Misplaced Pages

Lightweight Helmet
USMC Lightweight Helmet in brown color
Type	Helmet
Place of origin	United States
Service history
In service	2003–present
Used by	United States Marine Corps United States Navy
Wars	Global War on Terrorism Iraq War War in Afghanistan Russo-Ukrainian War
Production history
Designed	1999–2003
Manufacturer	BAE Systems, Gentex Corporation
Produced	June 2003 – present
Specifications
Weight	approx. 3.2 lbs/1.45 kg

The Lightweight Helmet (LWH), also known as the Lightweight Marine Corps Helmet or Lightweight Marine Helmet, is an armored helmet that is used by the United States Marine Corps and U.S. Navy. It is the U.S. Marine Corps' replacement for the PASGT combat helmet and is derived from the Modular Integrated Communications Helmet.

History

As it is nearly identical to untrained eyes in shape to the PASGT, outside the Marine Corps it is still called the Fritz helmet or K-pot (due to its resemblance to the German Stahlhelm). Though heavier than the United States Army's Advanced Combat Helmet, its larger size also offers more protection and is lighter than the PASGT. Featuring a four-point retention strap system (compared to the two-point retention of the PASGT) and redesigned liner, it is considered more comfortable than the PASGT.

The LWH was designed from 1999 to 2003, with prototype testing being conducted from 2000 to 2002 in California and North Carolina. 200,000 of the helmets entered service in mid-to-late 2003, with an expected service life of 15 years. It completely replaced the PASGT in USMC frontline service by 2009. The LWH was made by the Pennsylvanian-based Gentex Corporation and BAE Systems in five sizes. From 2007 onward, pads were installed in the helmet to improve comfort for wearers.

Whereas the PASGT helmet's shell is olive drab, the LWH's is coyote brown and can be fitted with cloth helmet covers, either originally made for the PASGT or more commonly those made for the LWH in desert and woodland MARPAT, as well as a mounting bracket on the front for any sort of night vision device, such as the AN/PVS-7 night vision goggle or AN/PVS-14 monocular night vision device (MNVD). Marines currently can be issued with a sling suspension or a pad suspension to fit the inside of the helmet to the head. A nape protection system adds ballistic protection to the rear of the head was also added as to reduce strain and improve comfort to the back of the neck.

Successor

This article needs to be updated. The reason given is: "The end of 2013" has passed quite some time ago.. Please help update this section to reflect recent events or newly available information. (October 2020)

The Marine Corps placed its first order for the Enhanced Combat Helmet in July 2013, and was fielded to deployed Marines by the end of 2013. The ECH is planned to equip all deployed Marines, while the Lightweight Helmet will still be used for training and noncombat purposes. Beginning in 2021, a high cut ECH variant with attachment rails and a contour similar to the Ops-Core FAST helmet already in use by special operations forces was issued to Marines in combat arms units.

Users

•  New Zealand all branches of New Zealand Defence Force 2000-2019. Supplied by UNICOR.
•  Ukraine
•  United States
  • United States Marine Corps (and attached U.S. Navy personnel)
  • United States Navy
    • Seabees

See also

• Advanced Combat Helmet
• Enhanced Combat Helmet

References

1. "World War Helmets - Erreur 404".
2. "The Warrior". www.natick.army.mil. Archived from the original on 2013-06-02. Retrieved 2007-09-27.
3. "The Warrior". Archived from the original on 2004-01-02.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
4. https://web.archive.org/web/20170903104528/http://www.gentexcorp.com/assets/base/TechnicalPublications/PadSuspensionSizingChart.pdf. Archived from the original on 2017-09-03. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
5. "L/W Marine Helmet". Archived from the original on 2006-10-16.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
6. "USMC Lightweight Ballistic Protective Helmet" (PDF). Archived from the original on 2017-09-03.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
7. "USMC Lightweight Helmet (LWH)". www.gentexcorp.com. Archived from the original on 2015-03-27. Retrieved 2016-03-25.
8. "Marine Corps Lightweight Helmet: Sling Suspension vs. Padded Suspension" (PDF). Marine Corps Systems Command. USMC. p. 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-03-04. Retrieved 2008-07-22.
9. Hoellwarth, John (March 2007). "Extended Protection" (PDF). Marine Corps Times. Army Times Publishing Company. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-03-04. Retrieved 2008-07-22.
10. New combat helmets coming for deploying Marines Archived 2013-10-07 at the Wayback Machine - MarineCorpstimes.com, 29 July 2013
11. "Supporting the future fight: MCSC modernizing infantry capabilities".
12. "Composite Helmet, Ballistic helmets, Military helmets NEW ZEALAND helmet, Kevlar helmet". www.gostak.co.uk. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
13. "UNICOR-Made Military Helmets Recalled, Production Suspended | Prison Legal News". www.prisonlegalnews.org. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
14. "USMC Lightweight Helmet". Archived from the original on 2004-01-13.
15. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2020-11-27. Retrieved 2019-08-07.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

External links

• Marine Corps Systems Command Page about the LWH
• World-War-Helmets.com - LWH Helmet (French)

v t e United States Marine Corps
Leadership	Secretary of the Navy Under Secretary of the Navy Commandant of the Marine Corps Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Military Secretary to the Commandant of the Marine Corps Marine Corps four-star generals Marine Corps three-star generals 1942–1959 2000–2009 2010–present US Congress House Armed Services Committee Seapower and Projection Forces subcommittee Senate Armed Services Committee Seapower subcommittee
Major commands	Organization of the Marine Corps Headquarters Marine Corps Marine Forces Command II Marine Expeditionary Force Marine Forces Pacific I Marine Expeditionary Force III Marine Expeditionary Force Marine Forces Reserve Fleet Marine Force Atlantic Pacific Marine Corps Combat Development Command Training & Education Command (TECOM) United States Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory Marine Corps Systems Command
Auxiliary	Marine Corps Cyber Auxiliary
Structure	Marine air–ground task force Bases Battalions Regiments Brigades Divisions MEF/Corps Marine aviation Marine expeditionary unit Marine Security Guard Special Operations Marine Raiders Marine Raider Regiment Recon Force Division
Personnel and training	Personnel Rank insignia MOS Notable Marines Historical Marines Marine Astronauts Criminal Investigation Division Judge Advocate Division Chaplain of the Marine Corps Associated organizations Training Recruit Training School of Infantry Officer Candidates School The Basic School Martial Arts Program
Uniforms and equipment	Uniforms Awards Badges Weapons Vehicles and aircraft Individual equipment
History and traditions	History Culture Acronyms and terms Birthday Color Sergeant of the Marine Corps Eagle, Globe, and Anchor Flag Marine Band Drum and Bugle Corps Horse Marines Marine One Color Guard Silent Drill Platoon White House Sentries Service Numbers Marine Corps War Memorial Marine Detachments "Marines' Hymn" Oorah History Division National Museum Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima Rifleman's Creed Semper Fidelis march History of Hispanics in the USMC History of women in the USMC Women's Reserve Honorary Marine Toys for Tots Gung ho
Category

• 2000s fashion
• 2010s fashion
• Combat helmets of the United States
• United States Marine Corps equipment
• Military equipment introduced in the 2000s