UNIFORMS AND INSIGNIA OF THE U. S. NAVY
The uniforms of the officers and enlisted men of the United States Navy
are made of dark blue cloth for wear in cold or temperate weather and
of white duck for wear in hot or tropical weather.
U. S. NAVAL OFFICERS’ UNIFORMS
[Illustration: _Copyright, G. V. Buck, Washington, D. C._
Admiral William S. Benson
Chief of Naval Operations, United States Navy]
Commissioned officers of the Navy are required to have complete outfits
of special full dress, evening dress, full dress, undress, blue service
dress and white service dress uniforms; the occasions upon which the
various uniforms are required to be worn by officers of the Navy and
the Marine Corps being given in the official regulations as follows:
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OCCASION. | UNIFORM.
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1. State occasions, at home or abroad. | NAVY.—Special
2. Receiving or being received by the | full dress, or white
President, an ex-President, the | special full dress.
Vice President, or the Secretary | MARINE CORPS.—
of the Navy of the United States, | Special full dress
or the sovereign, chief executive | (with full dress
or ruler of any country, or any | trousers, if in
member of a royal family, or an | line with troops),
ambassador of the United States or | or white special
of any country, at home or abroad. | full dress.
3. At ceremonies, solemnities, or |
entertainments, when desirable |
to do special honor to the occasion. |
4. At general inspection on the first |
Saturday in the month. In inclement |
weather, service dress may be |
prescribed. |
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5. First visits to officers of flag rank, | NAVY.—Full
or exchanging visits of ceremony | dress, or white
with foreign officials. | full dress.
6. Ceremonies, solemnities, or | MARINE CORPS.—
entertainments where dress uniform | Special full dress
is not sufficient. | (with full dress
| trousers, if in
| line with troops),
| or white full dress.
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7. Reception of— | NAVY.—Dress,
(a) Assistant Secretary of the Navy. | or white dress.
(b) Member of the President’s Cabinet | MARINE CORPS.—
other than the Secretary of the | Special full dress
Navy. | (with full dress
(c) Chief Justice of the United States.| trousers, if in
(d) Governor general of islands or | line with troops),
groups of islands occupied by | or white undress.
the United States, visiting a |
ship or station officially, |
within the waters or limits of |
his government. |
(e) Governor of one of the States or |
Territories of the United States,|
visiting a ship or station within|
the waters or limits of his |
government. |
(f) President of the Senate. |
(g) Speaker of the House of |
Representatives. |
(h) Committee of Congress. |
(i) Envoy extraordinary and minister |
plenipotentiary, minister |
resident, or other diplomatic |
representative of or above the |
rank of chargé d’affaires, |
within the waters of the nation |
to which he is accredited. |
(j) Flag officer going aboard his |
flagship to assume command; also |
when he relinquishes command. |
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8. First visit in port to commanding | NAVY.—Dress,
officers, and ordinary occasions | or white dress.
of duty and ceremony on shore. | MARINE CORPS.—
9. At Saturday morning inspection, | Special full dress
except the first in the month. | (with full dress
In inclement or hot weather, | trousers, if in
service dress or white service | line with troops),
dress may be prescribed, in either | or white undress.
case with swords. |
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10. Reporting for duty. | NAVY.—Undress,
| or white undress.
| MARINE CORPS.—
| Undress, or white
| undress.
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11. Serving as member of a general | NAVY.—Undress,
court-martial, court of inquiry, | or white undress.
examining or retiring board. | MARINE CORPS.—
| Undress, or white
| undress, or field
| dress.
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[Illustration: U. S. Naval officers’ special full dress uniform
Gunner Rear Admiral]
[Illustration: U. S. Naval officer. Full dress uniform
_Rank:_ Lieutenant, indicated by the stripes on the sleeve; the tops of
the epaulets also bear the insignia of rank.
_Corps:_ The Line of the Navy, indicated by the star on the sleeve.]
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OCCASION. | UNIFORM.
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12. Serving as member of a summary | NAVY AND MARINE
court-martial. | CORPS.—The
| uniform of the day
| with side arms.
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13. Serving as judge advocate of a general | NAVY AND MARINE
court-martial, or court of inquiry, | CORPS.—The
recorder of a summary court-martial, | uniform of the day.
deck court officer, member of a board|
other than an examining or retiring |
board, witness before a court or |
board, counsel for the accused. |
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14. Upon occasions of special ceremony, | NAVY.—Undress with
by officers on duty with enlisted | leggings, or white
men under arms on shore, when the | undress with
uniform prescribed for other officers| leggings.
is special full dress or full dress. | MARINE CORPS.—Full
| dress, or white
| undress.
| (No leggings ever
| to be worn with
| full dress.)
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15. Visiting foreign officers other than | NAVY.—Undress,
commanding officers. | or white undress,
16. At informal daytime receptions, to | without swords.
which officers are invited in their | MARINE CORPS.—
official capacity, when frock coats | Undress or white
are appropriate. | undress, without
| swords.
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17. At all times not otherwise provided | NAVY.—Service
for. | dress (or white
| service dress when
| suitable).
| MARINE CORPS.—
| Undress (or white
| undress when
| suitable) without
| swords.
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18. On duty with enlisted men under arms | NAVY.—Service
ashore, except as specified in | dress, blue or white,
No. 14. | as prescribed, and
| leggings, with swords
| (or revolvers or
| both).
| MARINE CORPS.—
| Undress, or field
| dress, with or
| without leggings, as
| prescribed; revolvers
| also if prescribed.
-------------------------------------------+-----------------------
19. When prescribed by the senior officer | NAVY.—White
present. | service dress with
20. At the option of and under restrictions| blue trousers.
imposed by the commanding officer, | MARINE CORPS.—
when the uniform of the day is white | White undress with
service dress; to be worn only by | blue undress
officers on board their own ship, | trousers,
or at exercise in boats. | without swords.
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21. Ceremonies in the evening to which | NAVY.—Evening
officers are invited in their | full dress.
official capacity, such as public | MARINE CORPS.—
balls, dinners, and evening | Special full dress
receptions. In hot weather, and in | or mess dress.
other circumstances where |
appropriate, dinner dress may be |
prescribed. |
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22. At informal evening occasions to which | NAVY.—Evening dress.
officers are invited in their |
official capacity. In hot weather, | MARINE CORPS.—
or in other circumstances where | Mess dress.
appropriate, mess dress may be |
prescribed. |
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[Illustration: _Photo by Harris & Ewing, Washington, D. C._
U. S. Naval officer. Blue service uniform
_Rank:_ Lieutenant Commander, shown by the gold leaf on the collar and
the stripes on the sleeve.
_Corps:_ Line of the Navy, shown by the anchor on the collar and the
star on the sleeve.]
[Illustration: _Photo by G. V. Buck, Washington, D. C._
U. S. Naval officer. White service uniform
_Rank:_ Lieutenant Junior Grade, indicated by the stripes on the
shoulder marks.
_Corps:_ The Line of the Navy, indicated by the stars on the shoulder
marks.]
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OCCASION. | UNIFORM.
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23. On occasions of ceremony, as in | NAVY.—Dinner
No. 19 or in hot weather and other | dress.
circumstances where appropriate, | MARINE CORPS.—
as a substitute for Uniform C. | Mess dress, with
| white mess jacket.
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24. On ordinary social occasions in the | NAVY.—Mess
evening to which officers are invited| dress.
in their official capacity, and where| MARINE CORPS.—
hot weather and other circumstances | Mess dress, with white
make it appropriate. | mess jacket.
25. When authorized under No. 21 by the | White trousers may be
commanding officer. | prescribed for both
| Navy and Marine Corps.
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In time of war the uniform prescribed for all ordinary occasions of
duty is service dress, blue or white depending upon the temperature and
weather.
