Hełm wz. 63
| Hełm wz. 63 | |
|---|---|
 wz. 63 helmet | |
| Type | Paratrooper helmet |
| Place of origin |  Polish People's Republic |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1963-2015 |
| Used by | See Users |
| Wars | Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia Iran–Iraq War Gulf War |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 1,5 kg |
The Hełm wz. 63 is a Polish steel helmet designed for airborne troops introduced in the 1960s. In the Polish Army, wz. 63 helmet was replaced by the HP-03 helmet in 2015.[1]
Design
[edit]The wz. 63 helmet has the shape of an oval bowl without a visor and a nape. The dimensions of the body are: height 140 mm, length 245 mm (after changes 243 mm), width 206 mm (after changes 213 mm). The weight of the helmet with full equipment is approx. 1.5 kg. There are ventilation holes in the helmet: two on each side.[2]
The fascia is almost identical to that of the wz. 50, the difference is the use of an additional shock absorber in the form of a foam pad. In addition, the helmet uses a shock-absorbing shaft (along the periphery of the helmet, it protrudes slightly to protect against a sharp edge) and a leather pilot cap (shorter than in motorcycle helmets). On the sides of the pilot there are pockets for headphones.
The helmets are painted with smooth khaki varnish. Together with the helmet wz. 63, masking nets and covers are used.[3][4]
Users
[edit]
Polish People's Republic - the helmet was standard issue for Polish paratroopers and special forces from 1963 onward.
Poland - Used after the collapse of communism until 2015.[5][6]
East Germany - used by paratroopers[7][8][9]
Iraq[10][11][12]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Nowe hełmy dla spadochroniarzy". www.polska-zbrojna.pl. Retrieved 2024-04-02.
- ^ Kijak, Jacek (1993). Hełmy Wojska Polskiego 1917–1991. Warszawa: Bellona. pp. 139–142. ISBN 83-11-07997-8.
- ^ ""helmy.xlx.pl/polski%20wz.63.htm"". helmy.xlx.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 2023-08-16.
- ^ "Poland Wz63". Brendon's Helmets. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
- ^ "Żołnierze z desantu żegnają "orzeszka"". www.polska-zbrojna.pl. Retrieved 2023-08-16.
- ^ "Hełmy dla desantu wycofane ze skoków spadochronowych | DEFENCE24". 2016-04-01. Archived from the original on 2016-04-01. Retrieved 2023-08-16.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ "From Behind the Iron Curtain: Communist Bloc Helmets". Military Trader/Vehicles. Retrieved 2023-08-16.
- ^ Sharky (2010-04-11). "Four Bees: Polish - DDR- NVA Wz-63 Paratroop Helmet". Four Bees. Retrieved 2023-08-16.
- ^ "Polish WZ63 / East Germany Paratrooper steel helmet | Collectors Weekly". www.collectorsweekly.com. Retrieved 2024-04-24.
- ^ "Iraqi Victory Arch Helmet". Iraqi Militaria. Retrieved 2024-04-02.
- ^ "Iraqi para helmet". www.warrelics.eu. Retrieved 2024-04-02.
- ^ "POLACO 63 PARA". www.cascoscoleccion.com. Retrieved 2024-08-06.
Books
[edit]- Kijak, Jacek (1993) Hełmy Wojska Polskiego 1917–1991, Warszawa: Bellona, ISBN 83-11-07997-8.