The first helmet to be developed and put into mass production in the USSR was the SSh-36. This model had its baptism of fire during the war in Spain, where the helmets were supplied to the Republicans and interbrigades. In the summer of 1938, they were used during the fighting near Lake Khasan. The SSh-36 was worn by Red Army soldiers in the battles on Khalkhin-Gol, where the helmet was nicknamed ‘Khalkhingolka’.
However, it quickly became apparent that the helmet had significant downsides. The wide slopes of the ‘Khalkhingolka’ prevented soldiers from moving quickly, the large visor obscured the view significantly, and the cheap steel provided poor protection from heavy bullets and shrapnel.
Therefore, in June 1939 a new helmet was designed. It started to be supplied to the army without recalling the previous model. During the Finnish Winter War, it was revealed through field experiments that the new helmet’s padding, which was used to secure the helmet on the head, made it impossible to put it on over a warm hat. And the woolen caps especially designed for the SSh-39 did not protect from frostbite.
In December 1940 the Red Army received the SSh-40 steel helmet with a modified padding. The new model was made of 1.2 mm alloyed armored steel. Thanks to this the SSh-40 became more resistant to pistol and rifle bullets. Beginning in 1940 the Red Army began to gradually replace the SSh-36 with helmets of the new model, but these plans were interrupted by the outbreak of the Great Patriotic War. As a result, the SSh-36 was used along with the SSh-40 until about 1943.
The under-helmet padding of the SS-40 consisted of three parts — “petals”, made of leatherette, synthetic leather or fabric. They were connected with a lace at the top of the helmet, designed to adjust the fit of the helmet on the head. On the inside of each petal was a cushioning pad made of absorbent cotton. The canvas chin strap consisted of two halves attached to rings on the sides of the steel helmet. One of the parts on the free end had a sliding buckle, the end of the other half was crimped with a semi-circular metal mandrel. The weight of the metal steel part of the steel helmet was 800 grams.
However, it quickly became apparent that the helmet had significant downsides. The wide slopes of the ‘Khalkhingolka’ prevented soldiers from moving quickly, the large visor obscured the view significantly, and the cheap steel provided poor protection from heavy bullets and shrapnel.
Therefore, in June 1939 a new helmet was designed. It started to be supplied to the army without recalling the previous model. During the Finnish Winter War, it was revealed through field experiments that the new helmet’s padding, which was used to secure the helmet on the head, made it impossible to put it on over a warm hat. And the woolen caps especially designed for the SSh-39 did not protect from frostbite.
In December 1940 the Red Army received the SSh-40 steel helmet with a modified padding. The new model was made of 1.2 mm alloyed armored steel. Thanks to this the SSh-40 became more resistant to pistol and rifle bullets. Beginning in 1940 the Red Army began to gradually replace the SSh-36 with helmets of the new model, but these plans were interrupted by the outbreak of the Great Patriotic War. As a result, the SSh-36 was used along with the SSh-40 until about 1943.
The under-helmet padding of the SS-40 consisted of three parts — “petals”, made of leatherette, synthetic leather or fabric. They were connected with a lace at the top of the helmet, designed to adjust the fit of the helmet on the head. On the inside of each petal was a cushioning pad made of absorbent cotton. The canvas chin strap consisted of two halves attached to rings on the sides of the steel helmet. One of the parts on the free end had a sliding buckle, the end of the other half was crimped with a semi-circular metal mandrel. The weight of the metal steel part of the steel helmet was 800 grams.
