Navy M1 Helmets in Training

. Rich, in the USN, helmets are not issued to individuals, at training sights, or aboard ships. They are kept ( mostly) in racks, stacked one on top of the other. For most helmets, these racks are out on deck. Rarely do you get the same helmet twice. They get dropped from one deck to another, used as anvils when you need something quick to pound on, used as paint buckets, something to stand on for a bit more height to reach something. But, yeah, these look like just about every helmet I ever saw aboard ships in 26 years. Actually, these are better than a lot! The other thing to remember is to not compare Army and Navy (US anyway). Army issued an individual his/her equipment. They sign for it and are responsible for turning it in when they leave the unit. In the USN, aboard ship, equipment is assigned to a battle station. For example, if this station has 11 Sailors assigned, then there will be that many helmets, life jackets, gas masks, canteens, what ever. And that gear stays there for years

So true

My navy helmet I picked up from the USS BOSTON was a late WW2 issued helmet that was used during it. when the sailor got on the ship in the 60s this is the helmet he got.

So from WW2 to Vietnam the helmet was still aboard the BOSTON sitting on the rack waiting for the next sailor 20 + years later.

It also has tons of wear

Dean