Modèle 1951 helmet

Modèle 1951 helmet of the French Army. This particular helmet is on display as an ex-voto at Notre-Dame de la Garde in Marseille. The back of the helmet is slightly bent, suggesting that it was hit by fragmentation.

The Modèle 1951 helmet was a military helmet used by the French military (Army, Navy, Air Force and Gendarmerie), iconic of the Algerian War. It replaced a variety of helmets used during the Second World War, including the Adrian helmet, Modèle 1945 helmet and American-supplied M1 Helmet.

Development

The Modèle 1951 was designed to have the same general shape as the US M1 Helmet, in an effort towards standardisation within NATO. The two differ in that the M1 has a longer visor and a more pronounced downwards slope on the sides. The M1 also has a nape strap while the Modèle 1951 does not.

Description

The Modèle 1951 comprised a heavy external cover, made of 1.2 mm of an amagnetic alloy of manganese steel, and a lighter inner helmet.

The Modèle 1951 was produced until 1976, before being superseded by the Modèle 1978 helmet. It nonetheless remained in service well into the 1980s.

Operators

A French soldier with a Mle 1951 liner for armored troops (aka Modele 1965), 1976.

• France - French Armed Forces, Gendarmerie Nationale
• Burkina Faso - Burkina Faso Armed Forces
• Cambodia - Khmer National Armed Forces
• Cameroon - Cameroon Armed Forces
• Kingdom of Laos - Royal Lao Armed Forces, Royal Lao Police
• India - Indian Armed Forces, Indian Police Service
• Israel - Israel Defense Forces
• Ivory Coast - Armed Forces of the Republic of Ivory Coast, National Gendarmerie
• Kenya - Kenya Defence Forces, Kenya Police
• Lebanon - Lebanese Armed Forces, Internal Security Forces
• Morocco - Royal Moroccan Armed Forces, Royal Moroccan Gendarmerie
• Pakistan - Pakistan Armed Forces and paramilitaries
• Portugal - Portuguese Army, Portuguese Republican National Guard
• Rhodesia - Rhodesian Army, British South Africa Police
• Senegal - Armed Forces of Senegal, National Gendarmerie
• South Vietnam - Vietnamese National Army, Republic of Vietnam Military Forces
• South Africa - South African Defence Force, South African Police
• Tunisia - Tunisian Armed Forces, Tunisian National Guard

Non-state operators

• Al-Mourabitoun - Seized from Lebanese Armed Forces stocks.
• Army of Free Lebanon - Seized from Lebanese Armed Forces stocks.
• Hezbollah - Seized from Lebanese Armed Forces stocks.
• Lebanese Arab Army - Seized from Lebanese Armed Forces stocks.
• Lebanese Forces - Seized from Lebanese Armed Forces stocks or provided by Israel.
• People's Liberation Army (Lebanon) - Seized from Lebanese Armed Forces stocks.
• South Lebanon Army - Seized from Lebanese Armed Forces stocks or provided by Israel.
• Tigers Militia - Seized from Lebanese Armed Forces stocks.
• UNITA/FALA - Seized from Portuguese Army stocks or provided by South Africa.
• Palestine Liberation Organization - Seized from Lebanese Armed Forces stocks.
• Polisario Front - captured from the Royal Moroccan Army or provided by Algeria.

See also

• Modèle 1978 helmet
• SPECTRA helmet

External links

• Le modèle militaire 1951
• le casque français modèle 1951