US Special forces in 'Hockey Helmets'

[v_lazy_dragon]

I know the US Special forces wore those moderately distinctive 'Hockey helmets' in the early 90's e.g. these Delta force chaps in Somalia:


But does anyone know when they were phased out/replaced, as by the mid 2000's they seem to be wearing something which looks specifically deisgned, with mounts for NV kit etc?

[The Travelling Man]

Soon after as one of the operators was killed by a round to the head during the Battle of the Black Sea on October 3, 1993. The idea behind the use of the non-ballistic Protec 'skateboard' helmet was that it was designed to protect the user from bumps and scrapes during CQB. The operators weren't expecting or prepared for a prolonged street fight. After Mogadishu this thinking was re-evaluated and ballistic helmets became the standard.

Surprisingly as late as 2002, some Navy special operators were still wearing non-ballistic helmets in Afghanistan during operations to establish covert observation posts. Again they made the call that the likelihood of an extended firefight was low but were later proven wrong.

[Cherno]

Protec helmets are still popular with boarding teams.

Her are some German troops:



U.S.:

[juergen c. olk]

Putting on the foil,old time Hockey!!!!!!

[Wyrmalla]

Wouldn't a regular ballistic helmet also protect the wearer from "bumps and scrapes"? Or even if it didn't then why not redesign one that had the ergonomics of one of these sports helmets, but also could stop a bullet? Hmn, I guess the cost of manufacturing one, but I'm curious why run of the mill helmets were seen as disadvantaged in that area compared to these (...though presumably a bit more effort goes into make those sports ones comfortable).

[The Travelling Man]

Weight principally. The Protecs and similar are very very light, particularly in comparison to the ballistic helmets of the day. Lots of advances have been fed by the last fourteen years of combat. Look at what they wear today- the Ops Core and Crye models, very much what you're envisioning- a combination of both worlds. Stuff like that simply didn't exist in 1993.

[v_lazy_dragon]

Thanks for all the help chaps