| Kasda OR-201 | |
|---|---|
| Type | Combat Helmet |
| Place of origin | Israel |
| Service history | |
| Used by | SeeUsers |
| Wars | Operation Entebbe 1978 South Lebanon conflict 1982 Lebanon War Lebanese Civil War 1978-79 Nicaraguan Revolution Guatemalan Civil War Salvadoran Civil War Internal conflict in Peru Sri Lankan Civil War South African Border War The Troubles Cenepa War First Intifada Al-Aqsa Intifada South Lebanon conflict (1985–2000) Dinnieh clashes 2013 Sidon clash Bab al-Tabbaneh–Jabal Mohsen conflict 2000–2006 Shebaa Farms conflict 2006 Lebanon War 2007 Lebanon conflict 2008 conflict in Lebanon Battle of Gaza (2007) Gaza War (2008–09) 2014 Israel–Gaza conflict Gaza war |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Orlite Industries Ltd |
| Designed | 1970s |
| Manufacturer | Orlite Industries Ltd Hagor Industries Ltd Rabintex Industries Ltd SAPHI (South Africa) |
| Produced | 1976-Present |
| Variants | SeeVariants |
TheOR-201, also designatedKasda OR-201 Model 76 orM-76 for short, is acombat helmet ofIsraeli origin. Developed in the 1970s, the OR-201 was one of the world's firstballistic helmets. It was subsequently exported on a large scale and has been used by manymilitaries worldwide.
The OR-201 helmet was developed in the early 1970s by the Israeli private firm Orlite Engineering Company (nowOrlite Industries Ltd) ofNess Ziona nearTel-Aviv, and is the direct result of experience acquired with the steel types – the BritishBrodie helmet Mark II/Mark III,RAC Mk II modified helmet with chin web jump harness (used byparatroopers and similar to theHSAT Mk II/Mk III paratrooper helmets),[1][2] USM1 helmet,[3][4][5] and FrenchModèle 1951 helmet[6] – previously worn by Israeli infantry and airborne troops from the late 1940s to the mid-1970s and early 1980s.[7][5]
The prototype presented in 1976 by Orlite consisted of one-piece, glass-reinforced plastic (GRP) round shell 8mm thick, made offiberglass fibers placed in anethyl cellulose resin under high pressure. It had a black rubber rim-band 10mm thick[8] and seven metal rivets – one placed at the front, four at the sides, and two at the back – to secure a helmet liner of "cradle" type. As the name implies, it consists of three 25mmKhaki-green synthetic fabric crossed straps attached to avery light tan head-band (or sweat-band) that is fitted within a cushion of four inner black high-densityneoprenefoam pads – two side, one front, and one rear – that help to secure the helmet in the wearer's head, while providing an impact- and shock-absorbing capability. The liner suspension is adjustable from medium to large using a metal buckle in the rear.[5]
Copied after theHSAT Mk II paratrooper helmet harness, the chin-strap system is fitted directly to the helmet shell at three points by rectangular metal rings; made of 20mm Khaki-green synthetic canvas web, the harness is equipped with two metal friction buckles at the chin-straps and is reinforced by an integraltan leather chin-cup.[5]
With a weight of 1.65 kg, the OR-201 is light, comfortable, and sturdy, being capable of stopping a 9mm round at close range. Production helmets, including those made for the export market, usually came in a smoothKhaki-grey,Khaki-brown orKhaki-green finish.[5]
This helmet, also designated M76/85,[9] OR 202-76 or OR-402, was introduced in 1985 as an improved variant of the earlier Model 76, which consists of one-piece, ballistic nylon or reinforcedfiberglass and plasticKevlar composite structure that weights 1.65 kg. In contrast to its predecessor, the Model 76-85 had its interior lined entirely by light tan fiberglass fabric and a shock-absorbing neoprene disc 60mm in diameter, is placed on the inside.[10] The helmet is fitted with a new version of the "cradle"- type liner, now consisting of three 25mm black synthetic fabric crossed straps attached to a light tan sweat-band and features a new 20mm olive green nylon adjustable strap system provided with a black quick-release plastic buckle backed by a light tan triangular leather piece to protect the wearer's face.[11] A set of light tan leather reinforcing strips is sewn around the chin-straps, since unlike its predecessor, the harness of the Model 76-85 is not reinforced by an integral leather chin-cup.[12]
