The uniforms of the Royal Navy have gradually evolved over the last three centuries, since the first uniform regulations for officers were issued by Lord Anson in 1748.^[1] The predominant colours of Royal Navy uniforms are navy blue and white. Since reforms in 1997, all ratings, regardless of gender, have worn the same ceremonial uniform.^[2] The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the oldest of the British armed services (and is therefore the Senior Service). ... In military organizations, an officer is a member of the service who holds a position of responsibility. ... George Anson, 1st Baron Anson (April 23, 1697 – 1762) was a British admiral and a wealthy aristocrat, noted for his circumnavigation of the globe. ... Events April 24 - A congress assembles at Aix-la-Chapelle with the intent to conclude the struggle known as the War of Austrian Succession - at October 18 - The Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle is signed to end the war Adam Smith begins to deliver public lectures in Edinburgh Building of... Navy blue is an especially dark shade of the color blue. ... Technically speaking, white is a color, but it is also the combination of all the colors of the visible light spectrum. ... Rating is a means of classifying things in different categories. ... Gender in common usage refers to the sexual distinction between male and female. ...

History

Officers

Uniform regulations for officers were first issued by Lord Anson in 1748, and remained unchanged for nearly twenty years. Reportedly, the officers themselves advocated its adoption, as they "wished to be recognised as being in the service of the Crown."^[3] The "best uniform", consisting of an embroidered blue coat with white facings, worn unbuttoned with white breeches and stockings, was worn for ceremonial occasions; the "working rig" was a simpler, less embroidered uniform for day-to-day use. In 1767 the best uniform was abolished and replaced by the working rig, with a simpler "undress" uniform for day-to-day use. By 1795, as a result of the Napoleonic Wars, a plain blue frock coat had been introduced for everyday use.^[1] In military organizations, an officer is a member of the service who holds a position of responsibility. ... George Anson, 1st Baron Anson (April 23, 1697 – 1762) was a British admiral and a wealthy aristocrat, noted for his circumnavigation of the globe. ... Events April 24 - A congress assembles at Aix-la-Chapelle with the intent to conclude the struggle known as the War of Austrian Succession - at October 18 - The Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle is signed to end the war Adam Smith begins to deliver public lectures in Edinburgh Building of... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Pants. ... A stocking is a close-fitting, variously elastic garment covering the foot and lower part of the leg, but usually not intended to conceal the leg. ... 1767 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... 1795 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Combatants Austria[1] Portugal Prussia[1] Russia[2] Spain[3] Sweden United Kingdom[4] French Empire Holland Kingdom of Italy Kingdom of Naples Duchy of Warsaw Bavaria[5] Saxony[6] Denmark [7] Commanders Archduke Charles Prince Schwarzenberg Karl Mack von Leiberich Gebhard von Blücher Duke of Brunswick Prince of... Formal black frock coat with silk faced lapels, light grey waistcoat, striped trousers, button boots, gloves, cravat in ascot knot and tie pin; April 1904. ...

In 1825, the white breeches were replaced by trousers for officers serving in the United Kingdom, although the practice of wearing white trousers with naval uniforms continued for officers serving overseas (e.g. in the West Indies and China) until 1939. Throughout the nineteenth century, there was great variation in uniform; officers paid for their own uniform, and often adapted it to fit civilian fashion of the time, as the Admiralty regulations governing uniform were not highly prescriptive.^[1] Opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway 1825 (MDCCCXXV) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Pants. ... The Caribbean or the West Indies is a group of islands in the Caribbean Sea. ... Year 1939 (MCMXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Flag of the Lord High Admiral The Admiralty was formerly the authority in the United Kingdom responsible for the command of the Royal Navy. ...

For service in tropical climates, a white tunic and trousers were introduced in 1877, and replaced by a new design in 1938 comprising a white shirt and shorts.^[1] The tropics are the geographic region of the Earth centered on the equator and limited in latitude by the two tropics: the Tropic of Cancer in the north and the Tropic of Capricorn in the southern hemisphere. ... Tupa Inca tunic The tunic was the common masculine garment of Roman civilization. ... 1877 (MDCCCLXXVII) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... Year 1938 (MCMXXXVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... Business shirt A shirt is a piece of clothing for the trunk of the body. ... For other uses, see Shorts (disambiguation). ...

