M1937 helmet (Sweden)

The m/37 helmet is a military steel combat helmet used by Swedish armed forces. Replacing the m/21 helmet, the m/37 would be modernized in 1965 with an updated liner and see use into the 1990s with its replacement by the M1990 Kevlar helmet. Three main variants existed. The first had a three pad liner system, like the m/21 and m/26 before it. The third, most common versions of the modified helmets had the same liner as the pictures but with a canvas chinstrap with a quick-release system. The helmet could be gray, as it always was during the second world war, or painted green as it often, but not always, was during the cold war.

m/37 Shell from the side, showing the "Tre Kronor" decal applied on both sides of all Swedish army helmets in 1942, including the m/21 and some m/26 helmets in army use.

m37 from the side, showing its more rounded shape compared to previous models.

m/37 with updated liner but old chinstrap.

m/37 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. The Finnish M40s also received 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. 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. Fold-down flaps which covered additional areas of the head and a sun brim were additional components provided.