US Navy Deck Jackets & Parkas

[Guest grankin]

This is a deck jacket made under a 1944 contract. It is sometimes called an "N-1" jacket although that N-1 designation did not appear on the labels until after WWII. It has an alpaca fur lining and knit cuffs. Is is longer than previous deck jackets and has a draw string to help close the bottom. These were made in blue for a short time.

 

I have coveted one of these since serving on the USCG Unimak in '58. I knew them only as 'foul weather jackets'. In researching where they might be found, I have come across the N-1 and the N 1-2 - but have yet to work out precisely how they differ from one another. Anyone know?

[flyingtiger]

I have coveted one of these since serving on the USCG Unimak in '58. I knew them only as 'foul weather jackets'. In researching where they might be found, I have come across the N-1 and the N 1-2 - but have yet to work out precisely how they differ from one another. Anyone know?

 

I believe the N-1 is the earlier version, which has the alpaca/wool lining, where as the N1-2 is a synthetic pile lining, like the (I think 60's) A-2 jacket, which is the later deck/foul weather jacket with an un-lined collar.

 

I have a very nice n-1 marked, I believe from the Korean war, the pile is still alpaca/wool, but not a furry, the wool and alpaca seems to be tightly woven.

 

I'll try and put some pictures up today. If some one has any mire information on it, I'd be very interested.

[Guest Quiet Mike]

Hi guys. I was just looking for info on Deck Jackets and found this thread. I joined up as I have an old jacket that I would like to ID if possible. If has the characteristics of a few different types of USN jackets, but isn't like any one in particular? I found it while looking at B-10 and B-15 jackets on ebay. I'm afraid I only have a few poor photos of it that I took when I purchased it in 2006. I've since patched it up a little, and replaced the wool knits with similar brown A2/G1 ones.

 

Just visible on what is left of the label is CONTRACT NXsX 96660. From another thread on here That could mean it was produced in March '45?

 

But what exactly is it? I know a lot of B10 and B15 looking copies were made for the civilian market, is that what this is? Or is it a Deck Jacket? (The outer material and lining are exactly like N-1 Deck Jackets.)

 

I wear it occasionally in the winter, I've got an old '50's car and it's a good driving coat. Been tempted to add a USN stencil in the past but resisted so far.

 

Thanks for your time.

 

 

USN Jacket by zombikombi1959, on Flickr

 

 

USN Jacket by zombikombi1959, on Flickr

 

USN Jacket by zombikombi1959, on Flickr

[Bob Hudson]

Hi guys. I was just looking for info on Deck Jackets and found this thread. I joined up as I have an old jacket that I would like to ID if possible. If has the characteristics of a few different types of USN jackets, but isn't like any one in particular? I found it while looking at B-10 and B-15 jackets on ebay. I'm afraid I only have a few poor photos of it that I took when I purchased it in 2006. I've since patched it up a little, and replaced the wool knits with similar brown A2/G1 ones.

 

Just visible on what is left of the label is CONTRACT NXsX 96660. From another thread on here That could mean it was produced in March '45?

 

But what exactly is it? I know a lot of B10 and B15 looking copies were made for the civilian market, is that what this is? Or is it a Deck Jacket? (The outer material and lining are exactly like N-1 Deck Jackets.)

 

I wear it occasionally in the winter, I've got an old '50's car and it's a good driving coat. Been tempted to add a USN stencil in the past but resisted so far.

 

Thanks for your time.

 

 

 

There have been a lot of these sold as N-1 deck jackets, but they are not. There are bib overalls and hats which use the same contract number. I wonder if it's some sort of extreme cold weather flight jacket?

[doyler]

I had one once.Lost it to water damage.If I recall correctly it was marked A-1 but I cant find a refferace to them

[Bob Hudson]

I had one once.Lost it to water damage.If I recall correctly it was marked A-1 but I cant find a refferace to them

 

I know the Navy had A-1 in the 60's http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/92690-a-1-jacket-extreme-cold-weather-insulated/

 

Could this be an earlier verion?

[Keith]

Can this deck coat be dated from this tag? I read on here that the N140 numbers are post-war? And I read Dustin's chart that says this 140 was 1945? Thanks.

[Bob Hudson]

Can this deck coat be dated from this tag? I read on here that the N140 numbers are post-war? Thanks.

