Uniforms of the 'Blue Water' Navy 1960's-1980's Cold War - Vietnam Era

[sigsaye]

Early 1980s. This is a group of Sailors on the breech end of  a 3inch, 50 cal, Twin Mount. At first, I was thinking Gunners Mates, doing Maintenance. But I noticed that they were way too clean. These guns leaked hydraulic fluid constantly. Plus, there were a truck lost of exposed moving parts that had to be coated in grease. You could not even walk past one of these mounts and not get grease on you. I’m thinking these are Gun crew, or newly assigned gun crewmen getting the $.50 cent tour of their new GQ station. 

[sigsaye]

Photo of USS Chandler, DDG-996, (post 1980), getting underway. Of interest is the Line Handlers on deck if they are in Whites, which was common  if deploying/returning from a deployment or a Port Visit. If you look close, you can see that they are NOT WEARING neckerchiefs, and their trousers are tucked into their socks. This was for safety reasons, so that lose clothing did not get caught in moving gear such as the capstan, anchor windless or chain. 

[sigsaye]

1950s-1960s to very early 1970s. Snipes, ( Engineers). The dungarees are pre Zumwalt Utilities. 

[sigsaye]

Shore based ceremony, Change of Command or retirement. 

[sigsaye]

1960s, First Class Mess. Note the iron on crow of Sailor facing camera. The Sailor to his right is wearing a Dungaree working jacket with a crow on it. 

[Salvage Sailor]

18 hours ago, sigsaye said:

Shore Patrol, Subic Bay( Olongopo City), Philippines, 1980s

 

SAN MIGUEL DETACHMENT - LAND SHARKS

Carrier Air Wing Nine Beach Det.

[sigsaye]

4 hours ago, Salvage Sailor said:

 

SAN MIGUEL DETACHMENT - LAND SHARKS

Carrier Air Wing Nine Beach Det.

LOL,  I spent so much time there in the early ‘70s, I used the address of a bar for a leave address 🤣👍🏻⚓️

[sigsaye]

1950s-‘60s, “Squids on Libs”!  Stylish White Hats, rolled cuffs, ( no “Liberty Cuffs”). 

[sigsaye]

Manning the rail on a Cruiser, mid 1980s. They are wearing “Summer White”. In in the 1950s-1970s, it was called “Tropical white Long, meaning short sleeve shirt and long trousers as opposed to shorts (yes, shorts were a uniform). The big difference here is that the uniform pictured had the trousers creased with “Fore and Aft” creases, like civilian trousers. The Trop Longs, used the same trousers worn with the white jumper, so, reversed side creases. The new trousers also had side seam pockets. Where as the old style has slit pockets, set in at the waist bands. 

[sigsaye]

Early 1980s, (name stenciled over left pocket. Line handler. Note, trousers tucked into socks. And, at least some style to the White Hat. 

[sigsaye]

Clowning for the camera. Early 1980s. Shirts stenciled on left  note Sailor wearlin the working jacket with a PO2 crow Wood deck makes me thing a BB. 

[sigsaye]

Ships bridge at General Quarters. Late 1970s, early 1980s. Name stencil above left pocket. The use of short sleeve shirts at GQ will be abolished by the mid ‘80s, as they left too much skin exposed to flash burns. We would also get flash hoods and gloves as part of our gear. Note the old MK5 gas masks. Around since the 1950s. Horrid things. Always mashed my nose. We got new ones around 1989-90, (MC2P?). More comfortable and functional. Also note the newer phone talker helmets. They weren’t that much better than the old MK ll, but at least we’re new. 

[sigsaye]

Looking forward to Another fun filled, action packed day full of excitement and adventure. “It’s not just a job…….”

[Salvage Sailor]

He may look warm, but he's keeping the bulkhead between him and the cold wind

 

[sigsaye]

2 hours ago, Salvage Sailor said:

He may look warm, but he's keeping the bulkhead between him and the cold wind

 

Oh yeah, done that!  Also, note the Foul Weather Jacket, in its natural state. Paint and grease splattered.

