New Royal Navy combat number 4 uniform.
Looks like Little F (in both cases) is wearing..... shock horror!
..... a baseball cap.
Incidentally, it should be recalled that any uniform changes such as those at issue have to be approved personally by HM The Queen.
Jack
..... a baseball cap.Incidentally, it should be recalled that any uniform changes such as those at issue have to be approved personally by HM The Queen.
Jack
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: 23, Railway Cuttings, East Cheam
Age: 68
Posts: 3,115
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I thought the uniforms were cotton to stop them welding to the skin in a flash fire
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Hanging off the end of a thread
Posts: 33,048
Received 2,920 Likes
on
1,249 Posts
Damn sight better better than nylon though.
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: The Road to Nowhere
Posts: 1,023
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Silent Velcro?
The Military Has Silent Velcro!
See here
I believe there are other versions.
I must get out much more.
STH
The Military Has Silent Velcro!
See here
I believe there are other versions.
I must get out much more.
STH
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: 23, Railway Cuttings, East Cheam
Age: 68
Posts: 3,115
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Damn sight better better than nylon though.
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Hanging off the end of a thread
Posts: 33,048
Received 2,920 Likes
on
1,249 Posts
There is a way to get around the Velcro noise issue
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Canada
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Not caps, but nylon vs 'good' aircrew flight gear. Original aircrew watch I was issued early 70's had a woven canvas strap. nice and safe. Watch went U/S about 2 years later, stores replacement aircrew watch had a nylon strap! with a leather section that threaded through the strap, so the metal watch and clasp didn't touch the skin, but most of the nylon strap did! HMG got the watch back when I left, but I still have the strap somewhere (I think).
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Better than 4s and works really well
I was part of the 7 month trial in 2012 on board HMS DARING. I have to say the new uniform is excellent both in the heat and humidity of the gulf and also the more temperate climate of the north atlantic.
The only velcro IIRC was to attach name badges and crests rather like the new PCS, which this new uniform closely resembles.
The baseball caps were only worn whilst at sea (RAS etc), not alongside when a traditional cap or beret was correctly deemed more appropriate.
Overall a vast improvement; practicable, versatile, comfortable and smart.
FNS
The only velcro IIRC was to attach name badges and crests rather like the new PCS, which this new uniform closely resembles.
The baseball caps were only worn whilst at sea (RAS etc), not alongside when a traditional cap or beret was correctly deemed more appropriate.
Overall a vast improvement; practicable, versatile, comfortable and smart.
FNS
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: @exRAF_Al
Posts: 3,297
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I think it looks ok - utilitarian, functional and comfortable. Let's face it, naval rig at sea has always looked unwieldy, how would bell bottoms, flares and nylon trousers have coped with the PPRuNe microscope of the 60s, 70s and 80s? My concern would be that it looks like it'll get tatty quickly (it doesn't look particularly rugged) and the baseball hats give the bean counters something to flog. But hey, how many Red Arrow flying suits for the fighter aces of tomorrow are there out there? All good fun.
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Tennessee - Smoky Mountains
Age: 55
Posts: 1,602
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
I think this stuff is just about probably an improvement on the uniform from the past in a practical sense..
In my time I would have liked to have seen:
A slip on, heavy duty boot with thick sole and steel cap. Possibly like a rigger boot.
A proper Winter coat with a big hood, made to keep you warm instead of the crap thin plastic anoraks we had.
A thicker warmer pullover.
A strong practical smock.
A fleece. Some long sleeved tops, casual (bit like a noggy top of old).
Proper blue strong combat trousers with bigger deeper securable thigh pockets for keeping anything from the duty SPO keys to an SA80 magazine to a small radio.
Think they should have brought out a suitable soft cap rather than a baseball cap.
All this based on my own hard luck experience.
Hope these items are now in for the current lads and lasses, but I doubt it. It seems too hard to grasp.
Although lace-up, the combat assault boots that were issued with CS95 were also very comfortable, warm and had good grip. Berets were warm in their own right, but if things got really cold or dirty, there was always the headover cap; that was simple and effective.
The only problem with the fleece was you couldn't wear it as the outer layer as it was camouflaged and had no rank tabs. Thus the SSM would be heard screaming "No fooking teddy bears!"
There's always the arctic kit too if it's that cold. I got issued that gear for Bosnia in winter, and the "Deputy-Dawg" hat was so warm that you'd have to take it off within an hour. The parka was OK, in reality the CS95 layered approach was better. With thermal long john top & bottoms, CS95 pants and Norwegian shirt (issued with CS95), fleece, CS95 smock and Goretex waterproofs if required, there really was no issue in the -25C temps on Mount Igman.
I thought CS95 was very good, and certainly a vast improvement over the utter garbage that preceded it. The 68 pattern combat jacket was good until it got wet, but that's about it.
I think the baseball cap is thoroughly impractical.
If you want to look up at, e.g., an instrument, bareheaded or wearing a beret, a flick of the eyes will suffice. Wearing the street dude hat you have to tilt right back.
Bas, never wore headgear in ships engine rooms or transport aircraft.
If you want to look up at, e.g., an instrument, bareheaded or wearing a beret, a flick of the eyes will suffice. Wearing the street dude hat you have to tilt right back.
Bas, never wore headgear in ships engine rooms or transport aircraft.
Or 'kewl' in yoof-speak, Aaron.
Being now 'somdel stape in age*', driving one's teutonic tourer on sunny days either means acquiring sunglasses with corrective lenses (at £ lots), or using a 'baseball' cap with ordinary spectacles...
...which is OK provided no-one recognises me!
*for grammar school oiks, that's a Chaucerian phrase meaning 'an old fart'!
Being now 'somdel stape in age*', driving one's teutonic tourer on sunny days either means acquiring sunglasses with corrective lenses (at £ lots), or using a 'baseball' cap with ordinary spectacles...
...which is OK provided no-one recognises me!
*for grammar school oiks, that's a Chaucerian phrase meaning 'an old fart'!
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Hanging off the end of a thread
Posts: 33,048
Received 2,920 Likes
on
1,249 Posts
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Tennessee - Smoky Mountains
Age: 55
Posts: 1,602
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Or 'kewl' in yoof-speak, Aaron.
Being now 'somdel stape in age*', driving one's teutonic tourer on sunny days either means acquiring sunglasses with corrective lenses (at £ lots), or using a 'baseball' cap with ordinary spectacles...
...which is OK provided no-one recognises me!
*for grammar school oiks, that's a Chaucerian phrase meaning 'an old fart'!
Being now 'somdel stape in age*', driving one's teutonic tourer on sunny days either means acquiring sunglasses with corrective lenses (at £ lots), or using a 'baseball' cap with ordinary spectacles...
...which is OK provided no-one recognises me!
*for grammar school oiks, that's a Chaucerian phrase meaning 'an old fart'!
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Hanging off the end of a thread
Posts: 33,048
Received 2,920 Likes
on
1,249 Posts
Blimey, a Kleines Kettenkrad