_The special full dress_ uniform consists of the cocked hat, a double
breasted coat with tails at the back only as is the case in the
ordinary civilian evening dress coat, trousers with gold stripes down
the outer leg seams, black shoes, gold epaulets and the sword carried
from a belt and slings of black cloth having gold stripes through it.
_The full dress_ uniform consists of the same trousers, cocked hat,
sword and belt as for special full dress, with a double-breasted frock
coat with a rolling collar and lapels, and gold epaulets.
_The evening dress uniform_ consists of a dark blue cloth evening
dress coat and a white waistcoat cut after the prevailing style for
civilian evening dress but fitted with gilt navy buttons, plain dark
blue trousers, black patent leather shoes and the blue or white cap.
Epaulets and full dress trousers (with the gold stripes on them) may be
prescribed, in which case the uniform is known as _evening full dress_
and the cocked hat is worn with it. For wear in hot weather a _mess
jacket_ of white is prescribed, cut after the fashion of the evening
dress coat but without tails. The shoulder marks are worn with the mess
jacket to indicate corps and rank, and either white or blue trousers
may be worn with it.
_The undress_ uniform consists of the frock coat without epaulets,
plain dark blue or white trousers, the blue or white undress cap, black
shoes and the sword carried from a black leather belt and slings.
_The blue service dress_ uniform consists of a dark blue single
breasted coat extending to about eight inches below the waist, with
standing collar, buttoned up the front with the buttons concealed by a
fly-front, and trimmed around the collar, down the front, around the
bottom and up the side seams of the back with one and a quarter inch
black mohair braid, the undress cap, plain dark blue trousers and black
shoes. The white cap and white trousers are sometimes worn with the
blue service dress coat.
_The white service dress_ uniform consists of a single-breasted white
duck coat extending to about eight inches below the waist, with
standing collar, buttoned up the front with five large size gilt navy
buttons, with a patch pocket on each breast closed by a flap at the
top buttoned by a small size gilt navy button, without braid trimming,
and having on each shoulder a shoulder strap (known in the service as
a “shoulder mark”) about five inches long and two and a quarter inches
wide bearing the insignia which indicates the corps or branch of the
Navy to which the wearer belongs and his rank as an officer, plain
white trousers, white cap and white shoes.
[Illustration: _Photo by G. V. Buck, Washington, D. C._
U. S. Navy. Officer in overcoat
_Rank:_ Lieutenant, indicated by the stripes on the shoulder marks and
on the sleeves]
[Illustration: U. S. Naval officers’ cocked hats and caps
1. Cocked hat, commissioned officers below Flag rank.
2. White cap, officers below rank of Commander.
3. Cocked hat, Flag officers.
4. Flag Officers’ cap.
5. Cap, Captain and Commander.
6. Cap, Staff Officers of Flag rank.
7. Staff Officers, rank of Captain and Commander.
8. Chaplain, rank of Captain and Commander.
9. Cap of officers below rank of Commander.
10. Cap, Warrant Officers.
11. Tropical helmet (not worn at present).]
_The winter service aviation uniform_ consists of a cap, coat, breeches
and spiral wrap puttees of forestry-green woolen cloth, and tan leather
shoes. The cap is exactly the same design and style as the white
service cap except that the material of the crown above the black
mohair band is of forestry-green cloth. The coat is the same as the
white service uniform coat except that the material is forestry-green
cloth. Standard navy gilt buttons are worn on this coat and the rank is
shown by shoulder marks the same as those worn with the white service
coat.
[Illustration: NAVAL AVIATION CORPS INSIGNIA]
The Naval Aviation Corps insignia consist of a vertical foul
anchor surcharged with a shield of the United States with eagle’s
wings extending to the right and left of it as shown in the above
illustration. These insignia are made of gilt metal and are worn upon
the left breast by all Aviators in the Naval Service, that is by
all officers and enlisted men of the Navy and Marine Corps who have
qualified as Aviators and are detailed to duty with the Naval Aviation
Corps.
_The summer service flying uniform_ for officers of the Navy detailed
for aviation duty and for officers of the Naval Reserve Flying Corps
consists of a khaki coat of the same style as the white service coat,
with which the shoulder marks indicating rank are worn, khaki breeches,
woolen wrap puttees of drab color, tan shoes, and a khaki cap of the
same style as the white cap.
_The working uniform_ for officers detailed for aviation duty and for
officers of the Naval Reserve Flying Corps is a one-piece overall suit
of khaki-colored cotton duck, canvas or moleskin.
_Dungarees_ (or overalls), consisting of a blue denim jacket and pair
of trousers, are worn by officers when working in engine and firerooms
and in turrets and magazines.
When the sword is worn with the service dress uniforms the belt is worn
under the coat unless the pistol is worn on the belt, in which case the
belt is worn outside of the coat.
White gloves are worn with all uniforms on dress occasions or when the
sword is worn except at battle drills or with landing forces on shore
expeditions.
The overcoat is a dark blue ulster-coat, reaching about midway from the
knee to the foot, double-breasted, buttoning to the neck with seven
large flat black buttons on each side, with a wide rolling collar, with
a pocket having a vertical opening on each side above the waist, and
fitted with waist straps at the back. Shoulder marks of the same design
as those for the white service coat are worn with the overcoat and the
rank of the wearer is indicated by stripes of black mohair braid on the
lower part of the sleeve. The overcoat is lined with black, and a hood
is provided to be worn over the head in very cold weather.
A boat cloak or cape of dark blue cloth, cut full, with a rolling
collar of black velvet is also provided for officers of the Navy.
The rain coat is a black mackintosh with a cape reaching to the tips
of the fingers when the arms hang naturally; and in rainy and wet
weather at sea officers usually wear rubber boots, oilskin coats and
“sou-wester” hats.
The cocked hat for officers of flag rank (admirals, vice admirals, rear
admirals and commodores) is of black silk beaver trimmed with gold
lace braid as shown in the illustration, figure 3; and for all other
commissioned officers, except chaplains and chief warrant officers, it
is trimmed around the outer edge of the top of the crown with black
silk lace braid as shown by figure 1.
The blue cap for flag officers is shown by figure 4, and for captains
and commanders by figure 5, the cap for officers of the Staff Corps of
the rank of rear admiral is shown by figure 6, and for the same classes
of officers of the ranks of captain and commander by figure 7. The
decorations on the visor shown in the illustrations are embroidered in
gold, with the exception of caps for chaplains of the ranks of captain
and commander, which have black embroidered bands as shown by figure 8.
The chin strap for all commissioned officers except chaplains is of
black leather covered with gold lace braid one-half inch wide; for
chaplains it is made of lustrous black mohair, as shown by figure 8.
The chin strap for warrant officers’ caps is one-quarter of an inch in
width, figure 10.
The cap device embroidered on the center and front of the caps of all
commissioned officers consists of a silver shield emblazoned paleways
of thirteen pieces, with chief strewn with stars, surmounted by a
silver spread eagle, the whole placed upon two crossed foul anchors
in gold, as shown by the illustration. The cap device for warrant
officers’ caps consists of the two crossed foul anchors in gold, as
shown by figure 10.
The blue cap for all commissioned officers below the rank of commander
has a plain black patent leather visor, figure 9.
The white caps for all officers are similar in shape to the blue caps,
the band, cap devices, chin straps and visor decorations for the
different corps and ranks being the same as for the blue caps of the
same officers, figure 2.
The cap for Warrant officers is the same as that for commissioned
officers except that the device worn on the front consists of two
gold foul anchors crossed and the chin strap of gold braid is but
one-quarter of an inch wide, figure 10.
