So, yesterday was a discussion about the Adrian and Brodie helmet during WW1. It made me thinking: which one is better ? Let's see considering four points: Production, Weight, Blast protection and Ballistic protection.

Starting with an easy one: production. The Adrian helmet required SEVENTY operations in manufacture. Made of 4 pieces, it was a complicated and expensive helmet to manufacture. A Brodie could be made in a single draw of a double-action press.

So, regarding production, the Brodie was simply cheaper, simpler, easier to adapt for mass-production than the Adrian.

Brodie 1 - 0 Adrian.

Now, weight. Not to be under-estimated: a lighter helmet will reduce combat-fatigue, especially during protracted periods of intense action. The Adrian weights around 700 grammes, the Brodie around 1 kilo.

Brodie 1 - 1 Adrian

Then, blast protection. I won't go in detail, but a recent studie concluded that, not only WW1 helmets were as good, or better than modern helmets regarding overhead blast protection, but that the Adrian "provided superior blast protection at the crown of the head" than others.

You can read the study here: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0228802
Meanwhile, it's Brodie 1 - 2 Adrian !

Last, ballistic protection. Several experiments were done. With a automatic revolver at 10 feet, and a bullet weighting 230 grains, it take a muzzle velocity of 450 foot/seconds to perforate an Adrian, and 700 f/s for the Brodie !

Another test show that you need a pressure of 756 pounds to perforated a Adrian with a steel punch, but 1578 pounds for a Brodie ! The Brodie is two time more resistant than the Adrian.

Brodie 2 - 2 Adrian

So, it's a draw. But as a Frenchman, I can't accept a simple draw ! So I'm adding another point: Aesthetic !

I don't think I need to make my point on this one. No debat. Adrian clearly winning !

Brodie 2 - 3 Adrian

Vive la France !

Tagging those who were discussing the subject yesterday: @6diddy6 @BuddNicholas @MTimperley @ObjectiveDDay