Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/958224
soldier was in a horizontal position. That is why an un- dercut was implemented in the back. Before the final sizes and fitting of the helmet to the head were known, there were already instructions available on the limits for location and design of the bottom edge. The report titled "Infantry Helmet Cut Criteria" was published in 1973. SuSPENSION Still within the period of the LINCLOE program (1968-1969), Natick Labs conducted thorough re- search within the scope of modifications of M1 hel- mets. Foreign solutions and helmets for other pur- poses (e.g. sport or industrial safet) were analyzed. In 1968, 8 completely different cradle type suspensions were produced. In 1969, research was conducted on padded suspension that could be arranged (similarly to the ACH ones). The webbing used in sport helmets produced by Riddel and Welson Davies were also an- alyzed. In 1971–1972, further research was conduct- ed to improve the suspension of M1. They resulted in execution of 10 contracts for 8 cradle and 2 padded suspension . In the end, modernization of M1 was not that significant. The final choice was an interchange- able suspension fixed with clasps and a two-point chinstrap with a chin cup. Although almost all the pos- sible solutions had been tested, it was decided that the best solution for the future infantry helmet would be the classic cradle suspension with a two-point chinstrap with a chin cup. In the case of the PASGT helmet, the designers de- veloped a suspension made from a 1" nylon webbing formed into a cradle, in which a sweatband was at- tached to the main strap running around the head. At the top of the cradle, consisting of 3 nylon bands ar- ranged in the shape of letter "V", there was a self-com- pensating drawstring that allowed height adjustment of the suspension webbing by using a Velcro strap. The whole "cradle" was fixed to the shell with six bolts and A-shaped nuts. A new sweatband was attached to the main strap of the webbing. Its basic element was the nylon band with length adjusted with a clamp. Leather lining was sewed on the band. It was not sewed from the top and there was a Velcro strap between the nylon band and the lining in order to make the whole con- struction soft and resilient. The Velcro served as a buf- fer to prevent the fixing clasps from pinching the user's head. The clasps also had a new design. First of all, they were fastened from the back to preclude release under impact (a solution opposite to M1). The fastener itself consisted of a very small clasp (please, give a million dollars to whoever is able to fasten that without using a sharp pocket knife). The chinstrap included a cotton chin cup that was inserted in adjustment clasps attached on the ends of two nylon bands attached to the helmet with bolts preventing from circular motion. It ensured additional comfort and fit. The band could be unfastened into two pieces from the left side. The Pull The Dot fastener was included. It could be unfastened only by making a strong downward movement. THE FIRST HELMETS AND FIELD TESTING Before the final molds for production of the helmets were developed, all the adopted assumptions had to be checked for appropriateness and the helmets had to be provided to soldiers for testing. 36 prototypes equipment