INSIGNIA OF RANK AND CORPS
The rank of officers of the Navy is indicated in four ways: first, by
stripes upon the sleeves of the special full dress coat, frock coat,
evening dress coat, blue service coat and overcoat; second, by rank
insignia on each side of the front opening of the collar of the blue
service coat; third, by stripes upon the shoulder marks (or straps)
worn on the white service coat, the mess jacket and the overcoat; and
fourth, by rank insignia on the upper surface of the epaulets worn
with special full dress, full dress and evening dress. These stripes
indicating rank encircle the sleeves, the lower one being two inches
above the edge of the sleeve and parallel to it; on all blue coats
except the overcoat they are of gold lace braid, except for chaplains
who wear black braid stripes; and on the overcoats of all commissioned
officers they are of black mohair braid.
[Illustration: U. S. Navy. Officers’ sleeve braiding indicating rank
Gold braid on special full dress, full dress, evening dress and blue
service coats. Black braid on overcoats, without the stars
1. Admiral of the Navy 2. Admiral
3. Vice Admiral 4. Rear Admiral]
[Illustration: U. S. Navy. Officers’ sleeve braiding indicating rank
Gold braid on special full dress, full dress, evening dress and blue
service coats. Black braid on overcoats, without the stars
1. Commodore 2. Captain
3. Commander 4. Lieutenant Commander]
[Illustration: U. S. Navy. Officers’ sleeve braiding indicating rank
Gold braid on special full dress, full dress, evening dress and blue
service coats. Black braid on overcoats, without the stars
1. Lieutenant 2. Lieutenant, Junior Grade
3. Ensign 4. Lieutenant, Naval Militia]
[Illustration: U. S. Navy. Officers’ sleeve braiding indicating rank
Gold braid on special full dress, full dress, evening dress and blue
service coats. Black braid on overcoats, without the stars
1. Chief Boatswain, Chief Gunner, Chief Machinist
2. Chief Carpenter, Chief Sailmaker, Chief Pharmacist, Chief Pay Clerk
3. Boatswain, Gunner, Machinist
4. Carpenter, Sailmaker, Pharmacist, Pay Clerk, Mate]
The number, width and arrangement of the sleeve stripes indicating the
rank of officers, as illustrated, are as follows:
Admiral of the Navy, two stripes two inches wide with one stripe one
inch wide between them, the stripes being one-quarter of an inch apart.
Admiral, one stripe two inches wide with three stripes one-half an inch
wide above it, the stripes being one-quarter of an inch apart.
Vice Admiral, one stripe two inches wide with two stripes one-half an
inch wide above it, the stripes being one-quarter of an inch apart.
Rear Admiral, one stripe two inches wide with one stripe one-half an
inch wide above it, the stripes being one-quarter of an inch apart.
Commodore, one stripe two inches wide.
Captain, four stripes each one-half of an inch wide, set one-quarter of
an inch apart.
Commander, three stripes each one-half of an inch wide, set one-quarter
of an inch apart.
Lieutenant Commander, two stripes one-half of an inch wide with one
stripe one-quarter of an inch wide between them, the stripes being set
one-quarter of an inch apart.
Lieutenant, two stripes one-half of an inch wide set one-quarter of an
inch apart.
Lieutenant Junior Grade, one stripe one-half of an inch wide with one
stripe one-quarter of an inch wide set one-quarter of an inch above it.
Ensign, one stripe one-half of an inch wide.
The sleeve stripes for Chief Boatswain, Chief Gunner, Chief Machinist,
Chief Carpenter, Chief Sailmaker, Chief Pay Clerk and Chief Pharmacist
of the rank of Lieutenant Junior Grade or Ensign are of the same
number and widths as those prescribed for Lieutenants Junior Grade or
Ensign, except that when made of gold they are woven with dark blue
silk thread for widths of one-half inch at intervals of two inches.
The Corps or branch of the service to which the officer belongs is
indicated in connection with the rank stripes on the sleeves as follows:
All Line Officers wear a star embroidered in gold, one and one-eighth
inches in diameter, on the outside of each sleeve of the special full
dress coat, frock coat, evening dress coat and blue service coat, one
quarter of an inch above the rank stripes.
For Line Officers of the Naval Militia the gold star is surrounded by a
gold circle one and three-eighths inches in diameter.
Staff Officers wear the same sleeve rank stripes as those worn by the
Line Officers of the same rank but they do not wear the gold star. The
Corps to which Staff Officers belong is indicated by bands of colored
cloth around the sleeves filling the intervals between the gold rank
stripes, the colors and material of the stripes for the different corps
being as follows:
Medical Officers—dark maroon velvet.
Pay Officers—white cloth.
Professors of Mathematics—olive green cloth.
Naval Constructors—dark violet cloth.
Civil Engineers—light blue velvet.
Medical Reserve Officers—crimson cloth.
Dental Officers—orange colored velvet.
When but one stripe is worn, that is for officers of the rank of
ensign, the colored cloth is made to show one-quarter of an inch on
each side of the stripe.
For Staff Officers of the Naval Militia the colored corps stripes are
broken for a distance of one and one-quarter inches at the center of
the front of the sleeve.
The rank and corps of officers is shown on the blue service coat in two
ways: first, by the stripes on the sleeves as above described; second,
by rank and corps insignia worn on each side of the standing collar, to
the right and left of the front opening at the neck.
These collar insignia are as illustrated, and consist of the insignia
of rank in combination with the device indicating the corps of the
wearer.
The Corps device or insignia, indicating to what corps or branch of the
service the officer belongs, are:
_Line Officers_: a silver foul anchor, one and five-eighths inches long
over all, one inch wide from tip to tip.
_Medical Corps Officers_: a silver acorn embroidered upon a gold spread
oak leaf, stem to tip one and three-quarters inches, width one inch.
_Pay Corps Officers_: a silver oak sprig of three leaves and three
acorns, one and three-quarters inches long by one inch wide.
_Professors of Mathematics_: a silver oak leaf and an acorn, one and
three-quarters inches long and one inch wide.
_Naval Constructors Corps_: a gold sprig of two live-oak leaves and
an acorn, one and five-eighths inches long and one and three-eighths
inches wide.
_Civil Engineers Corps_: two crossed silver sprigs, each of two
live-oak leaves and an acorn, one and three-quarter inches long and one
inch wide.
_Chaplains_: a Latin cross embroidered in silver.
_Medical Reserve Corps_: a gold acorn embroidered upon a silver spread
oak leaf, one and three-quarters inches long and one inch wide.
_Dental Corps_: a gold spread oak leaf with a silver acorn on either
side of the stem, one and three-quarter inches long and one inch wide.
The rank insignia, indicating the rank of the wearer, are practically
the same as those for the Army and the Marine Corps, and are as follows:
Admiral—four silver stars.
Vice Admiral—three silver stars.
Rank of Rear Admiral—two silver stars.
Rank of Commodore—one silver star.
Rank of Captain—a silver spread eagle.
Rank of Commander—a silver oak leaf.
Rank of Lieutenant Commander—a gold oak leaf.
Rank of Lieutenant—two silver bars.
Rank of Lieutenant Junior Grade—one silver bar.
Rank of Ensign—no insignia.
Midshipman—a gold anchor.
The insignia indicating the rank and corps of officers are worn on each
side of the collar of the blue service coat as illustrated; for Line
Officers they are as follows:
_Admiral of the Navy_—four silver stars, the two end stars being
surcharged upon gold foul anchors.
_Admiral_—four silver stars, the star nearest the back being surcharged
upon a gold foul anchor.
_Vice Admiral_—three silver stars with a silver foul anchor in rear of
them.
_Rear Admiral_—two silver stars with a silver foul anchor in rear of
them.
_Commodore_—one silver star with a silver foul anchor in rear of it.
_Captain_—a silver spread eagle with a silver foul anchor in rear of it.
_Commander_—a silver oak leaf with a silver foul anchor in rear of it.
