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Post by Legion Etrangere on Aug 18, 2009 16:53:49 GMT -5
This is something most of you already know, but a question I posed to a combat veteran several weeks ago.
Question: Why are there hundreds of photos of French combat personnel, esp at DBP wearing their helmets with the chinstraps unhooked?
Answer: If you have your chinstrap fastened and your caught in an artillery or mortar stonk, the concussion from the explosion will take your head off ... hence, you keep your chinstrap unfastened so it can fly off ... and you can keep your head.
It was something I never knew, but asked.
Mick
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Post by soldatsoucy1 on Aug 19, 2009 11:25:51 GMT -5
Id read somewhere that it wasnt worn usually due to the fact that it could be used against you in hand to hand....grab from behind, grab the helmet, your pretty much helpless against a deft hand with a bayonet or fighting knife. Although blast could also ruin your day if you had it on.
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Post by soldatsoucy1 on Aug 19, 2009 11:28:59 GMT -5
Thus, from Wikipedia...for what thats worth
During World War II and later, many soldiers wore the webbing chinstraps unfastened or looped around the back of the helmet and clipped together. This practice arose for two reasons: First, because hand-to-hand combat was anticipated, and an enemy could be expected to attack from behind, reach over the helmet, grab its visor, and pull. If the chinstrap were worn, the head would be snapped back, causing the victim to lose balance, and leave the throat and stomach exposed to a knife thrust. Secondly, many men incorrectly believed that a nearby exploding bomb or artillery shell could cause the chinstrap to snap their neck when the helmet was caught in its concussive force, although a replacement buckle, the T-1 pressure-release buckle, was manufactured that allowed the chinstrap to release automatically should this occur. In place of the chinstrap, the nape strap inside the liner was counted on to provide sufficient contact to keep the helmet from easily falling off the wearer's head."
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Post by Legion Etrangere on Aug 19, 2009 21:22:14 GMT -5
Doc, thanks for the info!
I had not a CLUE as to why they wore them that way, but understood now.
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