UH-1: USMC Vietnam Skin Pack 1.3a

This is a collection of seven skins representing US Marine Corps squadrons and spanning the length of the Vietnam War. The squadrons included are:

• VMO-2
  
• VMO-3 (which became HML-367)
  
• VMO-6
  
• HML-167
  

I have included two versions of HML-367: a 1968 version (when VMO-3 was redesignated as HML-367) and a 1975 version that flew in Operation: Frequent Wind, the evacuation of Saigon. Additionally, HML-167 is represented by modexes TV-29 and TV-30.

Most reference imagery was taken from http://vietnam-hueys...Corps Hueys.htm

Skinner's Philosophy:

I chose to model the skins as "modern aircraft with nostalgic patterns", as opposed to actual Vietnam era skins. This is because the UH-1H (and not the UH-1E) is modeled, and slso because the 3D models used for the aircrew utilize more modern flight gear. The significance of this is that I have chosen to skin the aircrew in contemporary flight uniforms, including MARPAT body armor for the door gunners. I felt that this was more fitting in a setting that involves modern orders of battle, and is also less of an immersion-killer than seeing Vietnam era "uniforms" on clearly modern equipment.

A note about the Crew Chief & Door Gunner:

Since enlisted US troops don't wear rank/rate insignia on flightsuits, their rank/rate is displayed on their nametag. Since there are no specific nametag textures for the crew chief/door gunner texture, I have added a nametag to the velcro on the chest armor (as is standard practice).

In choosing names for the texture, I opted for US servicemembers who received the Medal of Honor. CPL Jason Dunham was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor in the Global War on Terror, and with the exception VMO-6 (represented by GySgt Leroy Paulson, who was the actual crew chief), represents the Unites States Marine Corps in these skins. The following is his Medal of Honor citation:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as Rifle Squad Leader, 4th Platoon, Company K, Third Battalion, Seventh Marines (Reinforced), Regimental Combat Team 7, First Marine Division (Reinforced), on 14 April 2004. Corporal Dunham's squad was conducting a reconnaissance mission in the town of Karabilah, Iraq, when they heard rocket-propelled grenade and small arms fire erupt approximately two kilometers to the west. Corporal Dunham led his Combined Anti-Armor Team towards the engagement to provide fire support to their Battalion Commander's convoy, which had been ambushed as it was traveling to Camp Husaybah. As Corporal Dunham and his Marines advanced, they quickly began to receive enemy fire. Corporal Dunham ordered his squad to dismount their vehicles and led one of his fire teams on foot several blocks south of the ambushed convoy. Discovering seven Iraqi vehicles in a column attempting to depart, Corporal Dunham and his team stopped the vehicles to search them for weapons. As they approached the vehicles, an insurgent leaped out and attacked Corporal Dunham. Corporal Dunham wrestled the insurgent to the ground and in the ensuing struggle saw the insurgent release a grenade. Corporal Dunham immediately alerted his fellow Marines to the threat. Aware of the imminent danger and without hesitation, Corporal Dunham covered the grenade with his helmet and body, bearing the brunt of the explosion and shielding his Marines from the blast. In an ultimate and selfless act of bravery in which he was mortally wounded, he saved the lives of at least two fellow Marines. By his undaunted courage, intrepid fighting spirit, and unwavering devotion to duty, Corporal Dunham gallantly gave his life for his country, thereby reflecting great credit upon himself and upholding the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.

CPL Dunham is also the namesake of the USS Jason Dunham (DDG-109), the Marine Corps Security Force barracks in Kings Bay, GA, and Crucible stations at both MCRD Parris Island and MCRD San Diego.

Updating from Version 1.04 or earlier:

DCS World 1.2.7 changes the pilot and gunner texture files, so the textures have been updated accordingly in this file. In order to clear out the obsolete files, go to the individual folders and remove the following files:

• Gunner_UH1_*.dds
  
• Pilot_UH1_USMC.dds
  

Installation:

Copy the folders to your Liveries\uh-1h folder (either in DCS World\Bazar or Saved Games\DCS).

Optional:

The release of DCS World 1.2.4 added the ability to add texture paths using the file "autoexec.cfg" in your Saved Games\DCS\Config folder. This will allow you to save hard drive space as long as the skin filenames are unique. My skins support this, so any DDS file with the same name will be identical.

In order to enable this feature, add the following line to autoexec.cfg (be sure to create the file if it doesn't exist):

table.insert(options.graphics.VFSTexturePaths, "C:/Users/<username>/Saved Games/DCS/Textures")

You can use any path (even a different drive), but you must use forward slashes for your path. Backslashes won't work here.

Then, you can move all of the DDS files from each of the skin folders to this new folder you've added to your path. Allowing overwrites is not a problem, as I use unique names for each file. Finally, be sure to go into each description.lua file and change all "false" entries to "true."

Special thanks to upuaut for assistance with the more "exotic" material names, as well as the assistance with custom rotor colors.

You are free to use any of the textures (e.g. USMC door gunner) in other skins or projects as long as proper credit is provided in the readme file.

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