Question on two more US camo helmet covers

Photos show two more US camo (with reverse color) covers, questions: are these original covers and from what time period ?

I was using them in the 70's in the Canadian Army. We got them from the US just before that. Yes, I believe they're original.

We used helmet covers like that when I was stationed in Europe with the 24th Division from 66 to 68. Don't know when they were introduced but they probably continued in use until the new helmet was introduced. I don't think we ever used the reverse side. They were always used with an elastic band that was presumably to hold leaves or something. I'm pretty sure they were used everywhere (by the US Army) and also by the Marines, who may not have used the elastic band.

I was able to check the contract number which is DSA 100-68-C-2188 which should be 1968. I think this pattern was in use from 1959 to the early 70's ?

Looks a lot like the cover on a old Canadian "steel pot" helmet that I have at home.

That's what I said...

They are Viet Nam ea US helmet covers.Sometimes reffered to as Leaf pattern or Mitchell patern.These were the main cover worn by US forces through out the Viet Nam war and into the late 1970s and by some guard and reserves units into the 1980s.Many will have marking of the manufacturer Minneapolis Society for the Blind.They were a prime maker for these for a few years.These covers were replaced by the later and darker woodland cover which was non reversible.

Fairly common item here in the states and a friend has a couple bales of them and sells them for $5.99 each.

RD

I have a complete post Vietnam era helmet from the 80's in my collection of U.S. helmets and Doyer is correct.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...1/09/132-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...1/09/222-1.jpg

The post Vietnam helmets from the 80's aren't very collectible, but surprisingly I had a little trouble finding one that was complete. These were the last of the 'steel pots' and I wanted one as an example of the last iteration of steel pots. Below is a photo of a steel pot and cover from '69 on the left and the helmet on the right is one of the helmets manufactured in the 80's just before they changed to Kevlar helmets. They didn't use these for long. The top of the 80's steel pot looks a little flatter than the earlier pots and the base looks slightly wider -

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...1/09/314-1.jpg

As doyler said, the 80's cover was woodland and it wasn't reversible. This cover was also manufactured by Minneapolis Society for the Blind as doyler said -

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...1/09/415-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...1/09/511-1.jpgto

The liner of the 80's helmet was slightly different too and has a different nape strap. I tried inserting the 80's liner in the Vietnam era shell and it didn't snug down flush. The chin straps used on the 80's helmet are made from thick nylon material and use a snap connector instead of the hook and ball design that had been used on all other steel pots since WWII.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...11/09/67-1.jpg

Have you ever seen these two tone color (green & brown) helmet nets ? Both Canada and US started using them in 1943

Harlan, we had a steel M1 liner that came after that one. The web crown came out for replacement. It was mounted on flanges. The construction was the same as the one you show but flange fittings. They sort of slid over the flanges in the helmet. They were a problem because if the user took them out to launder he threw it in the dryer and it shrunk. Then it didn't fit correctly anymore. They're sort of scarce here now but I'll see if I can find you a pic.