Item Description
Original Item: Only One Available. This is a lovely, field worn Iraqi M80 helmet as worn by a member of the Republican Guard. The helmet, which does show signs of extensive use, is still mostly complete and has retained Iraqi unit markings on both the front and back of the helmet. The helmet itself was brought back by Sergeant First Class Salvatore A. Voccia, a Forward Observer with the New Jersey National Guard. During his time as an FA, he was attached to the 3-112 Field Artillery Battalion. He was sent to Iraq in 2004 with a Military Police unit to work with and train the Iraqi Police Forces. Included with this helmet is a written note by Sgt Voccia on National Guard stationary. It describes where he found it, his Battalion and location.
The Iraqi M80 Helmet is a military helmet made of compressed canvas used by the Iraqi Armed Forces from the early 1980s onwards. They were used in the Iran–Iraq War, the Persian Gulf War/Operation Desert Storm, and the 2003 Invasion of Iraq/Operation Iraqi Freedom. These helmets were originally manufactured and designed in South Korea by Hyundai Heavy Department or H.H. Didizian, both are South Korean companies, but in 1990 an Iraqi-made version appeared, which is usually fitted with a distinctive rubber rim. Both types of helmet are still in limited service with the Iraqi Security Forces but are being replaced by the American PASGT helmet.
Clearly drawing inspiration from the American M1 Helmet which had first appeared during World War II, it differed significantly in being constructed from compressed layers of fabric coated in plastic. This inevitably offered troops a much lower degree of ballistic protection than a steel helmet, or modern composite helmet such as the PASGT. The M80's liner is a direct copy of the Riddell liner seen on American M1 helmets made after 1972 and used a US type T1 chinstrap. The helmets were supplied painted dark green, this was often overpainted in a desert tan color which has a tendency to rub off, revealing the original color underneath. They also have a tendency to fray at the edges, showing the layers of fabric used in their construction.
A lovely example ready for further research and display.