[Illustration: U. S. Navy. Officers’ insignia of rank and Corps on
collar of blue service coat, showing right side of collar
1. Admiral of the Navy 2. Admiral 3. Vice Admiral
4. Rear Admiral 5. Commodore 6. Captain]
[Illustration: U. S. Navy. Officers’ insignia of rank and Corps on
collar of blue service coat, showing right side of collar
1. Commander (Silver leaf) 2. Lieutenant Commander (Gold leaf)
3. Lieutenant 4. Lieutenant, Junior Grade
5. Ensign 6. Medical Officer with the rank of Captain]
_Lieutenant Commander_—a gold oak leaf with a silver foul anchor in
rear of it.
_Lieutenant_—two silver bars vertical with a silver anchor in rear of
them.
_Lieutenant, Junior Grade_—one silver bar vertical with a silver foul
anchor in rear of it.
_Ensign_—a silver foul anchor.
_Staff Officers_ of all ranks wear the Corps device or insignia
indicating the particular corps to which they belong (as described
on page 121) in place of the silver foul anchor above described and
the same rank insignia for the different ranks as described for Line
Officers. Thus, a Medical Director with the rank of Captain wears the
silver spread eagle indicating the rank and the Medical Corps device
of the silver acorn upon the gold leaf indicating the Medical Corps;
a Pay Director with the rank of Captain wears the silver spread eagle
indicating the rank and the silver oak sprig of three leaves and three
acorns indicating the Pay Corps; a Chaplain with the rank of Commander
wears the silver leaf indicating the rank and the silver Latin cross
indicating his corps; a Professor of Mathematics with the rank of
Commander wears the silver leaf indicating the rank and the silver
oak leaf and acorn indicating the corps; a Naval Constructor with the
rank of Commander wears the silver leaf indicating the rank and the
silver two live-oak leaves and acorn indicating the Construction Corps;
a Civil Engineer with the rank of Commander wears the silver leaf
indicating the rank and the silver crossed live-oak leaves indicating
the Corps of Civil Engineers; and a Dental Surgeon with the rank of
Lieutenant wears the two silver bars indicating the rank and the gold
oak leaf and silver acorns indicating the Dental Corps.
The insignia showing the corps of the Chief Boatswain, Chief Gunner,
Chief Machinist, Chief Carpenter, Chief Sailmaker, Chief Pharmacist and
Chief Pay Clerk consist of devices worn on each side of the collar of
the frock coat just above the V notch in the lapel, as follows:
Chief Boatswain—two foul anchors crossed, embroidered in silver,
surcharged at the center by a gold five-pointed star.
Chief Gunner—a flaming spherical shell, embroidered in silver,
surcharged at the center by a gold five-pointed star.
Chief Machinist—a three-bladed propeller embroidered in silver,
surcharged at the center by a gold five-pointed star.
Chief Carpenter—a carpenter’s square, embroidered in silver with the
point down.
Chief Sailmaker—a diamond embroidered in silver.
Chief Pharmacist—a caduceus, embroidered in silver.
Chief Pay Clerk—an oak sprig of three leaves and three acorns,
embroidered in silver.
The Corps of Warrant Officers is also shown by corps devices worn on
each side of the collar of the frock coat just above the V notch in the
lapel, as follows:
Boatswain—two foul anchors crossed, embroidered in gold, surcharged at
the center by a silver five-pointed star.
Gunner—a flaming spherical shell, embroidered in gold, surcharged at
the center by a silver five-pointed star.
Machinist—a three-bladed propeller, embroidered in gold, surcharged at
the center by a silver five-pointed star.
Carpenter—a carpenter’s square embroidered in gold with the point down.
[Illustration: U. S. Navy. Officers’ insignia of rank and Corps on
collar of blue service coat, showing right side of collar
1. Officer of the Pay Corps with the rank of Rear Admiral
2. Naval Constructor with the rank of Captain
3. Professor of Mathematics with the rank of Lieutenant
4. Civil Engineer with the rank of Commander
5. Chaplain with the rank of Commander
6. Dental Surgeon with the rank of Lieutenant, Junior Grade]
[Illustration: U. S. Navy. Warrant officers’ insignia on collars of
blue service and dress coats, showing right side of collar
1. Chief Boatswain and Boatswain 2. Chief Sailmaker and Sailmaker
3. Chief Gunner and Gunner 4. Chief Pharmacist and Pharmacist
5. Chief Machinist and Machinist 6. Chief Pay Clerk and Pay Clerk
7. Chief Carpenter and Carpenter 8. Mate]
Sailmaker—a diamond embroidered in gold.
Pharmacist—a caduceus embroidered in gold.
Pay Clerk—an oak sprig of three leaves and three acorns embroidered in
gold.
Mate—a binocular glass, embroidered in gold for a Mate of less than
twenty years’ service and in silver for a Mate of over twenty years’
service.
Chief Boatswains, Chief Gunners and Chief Machinists, being Line
Officers, wear the gold star above the sleeve stripes; while Chief
Carpenters, Chief Sailmakers, Chief Pharmacists and Chief Pay Clerks,
being Staff Officers, do not wear the star on the sleeve.
Boatswains, Gunners and Machinists, being Warrant Officers of the
Line wear the gold star on the sleeve, but no stripes. Carpenters,
Sailmakers, Pharmacists and Pay Clerks have the sleeves of the coat
without decoration or insignia.
Chief Boatswains, Chief Gunners, Chief Machinists, Chief Carpenters,
Chief Sailmakers, Chief Pharmacists and Chief Pay Clerks wear on the
collars of their blue service coats the same devices showing their
corps as those already described to be worn upon the collars of their
frock coats; and the same is true of the Warrant Officers, Boatswains,
Gunners, Machinists, Carpenters, Sailmakers, Pharmacists, Pay Clerks
and Mates.
_Shoulder marks for officers_ are worn on the white service coat, mess
jacket and overcoat to indicate the corps and rank of the wearer. These
marks are of dark blue cloth lined with black silk, stiffened so as
to lie flat, 4½ to 5¼ inches long and 2¼ inches wide, finished with a
triangular point and a gilt Navy button at the collar end, and they are
worn on the top of each shoulder extending from the base of the collar
to the shoulder seam.
The designs for the different ranks are as shown in the illustrations.
For officers of the Line they are as follows:
_Admiral of the Navy_—covered with gold lace braid two inches wide,
with four silver stars, the two end stars being surcharged upon gold
foul anchors.
_Admiral_—covered with gold lace braid two inches wide, with four
silver stars, the one nearest the collar end being surcharged upon a
gold foul anchor.
_Vice Admiral_—covered with gold lace braid two inches wide, with a
silver foul anchor and three silver stars, the anchor being nearest the
collar end.
_Rear Admiral_—covered with gold lace braid two inches wide, with two
silver stars and a silver foul anchor between them.
_Commodore_—covered with gold lace braid two inches wide, with one
silver star and a silver foul anchor, the anchor being nearest the
collar end.
_Captain_—a gold star at the collar end and four stripes of gold lace
braid one-half of an inch wide, set one-quarter of an inch apart.
_Commander_—a gold star and three stripes of gold lace braid one-half
of an inch wide, set one-quarter of an inch apart.
_Lieutenant Commander_—a gold star and two stripes of gold lace braid
one-half of an inch wide with one such stripe one-quarter of an inch
wide, between them, stripes set one-quarter of an inch apart.
_Lieutenant_—a gold star and two stripes of gold lace braid one-half of
an inch wide, set one-quarter of an inch apart.
_Lieutenant Junior Grade_—a gold star and one stripe of gold lace braid
one-half of an inch wide and one stripe one-quarter of an inch wide,
set one-quarter of an inch apart.
[Illustration: U. S. Navy. Officers’ shoulder marks indicating rank.
Worn on the white service uniform coat, the white mess jacket and the
overcoat
1. Admiral of the Navy 2. Admiral 3. Vice Admiral
4. Rear Admiral 5. Commodore 6. Captain
7. Commander 8. Lieutenant Commander 9. Lieutenant]
[Illustration: U. S. Navy. Officers’ shoulder marks indicating rank.
