Soviet steelhelmet

[Doc]

Hi All,

I recently picked up this helmet as it was described as a Soviet steel helmet from World War II. Could you please tell me your opinion on this.<O</O

Thank you in advance,
Doc<O</O
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[Doc]

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[Kozlov]

Well as far as I can tell it IS a Soviet M40 helmet.

Whether or not its wartime is another matter. These were the standard helmet of Soviet forces from 1940 to 1960.

You even see them still in use with the Russian army today in Chechnya!

There is a factory stamp in there, doesnt mean anything to me, but to someone else on here, maybe.

The only thing I'm really uncertain about is the "46" painted on the front... wonder whats that about? I've seen similar numbers painted on helmets in photos of Soviet troops on training exercises, maybe its a squad number or vehicle number or something?

[Soviet]

Nice Ssh-40 helmet. The star with the number 76, means the helmet was refurbished in 1976. I'm 95% sure it is a post-war helmet.

One thing is for sure, the chinstrap is no way WW-II and for the number in front of the shell, I have no idea.

[Doc]

Dear Kozlov and Soviet,

I would like to thank for your help and kind assistance
Doc

[Wesley's Dad]

Training Helmets

The only thing I'm really uncertain about is the "46" painted on the front... wonder whats that about? I've seen similar numbers painted on helmets in photos of Soviet troops on training exercises, maybe its a squad number or vehicle number or something?

I like the paint color... early postwar Ssh-40 in my opinions. Further, I think you are on to something "Kozlov" and here is why...

Back during my OstFront days, we handled a large lot of post war M40 helmets. In my garage, at one time, I was maintaining an inventory of some 200 helmets. Mind you that most of these were mid-50's vinage, unissued examples in fresh paint with and without red stars on the front. About 20 of the helmets however were well used and included several "oddball" Ssh-39/Ssh-40 "Hybrids". These "Hybrids" were all wartime, three rivet Ssh-39 shells that had Ssh-40, 3-pad liner systems installed via a special hanger bracket. These and several of the used, but standard Ssh-40's all had these stenciled numbers either outside or inside the shell... and no two were the same number. However, all the "Hybrids" are stamped with the Russian word for "Training" on the inside of the shell. I suspect these helmets were used in exercise at various training facilities and maintained in inventory (hence the number). A present one of these "Hybrids" for review here as there are some other intersting features.

Below is the exterior.... Note the rivet location, and a second layer of green over the original pea green so common to the wartime helmets.

[Wesley's Dad]

Helmet Interior

Here is the interior... Note the untypical arrangement of the liner pads due to the adaptation to a Ssh-39 shell. The two fore most pads are almost at the 3 and 9 o'clock position with 12 o'clock being forward. Normally in a standard Ssh-40, they are much farther forward towards the 12 o'clock position. It is liner pad location that I suspect that these "hybrids" were relegated to training service. These helmets are not stable on the head, and even a modest blow to the front of the shell causes it to dip violently. These event put the inside corner of the visor across the bridge of the wearer's nose... OUCH!

[Wesley's Dad]

Shell number

Here is a shot of the stenciled, two digit number on the inside front of the shell. Very similiar to the helmet that started this thread, but on the inside.

[Wesley's Dad]

Refurb stamps

Here are the Refurb. stamps, and Bryan "Soviet" is basically correct. According to Clawson's work, these represent dates that the helmet was refurbished. Looks like this one got it in 1946, and I suspect the other number is a second manipulation of some sort in 1952. However, there must be more to it than this... see the next post and understand why.

[Wesley's Dad]

Confusion??

Here is why I think there might be more to the Refurb number. The first refurbishment was in 1946 if we take current wisdom to be true. However, this helmet was completed in 1950 by the LMZ factory stamp on the shell rear, four years after it was refurbished?. So what happened in 1946? Was an Ssh-39 liner removed and the shell returned to inventory? I don't think so, because I have an unissued, LMZ, factory original Ssh-39 dated 1941 with the standard cloth sack LMZ liner of the era that was refurbished in 1976?? So what gives?

I suspect that these were left over shells that might possible have been cleaned, painted, counted, etc. and returned to production ready inventory. That is the only explaination I can think of short hand. In this, the refurb numbers might make sense.

[Adrian Stevenson]

Interesting thread Guys


Cheers, Ade.

[Kozlov]

Nice work Michael!

I shall fish the books out tonight and try and post some photos of the helmets with "training numbers" on them in use. I have several pics of them in use by GSFG troops in exercise areas - so these probably arent even "green troops".

This is interesting because it starts to analyse quite how much kit "belonged to" a soldier as opposed to issued out of stores when they needed it.

Andy