WWII Imperial Japanese IJN Navy M44 Steel Shin-Yo Helmet for Sale

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WWII Imperial Japanese IJN Navy M44 Steel Shin-Yo Helmet For Sale

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WWII Imperial Japanese IJN Navy M44 Steel Shin-Yo Helmet:
$8995.00

This is an incredibly rare WWII Imperial Japanese Navy reinforced steel helmet worn by Shin-Yo special-attack motorboat crews. The Shin-Yo, meaning “Sea Quake,” was a small, high-speed explosive motorboat developed by the Imperial Japanese Navy as part of its wider Special Attack Units program. The most common version was operated by a single pilot and carried a bow-mounted explosive charge intended to detonate upon impact with an Allied vessel or through manual activation. Approximately 6,197 Shin-Yo boats were produced for the Imperial Japanese Navy, with units deployed throughout the Philippines, Okinawa, Formosa and the Japanese Home Islands.Only around 6200 of these boats were ever produced, making these helmet s incredibly scarce. Its unusually heavy construction and additional frontal armor plate would have provided increased protection to a boat operator exposed above the cockpit while approaching an enemy vessel. The helmet retains much of its original battleship-gray painted finish, with approximately 50% of the original Imperial Japanese Navy anchor insignia remaining at the front. Scattered oxidation, paint loss and exterior scuffing are present throughout, as shown.An additional steel armor plate has been carefully fitted to the front of the shell, giving the helmet substantially greater frontal protection and making it noticeably front-heavy. The rear brim is stamped 0196. No size marking is visible.These helmets are only ever seen in museum collections, don’t miss out on this rare opportunity to find one on the market. Related Items: