US-made parachutists helmets (Helmet Steel Parachutist, GS MK I) finally began in the late-1960s and the British airborne helmets were retired. Essentially the M1 parachutist helmet resembled the standard M1 helmet, except the liner was fitted with two web yokes to which were buckled a web chin-strap. On each side of the liner there was a press stud to which was snapped the end of a short extension of the steel pot’s chin-straps. Further tests were carried on M1 parachutists’ helmets at Rivers Manitoba in June1967. These concluded that the nylon Combat Liner Type II was generally satisfactory, except for the way in which its chin-strap was fastened. The brass wire claw buckles on the yokes were difficult to adjust easily and the brass eyelets had a tendency to tear away. Instead the eyelets were omitted and the buckles replaced by two slide buckles. The ends of the modified strap were heat-treated to prevent fraying. So modified, these helmets served on until 1997, when the kevlar CG634 helmet was adopted. This helmet is suitable for use by both airborne and ground troops.
NSN: 8470-00-253-5793