Hełm wz. 63
{{Infobox military gear
|name=Hełm wz. 63
|image=Hełm wz. 63.jpg
|caption=wz. 63 helmet
|type=Paratrooper helmet
|origin={{flag|Polish People's Republic}}
|service=1963-2015 (Polish Army)
|used_by=See Users
|weight=1,5 kg (3,307 lbs)
|wars=Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia
Iran–Iraq War
Gulf War
|design_date=1963
|production_date=1963-1985
|manufacturer=Huta Silesia
}}
The Hełm wz. 63 is a Polish steel helmet designed for airborne troops introduced in the 1963. It was used by Polish People's Army, National People's Army and Iraqi Army. In the Polish Armed Forces , wz. 63 helmet was replaced by the HP-03 helmet in 2015.{{Cite web |title=Nowe hełmy dla spadochroniarzy |url=https://www.polska-zbrojna.pl/home/articleshow/13163 |access-date=2024-04-02 |website=www.polska-zbrojna.pl}}
Design
The wz. 63 helmet has the shape of an oval bowl without a visor and a nape. The dimensions of the body are: height 140 mm, length 245 mm (after changes 243 mm), width 206 mm (after changes 213 mm). The weight of the helmet with full equipment is approx. 1.5 kg. There are ventilation holes in the helmet: two on each side.{{Cite book |last=Kijak |first=Jacek |title=Hełmy Wojska Polskiego 1917–1991 |publisher=Bellona |year=1993 |isbn=83-11-07997-8 |location=Warszawa |pages=139–142}}
File:NATO paratroopers gain confidence on machine guns 140725-A-XD571-147.jpg
File:Comparison_between_the_Romanian_M73_Airborne_and_the_Hełm_wz._63.jpg and the Hełm wz. 63]]
The fascia is almost identical to that of the wz. 50, the difference is the use of an additional shock absorber in the form of a foam pad. In addition, the helmet uses a shock-absorbing shaft (along the periphery of the helmet, it protrudes slightly to protect against a sharp edge) and a leather pilot cap (shorter than in motorcycle helmets). On the sides of the pilot there are pockets for headphones. For the first two years of production the leather pilot cap was produced in brown. From 1965, it was changed to dark green.{{Cite web |title=HEŁMY BOJOWE I PARAMILITARNE |url=https://helmy.xlx.pl/ |access-date=2025-01-20 |website=helmy.xlx.pl}}
The helmets are painted with smooth khaki varnish. Together with the helmet wz. 63, masking nets and covers are used.{{Cite web |title="helmy.xlx.pl/polski%20wz.63.htm"|url=http://helmy.xlx.pl/polski%20wz.63.htm |access-date=2023-08-16 |website=helmy.xlx.pl|language=pl}}{{Cite web |title=Poland Wz63 |url=http://brendonshelmets.weebly.com/poland-wz63.html |access-date=2024-04-05 |website=Brendon's Helmets |language=en}}
Users
= Former =
- {{Flag|Polish People's Republic}}: The helmet was standard issue for Polish paratroopers and special forces from 1963 onward.
- {{Flag|Poland}}: Used after the collapse of communism until 2015 - replaced by HP-03 helmet.{{Cite web |title=Żołnierze z desantu żegnają "orzeszka" |url=https://www.polska-zbrojna.pl/home/articleshow/15593?t=Zolnierze-z-desantu-zegnaja-orzeszka |access-date=2023-08-16 |website=www.polska-zbrojna.pl}}{{Cite web |date=2016-04-01 |title=Hełmy dla desantu wycofane ze skoków spadochronowych {{!}} DEFENCE24 |url=http://www.defence24.pl/335629,helmy-dla-desantu-wycofane-ze-skokow-spadochronowych |access-date=2023-08-16 |archive-date=2016-04-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160401022148/http://www.defence24.pl/335629,helmy-dla-desantu-wycofane-ze-skokow-spadochronowych |url-status=bot: unknown }}
- {{Flag|East Germany}}: Used by paratroopers and special forces until 1989.{{Cite news |title=From Behind the Iron Curtain: Communist Bloc Helmets |language=en |work=Military Trader/Vehicles |url=https://www.militarytrader.com/militaria-collectibles/from-behind-the-iron-curtain-communist-bloc-helmets |access-date=2023-08-16}}{{Cite web |last=Sharky |date=2010-04-11 |title=Four Bees: Polish - DDR- NVA Wz-63 Paratroop Helmet |url=http://sharky-fourbees.blogspot.com/2010/04/polish-ddr-nva-w-63-paratroop-helmet.html |access-date=2023-08-16 |website=Four Bees}}{{Cite web |title=Polish WZ63 / East Germany Paratrooper steel helmet {{!}} Collectors Weekly |url=https://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/133984-polish-wz63--east-germany-paratrooper-s?in=1199-activity |access-date=2024-04-24 |website=www.collectorsweekly.com}}
- {{Flag|Iraq|1991}}: In use by paratroopers and military police{{Cite web |title=Gulf War |url=http://alexdhelmet.free.fr/irak/irak-js.html |access-date=2025-01-06 |website=alexdhelmet.free.fr}} during Iran-Iraq War and Gulf War.{{Cite web |title=Iraqi Victory Arch Helmet |url=https://www.iraqimilitaria.com/iraqi-online-museum-iraqi-helmets/iraqi-victory-arch-helmet |access-date=2024-04-02 |website=Iraqi Militaria |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Iraqi para helmet. |url=https://www.warrelics.eu/forum/world-steel-helmets/iraqi-para-helmet-824363/ |access-date=2024-04-02 |website=www.warrelics.eu}}{{Cite web |title=POLACO 63 PARA |url=https://www.cascoscoleccion.com/polonia/po63pa.html |access-date=2024-08-06 |website=www.cascoscoleccion.com}}
References
{{reflist}}
= Books =
- Kijak, Jacek (1993) Hełmy Wojska Polskiego 1917–1991,
ISBN 83-11-07997-8 . - Szarugiewicz, Cezary (2014) Mundur i wyposażenie Żołnierza Polskiego 1943–1945, ISBN 978-83-938-5260-4.
{{Helmets}}
Category:Combat helmets of Poland
Category:Military equipment introduced in the 1960s