More so, when dealing with the old-school shakos, bearskins, kepis, etc – the hat’s not bolted to the guy’s cranium, so depending on the material, what you’d do is crush/tear the hat and the wearer would be more incapacitaded by not being able to see from messed-up headgear now twisted around on his head; if the chinstrap is properly fastened, that type of move would have the attachment buttons break or the strap slip off the chin anyway before it did harm to the wearer – the arrangement it was not designed to hold the weight of the soldier, but to keep the wind from knocking off the hat.
Really. If you’re getting* that *close in a sneak attack then don’t think of maybe killing him with his own hat, plan on reliably killing him with your knife or a proper garrote.
Based on my personal experience, a helmet with the chinstraps undone is just a really awkward hat that will fall off your head if you turn to look at anything. I can’t imagine that the old WWI helmets were significantly different in this regard. A helmet that does not stay on your head is pretty much worthless.
As far as the old steel pot goes, I found that if the webbing inside the liner is properly adjusted, the helmet won’t go flying off if you turn your head suddenly. I"m sure the new ones are lighter, are more comfortable, and offer more protection, but with the old steel pots, you could dig a hole, bail out a fighting hole, rinse out your dainties, warm some shaving water, or heat up a couple cans of c-rats.
Yeah, evidently all the new ones can do is stop a bullet if you’re having a decent day (On a *good *day, nobody would be taking shots at your head, natch.:D)
Just to revive this thing - again - and a possible explanation on the reason the chin strap is worn that way - I believe it dates back to the days of active swordplay, and the straps helped protect the cheeks from saber slashes.