An upgraded version of the OR-201 developed and manufactured byHagor Industries Ltd of Kiryat Aryeh,Petah Tikva, east ofTel Aviv, it was introduced in the mid-1990s and marketed as the Hagor IDF Ballistic Military Helmet (IIIA). Unlike its Model 76 and Model 76-85 composite predecessors, the OR-404 shell is entirely constructed fromKevlar capable of withstanding both shrapnel and small-arms fire rounds and weights 1.10 kg.[13] It is fitted with a black cushioned helmet liner of "cradle" type secured to the shell by seven rivets, and features an advanced black nylon adjustable strap system with black quick-release plastic buckle and a set of black leather reinforcing strips sewn around the joints and chin-straps in the harness.[14] Production helmets usually came in a texturedKhaki-Sand finish.[15][16]
Besides Orlite and Hagor, another Israeli private firm that manufactures its own variants of the OR-201 isRabintex Industries Ltd ofHerzeliya nearTel Aviv, which is responsible for the "100-series" modernized helmets – the RBH 101, RBH 102, and RBH 103 models.[17][18][19] They are almost identical to the original Model 76 and Model 76-85 helmets, differing only in some minor details such as the strap system, whose harnesses lack an integral leather chin-cup, and contained a secondary set of synthetic canvas web or nylon reinforcing strips sewn around the joints and the chin-straps.[20][21] The materiel used in their construction also varies according to the model – the lightweight RBH 101 is made of ballistic nylon and weights 750g, the RBH 102 is made of reinforcedfiberglass (GRP) and weights 1.46 kg, and the heavier RBH 103 made entirely ofKevlar that weights 1.50 kg.[22] All these "100-series" models are resistant to impact and shock, and offer protection against shrapnel.[23] Production helmets usually came in a texturedOchre finish, although RBH 103 helmets exported toChile were painted in smoothOlive Drab.[24]
The OR-201 combat helmet made its operational début during the famousEntebbe raid inJuly 1976[25][26] and was introduced the following year intoIsraeli forces, though its massive use by Israeli troops came only during the1978 South Lebanon conflict[27] and the subsequentJune 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon.[28]
During theLebanese Civil War, the pro-Israeli militias in Lebanon, theChristianLebanese Forces (LF)[29][30][31] and theSouth Lebanon Army (SLA)[32] also began to receive the OR-201 Model 76 helmet in substantial quantities to equip their troops in the late 1970s, with captured examples eventually finding their way into the hands of militiamen from other Lebanese factions throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Photographic evidence taken at the time shows the Israeli combat helmet being used by fighters from the ChristianMarada Brigade, theShiaAmal Movement andHezbollah,[33] theDruzePeople's Liberation Army (PLA),[34] theSyrian Social Nationalist Party (SSNP), and even theLebanese Army.[35] The latter inherited a large stock of OR-201 helmets left behind by the LF and SLA militias after 1990 and 2000, being subsequently re-issued to theLebanese Commando Regiment, theCounter-sabotage Regiment, theLebanese Airborne Regiment and theRepublican Guard Brigade.
TheSri Lanka Army adopted in the 1980s-1990s the OR-201 helmet for its infantry, commando and special forces units fighting theLiberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) insurgency during theSri Lankan Civil War (1983–2009).India acquired limited quantities of the OR-201 helmet for the Indian special forces' units.[36][5]
.jpg)
TheSouth African Defence Force (SADF) adopted in 1983 the OR-201 Model 76 combat helmet as the SA M83, which was employed in combat by theParatroopers andRecce Commandos during theSouth African Border War.[37][38][39] Besides South Africa, limited quantities of the OR-201 helmet were also provided to the militaries ofEgypt andGhana.[40]
.jpg)
The OR-201 helmet began to be marketed to foreign recipients of Israeli military aid in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and the firstLatin American country to receive it wasNicaragua in 1977-78.[41][42] With the adoption of Israeli-made small-arms and equipment in 1976, theSomoza Regime ordered substantial quantities of the OR-201 Model 76 to equip the elite and infantry units of itsNicaraguan National Guard. Later during the1978-79 Nicaraguan Revolution, captured OR-201 helmets were also worn bySandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) guerrillas.
