SSh-60
{{Short description|Combat helmet by the Soviet Union}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{more citations needed|date=August 2012}}
{{original research|date=September 2012}}
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{{Infobox military gear
| name = SSh-60
| image =Ssh60example.png
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption = SSh-60 helmet
| origin = Soviet Union
| type = Combat Helmet
| service = 1960-present
| used_by = See Users
| wars = {{plainlist|
- Vietnam War
- Yom Kippur War
- Sino-Vietnamese War{{citation needed|date=January 2025}}
- Soviet-Afghan War
- Iran-Iraq War
- Russo-Ukrainian War
}}
| designer =
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| unit_cost =
| production_date = 1960-1972{{citation needed|date=January 2025}}
| number =
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File:Artillery training (26559937940).jpg
The SSh-60 (СШ-60 (Russian: стальной шлем образца 1960 года/stalnoy shlyem, or steel helmet) was a product improvement of the Soviet SSh-40 steel helmet of the Soviet Army and entered production around 1960. It was not fundamentally different from the previous World War 2 era SSh-40, the primary difference being an updated liner/suspension system.
Design
The overall form and shell of the helmet remained unchanged. The internal harness was modified to include four brown vynil flaps (rather than three as with the SSh-40) attached to the dome rivets. The flaps were moved to the top of the helmet along with two rivets and the chin strap.{{cite web |title=Steel Helmet, SSh-60 type: Soviet Army |url=https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/30100339 |website=Imperial War Museums |access-date=12 January 2025 |language=en}} The flaps of the liner were threaded together with an adjustable white cord tie and they weren't padded as previous models, allowing the user to wear a fur winter cap (ushanka) beneath the helmet, by adjusting the ties accordingly.
An export version of the SSh-60 exists, designed for sale and exportation to other countries outside of the Soviet Union. It differs from the main issue helmet only with a change to the color of the helmet liner.{{citation needed|date=January 2025}}
While SSh-60 was intended to replace the SSh-40, it never fully did. After the introduction of the newer SSh-68, it continued to be used by several units as mixed issues. During the Soviet-Afghan War, both the SSh-40 and SSh-60 still remained in use with the Soviet Army.{{sfn|Galeotti|2012|page=192}}
The SSh-60 was exported to some Warsaw Pact members, and other countries including Vietnam, where it was mostly used by North Vietnamese Army anti-aircraft artillery crews during the Vietnam War;{{sfn|Rottman|2012|page=24}} Syrian troops were issued with SSh-60s during the Yom Kippur war; Prior to the Iran-Iraq war, the Iraqi Army used the Polish wz. 50 besides SSh-40 and SSh-60 helmets, but these were gradually replaced by the M80 helmet.{{sfn|McNab|2022|page=38}}
Users
- {{flag|Iraq|1963}} − Replaced by the M80{{sfn|McNab|2022|pages=38−39}}
- {{flag|Soviet Union}}{{sfn|Zaloga|1985|p=58}}
- {{SYR}}{{sfn|Campbell|2016|page=18}}
- {{flag|Vietnam}} − Used by NVA anti-aircraft artillery crews{{sfn|Rottman|2012|page=24}} and Military Police ({{langx|vi|Kiem Soat Quan Su|lit=Military Control}}){{Cite web|url=http://brendonshelmets.weebly.com/vietnam-ssh60.html|title = Vietnam Ssh60}}
References
{{reflist}}
=Bibliography=
{{refbegin}}
- {{cite book |last1=Campbell |first1=David |title=Israeli Soldier vs Syrian Soldier: Golan Heights 1967–73 |date=2016 |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing |isbn=978-1-4728-1331-2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_7MODAAAQBAJ&dq=ssh-60+helmet&pg=PA21 |language=en}}
- {{cite book |last1=Galeotti |first1=Mark |title=Afghanistan: The Soviet Union's Last War |date=2012 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-136-29943-8 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=X_IrBgAAQBAJ |access-date=23 July 2023 |author1-link=Mark Galeotti|language=en}}
- {{cite book |last1=McNab |first1=Chris |title=Armies of the Iran–Iraq War 1980–88 |date=2022 |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing |isbn=978-1-4728-4558-0 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fLUIEAAAQBAJ&dq=ssh-60+helmet&pg=PA38 |language=en}}
- {{cite book |last1=Rottman |first1=Gordon L. |title=North Vietnamese Army Soldier 1958–75 |date=2012 |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing |isbn=978-1-78200-498-1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Y7bvCwAAQBAJ |language=en}}
- {{cite book|last=Zaloga|first=Steven|title=Soviet Block Elite Forces|date=1985|publisher=Osprey Publishing|isbn=978-0850456318}}
{{refend}}
{{Commons category|SSh-60}}
{{helmets}}
{{Soviet and Russian soldier equipment}}
Category:Combat helmets of Russia