WWII Japanese Navy Shinyo (Sea Quake) Suicide Boat Helmet

An exceptionally rare steel helmet — one of the hardest to find from any theatre of modern warfare. While the Japanese kamikaze pilots are well known for their deadly missions, a far lesser-known but equally desperate tactic was the use of Shinyo (Sea Quake) fast attack boats. These small, single-man craft were packed with explosives and intended to ram directly into Allied shipping. Units were formed from late 1943, with the Navy operating the majority, though some were also used by the Army. Many were stationed on Japanese-held islands, while the largest concentration was held in reserve for the defence of the homeland.

The helmets produced for Shinyo crews were made in very limited numbers, built to an exceptionally high standard that reflected Japan’s long tradition of armour-making. Constructed from a thick, heavy steel shell with a secondary armour plate seamlessly riveted to the front for additional protection, they were finished in a sea grey-blue paint over a chemically blackened surface. The front bore a striking yellow stencilled naval anchor, bordered in fine red hand-painted lines. The liner and chinstrap were far more robust than those found on standard Type 90 helmets, providing maximum survivability for the pilot’s high-speed, high-risk mission — though survival was rarely the goal.

This example retains much of its original finish, with some surface rust bleed through the chemical treatment and light losses to the painted anchor. All three leather liner pads remain, each showing a small split or hole, two retaining their inner canvas cushion pockets while the third is partially missing its pouch (likely through rodent damage). The webbing cradle is complete, though the long chinstrap section has been cut short. The rear of the helmet bears a painted number, likely identifying its assigned boat or crewman.

With very few examples surviving and even fewer appearing on the market, this helmet represents a rare and tangible relic of one of the most extreme naval tactics of the Second World War.

Ref; 87248