In 1940, as the likelihood of the United States entering WWII hostilities increased, military officials assessed equipment and decided soldiers needed a better helmet. The newly redesigned combat helmet was called the M-1 Helmet, and production began in 1941. The design proved so popular that with slight modifications, the helmet became a standard issue for more than four decades until 1985, when the PASGT helmet succeeded it.
The M-1 helmet was made of steel, weighed about three pounds, and was known by nicknames like the ‘steel pot’ or ‘brain bucket.’ It was designed with features like a slight visor to protect the wearer from precipitation, a flanged lip around the bottom, an adjustable helmet liner, and chin straps to keep the helmet in place. The helmet provided full coverage and could withstand a .45 caliber bullet fired at point-blank range.
The M-1 helmet was also notable because it did much more than protect the head. It was used as an entrenching tool or a wash basin for laundry or shaving (the helmet could hold more than three quarts of water). Military personnel also used the helmets as stools, a place to prepare food, or even to soak tired feet. The ultimate goal of the M-1, however, was to save lives—and it did.
Lt. John A. Walsh was aboard the USS Walke in 1942 during the Battle of Guadalcanal. Before the battle began, Walsh was prompted to do something he hadn’t done in more than a year of action aboard the Walke – don a life vest and his M-1 helmet. On the night of November 15, 1942, the Walke was hit by a torpedo. The impact threw Walsh into the bulkhead, breaking a vertebrate in his neck before slamming him back down, breaking his leg. Walsh jumped from the sinking ship and swam until he cleared the burning wreckage. He then realized his helmet was pushed down very low on his head. He pried it off and was shocked to see the steel helmet creased like a fedora where he had slammed into the angle iron. The helmet saved his life, and in turn, Walsh was able to save 16 members of his crew. He received the Navy-Marine Corps Medal for Heroism and the Purple Heart.
Over 22 million M-1 helmets were produced during WWII, saving an estimated 70,000 lives. To learn more about the M-1 helmet and other WWII military equipment, search Fold3® today.
Interesting history – I still have mine – issued in 1963 with it’s camouflage cover and helmet liner.
And while I never cooked with or in it, I did do all the rest attributed to it in this history telling.
I still mine in the garage with the liner and camo cover.
In my family photos is one from a field encampment during the Korean War of a trooper using his helmet as a wash basin for a sponge bath.
I still have mine – issued in Vietnam in 1967 with it’s camouflage cover and helmet liner. It also has two shrapnel holes and one bullet hole. Bullet took three inches of scalp and a chunk of skull. I was obviously not wearing it when the shrapnel hit it.
In Dak To RVN 1969. I dug shrapnel out of the camo cover and found a dent, saved my head. We also made coffee in the steel pot using C4 for fuel and stained through mosquito netting
I (Army) didn’t get the new PASGT helmet until 1990 roughly. Until then I had the M1 helmet. I was forced to trade the M1 for the new PASGT. No one in my unit liked the new helmet. Can’t do anything with it except put it on your head or as a last resort…beat the enemy with it in hand to hand combat. I had several recipes for “brain bucket field rations” passed down to me from my dad (USMC) and a few uncles (USMC, USN, and USAF) to make the field rations “more palatable.”
During ‘64 – ‘67 worked inside of a van that a was 6’3”tall. I was 6’4”! It had a MEAN interior ridge that would rip a hole in your head unless you wore your helmet liner inside the van. I only had to forget once!
One of these, left in 1945 by the men of the 10th mountain division, was until the ‘70 in my grandmother’s farmyard, a few hundred metres from the Riva Ridge, with basil plants inside.
I wish you had included the helmet liner info. My father told me about mishaps in the 1940’s combat when solders would only wear the liner usually fatal) or used a stocking cap for a liner and got grievously injured from the steel pot compression when struck
It was found that dozens of 4th Infantry Div personnel died when their necks snapped after jumping overboard from LST’s during pre-D Day invasion exercise off Slapton Sands when sunk by German S- Boats because they failed to remove helmets or unbuckle chin strap
Didn’t know of the Slapton Sands deaths but my Dad, also in the 4th Inf. Div.,(12th Inf.) never buckled the strap in combat. That saved his life in the hedgerows in Normandy when he was knocked unconscious by an 88 and only remembered hearing his helmet hit the ground after being blown high in the air.
“Could withstand a .45 fired at point blank range”? Not the one I had! I have my doubts.
I was a quality control inspector on the line that made these helmets. They definitely will NOT withstand a .45 APC fired at point blank range. We tested the helmets strength with a .22 cal long rifle.
The helmet liner did provide a space spreading the impact of blows over a longer period of time, thus less damaging. However, the PASGT does have cushions which can be varied to provide similar shock reduction and are also repositionable to make the helmet fit odd shaped heads better. It also provides better protection for similar weight, having stopped AK47 rounds at close range (though the wearer is likely to be stunned for a few seconds and is vulnerable to a quick follow up shot.)
By the way, the PASGT helmet is better known as a Kevlar.
Very informative history and interesting comments by all. I served in the Army and always wore my Steel Pot, using it for many of the uses described. Quite often, in Germany on fields maneuvers in the 1958-59 era. It provided a somewhat dry seat while eating Chow in the field.
Later in the States on summer encampments in Virginia. The Mosquitoes and ticks were unbearable, but spraying insect repellant around the inside rim kept the critters away. I sure
the Steel Helmet saved man a life through the years.
In 1968, my husband, an Army Special Forces captain, did a training parachute jump near Cao Lanh, Vietnam. He didn’t have a jump helmet so he thought he would wear a M-1 helmet with the strap really tight. Immediately during the jump from a helicopter, the helmet flew off.
Most durable and multi use piece of US equipment. Used mine to do everything described in this article plus, will add as a dog handler, mine made a pretty good water bowl.
My father was injured by a machine gun round hitting his M1 helmet in the Huertgen Forest in October 1944. The round drove steel from the helmet into and fracturing his skull. He survived and led a normal life. No question the helmet saved his life.
The first thought I had was that there is no way someone wearing an M1 helmet could survive a point blank .45 round shot. I wore the M1 when serving in the 8th Infantry Division during 1975 and 1976, and it was the most uncomfortable helmet to wear while running. It did make a good entrenching tool, and it was useful for shaving and cooking. But personally, I believe the PASGT helmet is a big improvement. Initially nicknamed the “Fritz” by some because it resembled a German helmet from W.W. II, the new helmet just isn’t as useful. By the way, when I served many years ago and wore the M1 helmet, I often heard that it was the “most recognizable” helmet in the world.
I have my dad’s helmet from 1941. As kids(born ’41, ’43’ and ’46) we played with not only the helmet, but his dress cap, army cot and mattress. The most fun was connecting the two field telephones with the hand crank ringers. I just read this article and had to try on Dad’s helmet and liner with the Major’s insignia on the front of the latter
I was in the 38th INF, 2nd D, Camp Hovey, ROK, 1984 when we swapped out the M1 for the Fritz. Wore the M-1 most of the year during field exercises and the Fritz was way more comfortable.
Thank you. Very interesting! Likewise the comments from readers.
I was a quality control inspector on the Dana Corporation – Michigan army helmet line in the 1960’s. I’ve handled thousands of these helmets. At that time the operation was considered TOP SECRET by the government. The materials list for type of metal the helmets were made of was even stamped TOP SECRET. After that military contract expired I watched hundreds of thousands of those helmets be buried in a large hole dug beside our plant.
Why would they not have just melted them down I wonder?
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