The Modèle 1978 helmet is a modern military steel helmet used by the

French Army The French Army, officially known as the Land Army (french: Armée de Terre, ), is the land-based and largest component of the French Armed Forces. It is responsible to the Government of France, along with the other components of the Armed Force ...

under the ''F1'' designation and commonly called "heavy helmet" (other nicknames include "locomotive skin cap"). It replaced the Modèle 1951 helmet. It was the standard helmet for both the Army and the

Mobile Gendarmerie The Mobile Gendarmerie (french: Gendarmerie mobile) (GM) is a subdivision of the French National Gendarmerie whose main mission is to maintain public order (from crowd control to riot control) and general security. Contrary to the Departmental G ...

. In 1992 the

SPECTRA helmet The SPECTRA helmet or CGF Gallet Combat Helmet is the PASGT-style ballistic helmet in use with the French military, and the armies of several other countries. Built by CGF Gallet (producer of the F1 helmet for firemen), it weighs , is available ...

started to supersede the Modèle 1978. The SPECTRA helmet is made of Spectra fiber, which makes the Modèle 1978 the last French helmet made of steel.

Design and production

The Modèle 1978 is a one-piece helmet made 1.2mm of amagnetic steel, weighing 1.2 kg. They were usually painted in NATO olive paint with IR-isolating properties to reduce the thermal signature of the wearer. It was made by the Dunois company in Cousance, and by GIAT in Rennes. By 1983, some 300,000 helmets were in service, for a total of 700,000 planned.

History

Research on the Modèle 1978 helmet started around 1973. In contrast to the Modèle 1951 helmet, the new model was a one-piece heavy helmet, rather than consisting of a light liner underneath a stronger metal helmet. Prototypes went for testing in the 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment, the 75th Infantry Regiment and the 13th Bataillon de Chasseurs Alpins. On 5 June 1978, the French Army adopted prototypes helmet A4 and chin strap A5 as the Modèle 1978 helmet. Usage by paratroopers, in particular, yielded improvements to the chin strap to avoid accidents. The modified variant entered service in 1982 as the F1 série 2 helmet. The helmet can be fitted with a plastic camouflage covering. The Modèle 1978 helmet saw its

baptism of fire The phrase baptism by fire or baptism of fire is a Christian theological concept originating from the words of John the Baptist in Matthew 3:11. It also has related meanings in military history and popular culture. Christianity The term ''bapti ...

with the

Multinational Force in Lebanon The Multinational Force in Lebanon (MNF) was an international peacekeeping force created in August 1982 following a 1981 U.S.-brokered ceasefire between the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and Israel to end their involvement in the confl ...

in 1982.

Users

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Citations and references

Citations References * * * *

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Modele 1978 helmet Combat helmets of France Military equipment introduced in the 1970s