Paul Reijnders Posted June 24, 2012 Share #1 Posted June 24, 2012 After looking and hunting for several years after the steelpot for the Liner Helmet M-1 Crash, I finaly "found" one on eBay !! ( The seller worked together with me and sold it with a Buy it Now ). The "T" series of experimental tank helmets was tested in December 1944 at Fort Knox, Kentucky. The most serious flaw with the helmets was the exessive weight. It was also determined that the size of the helmets was too great for the small confines of U.S.tanks. They simply got in the way of the operators. The size of the helmet was a difficult issue to address. While the armored forces wanted full ballictic protection for the crews, they also wanted them to be able to use communications gear and operate sights. Consequently, the helmet had to be worn over and around the communications gear. This made for a rather large helmet shell to provide the protection the Armored Forces Board required. As with the majority of experimental helmet projects, the "T" series was scrapped. While the "T" series was being put through its paces at Fort Knox, simultaneously, the Ordnance branch, in cooperation with the Quartermaster Corps, tried to create a new style of crash helmet based on a modified version of the M-1 combat helmet. The first attempt was designated as the T19E1. The helmets was essentially an M-1 helmet with the front brim removed. This "steel shell surgery" was done to permit the crewmembers to use the tank's fire control instruments. Coupled with this was a new crash helmet liner developed by the Quartermaster Corps. The second generation of this experimental helmet was the T-19E2. Like its earlier counterpart, this helmet was also a modified M-1 helmet, however, the modification was more radical as earphone holes were removed from the shell. The liner for the T-19E2 was simply identified as a "Liner Helmet M-1 Crash. Regards , Paul Reijnders For more rare collectors treasures visit my website : http://www.ww2supply.com/index.html ( See under "Collectors treasures" ). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Reijnders Posted June 24, 2012 Author Share #2 Posted June 24, 2012 . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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Sabrejet Posted June 24, 2012 Share #9 Posted June 24, 2012 That's an absolute killer!! :w00t: :twothumbup: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeeper704 Posted June 24, 2012 Share #10 Posted June 24, 2012 That's a rare beauty! Thanks for posting it. Erwin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoovieDude Posted June 24, 2012 Share #11 Posted June 24, 2012 :love: Beautiful Paul, congratulations! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sgtdorango Posted June 24, 2012 Share #12 Posted June 24, 2012 Sweet helmet Paul!!!!!...............mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
man860 Posted June 25, 2012 Share #13 Posted June 25, 2012 WoW, very nice find, glad you were able to pair these two rare beauties together! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gitana Posted July 10, 2012 Share #14 Posted July 10, 2012 What a wonderful find! How does this helmet compare to the M3 sans earflaps? It appears that the front brim has been removed but otherwise they seem similar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patches Posted May 17, 2015 Share #15 Posted May 17, 2015 And here's a period foto of the liner in use, see caption above foto, scanned by me from the September 1955 issue of The National Guardsman. The 1st Shirt is wearing a 1950s redesigned version of the 178th Infantry's original unit crest, that neither James Sawicki in his Infantry linage series, or TIOH made a note of. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugme Posted May 17, 2015 Share #16 Posted May 17, 2015 Thanks for a great period shot like that Patches! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sgtdorango Posted May 17, 2015 Share #17 Posted May 17, 2015 Great photo Patches!...love seeing these in use....mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patches Posted May 27, 2015 Share #18 Posted May 27, 2015 Thanks Bugme-sgtdorngo, I would love to spot more, because seeing this one example of it being worn in the manner of the M1 liner makes me wonder how prevalent this might of been in the 50s. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patches Posted February 5 Share #19 Posted February 5 Nearly Eight years later, finally found another Unit used T-19E2 Liner. 50s again, here a Corporal in the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, in Germany probably. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patches Posted June 13 Share #20 Posted June 13 Found one more, a little worse for time and wear. Decal for the patch of West Point Faculty and Regular Army Component, it's possible it was worn by a member of the Tank Company 1st Infantry Regiment 1956-58. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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