Postwar

M-51

This Soviet-like helmet came to replace the older, German-like type, but never did - still both are in use in the army. It is the first postwar Bulgarian helmet, a new design for the communist state's army which was for long years a part of the military system of the Warsaw Treaty, the commies' version of NATO. Though the main idea most probably was the helmet to be Russian-like, in fact it is an almost exact copy of the Italian M-33 combat helmet. Only the Bulgarian helmet's sides are a little more flat, not that round, and also the liner is a little different - only a little. As far as I know these helmets are produced in the military factories here in Bulgaria.

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M-72

This is an improved version of the M51. In fact there is almost no difference. Only the air vent rivets and the liner are a little different. By the way seems there are small differences in the M72 helmets produced during the years - the helmet from the upper picture is made in 1987 and has a little more showed visor and not that flat rivets, compared to the M72 from the lower picture, which is made earlier.

click to see full size image

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The beginning of year 2003 - M36 and M51/72 helmets still in use together

Other helmets

M-36 - with new liners and new chinstraps /in fact these changed not once, but maybe many times during the years/, repainted to Russian green color, with red star on the front and sometimes National shield on the right side - but not a decal - painted, sprayed paint. The M-36 was postwar used in large numbers, together with the M51/72. Some M-36 are used in the army even today. As said, repainted, relinered, new chinstraps - but still in use. Maybe last years of service.

Different other - M-16 and German M35/40/42. In very low numbers, but existed in the Bulgarian postwar army. With new liners and chinstraps, repainted, these were used together with the other helmets.

Click HERE to see postwar used M-16

Click HERE to see postwar used German M35/40/42

The Newest Bulgarian Kevlar Helmet

I know not much about it. Seems it is not one type, but several types from several manufacturers.

The first delivery of kevlar helmets was probably in 2000 - seven helmets, a gift from Canada to the Bulgarian army. They were a gift, but also to show to the Bulgarians the qualities of the new helmets. So in 2001 the Bulgarian army purchased a series of 100 more helmets.

Meanwhile a Bulgarian defense engeneering company researched and developed a Bulgarian kevlar helmet, but the price was too high. According to an article in the "Bulgarian army" newspaper, when its own helmet was found too expensive, this same company became representative of a German company /name not mentioned/ to import seems German kevlar helmets.

But from what I have found out, the highest number of kevlar helmets, used in the Bulgarian army, are imported from Croatia. Unfortunately cold find no more about the Croatian kevlar helmets, only read that they have successfully been tested by the Executive Agency "Testing and Control Mesurements of Weapons, Technique and Things" at the Military Ministry and approved by it for use.

The biggest deliveries of kevlar helmets took place in 2002. Up to date /april 2003/ there are about 500 kevlar helmets in the Bulgarian army - the first 7 from Canada and later 100 more, some Bulgarian-made /I am no sure if they reached the army or only some examples were shown and tested/, some imported from Germany and at last seems the highest number are the ones from Croatia.

The kevlar helmets are not in he ordinary Bulgarian army in fact. They are supplied to the special units, the Bulgarian rangers in the international missions - the Bulgarian unit in KFOR, in Kosovo, the Bulgarian unit in Afghanistan, the Bulgarian chemical unit that is just to leave for Iraq /april 2003; according to the available information it will not enter the territory of Iraq, but will cooperate the Allied forces from a country neighboring Iraq/.

Bulgarian rangers from the first Bulgarian unit in Afganistan infront of a field bath, 2002. Click on the image to see big picture. Do not worry, it is not military secret, I took it from one of the biggest Bulgarian daily newspapers. The uqaity is not the best, because I did not scan the picture, but shot it with my camera. I promise soon to find time to scan it /and some other, too/.

The Beginning of 2003. The right picture - a part of the Bulgarian unit that goes to the Gulf.

Sorry, the pictures are small, save them and try to Resize to see better.

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This is only the beginning. There are only about 500 kevlar helmets and maybe dozens of thousands stell ones. But the future belongs to the kevlar.

The color pictures of the Bulgarian soldiers with M36, M51/72 and kevlar helmets are from the "Bulgarska Armia" /"Bulgarian Army"/ newspaper.