British Mk 6 Combat Helmets

A brief look over a couple of British Helmets, Combat, G.S. Mk 6.
/ riflemanmoore
/ riflemanmoore
www.gostak.co.uk/composites/uk/

[@RiflemanMoore]

Something of a miscommunication it seems, as several people have mentioned this. Yes both plastic rivets on each side have to be removed to fit a visor. What I was trying to make clear in the video was that the smaller upper rivet serves that purpose and that purpose only, it was added to allow visors to be fitted whereas the lower one secures the back adjustment strap on the liner and so is present on helmets prior to the visor being introduced. It latterly serves a dual purpose, being removed and replaced with a screw and nut when visor brackets are fitted. I clearly didn't make this clear so will endeavour to do so when I make a video on a visor equipped Mk 6!

[@chaz8758]

Possibly easier to say the top plug was for a locating stud on the bracket, while the lower one was for the fixing screws. We were issued the visors as replacements for our mine protection goggles. Pretty sure my helmet has them fitted still at home.

[@RiflemanMoore]

True but that doesn't convey the point that the lower plastic stud already existed and had a purpose before visors were introduced. I was trying to convey that it's a distinguishing feature between these and earlier helmets. Interesting to hear you were issued an anti-mine visor, I have and example but wasnt aware of how commonly they were issued, when did you get yours?

[@Ks-zv6js]

How would u remove the rivets

[@RiflemanMoore]

They just pop out.

[@Ks-zv6js]

Thanks I didn’t know that👍

[@TimStamper89]

I loved the facial shrug when talking about the foliage loops on the desert dpm cover 🤣

[@karood-dog3584]

I received my Mk VI helmet in late 1986 prior to Northern Ireland Training many units retained their MK V steel helmets for a longer period priority going to Infantry and operational deployments. I found the MK VI to be a good piece of equipment and superior to my Para Helmet for most tasks "although it didn't have the Para lid ally effect". The Para Helmet also attracted unwanted attention in Northern Ireland that said it could also modify the attitude of the unruly members of the populous. PS. I still have my original Helmet (In fact I retained most of my gear) with DPM and my OP Granby cover.

[@RiflemanMoore]

Thanks for the info! I understand it took 5 years for full reequipment with the last Mk IVs (there was no Mk V) being phased out in 1990.

[@karood-dog3584]

@@RiflemanMoore We were very glad to get rid of the steel helmet the Liner "spider" was a special sort of torture along with the stupid chin strap that allowed the helmet to bounce on your head as you ran.

[@RiflemanMoore]

Indeed, the three point chin strap of the Mk 6 is definitely an improvement.

[@Tancred2494]

A great combination is the helmet and L85 iron sights. You could rest your helmet rim on the rear sight and have a snooze whilst still looking awake.

[@naarrff4550]

RAMC Woolwich hospital were issued the MK 6 in 1994, was very strange when they recieved in Mattel boxes.

[@demobbed688]

Points to note: 1. Chin strap shrinks and is very uncomfortable when wet, 2. Can only be worn with a respirator if a length of elastic is tied/stitched to the helmet cover or a key ring is attached to the chin strap ring, 3. An FFD is often placed inside for extra padding.

[@buster681000]

9:48 the day glow version as you mentioned helmet cover or the hi visibility helmet cover was intended for instructors during TLFTT/LFTT or any other time someone had to be seen in training as they where instructing/safety staff There use for traffic control was not its intent

[@66kbm]

I received my Mk 6 in Feb '86 just before deploying on Op Banner. It was the smooth one. I was in the RCT and our tour was the first to use the anti riot kit. Just a small correction for you is that both the "plugs" on each side of the helmet needed to be removed to fit the visor plate and also to pass the rear adjusting band through the flexible neck guard. The neck guard was also held in place with small Velcro tabs, so if you find a Mk6 with Velcro tabs inside, it was probably an initial issue anti riot kit. I remember that many people lost those small "plugs". Nice video, good comparison.

[@RiflemanMoore]

Oh indeed, I know both the plastic plugs had to be removed but the lower ones serve a dual purpose in securing the rear adjustment strap and thus existed on earlier helmets, the upper ones are purely for fitting the visor mounts and appear in manufacture around 1985. Sorry if that wasn't clear in the video, I may not have communicated that as well as I might, that's the distinction I was trying to make. I will be showing a helmet with visor and nape guard fitted in a future video!

