Post
by removeduser185 » Tue Jun 30, 2020 9:42 pm
Yours will be an AFV crewman's helmet. They were the same shell as the para helmet, but fitted with a standard liner and chinstrap similar to the one used in the MkIV (turtle) helmet. I have one as, before I joined, a unit I was in was armoured and they were still in the inventory. So, as it is so much more comfortable than a MkIV, I kept it when I left and carried on using it until the plastic ones came into service. You should be able to find a liner fairly easily - they comprise the pressed fibreboard spider which is attached to the helmet at the top with a "lift the dot" clip. This then fits a headband of the same material with a foam rubber insert attached with press studs. There is then a sort of olive drab stocking which goes over the headband, held in place by the press studs and folds up into the crown. This is the washable bit (apparently - I don't recall ever washing mine!) It is a sort of stretchy fabric not unlike the material used in 1970s knickers (apparently...) If yours is sticky, then I expect it is the foam in the headband which has broken down over time - possibly helped by insect repellent and the like.
