Originally I had intended to wait until I had worked in naval combats aboard ship before actually making public my thoughts on the naval uniform. However, since I posted quite a lot on the army's uniform, it's irrational to keep biting my tongue about the navy uniform. So I'm going to put my ideas out there & see what others think. (Hell, it's better to be shut down here for a stupid idea than to have my staff roll their eyes at my crazy uniform ideas when I'm an admiral!)
My concept of the navy uniform is one which might be called a 'service uniform:' a single uniform which is suitable for both the field & the parade square (& walking out). (Please correct me if this is the wrong definition of 'service dress.')Â
My rationale for a single uniform rests on my limited personal experience of wearing the various uniforms, the usual environment in which they are worn, &--here it goes!--aesthetics. I shall address the 'where they are worn' aspect first.Â
As the shipboard environment is definitely not like the field of the army, the uniform designed to be worn there will be significantly different: as many generations of naval uniform have shown. Evidence shows that, more or less, the naval working uniform (heretoforth referred to as 'undress' uniform) is extremely close in cut etc. to the naval dress uniform. Contemporarily, we can see that the NCDs are, with the exception of the jacket, the same in cut as the dress uniform. And I also cite that almost each undress uniform of the navy has become the dress uniform of the next generation of sailors.
I would posit that the various corps of the army followed this sort of succession until the 20th century when camouflage split, for the most part, the garrison uniform from the field uniform. Unlike the army, however, the navy has never required camouflage (other than some stripes on ships) thus the uniform has not drastically changed since the ~1700s.Â
In regards to my personal experience with the various current uniforms, I have mentioned much in previous posts. In general I have found the NCDs to be more confortable than the dress uniforms (either no1s or no3s since they're made of similar componenents), and I've found the dress uniform (no1 or no 1c) to be more aesthetically pleasing than the NCDs.Â
So that brings me to propose a single uniform for the navy, one which may be worn various ways in order to suit the conditions but which fills the 'requirements' for a dress (ceremonial) & undress (working) uniform. (Mess dress is still separate, however.) The changes may be explained in several steps so as to let it be understood better:
First, get rid of the no 3s order of uniform. This not only takes away 4 orders of rig & therefore simplifies what we may wear (I honestly think we don't need a number to tell us what taking off our jacket is) but it also makes the sweater & short-sleeved shirt oboslete, thus reducing the amount of kit we need. I find that the naval combats look just as 'professional' as any no3 order, and certainly more so than the sweater 'n' tie combo (in my opinion, though this certainly doesn't prove anything).Â
Second, replace the NCD jacket with one styled as is the current reefer jacket. Same fire-retardant material, etc, but cut like the reefer. I can conceieve that the six buttons may be a problem, but I have no experience with this so perhaps someone can fill me in on the hazards of catching things aboard ship. When rigged in antiflash gear, the collar & lapels could be flipped up, so this will present no problem.
Thirdly, replace the NCD shirt with a white tunic which could be worn like the current high-collared tunic but also like a regular shirt. I think a good illustration of what I am proposing is the RN officers' summer white uniform. Or perhaps picture the 3b shirt with long sleeves & optional hooks on the collar. In the same vein, the NCD trousers would also be white & lighter weight.
Fourth, the sea boots would either remain as they are or be changed into a Wellington-type boot reaching just above the calf. I believe there are some issues with dunking one's trouser cuffs in water all the time whereas the army gets to blouse their combats. These were also worn by gunnery officers (& perhaps others) in days of yore. The boot is reminiscent of the 'licorice legs' (black leather gaiters) worn by guard officers. Yes, this would even be worn in summer, no more white shoes.Â
Now, you see I've changed the NCDs completely in colour (& the boots & jacket in cut as well.) I think that my suggested NCDs are, more than the current ones, fit for parade. They look like the 'half-whites' or 'Yankee service dress' of the RN & USN, respectively (with wellingtons). During hot weather or indoors, the reefer jacket would be removed & the white tunic untucked.Â
I think the first issue that comes to mind is: wouldn't white become horribly soiled from working & then be unsuitable for parade. Yes, but this is easily solved by ensuring sailors are issued enough sets so that one may have a clean uniform for parade/walking out. Also, the issue of coveralls for those with particularly dirty jobs & choosing an easily-washed white cloth should solve most problems. Perhaps a very light khaki might be used in place of white. Admittedly, I wait to be corrected by someone who knows more about the chances of getting dirty aboard ship & the ease of washing the NCDs.
This combat uniform, unlike the CADPATS, could be easily 'dressed up' with medals & accoutrements (& a tie) for parades & undressed for work. With a simple pinning of medals or buckling of a sword belt, this uniform transcends what was previously a larger boundary between working & ceremonial uniforms. It also permits adaptations to the season by simply removing the reefer jacket. In short it simplifies the kit which must be carried by sailors & I think is as well suited to the shipboard environment as the current NCD uniform.Â
For clarity, the rig can be divided into 4 orders:
1. blue dress, with tie, medals, weapons, accoutrements;
2. blue undress, without tie, medals, weapons, accoutrements;
3. white dress, without reefer jacket, tunic untucked, with medals, weapons, accoutrements;
4. white undress, without reefer jacket, tunic untucked, without medals, weapons, accoutrements.
5. also blue & white mess dress, as they are now.
Finally, I think this rig does fufill the criteria which were laid out in the 'redcoat dress uniforms' thread:Â
1. I think this unform not only identifies people as sailors, as good military sense and the laws and usages of war require;
2. Since only the colour & some cut has been altered, I would logically assume that it still protects sailors soldiers, in so far as can be done, from the elements and, as for bio-chemical agents, I think the NBCD suit could fit over this very nicely;
3. This uniform is very much based on the traditional navy uniform (which is quite similar between all nations & is therefore more of a 'navy uniform' than a 'Canadian navy uniform' or a 'Japanese navy uniform,' etc.) and therefore displays military values of tradition & practicality (as it is based on a workdress). (Perhaps I have mistaken the appropriate values.)
