Question about WW1 Brodie Helmet?

When it comes to the design of WW1 helmets I personally think that the German Stahlhelm helmet had the most practical design. It design was based on the medieval Sallet and chosen because it provided good protection for the head and neck. So all of this makes me question the design choice for the British Brodie helmet. It was based on medieval kettle hats and was chosen to provide protection to the head and shoulders from vertically falling shrapnel. Yet the design didn't offer protection to the lower part of the head and neck.

Now I understand the British chose the Brodie mainly for financial reasons because it could be manufactured by stamping a single piece of metal wear as the Germans had to make Stahlhelms using a more complex process.

What I'd like to know is what specific reasons went into the decision of choosing the Brodie. Would manufacturing a more complex design really have put too much of a strain on the Allied war effort?

If it was up to me I would have combated the Stalhelm design by having the British choose a metal helmet shaped some what like the pith helmets used during the Anglo-Zulu war since it provided cover to the neck and brow similar to the Stalhelm.
Stahlhelm.jpg


diehards.jpg
 
The latter helmets kind of remind me of the fictional helmets described as used by the "Draka" soldiers in the SM Stirling book "Marching Through Georgia," with the extended back protecting the neck etc.


Edit: I think it's interesting that the American forces adopted German helmet design about four decades after the fact with their "new" helmets about (approx?) 25-30 years ago. I know I'm referring to the WW2 German helmets, though I think they somewhat resemble the WW1 helmets shown here as well. Come to think of it, I think the designs for the German WW1 and WW2 helmets look more than a little similar, making the American adaptation of that design an extra couple decades late. ;)
 
You have to look at how they were actually worn - these have more space inside them than they appear, and were not generally worn flat on the top of the head, but tilted backwards a little and secured with the strap. Protection and coverage were comparable to the German or American design in this position. Posed photographs outside of combat show it worn flat on the top of the head, but combat photographs show otherwise (this is especially seen in WWII photographs, which more commonly showed actual combat conditions than WWI photographs had done).

The Stahlhelm is certainly a better design, but as you say, harder and costlier to manufacture - and the ease of manufacture was preferred to the marginal increase in protection. The WW2 replacement Mk. III 'Turtle' helmet was more optimised for this style of wearing it, without losing the advantage of being easy to manufacture. Ultimately, of course, all modernised militaries have adopted something like the Stahlhelm design; but modern, professional militaries tend to, up to a point, design their equipment to squeeze as much advantage as they can get out of it within reason.
 
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