"Choc-chip" covers.

[sgtdorango]

4 hours ago, MattS said:

Also note that at least 3 of the guys in that photo have the same red strap on their M1974 dust goggles as Joyner on the cover of "Soldiers".

Whats the story on the red goggle straps?....mike

[tthen]

Another observation in this photo, did anyone notice the soles of the boots on the guy in the foreground? Almost looks like a WW2 style 3 piece sole.

 

[AKC123]

Don’t know if the six color desert m1 covers were ever issued or even made in significant quantities but in this video from Uniform History on YouTube around the 4:18 mark is shown more images of the pattern on the m1 cover being used as a neck guard for sun exposure. Believe it is from the same official army trial photos as the one posted earlier in this thread. 
 

 

[AKC123]

If it’s been shown that they were painting covers tan then I’d say it’s safe to assume the six color covers were few in number and probably only a trials piece. By the time desert camo was needed in large numbers the pasgt was already being issued 

[bigschuss]

2 hours ago, tthen said:

Another observation in this photo, did anyone notice the soles of the boots on the guy in the foreground? Almost looks like a WW2 style 3 piece sole.

 

 

After MattS mentioned the 3 guys with the red straps on the goggles I looked more carefully at the pic and did indeed notice the strange soles on the troops in the foreground.   

[patches]

4 hours ago, bigschuss said:

 

After MattS mentioned the 3 guys with the red straps on the goggles I looked more carefully at the pic and did indeed notice the strange soles on the troops in the foreground.   

Aren't they just PANAMA Treads???

 

[tthen]

Sorry for my comment, I didn't mean to derail what the op started this thread about. If you look at the soldier in the middle without any suspenders, he is wearing what looks like WW2 style jump boots to me.

 

[Cap Camouflage Pattern I]

Until someone digs up any written documentation these photos from the the US Army Natick Soldier System Center made available online by the Digital Commonwealth Organization are the best glimpse into the history of the 6 color desert cover for the M1.

 

The forum has compressed these photos quite severely, so below each image is a link which will allow you to view them in their full resolution, just click on the image and scroll in.

 

May 12th 1972, the earliest photo of a 6 color M1 cover, alongside a solid tan cover which went nowhere. The cover appears pretty lumpy and poorly fitting, but it looks like this is because it is over a liner with no shell and it is actually properly tailored.

https://www.digitalcommonwealth.org/search/commonwealth:nz808487g

 

This photo was taken July 30th 1975, but is a comparison between the old coloration (left) and the new (right) which was made in 1972 to provide better IR camouflage. Since the old pattern is shown with a Mitchell camouflage cover, it can be assumed that no cover exists in the old pattern and so no 6 color cover was made before 1972.

https://www.digitalcommonwealth.org/search/commonwealth:k930g396c

 

These photos from December 9th 1976 give a good up-close color view of the cover as well as shows the practice of using the flaps to protect the neck from the sun thought up by Marines during WWII was given some official consideration.

https://www.digitalcommonwealth.org/search/commonwealth:nz809w84c

https://www.digitalcommonwealth.org/search/commonwealth:nz809w808

 

These photos from January 24th 1977 give the closest view of the 6 color M1 cover, but unfortunately were only taken in B&W.

https://www.digitalcommonwealth.org/search/commonwealth:4f16cg90x

https://www.digitalcommonwealth.org/search/commonwealth:4f16cg66v

https://www.digitalcommonwealth.org/search/commonwealth:4f16cg720

 

These photos from February 15th 1978 are the earliest of a 6 color desert PASGT cover in the earlier design which was made from a single piece of fabric cut and pleated like a skirt. There is also quite a severe misprint on the left side where the fabric was accidentally folded over itself when it was being printing. This actually gives us a nice look into how these covers were constructed as this line would originally have been straight and the curve is the result of the pleats. This is the beginning of the end for the 6 color M1 Cover.

https://www.digitalcommonwealth.org/search/commonwealth:xd07hd25n

https://www.digitalcommonwealth.org/search/commonwealth:xd07hc97p

 

This photo from July 8th 1978 is the final appearance of the 6 color M1 cover.

https://www.digitalcommonwealth.org/search/commonwealth:h415pk32t

 

And on December 6th 1979 we finally get the 4 piece design of the PASGT helmet cover which made it to production, along with a set of Saudi-Arabian ALICE gear and a 6 color desert PASGT vest which was dropped in favor of a much much cheaper 6 color cover for the woodland vest.

https://www.digitalcommonwealth.org/search/commonwealth:nz8089582

 

 

 

 

 

 

[bigschuss]

10 hours ago, patches said:

Aren't they just PANAMA Treads???

 

 

 

These soles highlited in red don't look like they have ANY tread?  They look flat soled to me.  

 

[saxecoburg]

They just look like the soles of corcoran jump boots, which were in very common usage throughout the 1980-90s

[easterneagle87]

Did the MULTINATIONAL FORCE & OBSERVERS in the SINAI ever get or these helmet covers, or did they just wear berets? 

 

They wore the Six Color Choco's way before we went to Desert Shield.   

[Cap Camouflage Pattern I]

 

Those of you with the commercial covers with the bogus markings, looks like now is the time to cash out! Someone clearly has more money than brains. 

[MattS]

LOTS of people right now have more money than brains judging by the threads I see everyday. 

[patches]

Ah I think in Sinai with the issuance of the Coco Chip Covers.