Military Uniforms from the OTU

[Mithras]

I have no wish to argue what OTU is; only to find a set of uniforms that I can happily say 'yes, this is a good approximation of a 3i uniform'. For this I have settled on the criteria, that if it appears more than once (say from one version to the next) I'll take it as 'canon'. That is, canon for my purposes!

I'm not after 'truth', just some pictures to show players. I may even get felt pens out and colour them in, I may even draw up proper front views of each uniform.

Scouts are taken care of in First In, or World Builders Handbook. Uniform is drawn in detail in those books.

Navy, Marines and Army ... well, I've found these drawings..... what do you think?

 

[Mithras]

I'd like to think that the second group does show an imperial army uniform, with broad stripe on the right side with sunburst. Rank is akin to US captain on the closure, branch insignia on the collar. Regimental patch on the right shoulder, unit patch on left.

Army sunbursts are black, though, so what colour the stripe (branch colour?) and uniform?

I'd like to think that the first group are navy/marines, and that they share a common uniform. with a sunburst in a circle on left shoulder, piping down the middle of the sleeve (branch colour?), epaulettes and high collar.

The navy officer (he is giving a briefing) has no pockets and extra diagonal seams.

The guy awarding medals has rank on his collar, and duplicated on his cuff. It is a pips method (like Star Trek).

Colours of uniforms? The navy officer looks white, but my preference is grey, dark blue or black.

 

[Mithras]

I forgot about these navy enlisted guys from Arrival Vengeance, set onboard an Azhanti High Lightning (Mega Traveller). As you see, they very very closely resemble the navy officer in the very first picture, complete with 'flash' over his shoulder starburst, and diagonal seams on his chest. He also has those two small round badges? on his upper chest. This certainly looks like the imperial navy uniform.

EDIT: Perhaps the 'officer' has a white/cream or light grey uniform, whilst the enlisted men wear darker grey or other colour uniforms?

 

[snapshotbygdw]

Steve Jackson Games did some traveller approved 15mm cardboard heroes that included some imperial forces in color, don't know if they will have enough detail but there is YouTube video on my channel showing all character images search "traveller roleplaying" or "snapshotbygdw"

 

[Hemdian]

Years ago I did this for the IN IMTU ... though quite a few disagree with my colour choice. (There are links there for IN insignia, ranks and medals.)

But I must admit to liking the vertical stripe and other details on the Marine Guard uniform above.

 

[sabredog]

The Guard looks good...more of a dress uniform but the Star Wars rebel helmet kills it in my book.

 

[Mithras]

Yeah it is a direct copy isn't it? Perhaps its an attempt to find a helmet shape reminiscent of the imperial marine 'tear drop' shape used in the battle dress, to keep things consistent???

 

[Andrew Boulton]

This is my rough approximation of the Marine Guard:

 

[Beech]

Looks great Andrew, what is that rendered in?

 

[Xerxeskingofking]

that....is cool. and i find that you have made the helmet look a lot less stupid and looking like somthing i can just about see someone wearing

 

[Mithras]

Very nice! So you take the 'marine guard' at face value and are using that uniform as a marine standard?

That would make the GURPS soldiers army, I suppose. Unless ... its a dress uniform, the way that Andrew's rendered it certainly looks like a ceremonial guard uniform, fitting 'marine guard' as a title. The marines could still use the duty uniforms depicted in GURPS Ground Forces I suppose.

 

[Andrew Boulton]

It's all fairly standard Poser stuff, rendered in Cinema 4D. I just tweaked the textures.

 

[Andrew Boulton]

Very nice! So you take the 'marine guard' at face value and are using that uniform as a marine standard?

That would make the GURPS soldiers army, I suppose. Unless ... its a dress uniform, the way that Andrew's rendered it certainly looks like a ceremonial guard uniform, fitting 'marine guard' as a title. The marines could still use the duty uniforms depicted in GURPS Ground Forces I suppose.

It's semi-ceremonial - the kind of stuff they'd wear while patrolling a Starport. Smart, but not excessive.

I like the stripe - some pics show it on ships, too, so I expect the Navy uniforms have it.

 

[dean]

that....is cool. and i find that you have made the helmet look a lot less stupid and looking like somthing i can just about see someone wearing

I am pretty sure someone in the USMC is not asked if they think they will ook good in a given piece of equipment they are required to use/wear.

However, with the way technology is going even on today's combat helmets, I'd envision ones in the future as being full-face for the electronic enhancements that would go into them. A ceremonial one might have an open chinstrap.

 

[sabredog]

I am pretty sure someone in the USMC is not asked if they think they will ook good in a given piece of equipment they are required to use/wear.

Not so much "looking good", but they would definitely have something to say about the practicality of the helmet in combat. Can you imagine trying to fire prone while wearing something like that rebel helmet? With a pack on your back? Or trying to negotiate close quarters? For full-dress fancy affairs, maybe it'd be ok - but not for combat.

Boulton's is more practical and has better neck coverage. Now if you want the Star Wars look, then just make the overhangs flexible.

 

[Vile]

I am pretty sure someone in the USMC is asked if they think they will look good in a given piece of equipment they are required to use/wear.

I think I spotted a typo. Never underestimate the power of fashion!

 

[Xerxeskingofking]

I am pretty sure someone in the USMC is not asked if they think they will ook good in a given piece of equipment they are required to use/wear.

However, with the way technology is going even on today's combat helmets, I'd envision ones in the future as being full-face for the electronic enhancements that would go into them. A ceremonial one might have an open chinstrap.

point the first: the original helmet was simply impractical, and anz combat soldier would rather have gone bare-headed that wear somthing like that, i know i would, speaking as a soldier. and troops have skimped on things ever since Thog the cavmen turned up to the hunt with no club becuase he couldn´t be bothered to drag it after the prey.


point the second: aggreed. i can see some sort of eye peice being issued, though not as part of the helmet, rather, i see the helmet being designed to be worn over a headset with mic, HUD and ear piece, like modern ones are.

that way, if the helmet gets damaged, then you can replaced it without chucking out all that expensive gear each time a RPG goes off near your head.

 

[dean]

I think I spotted a typo. Never underestimate the power of fashion!

It appears I have indeed misconstrued the original quoted commenter.

Apologies.

And, a full-face modular helmet seems reasonable. Can take off the faceplate when not needed (guard duty), and can replace components due to damage or upgrades as needed.

I think that there'd be a clear material able to stop bullets by 3I times; wearing it against the face as an eyepiece would not be the best approach, as that would allow direct transmission of the forces to the eye. Bad at best. As a visored part of the helmet, sure. Might only be able to take one shot, but it'd say your life.

 

[Dragoner]

Helmets with a large overhang would be neck breaking if hit; or if loose, the force of the impact would be transfered to the head as the overhang slammed down. IMTU helmets have a holographic HUD in their face plates similar to how combat aircraft do it today.

 

[aramis]

Helmets with a large overhang would be neck breaking if hit; or if loose, the force of the impact would be transfered to the head as the overhang slammed down.

Not really.

A properly fitted helmet ALWAYS transfers energy to the head, and/or the shoulders. Usually lengthening the time (and thus reducing the energy per unit time, and spreading it out a lot (thus reducing the energy per unit area.)

And, having worn some helmets that rested on my shoulders, they were not an issue in simulated melee... and having taken some head hits that physically moved my body, it didn't damage the neck. It transferred a lot to the shoulder.