Worn on the white service uniform coat, the white mess jacket and the
overcoat
1. Lieutenant, Junior Grade 2. Ensign 3. Chief Boatswain
4. Chief Gunner 5. Chief Machinist 6. Chief Carpenter
7. Chief Pharmacist 8. Chief Pay Clerk 9. Chief Sailmaker]
_Ensign_—a gold star and one stripe of gold lace braid one-half of an
inch wide.
_For officers of the Staff Corps of the rank of Rear Admiral or
Commodore_ the shoulder marks are the same as those for Rear Admiral or
Commodore of the Line, except that in place of the silver anchor the
corps device indicating the corps to which the officer belongs is used.
_For officers of the Staff Corps below the rank of Commodore_ the
stripes for the different ranks are the same as those described for
officers of the Line but the star is omitted, the Corps to which the
officer belongs being indicated by stripes of colored cloth filling
the spaces between the gold stripes, the colors and materials being as
follows:
Medical Corps Officers—dark maroon velvet.
Pay Corps Officers—White cloth.
Professors of Mathematics—olive green cloth.
Naval Constructors—dark violet cloth.
Civil Engineers—light blue velvet.
Medical Reserve Officers—crimson cloth.
Dental Officers—orange colored velvet.
The shoulder marks for Chief Boatswain, Chief Gunner, Chief Machinist,
Chief Carpenter, Chief Sailmaker, Chief Pharmacist and Chief Pay Clerk,
bear the gold stripes indicating their rank of the same width and
position as in the case of other officers of their rank, except that
the gold stripe is broken at the center by a section of one-half of
an inch embroidered in dark blue silk, and the corps is shown by the
insignia as described for each on page 124 to be worn on the collars of
the frock coats. The insignia in each case are placed on the center of
the strap above the stripe.
_The shoulder marks for Warrant Officers_, Boatswains, Gunners,
Machinists, Carpenters, Sailmakers, Pharmacists and Pay Clerks, bear
the same insignia indicating the corps of the wearer as those for the
Chief Boatswains, Chief Gunners, Chief Machinists, Chief Carpenters,
Chief Sailmakers, Chief Pharmacists and Chief Pay Clerks, but the gold
stripes indicating rank are omitted.
_The shoulder marks for Mates_ bear a binocular glass embroidered in
gold for mates of less than twenty years’ service and in silver for
those of over twenty years’ service.
The rank and corps of officers of the Navy is shown upon the gold
epaulets worn with special full dress, full dress and evening full
dress uniforms by the regular rank and corps insignia placed upon the
top of the epaulet. These insignia are the same for the different ranks
or grades as those worn on the collars of the blue service coats.
_For Officers of the Staff_ the epaulets have the same insignia for
indicating the rank as in the case of the corresponding rank of
officers of the Line, but to indicate the particular corps to which the
wearer belongs the proper Corps insignia or devices are substituted in
the place of the silver foul anchors worn by officers of the Line.
The gilt buttons worn by officers of the Navy upon the coats for which
they are prescribed bear in relief an eagle with wings lifting above an
anchor placed horizontal; surrounded by thirteen five-pointed stars and
a plain circle.
[Illustration: U. S. Navy. Officers’ shoulder marks indicating rank.
Worn on the white service uniform coat, the white mess jacket and the
overcoat
1. Boatswain 2. Gunner 3. Machinist
4. Carpenter 5. Pay Clerk 6. Sailmaker
7. Pharmacist 8. Mate 9. Lieutenant Commander, Naval Militia]
[Illustration: U. S. Navy. Cap insignia
1. Commissioned officers 2. Warrant officers]
[Illustration: Service Buttons for Officers
3. U. S. Navy 4. U. S. Naval Reserve
5. U. S. Coast Guard 6. U. S. Public Health Service
7. Collar insignia, Lieutenant, U. S. Naval Reserve, showing left side
of collar]
Aiguilettes worn by Naval Officers are loops of plaited blue and gold
cord terminating in gilt metal ornaments decorated with silver anchors.
They are worn by personal aids to the President and the Secretary of
the Navy, aides at the White House, members of the personal staff of a
Flag Officer in command of a fleet or subdivision of a fleet, and by
aides to the Commandants of Naval Stations and the Superintendent of
the Naval Academy.
The personal aides to the President wear the aiguilettes on the right
side and all other officers for whom they are prescribed wear them on
the left side.
They are worn with all uniforms to indicate the special duty of the
wearer as an aide entitled to convey the orders of the officer to whose
staff he is assigned.
_The Sword knot_ for naval officers is a loop of gold braid ending in
a bullion tassel, worn on the hilt of the sword. The original purpose
of this loop was to wear it around the right wrist when the sword was
carried in the hand to prevent the loss of the sword if it should be
accidentally dropped or knocked from the hand in combat. The sword knot
is worn by commissioned officers only.
_Officers of the Line and of the Staff Corps of the Naval Reserve
Force_ wear the same rank marks as those described for the officers
of the regular Navy, but, instead of the silver anchor for the Line
Officers and the various Corps devices and insignia to indicate the
Corps or branch of the service of the Staff officers of the Staff of
the regular Navy, they wear the Naval Reserve Force device on the
collar of the blue service coat.
The Naval Reserve Force Device or insignia is of the same design as the
device worn on the front of the cap by commissioned officers of the
Navy. It is one inch in height, made of metal, the shield and eagle
being of silver and the crossed anchors of gold.
The gilt buttons worn by officers of the Naval Reserve Force are of the
same sizes as those worn by the officers of the regular service but
the design is different, and by this design the fact that an officer
is a member of the Naval Reserve Force is shown when he is wearing any
uniform having gilt buttons. The Naval Reserve Force gilt button for
officers bears a plain vertical anchor and the letters U. S. N. R., as
illustrated.
UNIFORMS AND INSIGNIA OF MIDSHIPMEN
The Corps of Midshipmen at the Naval Academy is organized into a
regiment of four battalions of four companies each for military
formations and drills, with Midshipmen Officers and Petty Officers, as
follows:
Midshipman Commander Commanding the Regiment.
Midshipman Lieutenant Commander Commanding a Battalion.
Midshipman Lieutenant Regimental Adjutant and
Company Commander.
Midshipman Junior Lieutenant Regimental Commissary and
Regimental Signal Officer,
Battalion Adjutant, and junior
Company officer.
Midshipman Ensign Regimental Aide, Battalion
Commissary, and junior Company
officer.
Midshipman Regimental Staff
Petty Officer.
Midshipman Battalion Staff
Petty Officer.
First Petty Officer.
Second Petty Officer.
First-Class Petty Officer.
Second-Class Petty Officer.
The Midshipmen are provided with uniform as follows:
_Full dress_—consisting of a dark blue double-breasted jacket cut to
reach just below the waist, roached at the sides over the hips, pointed
at front and back, with standing collar and two rows of gilt buttons
down the front and three gilt buttons on each cuff; dark blue trousers,
a blue cap similar to that worn by other naval officers, white gloves
and black shoes.
_Service dress_—consisting of a dark blue blouse coat similar in cut
and design to the blue service coat of other officers; dark blue
trousers, the blue cap and black shoes.
_White service dress_—consisting of a white duck coat with gilt buttons
similar in cut and style to the white service coat of other officers,
white duck trousers, white cap and white shoes.
_Khaki undress_—consisting of a khaki blouse, trousers and cap.
_Working dress_—consisting of khaki blouse and trousers and white hat.
_Working undress_—consisting of khaki shirt and trousers and white hat.
The overcoat is an ulster of dark blue cloth, double-breasted,
buttoning to the neck with two rows of gilt buttons on the front with a
wide rolling collar.
