Mk 6 helmet
The Mk 6 helmet was the standard combat helmet of the British Armed Forces. The Mk 6 replaced the Mk III helmet in service from 1986 and is designed to accept modern ear protection, personal radios, and respirators. The helmet is manufactured by NP Aerospace,[1] and is reported to have an "almost unlimited service life" by the manufacturer.
The helmet in its default configuration is a dark green. The army use covers to camouflage the helmet and adapt it to different environments. Covers include the British Disruptive Pattern Material in temperate, woodland and desert patterns, a pure white cover for arctic environments and a United Nations blue coloured cover. It is sometimes referred as the "battle bowler", a term first used for the Brodie helmet.
The Mk 6 is often mistakenly thought to be made out of kevlar when in fact it is constructed of "Ballistic Nylon" - nylon fibre.[2] The M76 paratrooper helmet is worn by paratroopers and airborne forces.
From June 2009 the helmet was replaced by the Mk 7 helmet.
Mk 6A
In 2005, the Mk 6 began to be replaced by an evolution of the original design, the Mk 6A helmet.[3][4] NP Aerospace also manufactures the Mk 6A.[5] Although it looks very similar to the Mk 6, the Mk 6A has enhanced ballistic protection and is marginally heavier than the earlier model.[6] In 2014 hundreds of Mk 6 and Mk 6A helmets were bought by the Ukraine, where they are widely used by soldiers of Ukrainian Army Forces in the non-official war with Russian Federation, along with other types of modern ballistic helmets.
See also
- Mk 7 helmet - Mk 6 replacement, general issue commenced in June 2009
- Modern equipment and uniform of the British Army
- List of current issued combat helmets
References
- ↑ website
- ↑ Ballistic properties of composite materials for personnel protection MRL Technical Report MRL-TR-89-6 by J.R.Brown and G.T.Egglestone 1989
- ↑ GNN - Government News Network
- ↑ House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 22 Jan 2007 (pt 0024)
- ↑ NP Aerospace Composite Helmets: Combat Helmets
- ↑ http://www.rusi.org/downloads/assets/Bain,_The_Infantry_Section.pdf
External links
- NP Aerospace - Manufacturer's webpage.
- Battle Bowler (Mk 6) - Army Rumor Service
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