Question for Nick

[Razorback76]

I was going to post this on the evolution of the helmet thread. I see it is now closed so I will ask here. With regards to the info you are seeing regarding small size Navy helmets:
1. Are they orders from the Navy for small size helmets?
2. Is it documentation showing an order was actually filled and delivered?
3. Is it documentation showing they were actually issued to units?

Is it possible the Navy was asking for small size helmets and the army was simply saying no, you will take what we give you? Is it possible they would just fill a small size helmet request with large size helmets with maybe a few actual smalls filtering through to the Navy?

[Nick Komiya]

The only late war navy statistics I had seen so far were for surrendering of equipment to the occupation forces, which do show helmet numbers, but no size splits as that was irrelevant for the purpose. The navy were making their own helmets separate from the army, so restrictions by the army is not likely.

There are tons of war-end material surrender statistics from the navy, and some may possibly have size splits, but I have no interest in proving or disproving navy myths, so such research won't be undertaken by me any time soon.