Home Uniforms

Contents:
Officer Uniforms	Enlisted Uniforms
Pre-War Dress Uniforms	Rank Insignia Overview
Officer Rank Insignia	Enlisted Rate Insignia
Enlisted Distinguishing Marks and Service Stripes	Reserve Component Insignia
Officers' Epaulettes (pre-war)	Ribbons of Decorations and Medals

World War I was the first conflict in which the U.S. Navy played a truly international role. The government's interest in naval affairs since the Spanish-American War had built the United States a fleet of battleships that was respected by the other major navies of the world. Commitments in the Philippines and China had extended the navy's reach far across the Pacific. And navy personnel were pioneering the new technologies that would shape the future of sea warfare -- aircraft and submarines -- as well as learning how to counter these new threats.

The structure of the navy was beginning to reflect its more technological nature, but still held many of the traditions from the days of sailing warships. Torpedo and radio specialists were recognized, though not yet as separate ratings, and the first aviation petty officers would be created during the war. Naval aviators increased their numbers rapidly, and began to assert their position as an important component of naval strength.

As far as dress is concerned, the U.S., like most other nations, was wearing uniforms that still owed much to the last century. But modern craft like destroyers, which were little more than hulls filled with machinery, made the picturesque square rig impractical for everyday wear, and functional uniforms were becoming more common. American naval officers in their high-collared blue tunics stood out when compared with those of Britain and France, wearing their more practical and contemporary blue "reefer" jackets. Aviation's influence extended to uniforms, too, and brought in the khaki which is so much a part of the U.S. naval officer's wardrobe today.

There are a few features of the U.S.N.'s World War I uniforms which are interesting to note today. Probably influenced by Britain, the U.S.N. used uniform differences to indicate the various naval reserve organizations, and changed these systems several times during the course of the war. The distinctions between line and staff corps officers were much greater than those of today, though most of these differences were being abolished at the end of the war. Naval aviator's wings appeared in 1914 as the first of the navy's many breast badges.