[@jacquesbalmefrezol3837]

@@RiflemanMoore does anyone know where i can purchase a mk6 nape guard? ive been looking everywhere for it but i cant find it anywhere. If anyone has any info about this it would be greatly appreciated!

[@RiflemanMoore]

It took me quite a while to find one, I think I finally found one at a militaria show.

[@simonsignolet5632]

​@@jacquesbalmefrezol3837 Good news - all the bits are presently available (August 2020): www.ebay.co.uk/itm/133434773601 £4 for the nape guard. The ones I received were brand new: www.ebay.co.uk/itm/133443329015

[@jwkah]

My dad joined the ta in the late 2000s but was issued a mk 6 made in 1985

[@DavidFraser007]

We got our MKVI helmets in 1985, I really don't remember if it had a smooth finish, we put the DPM cover on it and it stayed there. The worst thing about it was we had to wear it more often.

[@apollo8972]

Isn’t there one of these in a museum in Winchester with which luckily saved the life of Green Jacket or L I bod. Sure I saw one iin the 90s during training

[@steveforster9764]

1987 we received our issue it was a step up from the tin lid but I found if tou anything on your back when lying down you or I couldn't get my head into a shooting position ...I was a Radio operator

[@MichaelR58]

Thanks for sharing , great review. Atb

[@RiflemanMoore]

Glad you enjoyed!

[@SanitysVoid]

Mine is missing one of the two little black studs or rivets, where can I get a replacement?

[@Silvatici]

All the mk.VIs I’ve seen issued new or refitted have a padded leather ‘O’ for the crown, although it seemed to be ditched by some and was sometimes replaced by an open FFD which could be replaced when it started to smell. Mine still has the crown pad and was issued with the fittings for the visor. Mk.VIs were sometimes black or more rarely crappy shiny brown (especially the XL mushroom head size it seems). Early 85 covers were just DPM with no scrim elastic and there was a white cover, plain green cover and a black cover for MOD police use. There’s some variety in the colour of the foam liner grey to black or even green, don’t know why though. As someone has previously mentioned it was standard practice to go one size up to make room for the NBC hood. I had large for driver training and an XL mushroom head for field use.

[@RiflemanMoore]

Thanks very much for all the info, very interesting to read! I'm currently on the lookout for an early DPM cover.

[@PaddyInf]

The black ones with leather crown are more likely Mk6A. These were issued for Iraq/Afghanistan before the Mk7. They are the same shape as the Mk6 but a bit heavier and have better ballistic protection.

[@simonsignolet5632]

PLAIN GREEN?! Damn, I passed that up (online - didn't see the label) mistaking it for non-Brit issue...

[@steelhelmetstan7305]

Enjoyed the video, I'm doing a bit of research on the mk6 as I know nothing about them, but thanks to your video I do now. I'm going to add one to my collection of 34 combat helmets and counting , hence the reason for my KZbin name🙂, mind you if I buy a couple of the mk6 helmets I might have called myself, 'ballistic nylon helmet stan', ha ha ,cheers , good video 🙂🙂

[@davey2363]

My only whine about mine…which I noticed another viewer noted, was that when in the prone position it dug into the back of your neck thus impeding firing. Apart from that, 100 times better than my old tin lid.

[@Ks-zv6js]

Final a very good video on a mk6 helmet

[@RiflemanMoore]

Glad you enjoyed!

[@ChayAaronStevenson11]

Where can you get the blanking plugs from if they are missing?

[@cyclonetaylor7838]

I have a mk6 smooth shell dated 1980. I would suspect that this helmet was one of the very first trials units. A bonus is it is in large size so quite useable. PS: It's for sale if any collector wants it .

[@RiflemanMoore]

Definitely an early trials example, very nice! I'd be interested myself, could you possibly drop me a message on the FB page?

[@cyclonetaylor7838]

@@RiflemanMoore Working on it as we speak.

[@cyclonetaylor7838]

I tried texting you on your fb page but it's fucked. Obviously I can't figure it out. Could you just message me at [e-mail].

[@cyclonetaylor7838]

I also kind of remember you saying something about not having a original para helmet. I have a second pattern that I would part with too.

