Portuguese M940/63 as used in Angolan War of Independence & Mozambique
Article about: The Portuguese M940/63 is the same steel shell as the older WWII M40 but with an improved upgraded liner very similar to the liner used in the M1 helmet liner / Riddell type made of a HBT OG
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Ah, one of my favourite helmets. And one which, like the French mle51 and the Austrian Bundesheer Stahlhelms, has a number of interesting detail differences. Here are some pictures of a later evolution; I don't know its true exact designation, but it is frequently referred to as a paratroop helmet, and until recently I believed that's what it was (because I knew no better, even though it was far from plausible - where's the padding?!?!?!). It is obviously a move on from the M40/663 with a modern three-point harness and a very likely not very comfortable fabric headband. It actually exists in at least two versions, the ordinary one, which has a simple metal chinstrap fastener, and the less common, in which the fastener is velcro (I have one, but no pictures at the moment - watch this space).
I have several of these and it is actually obvious that they are not new shells, but remanufactured old ones, going back as far as the original M40. repainted and with new fittings, but the shells may have characteristics of both the M40 and M40/63.
As I said, I no longer believe they are para helmets, because I discovered this on a Facebook page ( Philip's Military Helmets's photos ) in which it referred to as the M40/63-
Miguel Barbosa - ...The M40/63 was never intended for the parachutists, the 3 point chinstrap was simply used to give more stability like the german FJ60 (M62)
Philip's Military Helmets - .... As for the M40/63, yours and Alex Gomes Pereira's explanation make more sense. I was following info gathered from Revuelta's site (which mentions a 3-way Para version) and that's why I never came across photos of Portuguese paras with this particular helmet version. The three-point chinstrap for added stabilitiy, just like the FJ60, is more feasabile as an explanation, since the M40/63 wouldn't have been able to offer adequate protections in a parachute jump.
Alex Gomes Pereira - My father was a paratrooper in 1961-1965 (from 1963-65 he fought in Portuguese Guinea). When he was a recruit, he wore the m40 steelhelmet. But at the parachute training a kind of rubber and canvas helmet (spanish origin). After the recruit he got a american M1 steelhelmet. Later were was introducet a Portuguese version of the US M1 and of the French M51 steelhelmet. In the 90´s a friend of mine as a recruit in the paratroops wore the M40 steelhelmet also. But for jumping and for combat a kevlar helmet.
Which may well be good evidence for the fact that this helmet is certainly not a para helmet and might well be still classed as an M40/63. Anyway, some more photos soon.
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Very interesting, Greg. Have you noticed how difficult it is to adjust for a secure and stable fit? The M40 wasn't much better - as you can see in battle gear's photo! The liner structure in both leaves insufficient headroom - unless you happen to have a very flat head, of course. But I do like these. I have an M40/63 (2-point strap) and have had a couple of M40s in the past. I've not yet encountered the 3-point type except in pictures - none as clear as yours, by the way.
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I have quite a heap of these Portuguse M40-series helmets, and one notable thing is that there is nothing in the way of markings/stampings/makers badging on any of them, and I have never seen any pictures that show anything either.
Except.
A recent acquisition, examined by bright torchlight, showed to have a stamping in the inside rear about 2cm in the the rear edge. I have no idea what it means. It reads A2778.
Enthused by this almost accidental discovery, I examined all the others, and found another, in the same place, on a white-painted Military Police helmet. Reads A2212
Its worth noting that both these are early-production examples with the bushed-vent holes and long chinstrap lug plates, but whether that is significant in itself is arguable, because I have several more of these particular models and none have the alphanumeric stamping. I equally found nothing on the later models with the stamped-out vents, or the even later M40/63 with the 3-point chinstrap (which is NOT a 'para' issue - see above).
Anyone else?
i
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