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NAVY DEPARTMENT,
WASHINGTON, D.C., July 1, 1897.
The following uniform regulations are established for the government of all personnel attached to the naval service. All regulations, orders, and circulars inconsistent therewith are hereby revoked.
JOHN D. LONG,
Secretary.
1. All persons belonging to the Navy must strictly conform to such regulations for uniform as may be published from time to time by the Navy Department. Every person belonging to the Navy is strictly forbidden to wear any dress or decoration other than that to which his grade or the law entitles him.
2. Officers on duty on board all ships of war of the United States and on board all receiving ships, Coast Survey vessels, and vessels of the Fish Commission, and at all navy-yards and shore stations will at all times wear the uniform of their respective grades.
3. Officers are permitted to wear plain clothes when on duty at the Navy Department, Naval Observatory, Naval Proving Ground, Coast Survey Office, and under the Light-House Board.
4. Officers serving on courts-martial, courts of inquiry, boards of examination, or when attending as witnesses or otherwise before courts-martial or courts of inquiry, shall wear the prescribed Undress A uniform of their respective grades.
5. Officers on leave from their ships or shore stations are permitted to wear plain clothes at the discretion of the senior officer present.
6. Retired officers will be permitted to wear the uniform of their grade as prescribed at the time of their retirement. -
7. Officers are prohibited from wearing their uniform while suspended from duty by sentence of a court-martial or on furlough for punishment.
8. On all occasions of ceremony, when a commanding officer may deem it necessary to order the attendance of the officers under his command, he will prescribe the uniform to be worn.
9. Officers are forbidden to wear any part of the naval uniform with plain clothes, except the overcoat, cape, or mackintosh.
10. Immediately after a vessel is commissioned, and before proceeding to sea, the commanding officer shall ascertain and report to the Department whether any officer under his command is unprovided with his complete naval uniform and equipment.
11. In orders prescribing the uniform to be worn, the designations (1) special full dress, (2) full dress, (3) dress, (4) undress A, (5) undress B, (6) service dress, (7) evening dress A, and (8) evening dress B shall be used.
If white service coats, white trousers, or white cap covers are to be worn, the fact shall be stated; otherwise it will be understood that the dress is to be all blue.
In cold weather the senior officer present may order overcoats to be worn over any of the foregoing uniforms. When overcoats are worn, epaulets shall be dispensed with.
In foul weather, except under special circumstances, officers shall be permitted to wear plain clothes.
To be worn on occasions of special ceremony, and at general muster on the first Sunday of every month.
For commissioned officers.-- Special full-dress coat, laced trousers, cocked hat, epaulets, sword, and full-dress belt.
For naval cadets.-- Frock coat, laced trousers, blue cap, shoulder knots, sword, and plain leather belt.
For warrant officers, mates, and clerks.-- Frock coat, plain blue trousers, blue cap, sword, and plain leather belt.
To be worn on occasions of ceremony, as in making the first visit, in each port, to officers of flag rank.
For commissioned officers.-- Frock coat, laced trousers, cocked hat, epaulets, sword, and full-dress belt.
For naval cadets.-- Same as special full dress.
For warrant officers, mates, and clerks.--Same as special full dress.
White trousers may be prescribed.
To he worn on all occasions of ordinary ceremony, in boarding ships of war, in making the first visit in port to commanding officers, on parades of ceremony with enlisted men under arms, and at Sunday inspections, except on the first Sunday in the month.
For commissioned officers.-- Frock coat, plain blue or white trousers, cocked hat, epaulets, sword, and plain leather belt; the coat to be worn completely buttoned.
For naval cadets.-- Frock coat, plain blue or white trousers, blue cap (with white cover if ordered), shoulder knots, sword, and plain leather belt.
For warrant officers, mates, and clerks.-- Same as full dress.
To be worn when reporting for duty, when serving on courts or boards, except boards of survey, and upon such other occasions as may be prescribed by the commanding officer.
