Lightweight Helmet

Armored helmet used by the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Navy

Lightweight Helmet

USMC Lightweight Helmet in brown color

Type| Helmet
Place of origin| United States
Service history
In service| 2003–present
Used by| United States Marine Corps
United States Navy
Wars|

* Global War on Terrorism
* Iraq War
* War in Afghanistan
* Russo-Ukrainian War

Production history
Designed| 1999–2003
Manufacturer| BAE Systems, Gentex Corporation
Produced| June 2003 – present
Specifications
Weight| approx. 3.2 lbs/1.45 kg

The Lightweight Helmet (LWH), also known as the Lightweight Marine Corps Helmet[1] or Lightweight Marine Helmet, is an armored helmet that is used by the United States Marine Corps and U.S. Navy. It is the U.S. Marine Corps' replacement for the PASGT combat helmet[2] and is derived from the Modular Integrated Communications Helmet.

## History

[edit]

U.S. Navy sailor in 2009 wearing a LWH

U.S. Navy sailor in 2009 wearing a LWH

U.S. Navy sailors in 2011 each wearing a LWH

U.S. Navy sailor in 2015 wearing a LWH with a PASGT vest

As it is nearly identical to untrained eyes in shape to the PASGT, outside the Marine Corps it is still called the Fritz helmet or K-pot (due to its resemblance to the German Stahlhelm). Though heavier than the United States Army's Advanced Combat Helmet, its larger size also offers more protection and is lighter than the PASGT. Featuring a four-point retention strap system (compared to the two-point retention of the PASGT) and redesigned liner, it is considered more comfortable than the PASGT.[3]

The LWH was designed from 1999 to 2003, with prototype testing being conducted from 2000 to 2002 in California and North Carolina. 200,000 of the helmets entered service in mid-to-late 2003,[4] with an expected service life of 15 years. It completely replaced the PASGT in USMC frontline service by 2009. The LWH was made by the Pennsylvanian-based Gentex Corporation and BAE Systems in five sizes.[5][6] From 2007 onward, pads were installed in the helmet to improve comfort for wearers.[7]

Whereas the PASGT helmet's shell is olive drab, the LWH's is coyote brown[8] and can be fitted with cloth helmet covers, either originally made for the PASGT or more commonly those made for the LWH in desert and woodland MARPAT, as well as a mounting bracket on the front for any sort of night vision device, such as the AN/PVS-7 night vision goggle or AN/PVS-14 monocular night vision device (MNVD). Marines currently can be issued with a sling suspension or a pad suspension to fit the inside of the helmet to the head.[9] A nape protection system adds ballistic protection to the rear of the head was also added as to reduce strain and improve comfort to the back of the neck.[10]

## Successor

[edit]

This article needs to be updated. The reason given is: "The end of 2013" has passed quite some time ago.. Please help update this section to reflect recent events or newly available information. (October 2020)

|

The Marine Corps placed its first order for the Enhanced Combat Helmet in July 2013, and was fielded to deployed Marines by the end of 2013. The ECH is planned to equip all deployed Marines, while the Lightweight Helmet will still be used for training and noncombat purposes.[11] Beginning in 2021, a high cut ECH variant with attachment rails and a contour similar to the Ops-Core FAST helmet already in use by special operations forces was issued to Marines in combat arms units.[12]

## Users

[edit]

* New Zealand:New Zealand Defence Force, 2000-2019. Supplied by UNICOR.[13][14]
* Ukraine[citation needed]
*  United States
* United States Marine Corps[15] (and attached U.S. Navy personnel)
* United States Navy
* Seabees[16]

## See also

[edit]

* Advanced Combat Helmet
* Enhanced Combat Helmet

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "World War Helmets - Erreur 404".
2. ^ https://www.marcorsyscom.marines.mil/Portals/105/PfM/GCES/PM_ICE/Info Sheets/Individual Armor Team/LWH PIS_2018.pdf?ver=2018-04-24-144757-590
3. ^ "The Warrior". www.natick.army.mil. Archived from the original on 2013-06-02. Retrieved 2007-09-27.
4. ^ "The Warrior". Archived from the original on 2004-01-02.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
5. ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20170903104528/http://www.gentexcorp.com/assets/base/TechnicalPublications/PadSuspensionSizingChart.pdf. Archived from the original on 2017-09-03. `{{cite web}}`: Missing or empty `|title=` (help)CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
6. ^ "L/W Marine Helmet". Archived from the original on 2006-10-16.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
7. ^ "USMC Lightweight Ballistic Protective Helmet" (PDF). Archived from the original on 2017-09-03.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
8. ^ "USMC Lightweight Helmet (LWH)". www.gentexcorp.com. Archived from the original on 2015-03-27. Retrieved 2016-03-25.
9. ^ "Marine Corps Lightweight Helmet: Sling Suspension vs. Padded Suspension" (PDF). Marine Corps Systems Command. USMC. p. 2\. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-03-04. Retrieved 2008-07-22.
10. ^ Hoellwarth, John (March 2007). "Extended Protection" (PDF). Marine Corps Times. Army Times Publishing Company. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-03-04. Retrieved 2008-07-22.
11. ^ New combat helmets coming for deploying Marines Archived 2013-10-07 at the Wayback Machine \- MarineCorpstimes.com, 29 July 2013
12. ^ "Supporting the future fight: MCSC modernizing infantry capabilities".
13. ^ "Composite Helmet, Ballistic helmets, Military helmets NEW ZEALAND helmet, Kevlar helmet". www.gostak.co.uk. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
14. ^ "UNICOR-Made Military Helmets Recalled, Production Suspended | Prison Legal News". www.prisonlegalnews.org. Retrieved 11 May 2023.[failed verification]
15. ^ "USMC Lightweight Helmet". Archived from the original on 2004-01-13.
16. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2020-11-27. Retrieved 2019-08-07.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lightweight Helmet.

* Marine Corps Systems Command Page about the LWH
* World-War-Helmets.com - LWH Helmet (French)

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