Helmets vs Hats

Medieval armour was not suited to deal with firearms in the way that later WW1 era helmets were, and those designs did not exist in the era of pike and shot.

>>2549724
Helmets phased out with guns
Helmets phased back in with artillery

That's all, simple

Because in that period there was nothing that could stop a head wound from that which could wound the head, and in any case you'd end up being shot in the chest or the legs, the big parts, more than you would the head.
Shrapnel became a big issue because explosives + being in a trench meant most threats, assuming you weren't dumb enough to stick your head up, came from above, like shrapnel.

>>2549731
Artillery was around for exactly the same amount of time guns were though

>>2549742
Artillery of the 1st word war was more explosive, in greater amounts, traveled at a greater angle, and some air burst shells were available. And again, threats to a soldier came mostly from above, as opposed to in front.

>>2549760
and even modern area helemts arent to protect from bullets either, its to protect the head from shrapnel, and reduce injury from collisons with walls, debris, doorways and such

>>2549742
>>2549742
Tell me about widespread effective usage of massed HE artillery in the 1700s and 1800s anon

>>2549773
Not those anons but mortars would fit the bill. However HE-type rounds aren't as important as airburst rounds and a reliable one of those didn't come around until the radio did.

>>2549769
Are ground pounders really that retarded they need helmets to keep them from bumping their heads into walls?

>>2549783
Mortars had very little effect on overall casualties during that period

>>2549795
if some sort of concussion causes one to lose balance, since there's a lot of concussion in battlefields, it's better to hit the wall with a helmet than without.