M33 helmet

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The M33 Helmet (Elmetto Mod. 33 in Italian) is a steel combat helmet designed in the 1930s in Italy, and was the standard combat helmet of the Regio Esercito up to World War II, and of the Esercito Italiano well into the Cold War.

Contents

Background


M33 helmet
M33 1940.jpg
View of an M33 shell
Type Combat helmet
Place of originItaly
Service history
In service1933-1992 (Italy)
Used bySee Users for details
Wars Second Italo-Ethiopian War
Spanish Civil War
World War II
Ecuadorian–Peruvian War
Croatian War of Independence
Bosnian War
Kosovo War
Production history
DesignerNicola Leszl [1]
ManufacturerSMV (Smalteria e Metallurgia Veneta Spa) of Bassano del Grappa, Torino Arsenal
Specifications
Weight1.2 kilograms (2.64 pounds)

Dating back from 1925, the Italian Army had engaged in experiments to find a new model of combat helmet that could replace the aging and not completely satisfactory Adrian helmet adopted in 1915; coupled to this was that the Adrian was originally a French design, and it was probably felt (under the fascist regime) that an Italian-designed model was more appropriate.

In 1932 after lengthy trials (with prototypes from many Italian and foreign firms) it was decided to adopt one of them as the M31 helmet. However this model (recognizable by the small crest on its top) was not completely satisfactory, because its cupolar blowhole design was not seen as being efficient, and was rather perceived as a structural weakness. By replacing it with three ventilation holes (two on the sides and one on the rear), the Model 33 was born, and was adopted with a circular? on November 29, 1934. [2]

The M33 helmet saw its trial by fire in the Second Italo-Ethiopian War in October 1935. Shortly after the end of the second Italo-Ethiopian War. After the Spanish coup of July 1936, The Spanish Civil War started, Mussolini started supplying Francoist Spain under Generalissimo Francisco Franco, as part of the military aid to the nationalists, Italy provided the Nationalists with 660 planes, 150 tanks, 800 artillery pieces, 10,000 machine guns, and 240,000 rifles. (Italian military intervention in Spain) as well, Italy sent the Corpo Truppe Volontarie which was approximately 78,000 troops. When the troops withdrew at the end of the Spanish civil war on April 1, 1939, they left approximately 50,000-60,000 M33 helmets which saw use with the Spanish Army until the late 1970s, when they were surplused off after the end of the Francoist regime.

Italians in Greece 1941, seen wearing the M33 Italians in greece 1941.png
Italians in Greece 1941, seen wearing the M33

On June 10, 1940, Italy joined the Second World War, in September 1940. The Italian forces invaded Egypt from Libya, starting the North African campaign. Italian troops were mostly issued the Mod. 35 tropical helmet, Although the M33 still saw widespread use in North Africa. The M33 Helmet saw widespread use in North Africa and through the rest of the war. Some second line troops were also issued the Adrian helmet and a light weight version of the M33, (which are distinguishable by the absence of ventilation holes in the rivets).

When the Italian Civil War started in 1943, the M33 was obviously still the main helmet of both the Kingdom of the South and the Italian Social Republic. In 1944–1945, the British attempted to replace the M33 with the Brodie helmet; however only two divisions had switched by the time the war ended. Meanwhile, the US Army transferred some as well, but not enough to completely re-equip any large units. After some thought it was decided to retain the M33 and the brodie helmets were gradually phased out.

An Albanian army MP wearing a M33 Albanian m33.jpg
An Albanian army MP wearing a M33

After WWII ended in 1945. It went on to have a long postwar career with the new Italian army. The M33 remained the standard Italian army helmet through the end of the 1980s. During the Cold War, production was restarted. Postwar-manufactured examples are nearly identical but have a slightly different interior headband, a different serial number scheme, and have a canvas chinstrap replacing the leather one of the 1930s and 1940s.

A sub-lieutenant of the San Marco Regiment (RSI) wearing a M33 helmet circa 1944. Note the anchor emblem and the rank insignia on the helmet Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-311-0926-06, Italien, italienische Soldaten Recolored.jpg
A sub-lieutenant of the San Marco Regiment (RSI) wearing a M33 helmet circa 1944. Note the anchor emblem and the rank insignia on the helmet

Usage & users

While not possessing the same degree of protection offered by the German Stahlhelm, the M33 was seen as a successful design, since it offered three times the resistance of the Adrian, was light at 1.2 kg, and was relatively comfortable.

The main users of the M33 helmet were:

Notes

  1. "M33 Steel Helmet".
  2. Cappellano, Filippo; Pierallini, Livio (November 2012). "L'elmetto mod. 33". Storia Militare (230): 9.

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References