogunate....  Tokugawa shogunate Tokugawa shogunate The Tokugawa shogunate, also known as the and the , was a feudal regime of Japan established by Tokugawa Ieyasu and ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family. This period is known as the Edo period and gets its name from the capital city, Edo, which is now called Tokyo, after the name was...  in Medieval .
Morion Morion (helmet) A morion is a type of open helmet used during the 16th and early 17th centuries, usually having a flat brim and a crest from front to back. The morion, though generally identified with Spanish conquistadors, was common among foot soldiers of European nationalities, including the English; the first...	16th and early 17th centuries	Spanish (esp. associated with Conquistadores), Swiss and English
Pickelhaube Pickelhaube The Pickelhaube , also "Pickelhelm," was a spiked helmet worn in the 19th and 20th centuries by German military, firefighters, and police...	1842	especially by  Kingdom of Prussia &  German Empire and other Europeans until 1918; revived for 2006 FIFA World Cup 2006 FIFA World Cup The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six...  in  Germany
Raupenhelm	circa 1800-1870	High crested leather helmet used primarily by  Kingdom of Bavaria and  Kingdom of Württemberg
Sallet Sallet The sallet was a war helmet that replaced the bascinet in northern Europe and Hungary during the mid-15th century. Some sallets were close fitting except at the back of the head where they extended and formed a pointed tail. Some Italian ones followed the shape of the neck, and had an additional...	circa 1450	used in Northern Europe &  Hungary until mid-16th century
Spangenhelm Spangenhelm The Spangenhelm was a popular European war combat helmet design of the Early Middle Ages. The name is of German origin. Spangen refers to the metal strips that form the framework for the helmet and could be translated as clips, and -helm simply means helmet. The strips connect three to six steel or...	5th century	Central Asia, Near East & Europe; espec. by Scythia Scythia In antiquity, Scythian or Scyths were terms used by the Greeks to refer to certain Iranian groups of horse-riding nomadic pastoralists who dwelt on the Pontic-Caspian steppe... ns, Sarmatia Sarmatia Sarmatia or Sarmatian can refer to:* the land of Sarmatians, western Scythia as described by many classical authors, such as Herodotus in the 5th century BC* Sarmatian languages, part of Scythian languages... ns, Persians, & Germans until 1000
Tarleton Banastre Tarleton General Sir Banastre Tarleton, 1st Baronet, GCB was a British soldier and politician.He is today probably best remembered for his military service during the American War of Independence. He became the focal point of a propaganda campaign claiming that he had fired upon surrendering Continental...	circa 1770-1800	Crested, peaked leather helmet used by cavalry Cavalry Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...  and light infantry Light infantry Traditionally light infantry were soldiers whose job was to provide a skirmishing screen ahead of the main body of infantry, harassing and delaying the enemy advance. Light infantry was distinct from medium, heavy or line infantry. Heavy infantry were dedicated primarily to fighting in tight...  by  United Kingdom,  Early Modern France and  United States in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
Qing parade helmet	after 1655 till 1911	China China Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...

See also headgear listing within Components of medieval armour

Components of medieval armour

Following is a table that concisely identifies various pieces of medieval armour, mostly plate but some mail, arranged by the part of body that is protected and roughly by date...

.

