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 (Polish Army) |
| Used by | See Users |
| Wars | Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia Iran–Iraq War Gulf War |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 1963 |
| Manufacturer | Huta Silesia |
| Produced | 1963-1985 |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 1,5 kg (3,307 lbs) |
The Hełm wz. 63 is a Polish steel helmet designed for airborne troops introduced in the 1963. It was used by Polish People's Army, National People's Army and Iraqi Army.[1] In the Polish Armed Forces , wz. 63 helmet was replaced by the HP-03 helmet in 2015.[2]
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.[3]
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. For the first two years of production the leather pilot cap was produced in brown. From 1965, it was changed to dark green.[4]
The helmets are painted with smooth khaki varnish. Together with the helmet wz. 63, masking nets and covers are used.[5] [6]
Users
[edit ]Former
[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 - replaced by HP-03 helmet.[7] [8]
- East Germany: Used by paratroopers and special forces until 1989.[9] [10] [11]
- Iraq: In use by paratroopers and military police [12] during Iran-Iraq War and Gulf War.[13] [14] [1]
See also
[edit ]References
[edit ]- ^ a b "POLACO 63 PARA". www.cascoscoleccion.com. Retrieved 2024年08月06日.
- ^ "Nowe hełmy dla spadochroniarzy". www.polska-zbrojna.pl. Retrieved 2024年04月02日.
- ^ Kijak, Jacek (1993). Hełmy Wojska Polskiego 1917–1991. Warszawa: Bellona. pp. 139–142. ISBN 83-11-07997-8.
- ^ "HEŁMY BOJOWE I PARAMILITARNE". helmy.xlx.pl. Retrieved 2025年01月20日.
- ^ ""helmy.xlx.pl/polski%20wz.63.htm"". helmy.xlx.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 2023年08月16日.
- ^ "Poland Wz63". Brendon's Helmets. Retrieved 2024年04月05日.
- ^ "Żołnierze z desantu żegnają "orzeszka"". www.polska-zbrojna.pl. Retrieved 2023年08月16日.
- ^ "Hełmy dla desantu wycofane ze skoków spadochronowych | DEFENCE24". 2016年04月01日. Archived from the original on 2016年04月01日. Retrieved 2023年08月16日.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ "From Behind the Iron Curtain: Communist Bloc Helmets". Military Trader/Vehicles. Retrieved 2023年08月16日.
- ^ Sharky (2010年04月11日). "Four Bees: Polish - DDR- NVA Wz-63 Paratroop Helmet". Four Bees. Retrieved 2023年08月16日.
- ^ "Polish WZ63 / East Germany Paratrooper steel helmet | Collectors Weekly". www.collectorsweekly.com. Retrieved 2024年04月24日.
- ^ "Gulf War". alexdhelmet.free.fr. Retrieved 2025年01月06日.
- ^ "Iraqi Victory Arch Helmet". Iraqi Militaria. Retrieved 2024年04月02日.
- ^ "Iraqi para helmet". www.warrelics.eu. Retrieved 2024年04月02日.
Books
[edit ]- Kijak, Jacek (1993) Hełmy Wojska Polskiego 1917–1991, ISBN 83-11-07997-8.
- Szarugiewicz, Cezary (2014) Mundur i wyposażenie Żołnierza Polskiego 1943–1945, ISBN 978-83-938-5260-4.