For commissioned officers.-- Frock coat, plain blue or white trousers, blue cap (with white cover if ordered), shoulder straps, sword, and plain leather belt; the coat to be worn completely buttoned.
For naval cadets.-- Same as dress, except that shoulder knots shall not be worn.
For warrant officers, mates, and clerks.-- Same as dress.
To be worn when calling on foreign officers, other than commanding officers, and on social occasions when frock coats are appropriate.
For all officers.-- Same as undress A, except that the sword and sword belt shall not be worn.
To be worn at all times not already provided for.
For all officers-- Blue or white service coat, plain blue or white trousers, and blue cap (with white cover if ordered). The service sword belt is to be worn, with sword attached, on all duty with enlisted men under arms or when away from the ship on service. The sword is to be at hand when on watch.
To be worn in the evening, on occasions of ceremony, to which officers are invited in their official capacity.
For commissioned officers.-- Evening-dress coat and waistcoat, laced trousers, cocked hat, epaulets, sword, and full-dress belt (under waistcoat).
For naval cadets.-- Evening-dress coat and waistcoat, laced trousers, blue cap, shoulder knots, sword, and plain leather belt (under waistcoat).
For warrant officers, mates, and clerks.-- Same as full dress.
To be worn in the evening on social occasions, to which officers are invited in their official capacity.
For commissioned officers.-- Evening-dress coat and waistcoat, plain blue trousers and blue cap.
For naval cadets.-- Same as commissioned officers.
For warrant officers, mates and clerks.-- Same as undress B.
12. Shoulder straps shall be worn on the white service coat and overcoat by commissioned officers.
13. Chaplains shall wear the dress commonly worn by clergymen, consisting of a single-breasted frock coat, with standing collar, waistcoat, and trousers, of black or dark navy-blue material, and a black hat. A navy cap with black buttons and strap, and without ornaments, may be worn.
14. The sword shall be worn at quarters, on boat duty, and on all duty connected with enlisted men under arms. With service dress, the sword belt shall be worn underneath the coat, except when revolvers are carried. The sword knot shall always be worn with the sword.
White gloves shall always be worn with the sword, except at sea. The senior officer present may prescribe white gloves at any time.
15. Special full dress shall be worn on the first Sunday of every month at general muster in port, except in bad weather. At ordinary Sunday inspection, and at general muster at sea on the first Sunday of the month, dress shall be worn.
16. Officers serving on torpedo boats shall not be required to wear other than service dress.
In hot weather white service dress may be prescribed by the senior officer present for all occasions other than those of ceremony.
17. A cloak or a mackintosh may be worn in boats, and on shore, as a protection to epaulets or shoulder knots, except at drills and exercises.
18. Medals and badges authorized by the Navy Regulations may be worn on the left breast on occasions of ceremony.
19. In port the officer of the deck shall carry a binocular or spyglass, and at sea a deck trumpet.
20. The commanding officer may grant permission to officers to wear other than the uniform of the day at mess.
21. When on duty with naval brigade or landing party, leggings are to be worn, and such arms, equipments, and extra clothing as the nature of the service may require.
The haversack is worn in rear of left hip; canteen in rear of right hip, with cartridge belt over both haversack slings and the rear sling of the canteen.
If officers carry the revolver, the sword belt is worn outside the blouse, the cartridge box in front, and to the right of the belt buckle. The revolver is worn slightly in rear of the right hip. The canteen is carried on the right side in rear of the revolver, with its rear sling under the sword belt.
When the sword is worn with the overcoat, the sword is be outside of the coat, the belt underneath, the long sling of the belt passing through the rear slit, and the short sling through the side slit of the overcoat.