Ancient militaries

Model	Origin	Users
Attic helmet Attic helmet The Attic helmet was a type of helmet that was originated in Classical Greece and was widely used in Italy and the Hellenistic world until well into the Roman Empire.It was similar to the Chalcidian helmet but lacked a nose-guard...		ancient Greeks
Boar's tusk helmet Boar's tusk helmet Helmets using ivory from boars' tusks were known in the Mycenaean world from the 17th century BC to the 10th century BC . The helmet was made through the use of slivers of boars tusks which were attached to a leather base, padded with felt, in rows...	17th century B.C.E.	Mycenaean Greeks Mycenaean Greece Mycenaean Greece was a cultural period of Bronze Age Greece taking its name from the archaeological site of Mycenae in northeastern Argolis, in the Peloponnese of southern Greece. Athens, Pylos, Thebes, and Tiryns are also important Mycenaean sites...  until 10th century BCE
Boeotian helmet Boeotian helmet The Boeotian helmet was a type of helmet that was used in Classical Antiquity and the Hellenistic period and originated in Boeotia. It was an open helmet, allowing good peripheral vision and unimpaired hearing, and was therefore used primarily by the cavalry. Hence its use was not as widespread as...		ancient Greek cavalry
Chalcidian helmet Chalcidian helmet A Chalcidian helmet or Chalcidian type helmet was a helmet made of bronze and worn by ancient warriors of the Hellenic world, especially popular in Greece in the fourth and fifth centuries BC...		ancient Greeks
Corinthian helmet Corinthian helmet The Corinthian helmet originated in ancient Greece and took its name from the city-state of Corinth. It was a helmet made of bronze which in its later styles covered the entire head and neck, with slits for the eyes and mouth. A large curved projection protected the nape of the neck...		ancient Greeks
Disc and stud helmet Disc and stud helmet Shmarjet helmet was a helmet of Illyrian origin worn by the real Illyrians and the Veneti. It was favored especially by the Iapodes. It had two varieties one with a wicker base and one with chain mail sewn together. The discs and studs were optional....	circa 400 BCE	ancient Illyria Illyria In classical antiquity, Illyria was a region in the western part of the Balkan Peninsula inhabited by the Illyrians.... ns & Adriatic Veneti Adriatic Veneti The Veneti were an ancient people who inhabited north-eastern Italy, in an area corresponding to the modern-day region of the Veneto....  until 167 BCE
Galea (helmet)		ancient Romans
Horned helmet Horned helmet European Bronze Age and Iron Age helmets with horns are known from a few depictions, and even fewer actual finds. Such helmets mounted with animal horns or replicas of them were probably used for religious ceremonial or ritual purposes.-Prehistoric Europe:...	circa 1000 BCE	Celt Celt The Celts were a diverse group of tribal societies in Iron Age and Roman-era Europe who spoke Celtic languages.The earliest archaeological culture commonly accepted as Celtic, or rather Proto-Celtic, was the central European Hallstatt culture , named for the rich grave finds in Hallstatt, Austria.... ic Europeans until 700 CE
Illyrian type helmet Illyrian type helmet The "Illyrian" or "Greco-Illyrian" type helmet is an archaeological term that describes a style of bronze helmet, which in its later variations covered the entire head and neck, and was open-faced in all of its subsequent forms. Its earliest styles were first developed in Ancient Greece,...		ancient Greeks
Kegelhelm Kegelhelm The Kegelhelm or Kegel type is a type of helmet that originated in ancient Greece and the progenitor of many Greek helmets especially that of the "Illyrian" type helmet.It was open faced was made of five piece and a high-crest holder.It did not outlast the eighth century BC. The helmet is conical...		ancient Greeks
Negau helmet Negau helmet Negau helmet refers to one of 26 bronze helmets dating to ca. 450 till 350 BC, found in 1811 in a cache in Ženjak, near Negau, Duchy of Styria . The helmets are of typical Etruscan 'vetulonic' shape, sometimes described as of the Negau type. They were buried in ca...		ancient Etruscans in Negau, Slovenia Slovenia Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
Montefortino helmet Montefortino helmet The Montefortino helmet was a type of Celtic, and later Roman, military helmet used from around 300 BC through the 1st century AD with continuing modifications...		ancient Romans
Pilos		ancient Greeks
Pot helmet Pot helmet The Conical helmet was a helmet worn by Illyrians, Veneti, Celts and many of the Ancient peoples of Italy. It was in use from the 6th century BC. The helmet sometimes had a plume but not always....		ancient Illyrians
Phrygian Phrygian type helmet The Phrygian type helmet was a type of helmet that was originated in Classical Greece and was widely used in Thrace, Dacia, Italy and the Hellenistic world until well into the Roman Empire. It received its name due to its resemblance to the Phrygian cap.... /Thracian helmet	400s BCE	ancient Greeks in Thrace Thrace Thrace is a historical and geographic area in southeast Europe. As a geographical concept, Thrace designates a region bounded by the Balkan Mountains on the north, Rhodope Mountains and the Aegean Sea on the south, and by the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara on the east... , Dacia Dacia In ancient geography, especially in Roman sources, Dacia was the land inhabited by the Dacians or Getae as they were known by the Greeks—the branch of the Thracians north of the Haemus range... , Italia & Hellenistic Europe until circa 200 CE

Padding

Cushioning is used to negate concussive injuries. Researchers at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory , just outside Livermore, California, is a Federally Funded Research and Development Center founded by the University of California in 1952...

published a study in 2011 that concluded that the addition of an eighth of an inch of cushion decreased the impact force to the skull by 24%.

External links

• Modern military helmets