French M51 helmet

Found this in my LAS 2 years ago just as COVID ramped up. It was still there when they reopened this year and although it is not part of my collecting forte, I decided to collect it anyways. It is in mint condition EXCEPT the broken leather chin strap. The LAS originally listed it as a Korean War US Helmet (?) but I set him straight 2 years ago since I wasn't interested. French militaria was not my interest but I've come to find out I have several French pieces in my accumulation of militaria.
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The liner for the French M51.
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Originally Posted by BEAR

French militaria was not my interest but I've come to find out I have several French pieces in my accumulation of militaria.

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Like a Berthier bayonet that could have been used by the same guy wearing this as they used them in some form until the early '60s... They sure copied the early US pattern helmet style didn't they? All the early details are here for an early WW2 type.

Yes, I was surprised when I found out that the Berthier had such a long service life.
The M51 OTAN was adopted during the Indochina war but all the photos I have found indicate M1 usage. Except one. The caption indicates it was taken in Indochina, but the background really does look like Algeria. Maybe someone else is familiar with the picture.

BEAR
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That could easily be an LZ dozed out in an open area. Those guys look like Legionnaire Paras. You know what they can be like...

It Don't Looks Like Old It's Still Amazing It Looks like that's not easy to broke.

these helmets saw lots of use in the wars in Southeast Asia , here is a young Cambodian soldier wearing a French M51 steel helmet.

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Originally Posted by bolo

a young Cambodian soldier wearing a French M51

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Without the liner. Must be very comfortable...

Perhaps he thought that with more of his head covered by the helmet, without the liner, it offered greater protection.

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Originally Posted by Flying10uk

it offered greater protection.

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I'll bet that's all he found and it was a great prize for him...