PRK-37 Helmet Shell
Assembly
About 1978, the
U.S. Navy began using the PRK-37/P Helmet Shell as the basis for
nearly all of its non-helicopter flight helmets. Collectors, dealers
and a few authors have misidentified or failed to identify the variations
of the PRK-37/P. The following information is several years old
and does not take into account recent developments for U.S. Navy
flight helmets. But, should clear up some of the mystery surrounding
the PRK-37 Helmet shell. The information contained herein comes
from NAVAIR 13-1-6.7 Chapter 12 (dated 1990).
For starters, the PRK-37 helmet shell is listed as a Lightweight
version of the APH-6 series helmet. The manual goes on to explain
how various components are attached to the basic shell assembly
to get the desired configuration (and there are a bunch). The parts
of interest:
Visor Assembly Parts-
- EEK-3/P
Laser Protective Visor Assembly. Looks like the standard
dual visor assembly only has the Green colored laser protective
visor instead of the tinted visor.
- EEK-4A/P
Single visor Assembly. Standard Navy single visor assembly.
- PRU-36/P
Dual Visor Assembly. Side actuated standard dual visor
assembly.
- VTAS
Dual Visor Assembly. Visual target Acquisition
System (VTAS)
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Liner
Assembly Parts- |
- PRU-39/P
or 39A/P Form fit Liner. Take
a cast of the wearers head and make a liner off of it,
custom fit.
- PRK-40/P
Liner Assembly. Two piece Styrofoam liner used with sizing
pads
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Communications
Headset Assembly- |
- The
standard Navy communications setup with CX-4708A/AIC
cable with two H87B earphones, with the
U-172/U connector and MK-634/AIC
Clip.
- AM-3597C/A
Boom Microphone amplifier and mounting bracket. Used helmets
that use the M-87/AIC boom microphone
which require amplification.
- CX-13164/A
communications cable is used with the AM-3597C/A
Boom Microphone amplifier and mounting bracket. This cable
adapts the boom mic and amplifier to the OV-10 aircraft.
- CX-13155/A
communications cable. Slight variation of the
CX-13164/A. It is also used with the AM-3597C/A
Boom Microphone amplifier and mounting bracket. This cable
adapts the boom mic and amplifier to non-fighter type
aircraft (S-2, E-2A, EA-3 etc.)
- CX-4832A/AR
Communications Cable. Adapts the flight helmet to communications
equipment on the P-3A/B/C aircraft. CX-13128/A
Communications Cable. Adapts the flight helmet to communications
equipment on the S-3 aircraft.
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The
Finished Units- |
HGU-33/P:
PRK-37/P shell, EEK-4A/P single visor, PRU-39 Form fit liner
and Headset. Officially for use in aircraft where an oxygen
mask is used exclusively.
HGU-34/P: PRK-37/P shell, EEK-4A/P
single visor, PRK-40 liner assembly, and Headset. Officially
for use in aircraft where an oxygen mask is used exclusively
and the guy didn't have time to get a cast of his head made.
The only difference between a -33 and -34 is the liner. It
gets better.
HGU-43/P: PRK-37/P shell, EEK-3/P
laser protective dual visor, PRU-39 Form fit liner and Headset.
For use in A-6 TRAM aircraft. (HGU-33/P with a laser protective
dual visor).
HGU-44/P: Same as the HGU-43/P
only use the PRU-36/P dual visor or same as the HGU-33/P only
with the PRU-36/P visor.
HGU-45/P: Same as the HGU-44/P
only a boom microphone is attached, and the CX-13164/A communications
cable is used with the AM-3597C/A Boom Microphone amplifier
and mounting bracket. This helmet is used in the OV-10A aircraft
when both an oxygen mask and boom microphone is used.
HGU-45A/P: Same as the HGU-45/P
only swap the PRU-36/P for an EEK-3/P laser protective dual
visor assembly for use in OV-10D aircraft.
HGU-46/P: PRK-37/P shell, VTAS
Dual visor assembly, PRU-39 Form fit liner and Headset. Used
in F-4 aircraft equipped with Visual target acquisition system.
HGU-47(V1): PRK-37/P shell, EEK-4A/P
single visor, PRK-40 liner assembly, and Headset boom microphone
is attached, and the CX-13155/A communications cable is used
with the AM-3597C/A Boom Microphone amplifier and mounting
bracket. Used by pilot, co-pilot and crew-members on the following
aircraft: S-2, E-2 A/B/C TE-A2, KA-3B, TA-3B, T-28B/C.
HGU-47(V2): PRK-37/P shell, EEK-4A/P
single visor, PRK-40 liner assembly, and Headset boom microphone
is attached, and the CX-13155/A communications cable is used.
No amplifier is used. Used by pilot, co-pilot and crew-members
on the following aircraft: C-1A , C-2A.
HGU-47(V3): PRK-37/P shell, EEK-4A/P
single visor, PRK-40 liner assembly, and Headset boom microphone
is attached, and the CX-13164/A communications cable is used.
No amplifier is used and the cable is the CX-13164/A instead
of the CX-13155/A. Used on the T-34 Aircraft.
HGU-47(V4): PRK-37/P shell, EEK-4A/P
single visor, PRK-40 liner assembly, and Headset boom microphone
is attached, and the CX-4832A/AR communications cable is used
on P-3 A/B/C.
HGU-49: PRK-37/P shell, EEK-4A/P
single visor, PRU-39 Form fit liner, standard Headset and
boom microphone is attached. The CX-13128/A communications
cable is used with the AM-3597C/A Boom Microphone amplifier
Used in the S-3 aircraft.
HGU-50: PRK-37/P
shell, EEK-4A/P single visor, PRU-39 Form fit liner. Standard
headset wiring is replaced with the 20039 Communication cable.
The helmet is equipped with a boom microphone and two CX-13154/A
communications cables are used with the AM-3597C/A Boom Microphone
amplifier. The helmet is used in the aft stations on EA-3B
aircraft.
HGU-52: PRK-37/P shell, EEK-4A/P
single visor, PRU-39 Form fit liner and standard headset.
The helmet is equipped with a boom microphone and the CX-13155/A
communications cable used with the AM-3597C/A Boom Microphone
amplifier. The helmet is used on E-2 and A-3 type aircraft. |
Special
thanks to Steve Norris for allowing Flighthelmet.com to reprint
this great article.
Reprinted
with permission. Copyright 1997 Steve Norris. No reproduction,
partial or whole, without written express permission.
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