The M1 helmet is a combat helmet that was used by the United States Armed Forces from 1941 to approximately 1985. Designed to replace the M1917 helmet, a variant of the British Brodie helmet used during World War I, the M1 helmet is known for having been used as the primary American combat headgear during World War II, with similarly extensive use in the Korean War and the Vietnam War. Owing to its extensive use throughout World War II and the Cold War, the M1 helmet has become an icon of the U.S. military, with its design inspiring copies and derivative designs used by other militaries around the world.
In 1985 the PASGT helmet, another similarly iconic and influential combat helmet design, was introduced and the M1 helmet began to be phased out. Some M1 helmets and their derivatives remain in service with several national militaries in the 21st century, although most have been relegated to being part of certain ceremonial uniforms, such as those of honor guards.
