|
WWII US Army Tanker Helmet -
Tanks were first introduced in battle during WWI. Their presence was intimidating to the soldiers in the
trenches. In reality, their effectiveness was not great. Commanders had yet to figure out how to employ
them in the battle field.
WWII saw a vast increase in the technology of the machines and the tactics used to deploy them. The tank
became a decisive factor in many of the battles fought in Europe at the time. The standard American
tank was the Sherman. This was considered to be a medium size tank. It held five soldiers in very tight
quarters. safety was an issue because soldiers could get hurt as the tank moves across fields and obstacles.
The answer had to come in the form of a helmet.
In 1938 the US army came up with a design to solve many of the problems encountered in the tank cab.
The tanker helmet was born.
|
This page is a recognition and identification guide for US hats and helmets. Multiple
detailed photos of a specific sample are provided. Descriptions point out clearly defined
points that should be noted.
One of the most commonly asked questions is "How much is my US headgear worth?".
A price guide is included here to address this question. The value of the hats and helmets
is reviewed over a period of several years. A trend can be observed. The present worth
of US militaria in the collector's market is illustrated.
This service is provided free of charge to the visitor/enthusiast courtesy of
MilitaryItems.com,
a company dedicated to the preservation of military history and to providing quality military
antiques and collectibles to museums, institutions and the general public.
|
|
The design of the tanker helmet is very similar to a football helmet. Heavily padded and of lightweight
construction. The helmet was designed to fit in a snug fashion.
the helmet was manufactured of a rubberized fibre/leather with a thicker band of leather stitched around the rim. An inner suspension was made of several leather straps. multiple ventilation holes were cut into the helmet.
The back of the head was protected by a neck flap of the same material as the cap.
|
US headgear in general is currently being
reproduced.
It is becoming more difficult to be able to tell the fake ones from the real ones because
the quality of the reproductions is improving. The collector must become familiarized with
the construction style and materials employed in the manufacturing of this headgear.
Attention to the details is critical in order to be able to determine the authenticity of
the collectible.
If you have an interest is seeing other American military headgear, you can do so by
going to our US Military headgear
identification guide. Where we cover Army, Navy, Army Air Force and other organizations.
|
