Iraqi m90 helmet Variants
Sections
- summary
- webbing types
-helmets
- 1st pattern m90 (Green)
- 2nd pattern m90
- 3rd pattern m90
- 4rd pattern m90
- 5th pattern m90
Disclamer: This section is being researched and some info may be changed in the future
The Iraqi produced M90 helmets were seen in use particularly in Desert Storm and until 2003. Although they were seen during OIF, they were only manufactured from Desert Storm and before. They were not widely used like the M80 helmet was.
The first produced M90's were made in a green plastic. These initial M90's were prone to splintering around the helmet rim, so a rubber rim was added to counter that. When the rim was added, the plastic allegedly switched from green to tan.
The construction of the M90 is probably the cheapest constructed helmet of them all. It is noticeably thinner in construction and has 2 types of webbing style. An "O" type webbing, which was designed after the style of WW2 M1 helmet liners (Type 1), and a "X" type webbing, which is the same design as the M80 helmet webbing and Vietnam era US M1 helmet liners (Type 2). The background behind the variations of the M90's are disputed and very complicated, but I believe this is the correct order in which they were made.
The first produced M90's were made in a green plastic. These initial M90's were prone to splintering around the helmet rim, so a rubber rim was added to counter that. When the rim was added, the plastic allegedly switched from green to tan.
The construction of the M90 is probably the cheapest constructed helmet of them all. It is noticeably thinner in construction and has 2 types of webbing style. An "O" type webbing, which was designed after the style of WW2 M1 helmet liners (Type 1), and a "X" type webbing, which is the same design as the M80 helmet webbing and Vietnam era US M1 helmet liners (Type 2). The background behind the variations of the M90's are disputed and very complicated, but I believe this is the correct order in which they were made.
Webbing types and comparison
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Shown here is the Type 1 webbing, where the webbing is connected with a drawstring in the middle.
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And shown here is the Type 2 webbing, which resembles an "X"
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Regular VS Reinforced
regular
Throughout this section, you will hear "regular" and "reinforced" webbing very often. What the white arrows are pointing to on this example is the regular webbing. That refers to how the webbing is of the same quality and material. If you look above, it is easy to see that the webbing being individually pointed to are the same material as each other.
reinforced
What you see here is the reinforced webbing, which is pointed to by the red arrows. It is simply a ring of better quality grey material in the suspension, located where the sweatband clips onto. The white arrow points to the regular webbing, and it is easy to distinguish that the two are different.
Lastly, here is a photo of the suspension from a 3rd Pattern M90. It has the reinforced webbing, but it is a lighter shade of grey and harder to spot. The red arrow points to it, and the white arrow points to the regular webbing.
1st pattern m90 (green)
WEBBING = reinforced
PLASTIC = green
SUSPENTION = TYPE 1
RUBBER RIM = no
Here's the first pattern M90, made from a green plastic. The green M90's are the first ones made out of all the M90 patterns . This one is missing the chinstrap and sweatband. The green plastic M90s never had rubber rims because they were only added to later models to prevent the edges of the helmet from splintering, which was a big problem with these helmets.
They all have the Type 1 webbing, and both have regular and reinforced webbing. This hints that the green plastic could have been used up during the production of the 3rd pattern M90s.
They all have the Type 1 webbing, and both have regular and reinforced webbing. This hints that the green plastic could have been used up during the production of the 3rd pattern M90s.
Shown here is a 1st Pattern M90 with the regular webbing.
2nd pattern m90
webbing = regular
plastic = tan
suspention = type 1
rubber rim = unknown
Here is a second pattern M90 helmet. It has the Type 1 suspension without the reinforced webbing. The 2nd pattern could be the start of the revised M90's made with a rubber rim, OR it could have been made near the same time as the green M90's since the webbing styles are identical. This example is missing the drawstring for the webbing and possibly the rubber rim, but other then that it is complete. It has identical webbing structure and quality as the first pattern, which suggests that this design was manufactured right after or during the same time as the green M90. Either way, I consider the first 2 patterns the "trial" helmets because of their lesser quality over the others.
The helmet above was found in Kuwait in the back of a truck. It appears to never have had a rubber rim.
The helmet above was found in Kuwait in the back of a truck. It appears to never have had a rubber rim.
3rd Pattern m90
WEBBING = reinforced
PLASTIC = TAN
SUSPENTION = TYPE 1
RUBBER RIM = yes
The 3rd pattern M90 has a rubber rim and the Type 1 suspension, but with the reinforced webbing. I believe these were made very shortly after the 1st and the 2nd Pattern M90's for a few reasons. Firstly, some 1st Pattern green M90's have the reinforced webbing on the suspension instead of the regular cotton webbing, likely because they were using up the remaining green plastic when the 3rd Pattern was manufactured. Secondly, after the "trial" stages (1st and 2nd Pattern M90's), the quality of these helmets goes up slightly with the reinforced suspension.
This particular helmet is covered in oil from sitting upright near a burning oil field in Kuwait. It is missing its rubber rim.
This particular helmet is covered in oil from sitting upright near a burning oil field in Kuwait. It is missing its rubber rim.
4th pattern m90
WEBBING = reinforced
PLASTIC = TAN
SUSPENTION = TYPE 2
RUBBER RIM = yes
The 4th pattern M90 with Type 2 suspension is the outlier in all of this. The construction is different then all the other M90s with a different style of reinforced suspension, new webbing, and different rivet style. Why this is the case is unknown.
5th Pattern m90 sanction made
WEBBING = REGULAR
PLASTIC = TAN
SUSPENTION = TYPE 2
RUBBER RIM = unknown
The last pattern M90 sports a rubber rim and the Type 2 suspension, BUT without the reinforced ring of grey webbing. Instead, the suspension is made from regular tan material and reverts back to the regular M90 style. The rivets are misaligned and the helmet is sloppily made. There is a Jihm stamp in the dome of the helmet. We are not sure if they have rubber rims or not.
These helmets were made during the time sanctions were placed on Iraq before Desert Storm, hence the reduced quality and materials. They don't seem to have been made for long and are more uncommon to find. This one sports a small Republican Guard Triangle on the rear.
These helmets were made during the time sanctions were placed on Iraq before Desert Storm, hence the reduced quality and materials. They don't seem to have been made for long and are more uncommon to find. This one sports a small Republican Guard Triangle on the rear.