Hello! I’ve recently gotten interested in submariner items especially uniforms after acquiring my first submariner uniform a few weeks ago. I’ve searched through the forums, and noticed that there’s not many submariner uniforms posted here, so I’d like to make this thread to show off your submariner uniforms. I’ll start this thread off by posting the uniform that got me interested in submarine items.

 

This uniform belonged to LTJG Bayard Whiting Lyon who served 6 combat patrols on the USS Raton (SS-270) I Made a full post on him a few days ago.

Named uniform belonging to Captain (Later Rear Admiral) Clarence Broussard. While he was a submariner, he earned his Silver Star in World War 2 as Executive Officer of the U.S.S. Houston, CL-81 while leading damage control efforts following a hit by an aerial torpedo.

 

Famed submarine Captain Ned Beach, who made the first underwater circumnavigation of the globe on U.S.S. Triton, made the following comments about Captain Broussard during an interview about his book "Run Silent Run Deep". "Besides your father, whom do you think has the most influenced you?" Beach responded, "I would put it to four people. Perhaps the first is my skipper on this old destroyer, USS Lea (DD-118). His name was Clarence Broussard, and he could run a ship beautifully. I became kind of a son to him and he a father figure to me. I had no idea he was a submariner, but when I left the ship to report to submarine school, he appeared in full uniform with a submarine pin on his jacket, for me."

Named uniform belonging to Rear Admiral Arlington Fichtner Campbell. U.S. Naval Academy class of 1961, he served on four different submarines before becoming the the second Commanding Officer of the Richard B. Russell (SSN-687) in April 1977. After two and one-half years in command, he attended several TRIDENT Class submarine design courses and reported in January 1980 to the Pre-commissioning Unit of the first TRIDENT submarine, Ohio (SSGN-726). At commissioning on 11 November 1981, he became the first Commanding Officer of the GOLD crew. On board Ohio, he completed shakedown operations, post shakedown availability, the transit to the Pacific Ocean, initial strategic missile load out and the first GOLD crew TRIDENT deterrent patrol.

Wonderful Uniforms! Thanks for sharing

Named uniform belonging to Captain Howard S. Crosby, United States Naval Academy class of 1948. Commanding Office U.S.S. Bashaw AGSS-241 and U.S.S. La Salle AGF-3.

I assuming this thread is not limited to officer's uniforms.

 

The first picture is an enlisted World War II era jumper for a 3rd class Electrician's Mate with an embroidered submarine warfare insignia on the right sleeve. 

 

The second picture is an enlisted undress jumper for a 3rd class commissary steward with an embroidered submarine warfare insignia over the left breast pocket which was authorized from mid-1947 until September 21, 1950, when the enlisted submarine warfare insignia was changed from embroidered to silver metal.

Yea all submariner uniforms are welcome to be posted in this thread. Is that electrician's mate's uniform named? I think I see some embroidery on the inside.

22 hours ago, WW2UsCollector said:

Is that electrician's mate's uniform named? I think I see some embroidery on the inside.

Both of the enlisted jumpers are named, but only with last name and initials. With just that to go on I have not been able to find out more. The Electrician's Mate jumper is named to J. D. Wilgus, The Commissary Stewards uniform is named to W. R. Looman.

 

 

I can help you with those ID's. Just sent you a PM

My father's uniform. He was on the USS Bergall (SSN-667). His article: https://www.1stcavhistory.com/the-collection/friends-of-the-cavalry/em2-paul-schmidt

Parks

 

Captain David Minton III's uniform. Minton was the skipper of the USS Guardfish and earned the DSM during the Vietnam War. His article: https://www.1stcavhistory.com/the-collection/friends-of-the-cavalry/capt-david-minton

 

Parks

A couple of unnamed (unfortunately) CPO uniforms, one WWII and the tan one from the 50's.

Mark

 

 

52 minutes ago, TBMflyer said:

A couple of unnamed (unfortunately) CPO uniforms, one WWII and the tan one from the 50's.

Mark

 

 

Too bad about the lack of identification on your uniforms: really like your blue CPO example.

