The USMC’s Second Cold War CVC Helmet Model — The MC-2

[Guy56]

The U.S. Marine Corps’ first two post-WW2 produced combat vehicle crewman’s (CVC) helmets were the MC-1 and the MC-2. Here are some images of my best example of an MC-2 CVC helmet (I have one other MC-2). The MC-2 and the T56-6 were peers: both designed in the mid- to late 1950s, both provided ballistic protection, and fielded in the early 1960s with the same headset-microphone kit family (MK-400 and 401/G for the first T56-6 CVC helmets and MK-401/G for the MC-2). The MC-2 comes in one size, universal, unlike the T56-6 that had two sizes, regular and large. You are probably wondering why didn’t the Army and Marine Corps adopt the same CVC helmet? Short answer— the helmet designer. The T56-6 was designed by the Army’s Quartmaster Corps and the MC-2 was designed by a commercial vendor, Gentex. The Army’s Chief of Research and Development had concerns about costs and potential challenges associated with adopting a proprietary helmet design, so the Army went with the QM-designed helmet. The Marines opted for the helmet they preferred, made by Gentex. Interestingly, a little over a decade later, the U.S. Army adopted a commercially designed CVC helmet, the DH132.  
 

[Brig]

Not sure the model, but here's a portrait in my collection of a Marine wearing a CVC helmet with the same decal as yours.

 

Any idea if the decals were prescribed regulation or just common practice?

 

[Rhscott]

Marines put decals of EGAs on everything, regulation or not.  Always have, always will.  Similar decal, not the same; earlier pattern.

[Guy56]

A nice photo of an MC1 . The EGA decal was the norm on the MC2, as it was on the MC1, but they are often missing or painted over on both helmet models. I’ll post photos of my MC1 later today.  A popular on-line auction site has an MC2 for sale. It’s a bit beat up, but it’s an MC2. Search using the words “tanker helmet.”

1 hour ago, Rhscott said:

Marines put decals of EGAs on everything, regulation or not.  Always have, always will.  Similar decal, not the same; earlier pattern.

 

12 hours ago, Brig said:

Not sure the model, but here's a portrait in my collection of a Marine wearing a CVC helmet with the same decal as yours.

 

Any idea if the decals were prescribed regulation or just common practice?

 

 

[Brig]

1 hour ago, Rhscott said:

Marines put decals of EGAs on everything, regulation or not.  Always have, always will.  Similar decal, not the same; earlier pattern.

You're right, two banners vs one, I see it now

[Guy56]

Here are some MC2s in use.