 

 

Navy contract numbers between WWII and the start of the Vietnam War can be a bear, but based on what's been discussed before at http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/1590-us-navy-contracts/ I would place this in the 1950's.

[RustyCanteen]

I concur, 1950s based on the tag.

 

RC

[Keith]

Thanks guys for the help. Regards, keith

[Bob Hudson]

This was a nice surprise this morning, one of the early WWII US Navy blue deck jackets with the hook fasteners. The Navy had a similar jacket with a zipper but it did not offer enough protection so they came up with this design with the wind flap and hooks. Before long though they went OD jackets apparently so sailors on beach landings would not be mistake for Germans wearing blue-grey.

 

This one survived in really outstanding condition: there a couple of small moths holes in the knits cuffs (on the back of the waist cuff and on each sleeve cuff) but most WWII items I find with knit cuffs seem much, much worse. The shell has some minor soiling that looks like it will brush off when I get home, bug overall it's like new.

 

These are photos taken with my Palm Pre phone:

 

deck1.jpg

 

 

 

This just came in: it is the bib overalls to go with the blueck deck jackets with the big buckles. The contract number is from January 1943.

 

 

 

 

[Bob Hudson]

Here's the buckles on either side of the pants. Those of us who wore those big clunky rubber rainboots in the 50's remember this style of buckle on the boots. On the jackets, these buckles secure the windflap.

 

[dustin]

Revival of a good thread and an interesting subject for Navy enthusiasts. these articles are referenced as Special and Protective Clothing primarily for use afloat and at advanced bases. attached are some detailed lists of such clothing.

[dustin]

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[dustin]

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[doyler]

Dustin

 

Great photo.I have a couple of those general purpose goggles in navy contract marked boxes.

[dustin]

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[dustin]

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[Salvage Sailor]

and...

 

USN BUAER AL-1 Coverall (Bureau of Aeronautics) 1949

 

 

 

 

[Salvage Sailor]

and...

 

USN A2 Intermediate Deck Jacket

 

 

 

 

[Salvage Sailor]

 

Alpaca and Wool Pile

 

Alpaca fibers were first evaluated by the Army Air Corps in the late 1920s and 30s, but the military did not utilize the fiber until the early 40s.

This change in the early 40s came about because resources like wool were becoming scarce during the war. The US Navy wanted to find a replacement for wool as their primary lining material and through trial and error, they found out that using a combination of equal parts alpaca and wool would create a material that was not only warm but also satisfied their supply chain issues.

 

(The military) would have liked to stay with sheep wool, but because the crunch of the war industry placed such a high demand for sheep wool, they wanted to reserve it for when they absolutely needed it.  The military made the liner by weaving the hairs of both animals through a cotton fabric that is almost screen-like. The result is a relatively lighter product than what you would have gotten if you used full sheep wool as sheep-lined goods typically included the sheep’s skin.

 

That “screen-like” layer of cotton mesh that the fibers are woven through is the reason the lining is sometimes described as a mixture of wool, alpaca, and cotton: that cotton component is just the mesh, the lining proper is only wool and alpaca. 

 

Alpaca is also considered warmer than wool because the fibers have more hollow space, and that creates a greater thermal capacity, meaning it allows for more warm air to fill it. It also has more tensile strength and it’s hypoallergenic because there’s no lanolin in it — but of course, the blend is still half sheep’s wool, so if you’re totally allergic instead of a little sensitive, that won’t make a huge difference.

 

While alpaca is similar to sheep’s wool, it is warmer, less prickly (depending on how it’s processed), and has no lanolin, which makes it hypoallergenic. Alpaca fiber is naturally water-repellent and fire-resistant, like wool, so it’s not surprising that it was used during wartime on large ships packed with fuel floating on the oceans.

[chris3bs]

On 6/13/2009 at 4:22 PM, BOLO said:

here's a salty well marked usn deck jacket

Seem to be very sought after now..

[chris3bs]

Here's mine - -

 

Chris

[chris3bs]

3 minutes ago, chris3bs said:

Here's mine - -

 

Chris

Belonged to P-47 pilot Durwood Williams.

[doyler]

Pull over rain parka/foul weather parka. Hood with visor NXsx 90522 contract.