 

Kurt

Kurt thanks, not an initial, name or any kind of ID in either-I guess not too many people are going to steal a chief's uniform.

Mark

18 hours ago, Military_Curator said:

My father's uniform. He was on the USS Bergall (SSN-667). His article: https://www.1stcavhistory.com/the-collection/friends-of-the-cavalry/em2-paul-schmidt

It is so great you have your father's uniform! The tribute write-up when you follow the link is wonderful.

Question re the WW2 era submariner uniforms: does the fabric still retain the smell of diesel? I would imagine if these uniforms were stowed away onboard during long patrols on diesel subs, that smell would never come out

On 4/5/2023 at 7:39 PM, TBMflyer said:

A couple of unnamed (unfortunately) CPO uniforms, one WWII and the tan one from the 50's.

Mark

 

 

Great uniforms! I really love the combat patrol insignia on the WWII blue one.

Thanks, the patrols pins are both nice, the tan one has a silver and two bronze stars so the guy did at least 8 succesful patrols!

 

No smell to mine, but then there wasn't much call for the dress blues at Pearl or Midway-maybe in the Aleutians or Australia during their summer (winter). I have several other jumpers and they just smell old.

Mark

Here's my newest submariner uniform. It belonged to Chief Electrician Mate Howard Garfield Cooke. He enlisted in the Navy in Jan 1918 and possibly served on armed Merchant Ships during WW1 (still need to confirm). In the 1920's he served aboard the USS Seatle and USS Lexington. In the early 1930's he became a submariner and served aboard S-40 in the Philippines and China. During the beginning of WW2, he was stationed at New London, Conn. In 1943 he was assigned to R-11, and throughout the rest of the war, he was transferred multiple times between different R-Class subs. He would eventually retire in 1947. I'll make another post on him once I receive his file. I really love the bullion dolphins on this uniform.

2 hours ago, Allan H. said:

Nice one. I really like the Bullion dolphins on that one. Is it named?

1 hour ago, WW2UsCollector said:

Nice one. I really like the Bullion dolphins on that one. Is it named?

Thanks. Yes, it is named.

 

Allan

This is such a great idea for a thread. Surprised it hasn't come up before. Great uniforms, guys!

Here's another submariner uniform I just got. It belonged to Captain Cyrus Churchill Cole. During the War, he made 4 war patrols. His first war patrol was aboard the USS Silversides during her 7th War Patrol. After the USS Silversides 7th War Patrol, Cyrus was transferred to command the USS Balao, and he commanded during the USS Balao's 3rd and 4th War Patrol. He was awarded the Navy Cross for the USS Balao's 4th War Patrol. Here is his Navy Cross citation: 
"The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Commander Cyrus Churchill Cole, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. BALAO (SS-285), on the FOURTH War Patrol of that submarine during the period 6 February 1944 to 19 March 1945, in enemy Japanese-controlled waters of New Guinea. Skillfully maneuvering his ship into a favorable position to strike, Lieutenant Commander Cole penetrated the escort screens despite severe enemy opposition and launched a daring and aggressive torpedo attack to sink four enemy ships totaling more than 20,000 tons. Although severely depth-charged and fired upon by enemy guns, he courageously and expertly directed his vessel and succeeded in bringing her to port without serious injury to the ship or crew. Lieutenant Commander Cole's leadership and devotion to the fulfillment of his hazardous mission reflect the highest credit upon himself and the United States Naval Service."

After the Balao's 4th War Patrol, he was transferred to the USS Spearfish, and commanded her 12th War Patrol. During this War Patrol, he was awarded the Legion Of Merit with valor device for accomplising a successful reconnaissance mission of Iwo Jima and rescuing a downed B-29 Crew. After the war he commanded various submarine squadrons, and he would eventually retire in 1965. Sadly just two years later, Cyrus would pass away from cancer in 1967. I restored the Ribbons and Insignia on the uniform.

Here's my newest submariner uniform. Sadly it's unnamed, but it's a nice WWII custom tailored example.