The special full-dress coat for all commissioned officers, except chaplains, shall be of dark navy-blue cloth, double-breasted, lined with white silk serge; the waist of the coat, to descend to the top of the hip bone; the skirts to begin about one-fourth of the circumference from the front edge and descend four-fifths of the distance from the hip bone to the knee, with two buttons on the waist behind and one near the bottom of each fold; two rows of large navy buttons on the breast, nine in each row; the rows placed 4 � to 5 � inches apart from eye to eye at top, and 2 � inches at bottom; the cuffs of the coat to be closed, without buttons, and to be from 2 � to 3 inches deep; standing collar to hook in front at bottom, and to slope thence upward and backward at an angle of twenty-five degrees on each side, and to rise no higher than will permit a free movement of the chin over it; the collar to have one strip of navy gold wire or thread lace, of two (2) vellums, around the top and down the front, 1 3/4 inches wide for flag officers and commodores; 11/2 inches for captains and commanders; 1 inch for lieutenant commanders, lieutenants, and lieutenants (junior grade), and one-half inch for ensigns.
For all officers, the frock coat shall be of dark navy-blue cloth, faced with the same and lined with black silk serge, double-breasted, made to button to the neck, with two rows of large navy buttons on the breast, nine in each row; the rows placed 4 � to 5 � inches apart from eye to eye at top, and 2 � inches at bottom; rolling collar; skirts to be full, and to descend four-fifths of the distance from the hip bone to the knee, with two buttons at the waist behind and one near the bottom of each fold; cuffs to be closed, without buttons, and from 2 � to 3 inches deep. Shoulder attachments for epaulets to be of cloth and silk neatly laid on.
For all officers, a coat of dark navy-blue cloth or serge, shaped to the figure, to descend to top of inseam of trousers; a slit over each hip extending on the right side 5 inches from the bottom of the coat, and on the left side as high as the position of the lower edge of the sword belt; single-breasted, with a "fly" front fitted with plain, flat, black gutta-percha buttons, and a standing collar. The collar, edges of the coat, side seams of the back from the shoulder to the lower edge of the skirt, and edges of the hip slits to 5 inches from bottom of coat shall be trimmed with lustrous black mohair braid 11/4 inches wide laid on flat, beside which, at a distance of one-eighth of an inch, with an overhand turn three-eighths of an inch in diameter at each change of direction, a narrow black silk braid one-eighth of an inch wide shall be placed. On each side of the collar shall be embroidered in high relief, 1 inch in width, the corps badge and grade devices.
In warm weather, a similar coat made of white linen duck or cotton twill, trimmed with white braid, but without collar devices, shall be worn. Shoulder straps shall be worn with this coat by commissioned officers.
The service coat shall be worn entirely buttoned.
For all officers, except warrant officers, mates, and clerks, the evening-dress coat shall be a body coat of dark navy-blue cloth, faced with the same, lined with black silk serge, double-breasted, cut to the figure, with rolling collar; five large navy buttons on each breast, two at the waist behind, and one near the bottom of each fold; closed cuff without buttons. Shoulder attachments for epaulets to be of cloth and silk, neatly laid on. The evening-dress coat shall always be worn open.
Full dress.-- For all commissioned officers, except chaplains, trousers shall be of dark navy-blue cloth, having a strip of gold lace down their outer seam of the same width as that prescribed for the collar of the special full-dress coat.
For naval cadets, the lace shall be one-quarter of an inch wide.
Undress and service dress.-- For all officers, trousers shall be of dark navy-blue cloth, white linen duck, or cotton twill.
Dark navy blue serge trousers will be permitted with service dress.
Evening dress.-- For all commissioned officers and naval cadets, the waistcoat shall be of dark navy-blue cloth, single-breasted, rolling collar, cut to open low in front, with four small navy buttons.
Service dress.-- For all officers, the waistcoat shall be of dark navy-blue cloth, or white linen duck, single-breasted, without collar, cut high in front, with seven small navy buttons, the upper one to be not more than 4 inches below the collar button in the neckband of the shirt.