Ratings

Uniform for ratings was first established by the Admiralty in 1857. Prior to this, most seamen wore "slop", or ready-made clothing sold to the ship's crew by a contractor; many captains established general standards of appearance for the seamen on their vessel, but there was little or no uniformity between ships. On one occasion in 1853, the commanding officer of HMS Harlequin paid for his crew to dress as harlequins, an incident which may have contributed to the Admiralty's decision to adopt a standard uniform.^[4] Flag of the Lord High Admiral The Admiralty was formerly the authority in the United Kingdom responsible for the command of the Royal Navy. ... 1857 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... 1853 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... “Arlecchino” redirects here. ...

A number of changes have been introduced since the introduction of the first rating uniform, notably the removal of the blue jacket in 1890, and the replacement of bell-bottoms by flared trousers in 1977. In 1997 there was a major standardisation programme, meaning that all ratings now wear the same ceremonial uniform for the first time in history.^[4] Look up jacket in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... 1890 (MDCCCXC) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar). ... Bell bottoms are trousers that become more wide from the knees downwards. ... Also: 1977 (album) by Ash. ... Year 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar). ...

Present day uniform

Present-day Royal Navy officers and ratings have several different uniforms; some are blue, others are white. In military organizations, an officer is a member of the service who holds a position of responsibility. ... Rating is a means of classifying things in different categories. ...

Blue No. 1 dress

This is the formal uniform worn on ceremonial occasions. It is divided into 1A (with medals and bearing arms), 1B (same as 1A, but without arms), and 1C (with medal ribbons). Female personnel may wear skirts except when carrying a sword or rifle.^[5] A Medal can mean three things: a wearable medal awarded by a government for services to a country (such as Armed force service); strictly speaking this only refers to a medal of coin-like appearance, but informally the word also refers to an Order (decoration); a table medal awarded by... A skirt is a traditionally feminine tube- or cone-shaped garment which is worn from the waist and covers the legs. ... Swiss longsword, 15th or 16th century Look up Sword in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

Blue No. 2 dress

This is worn in the evenings for dining. 2A is the formal evening dress for ceremonial dinners; it consists of "ball dress with [a] white waistcoat (cummerbund for female officers) with miniature medals." 2B is "mess undress" for other mess functions, and is worn with a cummerbund and miniature medals. 2C, "red sea rig", is worn for informal evening wear on board ship.^[6] Orange cummerbund A cummerbund is a broad waist sash, usually pleated, which is often worn with black tie. ... For other uses, see Mess (disambiguation). ... Orange cummerbund A cummerbund is a broad waist sash, usually pleated, which is often worn with black tie. ...

Blue No. 3 dress

This is worn all year round for general duties; it consists of a white shirt with rank insignia on the shoulders, and appropriate headgear. For officers, warrant officers and senior ratings, 3A dress includes a long-sleeved shirt and tie, while 3B includes a short-sleeved shirt without the tie. Junior ratings wear a short-sleeved shirt in both uniforms.^[7] Business shirt A shirt is a piece of clothing for the trunk of the body. ... A warrant officer (WO) or a chief warrant officer (CWO) is a member of a military organization, with a rank subordinate to other commissioned officers and senior to noncommissioned officers. ... Look up tie in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

No. 4 and No. 5 dress

These are specialist working uniforms. No. 4 is IAWD (Improved Action Working Dress) with flame retardant properties. They are worn as required for duties.^[8] Flame retardants are materials that inhibit or resist the spread of fire. ...

White dress

There are various white uniforms; White No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 dress fulfil the same functions as their blue equivalents. Some white uniforms include shorts.^[9]

See also

• British Army uniform
• Royal Air Force uniform
• History of the Royal Navy

This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The Royal Air Force uniform is the standardized military dress worn by members of the Royal Air Force. ... The British Royal Navy does not have a well-defined moment of formation; it started out as a motley assortment of Kings ships during the Middle Ages, assembled only as needed and then dispersed, began to take shape as a standing navy during the 16th century, and became a...

References