The insignia of the Corps of Midshipmen are a gold anchor worn on the
full dress jacket and blue service coat on each side of the collar near
the front. All Midshipmen attaining above 85 per cent in standing also
wear a gold star on each side of the collar.
The rank of Midshipman Officers is indicated by stripes of gold braid
one-eighth of an inch wide sewn around the sleeves of the full dress
jacket, service coat and overcoat, the lower stripe being about two
inches from the lower edge of the sleeve, the number of stripes for the
different grades being:
_Midshipman Commander_ Five stripes one-quarter
of an inch apart.
_Midshipman Lieutenant Commander_ Four stripes one-quarter
of an inch apart.
_Midshipman Lieutenant_ Three stripes one-quarter
of an inch apart.
_Midshipman Junior Lieutenant_ Two stripes one-quarter
of an inch apart.
_Midshipman Ensign_ One stripe.
All Midshipman Officers also wear a gold star one inch in diameter
three-fourths of an inch above the upper stripe on each sleeve.
The rank of Midshipman Petty Officers is indicated by devices
embroidered in gold upon the sleeves, above the elbow, of the full
dress jacket, undress coat and overcoat, indicating the different
grades as follows:
_Regimental staff petty officer_—an eagle and an anchor, surmounted by
three stars placed pyramidally, with a chevron of three stripes below
the anchor.
_Battalion staff petty officer_—the same as for regimental staff petty
officer except there are but two stars.
_First and Second Petty Officers_—the same as for staff petty officers
except there is but one star.
_First-class Petty Officer_—the same as for first and second petty
officers except that the chevrons are omitted.
_Second-class Petty Officer_—the same as for first-class petty officers
except that the star is omitted.
[Illustration: U. S. Navy. Midshipmen. Sleeve stripes indicating class
Gold stripes on the sleeves of the dress coat, undress coat and overcoat
1. First Class 2. Second Class
3. Third Class 4. Fourth Class]
The midshipmen are divided into four classes, according to the
year’s course, the first class corresponding to seniors at college,
the second class corresponding to juniors at college, the third
class corresponding to sophomores at college and the fourth class
corresponding to freshmen at college.
To distinguish the class to which they belong all midshipmen, except
Midshipman Officers and petty officers and fourth classmen, wear
service stripes of gold braid one-eighth of an inch wide diagonally
across the outside of each sleeve of the full dress jacket, service
coat and overcoat from front seam to rear seam, each stripe indicating
one year of service at the Naval Academy; thus, the first classmen have
three stripes, the second classmen two stripes, the third classmen one
stripe, and the fourth classmen plain sleeves with no stripes.
ENLISTED MEN’S UNIFORMS, U. S. NAVY
Enlisted men of the Navy are required to have complete outfits of blue
dress, white dress, blue undress, white undress and working dress.
Dungaree suits are prescribed for the engineers force and for men of
the Artificer Branch. Rain clothes are allowed for the deck force and
men who are required to do duty where they would require them.
The occasions upon which the different uniforms of the United States
Navy and Marine Corps are worn by the enlisted men are laid down in the
regulations as follows:
1. Occasions of ceremony, parades | NAVY.—Dress.
or reviews, unless | MARINE CORPS.—Dress.
otherwise ordered. |
2. On liberty or leave. | NAVY.—Dress.
| MARINE CORPS.—Dress
| or field dress.
3. On ordinary occasions, either | NAVY.—Undress.
on or off duty. | MARINE CORPS.—Dress
| or field dress.
4. At battery drills, and by | NAVY.—Working dress.
details of men or individuals | MARINE CORPS.—Field
engaged in work for which | dress.
this dress is necessary. |
5. When prescribed for physical | NAVY.—Undress without
and battery drills, boat | jumpers.
exercise under oars, or | MARINE CORPS.—Dress
handling stores or ammunition | or field dress, without
alongside. | coats, with flannel shirts.
6. In the Tropics in isolated | NAVY.—White undress
anchorages, or at sea, | without jumpers.
when prescribed. | MARINE CORPS.—Dress
| or field dress, without
| coats.
_The blue dress uniform_ for chief petty officers and for officers’
cooks and stewards consists of a double-breasted blue cloth coat
with rolling lapel collar and two lower and one breast pocket with
flaps, the coat to be worn buttoned, blue cloth trousers, black shoes,
a dark blue cloth cap with patent leather visor, white shirt and
collar and black bow tie, as illustrated. For all other enlisted men
(except bandsmen whose uniform is described later), the blue dress
uniform consists of a blue overshirt with a rolling collar, blue
cloth trousers, blue flat cap, black neckerchief and black shoes,
as illustrated. The overshirt collar falls down the back about nine
inches for a width of from fourteen to eighteen inches and is trimmed
around the edges with three stripes of narrow white braid and a white
five-pointed star in each corner. The overshirt is cut to fit loosely
with a shield shaped yoke at the top and a draw string at the waist,
the length being such that when the draw string is tightened at the
waist the shirt will fall two to four inches below it. The sleeves
have tight buttoned cuffs and these are trimmed with stripes of narrow
white braid, three stripes for petty officers of the first, second
and third classes and men of the seaman first class; two stripes for
men of the seaman second class, and one stripe for men of the seaman
third class and mess attendants, the men of these different classes
being enumerated in the table in Chapter II. The trousers for chief
petty officers are cut after the style for civilian trousers, but for
other enlisted men they are made to fit snug over the hips with a black
ribbon lacing at the back, closed in front by a square flap front with
small black buttons at the sides and top, and cut bell shaped at the
bottom in order that they may be rolled up easily. The blue cap for all
enlisted men except chief petty officers, officers’ stewards and cooks,
and bandsmen, is of the style known as the “flat cap.” It has a band
two inches wide around which is sewn a black silk cap ribbon bearing
the name of the ship or station of the wearer in plain gold letters,
the ribbon being tied in a double-bow knot at the left side. Above the
band the crown is about four inches greater in diameter than the band
and is stretched out flat by a “grommet” or ring worn inside of the
edge of the crown.
[Illustration: U. S. Navy. Chief petty officer
Blue dress uniform White dress uniform _Seaman Branch_, indicated
_Artificer Branch_, indicated by rating badge on right arm by rating
badge on left arm _Ex-apprentice_, indicated _Second Enlistment_,
indicated by mark on right arm below by one enlistment stripe on left
elbow arm _Third Enlistment_, indicated by two enlistment stripes on
left arm]
[Illustration: U. S. Navy. Enlisted men
Blue dress uniform White dress uniform _Rating_, Petty officer first
_Rating_, Seaman first class, class, indicated by rating badge
indicated by three stripes on with chevron of three stripes cuffs
_Seaman Branch_, indicated by _Seaman Branch_, indicated by rating
badge being on right arm branch mark being on right shoulder seam]
_The white dress uniform_ for chief petty officers and officers’
stewards and cooks consists of a white duck coat, white duck trousers,
white cap, white shirt and collar, black tie and white shoes, the coat
and trousers being made after the same style as the blue dress coat,
and the cap having a black visor and band and a white crown. For all
other enlisted men (except bandsmen) the white dress uniform consists
of a white dress “jumper” shirt with blue cloth collar and cuffs, white
trousers, black neckerchief, black shoes and a white hat. The white
dress jumper is not tightened at the waist like the blue overshirt but
is cut off square about six inches below the waist and allowed to hang
free.
_The blue undress uniform_ for chief petty officers and officers’
stewards and cooks is the same as the blue dress uniform for these men
except that the material of which it is made is blue serge and a blue
flannel shirt may be worn. For all other enlisted men (except bandsmen)
the blue undress uniform consists of a blue undress jumper, blue cloth
or flannel trousers, blue cap or white hat and black shoes. The blue
undress jumper is the same as the overshirt except that there are no
stripes of braid or stars on the collar or cuffs and the sleeves are
not buttoned at the cuff but cut off square and hemmed.
