U.S. Navy, Battle Dress Uniforms WWII:
Navy Dungarees (Early in the War):
We were as Americans, involved in the War…before the war even started officially for us, like it or not, through various forms of Merchant Marine systems, US, English, and Norwegian, The US public did not want to get involved, but the Government and the World really needed us to support half the world that was at war, to protect our interest and way of life. The Ships were not armed originally and soon it became obvious they were sitting ducks, so eventually more and more escort ships became available, more guns and planes to help, and the Merchant Marines trained and operated them too. The early style helmet (WWI Style) had stuck around for a while, but by 1940 was being phased out of service and into Air-Raid Warden use, etc. Most of the sips in 1940-41 still had obsolete-style weapons on them as well when they did get them, better than nothing I suppose.
The Water Cooled, .5o Calibre Machine Gun, sometimes mounted in a twin setup, is the weapon depicted here, they were the early close-in support weapon, 1940 they were being added to the ships in upgrades, as it became clear, that they were going to be needed, and the served in the Pacific, the Atlantic and the North Sea, and Mediterainain Seas, from the Philipines, Wake Island to the Aleutians they would be used in action, against Naval and Air Forces of the Axis Powers.
Upgraded-Gunner, Blue Helmet “Gunnery”:
This and the prior uniform are early wartime Navy uniforms, but the Coast Guard of the time, and Merchant Marine wore the same Utility aka Dungarees, often without any insignia what so ever though. The US Navy updated or went through all kinds of gear as it was mass-produced and updated, but Navy Blues persisted in one form or another for nearly the entire existence of the US Navy…till maybe now, or the last few years.
The idea is it is general work gear, everyday deck work takes a beating, and yet it has to be durable, somewhat comfortable, and realistic for mass production. he wears a heavy winter shirt underneath the jacket. and has his Daisy Mae cover-for-wear at sea, repelling rain, and sun alike, and a M1 helmet issued soon after the declaration of war. Painted blue, to match the hull of the vessel he is on, and the scheme was seen on a number of ships, in the Pacific, and some in the Atlantic, and sometimes phased into light gray as the paint colors went up the side to throw off a submarines calculation of distance. he may have manned an anti-aircraft gun on a Cargo Ship, Destroyer, Picket Boat, or Aircraft - Carrier the fellas all looked much the same, there were gunners aiming and turning the weapons and loaders and observers to watch the skies and seas for the enemy, from .50 machine guns (Were I see this fellow) to 16-inch guns.
PO-2, Gunner, on a PT Boat:
There were a number of these “Navy Uniforms” in this part of the collection. These shirts could be seen on any sailor during the war, before and after even, it was the mainstay on board any ship, unless in cold weather conditions, where they had a blue wool shirt. he could be manning any weapon, from a .30 caliber machine gun that shot a mile out to a 16” Gun that Hurrell nearly a ton of steel and explosives 20 miles away! And all these weapons were used anywhere the Navy fought.
The Green “Army Color” Helmet, was actually, not that uncommon with the Navy, some ships didn’t get the time to paint them, or the facility to do so, but on most of the later PT Boarts were painted green even various camouflage patterns were applied to them, so they were left as issued. The PTs carried two turrets with twin .50 Cal. Machineguns in them, sometimes another on the bow, with a 20mm Olican, even a 37mm belt-fed cannon. on the Ster another 20mm gun, later vessels even had twin boffers 40mm weapons, along with 4 torpedos, or, depth charges making them pretty formidable assault boats.
Standard Issue Blue Shirt, Gunner on LST:
Navy Deck Crew, in Winter Insulated - Khaki Coveralls:
20mm Orlikan Gun.
Upgraded-Navy Gunner-Mate 2, “Gunner”:
40mm Bofors Guns.
Navy Gun Co-Ordinator, Pacific, WWII:
Winter-Pea Jacket, and Watch Cap:
Navy Seaman, Blue Chambrie Shirt, Sailor’s Work Shirt:
14-inch and 16-inch Guns.
