"Transitional" Helmet

[LeeM]

Greetings to all. I am new to this forum and will give a brief introduction before my question. I have been collecting militaria (primarily helmets) off and on since I was a kid in the early 70's. I have recently begun collecting again and have found this forum very informative. I have an M-16 helmet with rough texture dark green paint and a single decal (Heer). The M-16 chin strap posts have been removed and the hole riveted (as described in Tubb's book). Standard M-31 liner. I know the WWI double decal helmets used prior to the M-35s are referred to as "Transitional" helmets, but my single decal was obviously issued after the national colors decal was ordered removed. My assumption has been that these were intended for support/non-combat troops? Any info?

Thanks
Lee

[Theodor]

Hello Lee,

As far as I know these helmets were used /tough maybe in not big numbers/ through the whole war and not only by the reserve/support units, but also on the front. I watched many of the "Battlefield" series on Discovery and there they several times used one and the same scene - winter, two WH soldiers side by side shooting from a ruined building, the period was either winter of 1943, or winter of 1944. One soldier had ordinary helmet, but the other one had clearly seen "transitional" with tonns of white camo on it.
Also I believe someone posted here not long ago a late war picture of soldiers with such helmets???

[Theodor]

Hey, that was my 100th post!!!
Wow I became a senior member! El Senor! Senor Teodoro del Torro

[Edelweiss]

Théodor : congratulations y Olé !

Welcome to the forum, Lee.
Your lid is a reissue of the first "apple green" M16-18/austrian DD helmets ; it's true that they were generally issued to second line troops, or to the "older" soldiers/foreign volunteers of static units, like on the Atlantikwall ; but this doesn't mean they were "non fighting units", they dramatically proved the contrary.

If you look well on paint damaged areas (if your helmet has some), you'll surely see the former paint layer ; and if you have some luck, maybe the trace of the tricolor shield under the paint, on the right side.

About the term "reissue", you can refer to a very recent thread here. I guess this is more or less how your helmet looks like ?

[Perry Floyd]

cira 1940..

[LeeM]

Theodor - Congratulations. I am happy to have played a small (1/100th) part in your obtaining senior status.

Chris - Yes, very much like that (with the exception of mine being an M16). Same color and finish. Is that one also a single decal?

Perry - Thanks for the photo. I had not been able to locate photos of them in use other than parades or training.


Lee

[Adrian Stevenson]

Hi Lee, here is my Austrian M16 SD Heer with M1931 liner. The paint finish, as you can see, is the rough type. The original WW1 paint is still on the inside.
Cheers, Ade.