[sigsaye]

Ships store operator, early 1970s. Wearing the Zumwalt utilities with pull over jumper. Note he has his tucked in. It was just safer and better looking. Also note, no stencil. Not sure why it was decided, when this uniform was introduced, to NOT put your name over the pocket. It was stenciled inside, on the hem. Guys just started doing it like the old dungaree shirt. First in white because you could see it better. Then the Navy decided to put a stencil on it and made it black, with the trousers marked over the rear pocket in white. Another instance of Big Navy, codifying what was already being done. 

[sigsaye]

Climbing into, (or out of), an LCVP. Note the belt and holster on the Sailor. That is for the flare gun, making him the Boat Signalman.

[sigsaye]

Radioman, 1960-1980s. Wearing Seafarers with iron on crow. Stencil above left pocket. 

[Salvage Sailor]

15 hours ago, sigsaye said:

Ships store operator, early 1970s. Wearing the Zumwalt utilities with pull over jumper. Note he has his tucked in. It was just safer and better looking. Also note, no stencil. Not sure why it was decided, when this uniform was introduced, to NOT put your name over the pocket. It was stenciled inside, on the hem. Guys just started doing it like the old dungaree shirt. First in white because you could see it better. Then the Navy decided to put a stencil on it and made it black, with the trousers marked over the rear pocket in white. Another instance of Big Navy, codifying what was already being done. 

 

Collectors note the sage first hand observations by Sigsaye in this post, he is exactly correct on this timeline and evolution of the uniform naming details.  I concur 100%.

 

[Salvage Sailor]

3 hours ago, sigsaye said:

Climbing into, (or out of), an LCVP. Note the belt and holster on the Sailor. That is for the flare gun, making him the Boat Signalman.

 

From my collection

USN Signal Cartridge Belt

 

 

 

 

[sigsaye]

4 hours ago, Salvage Sailor said:

 

From my collection

USN Signal Cartridge Belt

 

 

 

 

WOW!  That’s nicer than any of the ones I ever used. We would carry 5-6 of each of the 3 colors of flares, (Red, White, Green), in the belt. Red on the left, Green on the right and White in the back. This was like the ships running lights, (Port, Starboard and Stern).   The flares are the size of 12 gauge shot gun shells. Red had a ridge over the opening. Green was smooth and White had a bump, so we could tell them apart in the dark. Any way, I’m sitting in the boat for some evolution or an other. New Kid, Bow Hook, asked me if that was a “Shot Pistol”. I look at him and tell him yes, Gunners Mate with the M-14 just smiles. Kid asks what the three different colors were for. I told him it was a Shark Pistol. The white shells were for sharks 3 ft or smaller. The Green ones were for sharks 3-6 ft and the Red shells were for the really BIG ONES!  He just stared at the water. 

[Salvage Sailor]

I gave a cocky new deck recruit the nickname "Shark Bait", but that's a sea story for another watch...

[sigsaye]

I’m thinking this is most likely early 1990s, “Beer on the Pier”, at a Middle Eastern base. As you look at the photo, you see mostly long sleeved shirts, the standard of the time and place. I can’t make out the ship, but the silhouette on the cap looks like an older DDG, ( non Burke). Note the folds in the cap bills. Sometimes they went into the back pocket, sometimes into the waistband of the trousers. The PO2, with the Bud on the right has an iron on ESWS badge over his left pocket. It’s position says it’s above a stenciled name, so could also be 1980s, there was overlap with that. 

[Kurt Barickman]

Looks exactly like when I was in during the early 1980s. Beer on the pier happened every week or so in Manama Bahrain when we pulled into refuel. You wouldn't believe what some guys would pay for one of your two rationed Budweisers....

 

Kurt

[sigsaye]

1 hour ago, Kurt Barickman said:

Looks exactly like when I was in during the early 1980s. Beer on the pier happened every week or so in Manama Bahrain when we pulled into refuel. You wouldn't believe what some guys would pay for one of your two rationed Budweisers....

 

Kurt

Oh, yes,………I would. 🤣😉👍🏻⚓️