_The white undress uniform_ for chief petty officers and officers’
stewards and cooks is the same as the white dress for these men. For
all other enlisted men (except bandsmen) it consists of a white undress
jumper of the same style as the blue undress jumper and white trousers
and white hat, the jumper and trousers being made of white navy drill.
_The working dress uniform_, blue or white, for all enlisted men is the
same as undress, blue or white as the case may be, except that chief
petty officers and officers’ stewards and cooks may go without the coat
and wear the blue flannel shirt if in blue, and other enlisted men do
not wear the neckerchief and may wear the watch cap when in blue. The
watch cap is a dark blue knitted cap without visor or brim that may be
pulled down over the ears for cold weather.
[Illustration: U. S. Navy. Chief petty officer
Blue working dress uniform
_Rank:_ Chief Master-at-Arms] [Illustration: U. S. Navy. Winter uniform
Wind and rain proof uniform worn by crews of U. S. Destroyers and
Patrol Vessels during winter in northern waters]
_Winter Service Uniform._—At various times in the past when vessels
of the Navy have been detailed for long periods of duty in the Arctic
regions or where the weather conditions are particularly cold and
severe, special uniforms have been authorized to be worn by the
officers and enlisted men making up the personnel of such expeditions.
For the Arctic expeditions these special uniform suits have usually
been made of fur similar in pattern to the garments worn by the natives
of the Far North.
The conditions under which the Destroyer Flotillas and Patrol Squadrons
must operate off the coasts of Northern Europe during the severe
weather of the winter months has necessitated the design of a special
uniform for their crews. This winter storm uniform consists of heavy
waterproof boots of the style known as “Arctics”; wind and rain proof
trousers of heavy material; an overshirt of specially heavy wool with a
hood; and a wind and rain proof coat with a hood to be worn over all.
While the appearance of a sailor dressed in this uniform is very
different from that which we are accustomed to see upon the decks
of the trim and smart vessels of the United States Navy, it is made
necessary by the severe conditions of the service demanded and adds to
efficiency in that it serves to keep the men dry and warm and able to
perform their duties when the little vessels of the patrol fleet are
swept by heavy seas and chilling gales.
_Dungaree suit_ consists of a jumper and trousers made of blue denim
drill.
_Gloves_ for enlisted men are made of dark gray wool.
_Bathing trunks_ of dark blue material are required to be worn by all
men bathing “over the side” from a ship.
_Pajamas_ consisting of a shirt and trousers of light weight white
cotton drill are provided for enlisted men.
_Overcoats_ for chief petty officers are of dark blue cloth, double
breasted, buttoning to the neck with two rows of large black buttons,
with a rolling collar, two vertical breast pockets and two lower side
pockets with flaps. For all other enlisted men (except bandsmen) the
overcoat is the same style but reaches only to the tips of the fingers
when the arms hang at the sides.
_Uniforms for bandsmen of the navy_ consist of a blue dress coat, white
dress coat, sky-blue trousers, white trousers, blue cap, and white cap,
all of the same design and cut as those for the enlisted men of the U.
S. Marine Corps (described in Chapter VI) except that navy buttons are
worn instead of marine corps buttons, a lyre device is worn on the cap,
instead of the marine corps device, and the navy “rating badges” are
worn by the bandmaster and first musicians instead of the chevrons worn
by the noncommissioned officers of the marine corps.
_The overcoat_ for bandsmen is of sky-blue cloth, double-breasted,
buttoning to the neck with two rows of gilt navy buttons, lined with
red flannel, falling collar five inches deep, cut to reach about six
inches below the knee, and provided with a circular cape of the same
color.
The rank and special duty (or “rating” as it is styled in the navy) of
the petty officers of the first, second and third classes, as given in
the table on page 38, is shown by a “rating badge” which is worn on the
right sleeve between the elbow and the shoulder by petty officers of
the Seaman Branch and in the corresponding position on the left sleeve
by all other petty officers.
The rating badge consists of a spread eagle above a “specialty mark”
showing the duty and a chevron showing the “class” or rank of the
wearer. These badges are three and one-quarter inches broad.
The chevrons are made of stripes of cloth three-eighths of an
inch wide, placed one-quarter of an inch apart as shown in the
illustrations. A peculiarity of the navy chevrons is that they are
worn with the apex of the angle formed by the two bars of each stripe
pointing down instead of up as in the army and marine corps.
The specialty marks are placed in the center of the angle formed by the
upper stripe of the chevron and the spread eagle is placed just above
the specialty mark.
For use on blue clothing the chevrons are made of scarlet cloth and the
eagle and specialty marks are embroidered in white; while for white
clothing the chevrons are of blue cloth and the specialty marks and
eagle are embroidered in blue.
For petty officers holding three consecutive good-conduct badges
(namely, the good-conduct medal and two bars, representing three full
enlistments served with efficiency and good conduct) the chevrons
are made of gold lace braid and the eagle and specialty marks are
embroidered in silver.
The specialty marks indicating the different ranks or “ratings” are, as
shown in the illustrations, as follows:
NUMBER OF
FIGURE IN
ILLUSTRATION. RANK OR “RATING.”
1. Master-at-arms.
2. Boatswain’s mate, or coxswain.
3. Quartermaster.
4. Blacksmith, or shipfitter.
5. Sailmaker’s mate.
6. Printer.
7. Carpenter’s mate, plumber and fitter, painter.
8. Turret captain.
9. Gunner’s mate.
10. Storekeeper.
11. Yeoman.
12. Electrician.
13. Machinist’s mate, boiler maker, water tender,
coppersmith, oiler.
14. Hospital corps (red cloth Geneva cross).
15. Bandmaster, musician.
16. Commissary steward.
17. Ship’s cook and baker.
18. Bugler, worn on the left arm above the elbow.
Petty officers detailed to duty in the Naval Aviation Corps wear rating
badges of the same design as those worn by other petty officers, the
number of stripes in the chevron showing the class, three stripes with
an arc of a circle above for chief petty officer class, three stripes
for first class, two stripes for second class and one stripe for third
class, and the specialty marks showing the various classes of duty
being as follows:
Quartermaster A steering wheel with one eagle’s
Aviation wing to the right of it and one
to the left of it.
Machinist’s Mate A two-bladed airplane propeller
Aviation with one eagle’s wing to the
right of it and one to the left
of it.
Carpenter’s Mate Two axes crossed with one eagle’s
Aviation wing to the right of it and one
to the left of it.
[Illustration: U. S. Navy. Petty officers’ rating badges worn on
sleeves of uniform coats, overshirts and jumpers. The special detail is
indicated by the specialty mark worn in the angle of the chevron
1. Chief Master-at-Arms 2. Boatswain’s Mate, First Class 3. Gunner’s
Mate, Second Class 4. Quartermaster, Third Class]
[Illustration: U. S. Navy
Petty officers’ specialty marks]
These specialty marks measure 2½ inches from tip to tip of the eagle’s
wings.
“Distinguishing marks” are worn by certain enlisted men to indicate
special duties or stations to which they are detailed or to show
certain qualifications. These marks are embroidered in white silk for
blue clothing and in blue silk for white clothing and, as illustrated,
are as follows:
NUMBER OF
FIGURE IN
ILLUSTRATION. DUTY OR STATION.
19. Seaman gunner mark, worn below the
chevron by petty officers and in place of
the rating badge by other men who have
qualified as seaman gunners.
20. Gun captain mark, worn by men detailed
by the commanding officer as gun captains,
on the opposite arm to that on
which the rating badge is worn.
21. Gun pointer mark, worn by men who have
qualified as gun pointers on the opposite
arm to that on which the rating badge is
worn; gun pointers of the first class
wear the mark with a star above it
(Figure 22).
