Advanced combat helmet … a new helmet for a new age

PS: The Preventive Maintenance Monthly, Jan, 2005

Some new headgear is making its debut in the Army. Called the advanced combat helmet (ACH), it's replacing the old PASGT kevlar helmet. Maybe you haven't seen an ACH yet, but it's not too soon to get acquainted. Here are some of its features:

* lighter than the old helmet

* improved ballistic protection

* padded to better protect your head against impacts in any kind of operation: riding in vehicles, kicking down doors or jumping out of aircraft.

* allows you to hear better because the sides are cut a bit higher than those of the old helmet

* because the ACH has no visor, it gives you an unobstructed field of view

* suspension pads give you a snug, stable, more comfortable fit

* night vision goggles remain stable as well

Helmets

Pads come in two thicknesses:

3/4-in thick (also known as size 6), and 1-in thick (also known as size 8).

Helmet parts are also available, including covers, pads, straps, hook and loop fasteners (hook disks), mounting hardware and more.

Shell size   Pad thickness     NSN
              in inches      8470-01-

Medium       3/4 (size 6)    506-6369
Medium       1 (size 8)      506-6373
Large        3/4 (size 6)    506-6375
Large        1 (size 8)      506-6377
X-large      3/4 (size 6)    513-6411
X-large      1 (size 8)      513-6414

Covers

Helmet covers are reversible, with woodland camouflage on one side and desert on the other. They come with a communications flap for storing commo cables. They're available in two sizes: medium/large and large/x-large.

                                                 NSN
Description                        Size        8415-01

Woodland/desert (reversible)   Medium/large    487-1612
with communications flap
for storing commo cables
                               Large/X-large   515-4663
Woodland/desert
with communications flap

Pads

You can order suspension pads individually or in sets of seven. Each set includes one circular crown pad, two trapezoidal pads and four oblong/oval pads. Pads come in two sizes: 3/4-in thick (size 6) or 1-in thick (size 8).

Description      Pad thickness     NSN
                   in inches     8470-01-

Set              3/4 (size 6)    476-5643
Set              1 (size 8)      476-5648
Circular crown   3/4 (size 6)    506-6626
Circular crown   1 (size 8)      506-6627
Trapezoidal      3/4 (size 6)    506-6851
Trapezoidal      1 (size 8)      506-6855
Oblong/oval      3/4 (size 6)    506-6454
Oblong/oval      1 (size 8)      506-6456

Other Parts

Eyewear retention straps come in green, NSN 8415-01-487-1605, or tan, NSN 8415-01-521-8801. Each NSN brings a pair of straps. They mount to the rear of the helmet and hold your combat eyewear straps in place

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P-clamp, NSN 8470-01-506-6625, mounts the ladder lock to the shell. The NSN brings a box of 50 clamps.

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Ladder lock, NSN 8470-01-506-6451, holds the chinstrap webbing and hooks onto the p-clamp. The NSN brings a box of 50 locks.

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Four-point chin strap comes in two sizes: medium/large, NSN 8470-01-476-2605, and X-large, NSN 8470-01-519-4200.

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Mounting screw, NSN 8470-01-506-6503, and nut, NSN 8470-01-506-6488, attach the p-clamp to the shell. Each NSN brings a box of 50.

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Mounting screw set, NSN 8470-01-476-5631, includes four of each of the following: p-clamps, ladder locks, mounting screws and nuts.

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Hook fastener tape (hook disks), NSN 8470-01-506-6742, holds the suspension pads in place. The disks have adhesive backing that sticks to the inside of the shell. The other side of the disks are made of hook fastener. The pads are covered with loop fabric on one side, and they cling to the hook fastener. The NSN brings a roll of 500 disks.

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Night vision goggles front bracket kit, NSN 5340-01-509-1467, includes a bracket with a threaded post and screw for mounting it to your helmet.

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Calipers, NSN 5210-01-434-9493, and a measuring tape, NSN 8315-00-782-3520, are used to measure the head for a correct fit.

Helmet parts kit, NSN 8470-01-506-6721, contains:

* nine sets of 3/4-in thick pads

* one set of 1-in thick pads

* 400 hook fastener tape disk

* 10 four-point chinstraps

* 10 mounting screw sets

* 10 reversible (woodland/desert) helmet covers

FOR FULL OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE ACH, SEE TM 10-8470-204-10.

WHEN THE ARMY FIELDS THE ACH, YOUR UNIT WILL RECEIVE A HELMET PARTS KIT FOR EVERY 100 HELMETS FIELDED TO IT.