Are Military helmets designed to be bulletproof?

Answer 1

Yes. During WWI-Vietnam, the "Steel Pot" helmets were ment to deflect the incoming projectile. Now, the KEvlar Helmets used are meant to absorb the projectile.

Answer 2

They actually had a documentary on the newer helmets on TV. Explaining the difference the difference between the Army helmets and the Marine helmets.

They were arguing that the Marine helmets aren't bullett proof they are just made to deflect a round and aren't as effective as the kevlar type helmets the army uses.

Supposedly theres a big difference between the two but the Army helmets are more along the lines in terms of bulletproof.

Answer 3

No. Speaking from personal experience they are more of a nuisance than a help. But, in 1983 in Grenada, some members of the 82nd Airborne loved thee new Kevlar helmets. They actually absorbed the Russian 7.62mm fired from AK-74's. The helmets are on display at the US Airborne Museum outside of Fort Bragg, NC. I started out in the older M1 helmet and loved how you could take a bath out of it.
I never used a Kevlar helmet until 1990 when I transferred from the 1st Ranger Battalion to the 24th Infantry at Fort Stewart, GA. I really don't care for the "brain bucket", it is to heavy and is very hot. I rather not wear one at all. I know what you are probably thinking, "this guy is nuts!". Nope, been in combat 5 times. When your time is up, your time is up. No amount of Kevlar, steel, or flak vest are going to save you.

Answer 4

Maybe the newer ones are designed with some capability to deflect some bullets, but generall helmets are to protect soldiers from hand to hand combat.

Bullets and scrapnel can be stopped by a helmet, but a straight on shot from nearby won't be stopped.

Answer 5

They will not stop a direct hit form a rifle round at close distance. Far away or shrapnel it will deflect, (but it still hurts like hell, personal experience) and like Jeep Freak said the old one was good for bathing out of or digging a foxhole. Kevlar weights about eight pounds, stick a 5lb bag of sugar or flour on your head and imagine the other three up there.

Answer 6

Im sure they should be.....But good Ole Dubya is sending our guys over to fight with a bike helmet thats 3 years old and body protection that consists of tin foil.
Were in DEBT over this war and we can't even give our guys protection they need...Yet somehow came up with 17 Million to spend on a Private Iraqi School in Iraq that noone knows where that money went.

Answer 7

i know a guy earlier this year that put a bullseye on his mitch helmet, a sniper shot him in the head, the bullet pentrated the helmet and his skin, but the bullet traveled in side his skin traveled from his temple to the back of his head and blew out, all an there a deterent cuase all the enemy snipers now aim for the neck or the exposed ribs, i pearsonally know fellow troops that have lived and died from wounds to the neck and ribs and head

Answer 8

No helmet is completely bulletproof , mainly they deflect the bullet or shrapnel away from you .

Answer 9

My buddy got shot in the kavelar (i dont know if I spelled that right..) or, helmet whatever you want to call it, and he just got a little scratch on his head. The bullet didn't go through, but the impact left a tiny scratch.

Answer 10

no the new helmets called Kevlars are not designed to be bullet proof. they are designed to stop one 5.56 round, the most common sized bullet used in war. they are aminly designed to prevent shrapnel bullet wise the shape is designed to try to deflect the bullets until you get some cover.