Guatemala also received the OR-201 Model 76 for theGuatemalan Army's Parachute Brigade andKaibiles,[43][44] whileEcuador adopted it for itsNaval Infantry Corps troops andPeru acquired Rabintex RBH-103 helmets to equip itsArmy andNaval Infantry units.[45] Due to the arms embargoes imposed by theUnited States in the 1970s and 1980s to several Latin American countries because of the repressive nature of their military regimes, Israel stepped in and supplied since the mid-1970s the OR-201 Model 76 and Model 76-85 combat helmets toMexico,[46]El Salvador,[47]Honduras,[48][49]Colombia,Venezuela,[50]Ecuador,Chile,[51][52][53]Paraguay[54] andUruguay.[55]
.jpg)
TheIrish Army adopted in the early 1980s the OR-201 Model 76-85 inballistic nylon and issued it to infantry units in-country deployed on counter-insurgency operations along the border areas withNorthern Ireland duringThe Troubles[56] or those serving overseas with the Irish contingent of theUnited Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) peace-keeping mission insouthern Lebanon.[57] They were sometimes used with either olive green or camouflage helmet covers.[58] With the adoption of theModern Irish Army camouflage uniform in the early 2000s, the Model 76-85 began to be phased out of service and in 2012 it was finally removed from issue, replaced by another Israeli model, the Rabintex RBH 303IE combat helmet in Kevlar plastic.
ThePortuguese Marine Corps adopted the Rabintex RBH 103 model in the early 1990s, which remains in use.[59]
TheRomanian Land Forces also adopted the OR-201 combat helmet around the mid-1990s, replacing the older steel types dating back to theWorld War II andCold War periods.
 | This sectionneeds additional citations forverification. Please helpimprove this article byadding citations to reliable sources in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.(February 2020) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
Brazil
Colombia
Ecuador
El Salvador: Orlite OR-201 Model 76 helmets used by theSalvadoran Army.[60]
Egypt[61]
Ghana: Used by theGhana Army.[62]
Guatemala: Orlite OR-201 Model 76 and Model 76-85 helmets used by theGuatemalan Army (Parachute Brigade,Kaibiles).[63][64]
Honduras: Orlite OR-201 Model 76 and Model 76-85 helmets used by theHonduran Army (Paratroopers, Special Forces).[65][66][67]
India: Used by the Indian special forces.[68][5]
Israel: All variants used by theIsrael Defense Forces andIsraeli security forces.[69]
Lebanon: Orlite OR-201 Model 76 and Model 76-85 helmets were first used by theLebanese Forces Christian militia (LF), and theSouth Lebanon Army (SLA), an ally of Israel. After the civil war, the helmets confiscated from the LF were transferred toLebanese Armed Forces (Lebanese Commando Regiment,Counter-sabotage Regiment,Lebanese Airborne Regiment,Republican Guard Brigade).
Mexico[70]
Palestine: Used by thePalestinian National Security Forces (PNSF).
Peru: Rabintex RBH-103 helmets used by thePeruvian Armed Forces.[71]
Portugal: Rabintex RBH-103 helmets used by thePortuguese Marine Corps.[72]
Romania: Used by theRomanian Land Forces.
South Africa: Used byParatroopers andRecce Commandos as the M83 made by SAPHI and (initially) by Orlite.[73][74][75]
Sri Lanka
Uruguay: Used by theUruguayan Army Commandos.
Venezuela
Hezbollah: Used captured helmets from the SLA.[76]
Hamas (Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades): Used captured helmets from the IDF and PNSF.Palestine (PLO armed factions in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank): Used captured helmets from the IDF and PNSF..svg)
Amal Movement: Used captured helmets from the Lebanese Forces, SLA, and IDF between 1983–1993.
Ireland: Used by theIrish Defense Forces[77] – Removed from issue in 2012 and replaced by the Rabintex RBH 303IE combat helmet.
Chile: Rabintex RBH-103 helmets used by theChilean Army, alongsideRabintex RBH-303Golfo helmets.[78][79][53]
Nicaragua: Orlite OR-201 Model 76 helmets used by theNational Guard between 1977–79.[80][81][82]
Lebanese Forces: Orlite OR-201 Model 76 helmets provided by Israel used between 1982–1993.
Paraguay: Used by theParaguayan Army – Orlite Model 76-85 removed from issue and replaced since the 1990s by thePASGT.[83].jpg)
People's Liberation Army (Lebanon): Used captured helmets from the Lebanese Forces between 1983–1993.[84]
Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN): captured helmets from the Nicaraguan National Guard used by guerrillas between 1978–79.
Syrian Social Nationalist Party in Lebanon (Eagles of the Whirlwind): Used captured helmets from the Lebanese Forces, SLA, and IDF between 1983–1990.
