Mid 1980s US Mech Inf -- PASGT or no?

[Khurasan Miniatures]

Am all fired up to make models for mid 80s in Central Europe after finding a copy of Team Yankee at a yard sale. Looking at photos of US infantry in Europe I can't really tell if the new protection is more appropriate, or the older kit with the classic helmet. What do you think?

[Cherno]

I'd say go for it. My resoning is that even though the mid 80s was the PASGT issuing's beginnings, I imagine U.S. forces in Europe receiving the latest kit first because they would be on the frontline in case things got hot. Just in theory, of course.

[Arlequín]

With all the 'round-out' units that would be flown over, the M1 would have a bit more life left in it. If I recall correctly full issue was not completed until the end of the decade for the regulars, NG units sometime later maybe? I'm sure we have an expert here somewhere that can enlighten us... we usually have one around for most things I've found.

I guess that if there are plenty of 'Gulf War 1' era figures about, then you go for the M1, otherwise PASGT.

While the Germany-based units got new gear quite quickly, along with the RDF, the CONUS forces were still equipped with the M14 late into the 1970s... so I guess they would lag behind in the equipment update queue in the '80s too. 

[commissarmoody]

Front line units in Europe and combat units would get the PASGT first, M1 for the support 2nd line troops coming on over after the first few waves. I remember my folks having both PASGTs and M1s in their ready issue kits when they were posted at Ramstine in the 80s. Actually still have the helmets in the shed.    
Of course they both where in the Air Force, my mom was in supply and my dad was a Combat Arms instructor. So they might have had more accesses to the newest and greatest because one issued the items and the other trained every one on base.

[julesav]

For the 1983 Grenada operation - Urgent Fury. The US airborne troops had PASGT and Fritz helmets while the USMC had PASGT but M1 pot helmets.

[Khurasan Miniatures]

Thanks julesav, very useful information.

[Arrigo]

From my REFORGER books even in 1986 a lot of Mech units had M1 helmets but with the new PASGT. Well the 8th Infantry division had still M60 until 1989...

[carlos marighela]

Grenada was 1983. The 82nd Airborne were all in Fritz helmets, the Rangers and Marines in M1 pots.  From there on in progressively more PASGT, less M1.

I'd suggest for the feel of the 1980s you should go with PASGT. If you want to do the ANG etc, just produce some separate heads or let people do their own head swaps. Presumably you are talking about figures in woodland BDUS? If you want a  1970s or early 80s look you'll need a different figure anyway.

[scouts19508]

I was in 2nd ACR 83-86 and we received our "fritz" helmets sometime in 84. I think all the units at Bamberg received the "fritz" helmet around the same time. A lot of people still used the old H harness LBE but most used the Y harness. Hope this helps.

Jim