U.S. Navy sailor in 2015 wearing a LWH with a PASGT vest
As it is nearly identical to untrained eyes in shape to the PASGT, outside the Marine Corps it is still called the Fritz helmet or K-pot (due to its resemblance to the German Stahlhelm). Though heavier than the United States Army's Advanced Combat Helmet, its larger size also offers more protection and is lighter than the PASGT. Featuring a four-point retention strap system (compared to the two-point retention of the PASGT) and redesigned liner, it is considered more comfortable than the PASGT.[2]
The LWH was designed from 1999 to 2003, with prototype testing being conducted from 2000 to 2002 in California and North Carolina. 200,000 of the helmets entered service in mid-to-late 2003,[3] with an expected service life of 15 years. It completely replaced the PASGT in USMC frontline service by 2009. The LWH was made by the Pennsylvanian-based Gentex Corporation and BAE Systems in five sizes.[4][5] From 2007 onward, pads were installed in the helmet to improve comfort for wearers.[6]
Whereas the PASGT helmet's shell is olive drab, the LWH's is coyote brown[7] and can be fitted with cloth helmet covers, either originally made for the PASGT or more commonly those made for the LWH in desert and woodland MARPAT, as well as a mounting bracket on the front for any sort of night vision device, such as the AN/PVS-7night vision goggle or AN/PVS-14monocularnight vision device (MNVD). Marines currently can be issued with a sling suspension or a pad suspension to fit the inside of the helmet to the head.[8] A nape protection system adds ballistic protection to the rear of the head was also added as to reduce strain and improve comfort to the back of the neck.[9]
Successor
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The Marine Corps placed its first order for the Enhanced Combat Helmet in July 2013, and was fielded to deployed Marines by the end of 2013. The ECH is planned to equip all deployed Marines, while the Lightweight Helmet will still be used for training and noncombat purposes.[10] Beginning in 2021, a high cut ECH variant with attachment rails and a contour similar to the Ops-Core FAST helmet already in use by special operations forces was issued to Marines in combat arms units.[11]