Israeli Modified British WW II Mk I HSAT

[Mark K]

Israeli modified British war time Mk I to Mk II Helmet Steel Airborne Troops ( HSAT ) you can make out the drilled holes in the back of the helmet body were the leather harness would have been originally bolted and a new hole has been drilled in the centre to attach the slider buckle for the web harness,

The crucifix dome pad has been attached with an aluminium rivet through the dome, The liner in this example is un-marked and by the construction characteristics and the yellow sorbo rubber padding is IMO Israeli in origin as is the tan web chinstrap...

All the writing in the interior and on the chinstrap is in Hebrew and is named to a Zacharia on the sweatband and the name of Sayeed on the bottom and Abudis and or Aburis on the top and as best I can tell the middle abbreviation is for Machlakah which is section and what looks like a 1 afterwards.

This is of extreme interest because it is an Arabic name so likely the soldier was a Druze as Israeli Arabs do not serve...

 

Regards Mark

[Otter42]

Very nice! Thanks for detailed info. 

[SteveB]

Mark, I hope you don’t mind if I add mine to this, I have a mild addiction to these helmets.

 

First one is a WWII British HSAT build standard used by the Israelis, by that I mean British liner, dates 1944 and British strap, original paint. This has a foam rubber filled pad glued to the shell.

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Steve

[SteveB]

British standard, liner dated 1943, but shell has been repainted and liner refitted. Most Israeli modifications include the addition of a pad in the crown held in place with an aluminum rivet, this can be a MKII cruciform pad or an oval locally made pad.

 

[SteveB]

Israeli liner, and chin strap, similar cover set up to yours, this was seen in the Yom Kippur War

[SteveB]

Israeli liner and chin strap in a converted HSRAC helmet – the original strap bales are still fitted and the dimple in the top for the original liner. Burlap and net cover was seen in the Six Day War period

 

 

[SteveB]

Israeli liner and chinstrap in a converted HSDR helmet, original line holes filled with rivets, well used and the cover is made to fit, but I don’t think this is an issue item.

 

 

[SteveB]

For anyone looking to buy one of these or a British one, they are often described incorrectly, British HSATs command a higher price. There are a few of clear identifiers

The strap, British has a hole in the Israeli made doesn’t.

 

 

The Israeli liner is open at the join, the British is sewn together. British HSATs do not have a pad riveted to the top, the shell should have no hole in the top. There are other differences, but these are the easiest to spot.

 

 

 

Steve

[Kia kaha]

Great helmets, great info thanks

[Mark K]

Thanx Steve nice to see all your variants posted in one place..

[AlexR]

Love it. Thanks for sharing. 

[ScottG]

Some really great examples here guys, thanks for the info and shares! I saw many of these in Iraq albeit in relic condition. Scott

[JerryBB]

great helmets, on my wanted list