For all officers, the overcoat shall be an ulster, of dark navy-blue cloth (smooth-faced), lined with dark-blue or black material, the bottom of the skirt 9 to 12 inches from the ground, double breasted, made to button to the neck, with rolling collar of the same material as the coat, and broad enough to protect the ears when turned up; seven plain, flat black buttons on each front, 1 1/4 inches in diameter, the lower buttons to be placed as low as the knee, the others to be equally spaced up to the throat; an outside pocket in each breast, the openings to be up and down, and the lower part of the opening to be level with the elbow; an up-and-down slit over the left hip long enough to allow the short sling of the sword belt to pass through it and the sword to be hooked up (about 4 inches); slit to be strengthened on inside by suitable material.
Overcoats shall be made full in the back and fitted with two straps let into the side seams in the back above the hips; the right strap shall have two small buttons of the overcoat pattern, about two inches apart, and the left strap two corresponding buttonholes the same distance apart. No collar devices. The grade mark on the sleeve shall be of lustrous black braid of double thickness, showing the same width and disposition as that of gold lace worn on the other coats. The corps distinction on the sleeve shall be omitted.
A hood of the same material as the coat, made to button around the neck under the collar, and large enough to cover the head and cap, shall be worn attached to the coat in extremely cold weather, or when prescribed by the senior officer present.
Commissioned officers shall wear shoulder straps with the overcoat. The overcoat shall be worn entirely buttoned.
The cloak is to be cut three-fourths of a circle, of a length to reach to the ends of the fingers when the arms are hanging naturally by the side, and is to be made of the material and lining prescribed for overcoats.
The mackintosh is to be of black or dark navy-blue material, bottom of the skirt to reach to within 9 to 12 inches from the ground, to be fitted with a cape reaching to the waist, to be without sleeves, and with the shoulders cut to admit of wearing epaulets or shoulder knots.
The cravat for all officers shall be of black ribbed silk, not more than 36 nor less than 32 inches long, and not more than one inch and a quarter nor less than three-quarters of an inch wide, tied in a double bowknot in front, with a white shirt collar showing above it. A standing collar shall be worn with the special full-dress coat and the service coat.
Shoes, high or low, shall be of calfskin or patent leather. In warm weather, with white trousers, plain white shoes of canvas or buckskin may be permitted by the senior officer present, when service dress is worn.
Gloves shall be of white lisle thread, except for open-air service in cold weather, when white leather or heavy white cotton or woolen gloves may be worn.
For rear admirals.--One strip of 2-inch gold lace, 1 � inches from the edge of the sleeve, with one strip of � inch gold lace one-quarter of an inch above it.
Commodores.--One strip of 2-inch gold lace.
Captains.-- Four strips of �-inch gold lace, set one-quarter of an inch apart.
Commanders.-- Three strips of � inch gold lace, set one-quarter of an inch apart.
Lieutenant commanders.-- Two strips of � inch gold lace, with one strip of 1/4 inch gold lace between, each one-quarter of an inch apart.
Lieutenants.-- Two strips of � inch gold lace, one-quarter of an inch apart.
Lieutenants (junior grade).-- One strip of � inch gold lace, with one strip of 1/4 inch gold lace one-quarter of an inch above it.
Ensigns.-- One strip of � inch gold lace.
Naval cadets who have completed the four years' course at the Naval Academy.-- One strip of 1/4 inch gold lace.
In the case of officers below the grade of rear admiral, the lower edge of the sleeve lace shall be 2 inches from the edge of the sleeve.
All staff officers, except chaplains, shall wear the same lace on the cuff as is prescribed for line officers with whom they have relative rank, with bands of colored cloth around the sleeve, between the strips of gold lace, as follows:
Medical officers, dark maroon velvet.
Pay officers, white cloth.
Engineer officers, red cloth.
Naval constructors, dark-violet cloth.
Professors of mathematics, olive-green cloth.
Civil engineers, light-blue velvet.
Staff officers entitled to but one strip of lace on the sleeve will wear the colored cloth so as to show one-fourth of an inch above and below the strip.
