Uniforms of the Royal Canadian Navy

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The Royal Canadian Navy wears a full range of ceremonial, mess and service dress. When deployed, RCN personnel wear the operational uniform that is most appropriate for the working environment. CAFUniforms.jpg
The Royal Canadian Navy wears a full range of ceremonial, mess and service dress. When deployed, RCN personnel wear the operational uniform that is most appropriate for the working environment.

The uniforms of the Royal Canadian Navy are a variety of different official dress worn by members of the Royal Canadian Navy while on duty. Originally, the uniforms of the RCN were modelled after their counterparts from the United Kingdom. However, after the RCN was merged with the Canadian Army and the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1968 to form the single-service Canadian Armed Forces, the RCN began to wear "Canadian Armed Forces green" uniforms, worn throughout the Canadian Armed Forces

Contents

Distinct uniforms for the different environmental branches of the Canadian Armed Forces were not introduced until 1 July 1985, with the roll-out of distinctive environmental uniform (DEU). [1] Members of the naval, air, and land forces received uniforms distinct to their service branch or "environment". While the term "DEU" refers to the different environmental uniforms, colloquial usage of the term refers to the service dress uniforms of the Canadian Armed Forces.

Sea element personnel were issued a "navy blue" (actually a tone of black according to Canadian Forces Dress Instructions) double-breasted, six-button jacket and trousers, and white peaked cap. For the summer periods, an optional white uniform may be worn; it consists of a white tunic with closed stand-up collar, and with black shoulder boards for officers; white trousers; white web belt for the trousers; and white socks and shoes. In reinstating the uniforms for the sea element personnel, the Canadian Forces deviated from several common conventions in naval/maritime uniforms generally; notably, they largely dispensed with distinctions between officers' and non-commissioned members' uniforms other than in insignia and accoutrements, eliminating the sailor suit and sailor cap formerly worn by junior non-commissioned members in favour of a common service dress uniform for all ranks.

The following are the different categories of naval uniforms as listed in the Canadian Armed Forces Dress Instructions:

No. 1 (Ceremonial) Dress

Royal Canadian Navy sailors parading in No. 1 Dress, with medals and accoutrements HMCS CARLETON Freedom of the City.jpg
Royal Canadian Navy sailors parading in No. 1 Dress, with medals and accoutrements
A master seaman of the Royal Canadian Navy (centre foreground) in No. 1A Dress WADS Canadian Detachment members awarded CAF Special Service Medals.jpg
A master seaman of the Royal Canadian Navy (centre foreground) in No. 1A Dress

No. 2 (Mess) Dress

No. 3 (Service) Dress

Also called a "walking-out" or "duty uniform", it is the military equivalent of the business suit. It was the standard uniform for appearing in public (hence the moniker "walking-out dress"). The Navy has an optional white summer uniform with a white high-collared tunic.

No. 4 (Base) Dress

When DEU was introduced, Naval personnel were issued No. 4 (Base) Dress, which consisted of a jacket and trousers similar to old CF work dress but in black. It was worn with a white dress shirt — open-necked or with necktie — or with the Naval blue work shirt.

This uniform has since been phased out and replaced with the No 5 (Naval Combat) Dress.

No. 5 (Naval Combat) Dress

Canadian sailors aboard HMCS Algonquin in Naval Combat Dress Web 060714-N-8629M-163 Training.jpg
Canadian sailors aboard HMCS Algonquin in Naval Combat Dress

Originally specialized uniforms for wear in an operational theatre, they have now superseded No. 4 uniform for comfortable everyday wear in garrison.

Ball caps (with unit's name and designator) and berets are authorized for wear with Naval Combat Dress.

Uniform updates

In February 2020 the RCN announced a new Naval Environment Combat Uniform (NECU) which has been undergoing trials and is now nearly ready for issue to personnel. It is a two-piece uniform, consisting of a long-sleeved shirt worn over the standard RCN black tee-shirt, and trousers. Rank insignia is worn on the front centre of the chest attached with Velcro. The member's surname is worn on the right chest and "NAVY (red maple leaf) MARINE" is worn on the left. A morale patch is worn on a Velcro section on the right upper arm, and the RCN ensign and unit patch are worn on a Velcro section on the left upper arm. Issue of the new uniform will begin in winter of 2021 and will be on an exchange basis as members turn in worn-out NCD-pattern uniforms. [2]

See also

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References

  1. Thompson, Catherine (22 June 1985). "New Forces uniforms on parade Canada Day". Ottawa Citizen . p. A5. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
  2. "RCN on the road to a new operational dress uniform". The Maple Leaf. 10 February 2020. Retrieved 31 December 2020.