Modèle 1951 helmet

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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, 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The Modèle 1951 was produced until 1976, before being superseded by the Modèle 1978 helmet.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.

Non-state operators[]

  • Flag of Mourabitoun.gif Al-Mourabitoun - Seized from Lebanese Armed Forces stocks.
  • Lebanesearmyfirstflag.png Army of Free Lebanon - Seized from Lebanese Armed Forces stocks.
  • InfoboxHez.PNG Hezbollah - Seized from Lebanese Armed Forces stocks.
  • Lebanesearmyfirstflag.png Lebanese Arab Army - Seized from Lebanese Armed Forces stocks.
  • Forces Libanaises Flag.svg Lebanese Forces - Seized from Lebanese Armed Forces stocks or provided by Israel.
  • People's Liberation Army Flag.jpg 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.
  • Flag of UNITA.svg UNITA/FALA - Seized from Portuguese Army stocks or provided by South Africa.
  • Palestine Liberation Organization Palestine Liberation Organization - Seized from Lebanese Armed Forces stocks.
  • Flag of Western Sahara.svg Polisario Front - captured from the Royal Moroccan Army or provided by Algeria.

See also[]

External links[]

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