23. The Navy “E,” worn by members of the
turret, gun and torpedo crews that make
exceptionally high scores on record target
practice, and men of the Engineer
Division of the ship winning the trophy
in the annual engineering competition.
Expert rifleman’s mark, worn by enlisted
men of the Navy, Marine Corps and
Naval Militia qualified as expert riflemen
on the left sleeve midway between the
wrist and the elbow, and consisting of a
square, one inch, containing target rings
three-quarters of an inch and one-half
of an inch in diameter and a bull’s-eye
one-quarter of an inch in diameter, embroidered
in blue on white for white
clothing, in white on blue for blue clothing
and in gray on khaki for khaki-colored
clothing.
24. Radio operator, worn by electricians who
are radio operators below the rating badge.
25. Torpedoman mark, worn by gunner’s mates
who have qualified in torpedoes and
mines below the rating badge.
7. Shipwright’s mark, worn by shipwrights in
the same place as the rating badge.
14. Hospital Corps mark (the Geneva cross),
worn by hospital apprentices on the left
arm above the elbow.
17. Ship’s cook of the third and fourth classes,
bakers of the second class and officers’
stewards and cooks, worn on the left arm
above the elbow.
3. Signalmen, first and second class, worn on
the arm above the elbow in place of the
rating badge.
15. Musician’s mark, worn by musicians of the
first and second class on the left arm
above the elbow.
26. Ex-apprentice mark, worn by all men who
have passed through the rating of apprentice
in the navy; worn on the front
of the overshirt and jumper just below
the neck opening and on the sleeve of
petty officers’ coats on the same side as
the rating badge, between the wrist and
the elbow.
[Illustration: U. S. Navy
Enlisted men’s specialty marks, distinguishing marks and buttons]
The Branch of the Navy to which all enlisted men not petty officers
belong is shown by a _branch mark_, a stripe of braid three-eighths of
an inch wide around the top of the sleeve at the shoulder seam.
For the Seaman Branch the _branch mark_ is worn on the right arm, in
blue for white clothing and white for blue clothing; for the artificer
branch, engineer force, the branch mark is worn on the left arm in red.
Hospital apprentices, shipwrights, musicians, buglers, commissary and
messmen wear no branch mark.
_Service stripes._—To show the number of enlistments that a man has
served all enlisted men who have served one or more enlistments of
three or four years wear service stripes, three-eighths of an inch
wide, diagonally across the outer side of the left sleeve of the blue
coat, white coat, overshirt or jumper. These service stripes are of
scarlet cloth on blue clothing and of blue cloth on white clothes. One
service stripe is worn for each enlistment of three or four years that
the wearer has completed. For petty officers who hold three consecutive
good-conduct badges the service stripes are made of gold lace braid.
_Neckerchief._—The neckerchief worn by enlisted men with the blue
overshirt and white dress jumper is of black silk thirty-six inches
square, worn around the neck under the collar, tied in a square knot
just below the collar opening in front.
_Leggings._—For duty with landing forces ashore enlisted men of the
navy wear khaki-colored canvas leggings.
ENLISTED MEN OF THE NAVAL MILITIA
Enlisted men of the Naval Militia wear the same uniforms as
those prescribed for the regular Navy with the addition of the
_distinguishing mark for the Naval Militia_, consisting of a vertical
foul anchor enclosed in a diamond shaped lozenge. This mark being
embroidered in white on a blue ground for blue clothing and in blue on
a white ground for white clothing. It is worn on overshirts and jumpers
just below the neck opening and on coats (except overcoats) on the same
sleeve as the rating badge midway between the wrist and the elbow.
The cap ribbon worn by enlisted men of the Naval Militia bears the
words “Naval Militia” followed by the authorized abbreviation for the
state or territory to which they belong thus, for the Naval Militia of
Massachusetts,
NAVAL MILITIA, MASS.
When United States ships are assigned for the use of the Naval Militia
of any state such men of the organization as the Governor of the state
may designate may wear on their cap ribbons the name of the ship so
assigned with the distinguishing mark for the naval militia before and
after the name of the ship.
_The Naval Reserve_ enlisted men wear the same uniform as that
prescribed for the various grades of the regular service, with the
exceptions that all gilt buttons worn on the uniforms are of the
special design prescribed for the Naval Reserve, that is, having upon
them in relief a plain vertical anchor surrounded by the letters U. S.
N. R., and the cap ribbons bear the words
U. S. NAVAL RESERVE FORCE
_The Navy Sword._—The sword carried by all officers of the Navy has a
bright steel cut and thrust blade from twenty-six to thirty-two inches
long depending upon the height of the wearer, having a half-basket
hilt and a grip covered with white shark skin wrapped with a spiral of
gilt wire, the hilt being of brass gilded. It is carried in a scabbard
of black leather with gilded tip ferrule and gilded straps and rings
for attaching the slings which attach it to the belt.
The belt for naval officers is closed at the front and center by a
circular belt plate ornament with a raised design of a wreath enclosing
a circle of rope one inch in diameter inside of which is an American
eagle on a horizontal anchor above a pyramid of cannon balls, the space
between the rope circle and the eagle and anchor design having thirteen
stars in a circle.
_Identification tag._—Every officer and enlisted man of the U. S.
Navy on active duty is required to wear an identification tag, which
consists of an oval plate of monel metal, one and one-quarter inches
by one and one-half inches in size, suspended from the neck by a monel
metal wire encased in a cotton sleeve.
On one side of the tag is etched the finger print of the right index
finger of the officer or man wearing the tag and on the other side, for
officers the letters “U. S. N.,” the surname and initials, the rank and
the date of commission or appointment; for enlisted men the letters “U.
S. N.,” the surname and initials, the month, day and year of enlistment
expressed in numerals thus “1.5.1916.” and the month, day and year of
birth similarly expressed.
A copy of the finger print of each officer and enlisted man in the
Naval Service is also kept on file at the Bureau of Navigation of the
Navy Department in Washington, D. C.
These tags are for the purpose of identification in case of death or
wounds so serious as to produce unconsciousness.
UNIFORMS OF ENROLLED WOMEN, U. S. NAVAL RESERVE FORCE
Women are enrolled in the U. S. Naval Reserve Force in the ratings of
Chief Yeoman, Yeoman, First, Second or Third Class, and Landsman for
Training, and assigned clerical duties on shore. They are required to
wear blue or white uniforms consisting of a Norfolk style coat and
tailor-made skirt of blue navy serge or white drill, a white beach
cloth shirt-waist and black navy neckerchief, black hose and shoes with
blue skirt and white ones with white skirt, and a flat brimmed blue
felt or white straw sailor hat with the regulation Naval Reserve cap
ribbon.
_The coat_ has a rolling lapel collar, four medium navy gilt buttons
down the front and three small ones on each cuff, two-inch vertical
plaits from shoulders to lower edge at front and back, a one and
three-quarter inch belt, and on each side below the waist a pocket with
a buttoned flap.
_The skirt_ reaches to within eight inches of the floor and has on each
side of the front a pocket with buttoned flap.
_The waist_ is plain tailored, opens down the front with collar to
admit of being worn buttoned high or folded back, and has one plain
patch pocket on the left side.
_Rating badges_ for Chief Yeoman and for Yeoman, First, Second or Third
Class are worn on the left sleeve above the elbow; on the blue coat
the chevrons are scarlet, eagles and specialty marks white, and on the
white coat chevrons, eagles and specialty marks are all blue.
[Illustration: _Photo. Harris & Ewing, Washington, D. C._
Enrolled Women, U. S. Naval Reserve Force. Blue service uniform]
[Illustration: _Photo. Harris & Ewing, Washington, D. C._
Enrolled Women, U. S. Naval Reserve Force. White service uniform]
[Illustration: SEAL OF THE U. S. MARINE CORPS]