[@Grahame59]

Another very informative vide, thank you. What sizes was the helmet made in? I've seen Small, Medium and Large on sale on eBay, was there an Extra Large made or does the Large cater for a 59/60cm head size? Also, did the helmet itself change size or just the liner? (Unlike German helmets, British helmets historically are all the same size; it's just the liner that changes size).

[@RiflemanMoore]

As I said in the video I believe there is an extra large but it is termed outsize, you'll hear me mention this in the video. I believe the helmet itself does change size somewhat to accommodate different head sizes as the liner is so integral but I would need to double check that.

[@4Bobay]

I wear a size 64 (8 in USA) and the Mark 6 size large fit my head comfortably.

[@simonsignolet5632]

I had an Outsize one, it was massive compared to a small. I suspect a small helmet would disappear if put inside it. The black plastic crown liner has a large "O" moulded into it so it should be easy to spot if you delve through a few in a surplus store. I could wear the thing SIDEWAYS on my bonce, it was so big... The shells of the composite helmets DO vary in size. Helmet covers have to be a matching size, for correct fit. Helmet cover size "Regular" is for a small/medium helmet, "Large" and "Outsize" for their coresponding sizes. If I'm wrong, someone please correct me.

[@petershores]

I have an outsize head and matching outsize mk 6 helmet - but it's very uncomfortable to wear - any thoughts on the comfort pads available on ebay from MOD surplus? I think they were designed for the mk 7 but anyone used them on a mk 6?

[@bencarver8164]

I was issued a Mk6 in the uotc back in 2014. It was quite common to wrap a field dressing around the suspension strings to add extra padding to the top of the head

[@A.ikiadis1264]

I have a mk6 with a smooth finish and the date is 1984- 1985

[@muwuny]

I've seen pre-production Mk6s in use as early as 1982

[@RiflemanMoore]

Indeed so. I mention there being earlier examples in the video. Some early examples turn up in photos of the Falklands War but they differ significantly from the Mk 6 as later more widely issued which is what the video focuses on.

[@Ks-zv6js]

My new mk6 I’ve bought shoes signs of being refurbished I’ve put new rubber plugs in but underneath there’s a tag that’s been painted over and it’s dated 1984 and the tag inside dated 1987 it’s smooth

[@Ks-zv6js]

Shows

[@RiflemanMoore]

They shell has a theoretical unlimited lifespan if not damaged so many were refurbished more than once.

[@ZvZd]

Great video as always!~

[@RiflemanMoore]

Many thanks!

[@schafer7403]

did this helmet ever see any form of combat ?? My boss collects military headwear/helmets and I've bought this to go in his collection. It would be nice to know if it saw combat?

[@RiflemanMoore]

Absolutely, the Mk 6 saw use in many conflicts as it was the standard Helmet of the British Army in the 1990s and early 2000s.

[@PaddyInf]

N. Ireland, the Balkans, the Gulf War, early TELICs etc.

[@tomsoki5738]

Mainly peacekeeping UN style deployments. The Gulf War, Northern Ireland, Kosovo+Bosnia are the main ones I’d say

[@davidbrennan660]

Wear it a size larger than you would normally wear, so your NBC suit hood fits.

[@RiflemanMoore]

Were they issued a size up for this purpose?

[@andrewdixon3960]

Have you done a video on the MkIII helmet?

[@RiflemanMoore]

Not yet.

[@andrewdixon3960]

Thanks for reply. Your WW2 stuff is great.

[@RiflemanMoore]

Thank you!

[@red_ed5715]

seen pics of 1983 dated helmets around

[@Eric-kn4yn]

Sizing

[@notlizard5797]

Found a dirty sock in mine

[@RiflemanMoore]

Don't shout about it, everyone'll want one.

[@CaersethVarax]

Got my like in before your one dislike. YOU'RE WELCOME

[@RiflemanMoore]

Duly noted!

[@andrewjohnston4127]

I notice that too lol plenty of likes from me anyway

[@TheWtfnonamez]

I saw a video where someone intended to do a series of ballistic tests on this helmet ...... but the first round they fired from a 9mm pistol went straight in the front and zipped out the back.... thus rendering the entire video pointless. They are frequently described as "Kevlar" but they are actually nylon composite. They can barely stop shrapnel let alone a bullet of any calibre unless its a .22 fired from over three hundred yards away. These helmets are trash.

[@tesztelek8157]

God i dont miss wearing this sweat-smelling piece of crap that makes your head look like a foreskin.