Uniforms of the Belfrasian Navy: Difference between revisions
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This article examines the various uniforms of the Royal Navy. For the simplicity of this article, 'Officers' refers to both commissioned and warrant officers.
Dress Uniforms
Dress uniforms are defined as being "uniforms which are designated for formal occasions greater than those of service uniforms". Dress Uniforms are divided into two categories: Full Dress and Mess Dress.
Full Dress
Full Dress uniforms of the Royal Navy are worn for ceremonies such as changes of command, retirements, commissionings and decommissionings, funerals, weddings or when otherwise appropriate. The uniform, sometimes referred to as 'Dress Whites' display full-size medals above the left breast pocket, with ribbons with no corresponding medals being worn either under those with corresponding medals or above the right breast pocket. Swords are authorized for officers and petty officers, and are required for those above the rank of Lieutenant whilst on Full Dress. Ceremonial Guard personnel wear a white pistol belt along with the uniform.
The uniform itself contains a similar set up to the normal Service Dress, with two chest pockets and ranks being displayed on the epaulettes and wrist. The jacket, however, is white and accompanied by a similarly white pair of trousers. The trousers have a two-stripe gold trim on the sides that run the length of the trousers in question. A skirt is authorized for usage with a similar gold trim. Authorized head-gear with the Full Dress for officers are the combination hat with necessary rank trims. Enlisted personnel wear a similar Dress Uniform, but with the jacket replaced by a white jumper and neckerchief. The authorized headgear for Enlisted are the dixie cup hat for males and blank combination hat for women.
Mess Dress
Mess Dress for the Royal Navy is the most formal uniform available. The Mess Dress comes in two types, Mess 1A is defined as 'Black Tie' uniforms and are the most commonly seen. Mess 2A is defined as a 'White Tie' uniform and is for the most formal of occasions.
Mess Dress 1A
Dress 1A is the most commonly seen and used uniform of the Mess Dress type. Most often used for 'Black Tie' events, it's seen at formal ceremonies that usually take place after sun-set. They are also often seen at Weddings and Funerals, although the Full Dress is prescribed for those environments as well. They're also seen at Military Balls, galas, graduation ceremonies, and so forth.
Dress 1A is predominantly black in color, with white trims along the edge of the trousers for all ranks and a white mess shirt and black mess jacket. The waist-coast is usually black but is rarely seen in white, usually by the Chief Of the Admiralty. Officers have a gold lace tie between the edges of the Mess Jacket and a gold grim along the lapel and shoulder of the Mess Jacket itself. Officers are additionally authorized to wear a black and red cape, also seen in Dress 2A.
Whilst most ceremonies can be either White or Black Tie, depending on the situation or request of the person organizing it, 1A is usually worn for all events. 1A, along with 2A, is also the only uniform where Enlisted male personnel are allowed to wear a blank white combination hat.
As seen on the wrist of the Full Dress and the Service Uniform, the Mess 1A alike the Mess 2A hold the rank of the wearer on the wrist. Enlisted personnel, however, are exempted from showing their rank.
Officers are authorized to wear their formal swords when wearing the Dress 1A on grounds that it is permitted by the organizer and the safety board.
Mess Dress 2A
Dress 2A is the least commonly seen uniform in active service. Authorized for 'White Tie' events, the uniform is usually reserved for events involving either the Chief Of the Admiralty, the Prime Minister, or the reigning Monarch. Regardless, the Dress 2A is the most formal uniform and can be authorized for high-scale events, sometimes involving foreign dignitaries or domestic events.
The Dress 2A is predominantly white, in contrast to it's 1A sibling. The white trims on 1A have been replaced by a gold trim and the previously black buttons on the waist coat have been replaced with the same golden color of the Mess Jacket's buttons. The same black and red cape are authorized to officers along with their ceremonial swords, and are a required feature for the 2A uniform.
Authorized headgear for the Dress 2A are the plain black combination hat, making it one of the only two (the other being the 1A) uniform allowing enlisted males access to the combination hat.
As seen on the wrist of the Full Dress and the Service Uniform, the Mess 2A alike the Mess 1A hold the rank of the wearer on the wrist. Enlisted personnel, however, are exempted from showing their rank.
Service Uniforms
Service Uniforms are, by definition, worn on daily duties by Royal Naval personnel when not deployed to physical-heavy situations, formal situations, or when deployed on operations or aboard ship. Women are also permitted to wear skirts with all service uniforms.
No. 1 Service Dress
The No. 1 Service Dress Uniform are worn for official functions not rising to the level of full or dinner Dress Uniforms. They are also commonly worn when traveling in an official capacity or when reporting to a command. Often seen as the naval equivalent of a business suit, the No. 1 Service Dress is also sometimes worn by senior officers or admiralty members in place of the No. 2 Service Dress. To this end, the jacket was made with padded shoulders to better protect the rank epaulettes of an under-worn service shirt. The name-plate is worn on the right above the right breast pocket and medals or qualification ribbons are held above the left. As per standard with service uniforms, the Belfrasian Eagle is worn above the right pocket.
Enlisted personnel wear a single-breasted jacket with no epaulettes and a 'bare-buckle' belt around the midriff. Authorized head-gear for enlisted are either the dixie-cup cap or a bare combination hat for women.
Officers wear a single-breasted jacket with gold-embroidered lapels to better distinguish themselves from Enlisted personnel. With a solid belt buckle bearing the naval anchor around their midriff, the head-dress of officers are their standard combination hat. The ranks of the officers are worn both on the epaulettes and on the wrist.
While the Admiralty wear a double-breasted jacket, it is mostly similar to an Officer's jacket in that it has gold-embroidered lapels and ranks are held both on the epaulettes and on the wrist.
No. 2 Service Dress
Naval personnel are authorized to wear the No. 2 Service Dress uniform all-year round for general duties. It consists of a white shirt and tie with rank insignia either on the epaulettes for officers or shoulder for Enlisted and Warrant Officers. A pair of black trousers are permitted, but women are also allowed to wear a skirt with the No. 2 Service Dress with low-heels. Non-shine shoes are also worn with the No. 2 Service Dress, and the authorized head gear is either the cover hat or service beret. Authorized accessories include a weather-proof jacket for outdoor excursions and a woolen pull-over for cold environments.
Aside from rank patches and style of hat worn, not much differentiates between rank with the No. 2 Service Dress.
The No. 2B Service Dress was released in the same year as No. 2A (Primary), and replaces the long sleeve shirt with a short sleeve variant with no tie.
Working Uniforms
Working Uniforms are typically classified by being worn when other uniforms may "Become unduly soiled or are otherwise inappropriate for the task at hand." Such as when deployed on operations, aboard ship at sea, or in an industrial environment when ashore. As of 2014 the only authorized Working Uniforms of the Royal Navy are the Navy Working Uniform (NWU) and the Coveralls variant.
To be rewritten
The Navy Working Coveralls (NWC) are similar to the NWU. The NWC are meant for usage in dirty, laborious environments at sea and ashore in situations where the NWU would be constantly subjected to stains or wear that would grade to extensive for the NWU's usage, such as working in the Engine Rooms aboard naval vessels. Coveralls are not authorized for wear outside of a naval installation, and typical local regulations dictate that coveralls are not authorized off of pier duties or outside the confines of an assigned work-center ashore. The obvious exemptions to these rules are when traveling to and from work places. This uniform is worn with the typical dark gray cotton T-shirt and black boots. The utility cover, a utility jacket, all-weather protective coat and accessories for the job at hand may be worn without prior permission.