Swedish M1937

The M37 (Also known as M1937) helmet is a military steel combat helmet used by Swedish armed forces. Replacing the M1926 helmet, the M1937 would be modernized in 1965 and see use into the 1990s with its replacement by the M1990 Kevlar helmet.

M37 Shell from the side, showing the "Tre Kronor" decal applied on both sides of all Swedish army helmets in 1942, including M21 and M26 designs.
M37 from the side, showing its more rounded shape compared to previous models.
M37 interior showing the modernized liner for the M37/65 variant.
M37 with M1960 cover, with flaps and sun brim extended.

Design

The helmet features a shell design distinct from its predecessors, being more hemispherical in its appearance with a simplified shape. The M1937 shared the same liner as its former designs, featuring a three pad liner attached directly to the shell like the M1926, along with a simple buckle chinstrap. Sweden would provide Finland with this model helmet as aid during their conflict with the Soviet Union (known as the Winter War). Finland produced a copy of the M37 known as the M40 at the Wartsila Oy and Kone-ja Silta plants. The main difference between the Finnish production helmets being the M40 was made of slightly heavier materials for the shell and painted in a green color as opposed to the Swedish grey. In 1965, most helmets received a new liner, being attached to the top of the shell by only a single rivet made up of a canvas webbing and sheet metal attached to a leather sweatband. The model with the modernized liner being commonly known as the M37/65.[1] The Finnish M40s also receiving a modernized liner nearly identical to the M37/65 around the same time. Commonly used with the helmet was a plain color camouflage net cover in dark green named the M1960.[2] The cover has a simple drawstring design where the chin straps would loop through the cover to keep it in place, and a drawstring on top of the cover to size it to the shell. An additional component of the cover being fold down flaps to cover additional areas of the head as well as a sun brim.

References

  1. Marzetti, Paolo. Combat Helmets of the World. third ed., Ermanno Albertelli Editore, 1996.
  2. Marzetti, Paolo (1996). Combat Helmets of the World. Ermanno Albertelli Editore. p. 259. ISBN 88-85909-64-7.
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