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British Composite helmet history - do we know it?

Article about: We SHOULD. I recently read that a boxed and dated Mk6 (sic) (I suspect they meant Mk6ALPHA) had been observed dated 2014 and another dated 2013. I've travelled around UK shows and last year

  1. #51

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    Hmmm there will be repercussions on another protest thread, blog, telephone call, fax, telex & even a letter or two!

  2. #52

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    ....as long as it generates more non-TR posts I don't give a flying ............. ! :-)

  3. #53

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    So we already have a "new" Brit Virtus....well, different-ish. This is better documented in the Virtus thread but it now seems to be issued without the mini rails and has a new camo cover which goes OVER the brow bracket. 'exciting eh?.......remember the date!!!

  4. #54

    Post

    Quote by kradman View Post
    The Mk6A where issued on mass to the early units fighting in Iraqi , there was also a issue with some Para trained troops wearing there Para Helmets on tour which was a big no no , As far as i know the Mk6A were issued around the same time as the Osprey Body armor because of issues with the older items not doing their job
    Quote by Greg Pickersgill View Post
    You may well know more than me about this, but the dates don't seem to match up. TELIC began in 2003, and I have not yet seen a Mk6A dated earlier than 2005. My understanding was that they were brought in at short notice during the progress of TELIC for specific use as outlined in my post above. Of course "we all know..." is sometimes wrong and that may be wrong too. Obviously it is hard to see whether anyone is wearing a 6 or 6A when it has a cover as the straps are identical.

    Your point about the Para lightweight is certainly right; they were worn by both Para and infantry arms simply because they were lighter and less uncomfortable in the heat. You will find examples fitted with the Mk6 strap in an attempt to disguise them from inquisitive Sergeant-Majors. The actual protective quality is rather less than a Mk6. Then they got the 6A which is heavier and likely even less comfortable in a hot environment.
    I was not in roles requiring any specific head protection (indeed I spent nearly all my time 'inside the wire' in "the COB" - Basra - & Camp Bastion) & yet was issued a Mk6A for both my TELIC (2008) & HERRICK (2010-11) tours... at least I think it was a Mk6A for TELIC (I've been poring over photos to try to confirm but none show which for sure); it definitely was for HERRICK. For the latter, those in the Battlegroups (though not just infantry etc) in my Brigade (I was with 16 Air Assault) got Mk7s, everybody else got Mk6As... nobody was allowed (though I should maybe say 'supposed' as I don't know if it was checked everywhere) to have a Mk6 … even the Locally Employed Civilians in the workshop had a stock of Mk6As in case of indirect fire attack.

    If I did get a Mk6A for Iraq, I had to hand it back when I returned (along with my Osprey). That was also the plan for Afghanistan too but things obviously changed because they were never recalled & I still have it on issue!

    Doesn't answer the question of when Mk6A was first issued (though it does prove some still serve!), but I hope that's of interest to you all...

    In fact technically (since the Mk6A is/was a 'temporary' issue & not a replacement), my official issued helmet is still a Mk6 !!!

    Here it is (well, in the spirit of the thread, the label anyway)
    British Composite helmet history - do we know it?

    Note alternative approach to fastening while wearing respirator, plus background of Army blue duvet as proof of continuing service

    Dated 1988/89, so not a very early example, but still going… do I win anything
    Last edited by brickie501; 10-10-2019 at 11:56 PM.

  5. #55

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    Thanks mate......there's a lot of Theorists here (inc me) and a handful of practitioners (like you)....I always find that just when WE think we've cracked something a "squaddie" (sorry) turns up and screws up the theory cos that's not what they did. I started this thread to TRY to secure FACTS about the plastic lids whilst folk still had 'em....else it'll all be done by some poor s*d in 30 years time when we're all dead! I found out from a mix of Regs at Bovi one day that "rules is rule"....but rules are broken...and every so-called fact I had collected kinda went out of the window! So your input is invaluable...unless you're a Walt of course :-) (always a risk....but they wouldn't've thought about the blue....)

    'thing is, we're still kicking dates around about 6s, 6As and 7s yet the Virtus came out 4 years ago and they'll probably soon be another! :-)

    Thanks again.

  6. #56
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    Im not sure if it's of interest, but when I received my mk6 in 1988 (87 dated smooth) we had to sign an extra chit with the serial number which was put into our 1157 file. The boxes were individually serial numbered as well.
    We were told that loosing it was akin to misplacing a weopon.
    However when I needed to exchange it a year later (due to my troop Sgt deciding I was a 'pin head' on sizing and being convinced of the fact for my whole year as a junior leader) I didn't need sign the exact helmet back in and the chit had disappeared into the great beaurocratic hole of the clothing store!
    I also had a friend that PVRd in 88 and was allowed to keep his.

    I've just got a lovely 86 dated ROAD GLASCOED that hasn't been issued with an unissued ct4b cover.
    I'll try and post some pics.
    May I say that I'm learning a lot from this thread

  7. #57

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    Thank you....a number of us have wondered re the role of the serial number.......

  8. #58

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    Quote by Bendy View Post
    II've just got a lovely 86 dated ROAD GLASCOED that hasn't been issued with an unissued ct4b cover.
    Have you found this British Mk6 helmet ? I'm actually a bit surprised that so many of these ROAD are showing up. Quite likely (WARNING! - assertion being made with almost no evidence!) one of the lowest-run producers and early on so wonderful that so many survive still.

    Like your man Composite I do rather wish it were easily possibly to gather all the Mk6-related material into one thread. There's some good knowledge - and reasonable assumptions given the actual *lack* of some real facts - in here.

  9. #59

    Cool

    Quote by Composite View Post
    ... your input is invaluable...unless you're a Walt of course :-) (always a risk....but they wouldn't've thought about the blue....)
    ...
    I thought it'd be much more convincing than revealing the colour of the boat shed at Hereford

    Having established my credibility ....

    In Basra during 2008 with either my Mk6 or a Mk6A specifically issued for the tour (note use of Osprey rifle attachment strap for helmet instead):
    British Composite helmet history - do we know it?

    … Mk6A mandated for driving Camp BASTION flight line in 'my' trusty WMIK Land Rover (Nov 2010 - with bonus for fans of glint tape embellished covers, courtesy of 16 Brigade standing orders ):
    British Composite helmet history - do we know it?

    The point, for this thread, being to show that the Mk6A wasn't for 'specialised' use - at least not by 2008 / 2010 - & was widely issued to anyone on operational tours of Iraq / Afghanistan.

    As its not that relevant to the discussion here (but may interest some), I've put a bit more on my Mk6 into the British Mk6 Helmet thread, including a picture I've found of it in use...
    Last edited by brickie501; 10-11-2019 at 11:36 PM.

  10. #60
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    It was an ebay purchase. To be honest I probably played a tad too much (25) but someone else was bidding as well.
    It looked scratched in the photos, so I was pleasantly surprised when it turned up. I just rubbed some of the missus nail varnish remover over it and it's come up lovely.
    The seller wasn't a militaria/ surplus kind of person.
    Click to enlarge the picture Click to enlarge the picture British Composite helmet history - do we know it?   British Composite helmet history - do we know it?  

    British Composite helmet history - do we know it?  

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