West German M1A1 helmet with JF60 interior
Article about: Hello, Since this West German helmet type keeps popping up here in the forum, I thought I would do a comprehensive presentation of this type. It is the M1A1 helmet with JF60 interior (called
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West German M1A1 helmet with JF60 interior
Hello,
Since this West German helmet type keeps popping up here in the forum, I thought I would do a comprehensive presentation of this type.
It is the M1A1 helmet with JF60 interior (called M1A1 JF60 for better handling). After the Bundeswehr was very dissatisfied with the US model M1, they wanted to find a solution that was close to the old German steel helmet. A one-piece helmet with a permanently installed inner helmet was also required. The external form was dictated by NATO membership. The M35/40/42 steel helmet was still used in a modified version by the West German police and the Federal Border Guard.
The name JF60 has nothing to do with a year. It is merely an internal factory designation.
In addition, significantly better steel was not yet allowed to be produced in Germany. This was only possible again from the beginning of the 1960s.
It was therefore decided to provisionally purchase the shells for the M1A1 JF60 from the Swedish company Eskilstuna Stalpressnings A.B. to be manufactured. This company had the greatest experience in helmet and matching steel production in Europe and the world.
The shells were used for the M1A1 JF60 until 1960 (shells were imported from Sweden until 1963, after which the German steel industry took over)
The manufacturer's marking can be found inside the helmet in the form of white writing. There are the years 1958, 1959 and 1960.
e.g.
3 = Makercode - Eskilstuna Stalpressnings A.B.
59 = 1959
60 = Lot Number
In 1959 and 1960, a label with the instructions for use was also stuck underneath.
The inner lining was developed by the manufacturer Hans Römer, Neu-Ulm. It was attached to the shell with 4 split pins. The leather could be adjusted to the head size using an internal drawstring.
Only the shells were sourced from Sweden. Interior fittings were made in Germany and assembly also took place in Germany. The shell was painted in bronze olive RAL 6014 (old) with a slightly sandy texture.
The chin strap made of web material was also redeveloped and received a modified closure. The chin strap was not replaceable and the holder was attached to the shell using hollow rivets. These were major criticisms. The rivet often broke apart. Therefore the chin strap was reconsidered. It held a holder that made it easy to replace. This was riveted with a solid pin, which did not break.
Due to the wear and fire tests, the front splines should be moved slightly outwards.
The large-scale wearing test with several thousand helmets was carried out in 1958 and the helmet was finally officially introduced on January 15, 1959.
However, this helmet was not the standard helmet for long.
As early as 1960/1961, an improved M1A1 helmet was introduced, which had the I60 interior from Schuberth-Werke, Braunschweig. This model had already been introduced in 1953 as version I53 for the Federal Border Guard's helmets.
Even after that, the helmet was not retired. The shells should be kept ready for use as long as possible, also because many thousands were purchased. For this reason, there were regular overhauls and the addition of new interior fittings in the following years. For this purpose, new variants of the interior were produced.
Overhauls can also be recognized by the lack of white stamping on the inside, newer texture and changed chin strap. The label with the instructions for use was no longer stuck in either.
A rough distinction can be made between 3 types of replacement interior fittings, which are further divided into smaller variants. There are also differences in how the chin strap holders are attached.
This type of helmet became the M1A1 mod from 1981. converted and thus received a total of 9 rivets (so-called rivet helmet). The last M1A1 JF60s were phased out starting in 1992.
Below I would like to introduce the known variants.
Last edited by Sleepwalker; 01-07-2024 at 04:05 PM.
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Great write up and good descriptions. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
John
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Perfection as always with you Sleepwalker and amazing Helmets,and yes have said it before your photography is top notch,the detailing is fantastic.thanks for sharing your knowledge.
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