Line officers (including mates, boatswains, and gunners) will wear a star of five rays, embroidered in gold, 1 inch in diameter, on the outer side of each sleeve, and midway between the seams, with one of the rays pointing directly downward, and the point one-fourth of an inch from the upper edge of the upper strip of lace.
Mates, boatswains, and gunners will wear the star 4 inches from the edge of the sleeve.
All commissioned officers, except chaplains, shall wear two gold bullion epaulets of the following dimensions:
For rear admirals and commodores.-- The strap to be 2 3/4 inches wide and 6 inches long; frog, 4 3/8 inches wide; crescent, eleven-sixteenths of an inch in the broadest part; bullion, 3 � inches long and five-eighths of an inch in diameter.
For captains and commanders.--The strap to be 2 3/4 inches wide and 6 inches long; frog, 4 3/8 inches wide; crescent, eleven-sixteenths of an inch in the broadest part; bullion 3 inches long and half an inch in diameter.
For lieutenant commanders, lieutenants, and ensigns.-- The strap to be 2 3/4 inches wide and 6 inches long; frog, 4 3/8 inches wide; crescent, nine-sixteenths of an inch in broadest part; bullion, 3 inches long and three-eighths of an inch in diameter.
For naval cadets who have completed the four years' course at the Naval Academy.-- Gold embroidered shoulder knots in lieu of epaulets.
All staff officers shall wear the same epaulets as are prescribed for line officers with whom they have relative rank, with the substitution of the proper corps devices.
For all commissioned officers, except chaplains, the shoulder straps shall be 4 1/4 inches long and 1 � inches wide, including the border, which is to be a quarter of an inch wide, embroidered in dead gold. The center to be of dark, navy-blue cloth, upon which are to be embroidered the corps and rank devices as follows:
For rear admirals.-- Two similar stars, one near each end of the frog, with a silver foul anchor seven-eighths of an inch long in the center.
For commodores.-- One similar star, placed in the center, with a silver foul anchor at each end of the frog.
For captains.-- A silver spread eagle in the center, with a silver foul anchor at each end.
For commanders.-- A silver oak leaf at each end, with a silver foul anchor in the center.
For lieutenant commanders.-- A gold oak leaf at each end, with a silver foul anchor in the center.
For lieutenants.-- Two silver bars at each end, with a silver foul anchor in the center.
For lieutenants (junior grade).-- One silver bar at each end, with a silver foul anchor in the center.
For ensigns.-- A silver foul anchor in the center.
For naval cadets of the line division, who hare completed the four years' course at the Naval Academy.-- A gold foul anchor in the center of the pad of the shoulder knot.
Staff officers shall wear on the frog of the epaulet and on the shoulder strap (or knot, in case of naval cadets of the engineer division) the same rank devices as are prescribed for line officers with whom they have relative rank, substituting the proper corps device for the foul anchor. The devices for frogs of epaulets to be the same in dimension as those on the collar of service coat.
For the medical corps.-- A spread oak leaf embroidered in dead gold, with an acorn embroidered in silver upon it.
For the pay corps.-- A silver oak sprig.
For the engineer corps.-- Four silver oak leaves.
For the construction corps.-- A gold sprig of two live oak leaves and an acorn.
For professors.-- One silver oak leaf and an acorn.
For civil engineers.-- The letters C. E. in silver.
Boatswains.-- After twenty years' service as such, two foul anchors, crossed, embroidered in silver. Under twenty years' service as such, two foul anchors, crossed, embroidered in gold.
Gunners.-- After twenty years' service as such, a flaming spherical shell embroidered in silver. Under twenty years' service as such, a flaming spherical shell embroidered in gold.
Carpenters.-- After twenty years' service as such, a chevron, point down, embroidered in silver. Under twenty years' service as such, a chevron, point down, embroidered in gold.
Sailmakers.-- After twenty years' service as such, a diamond embroidered in silver. Under twenty years' service as such, a diamond embroidered in gold.
Mates.-- After twenty years' service as such, a binocular glass, with the axes at right angles to the edge of the collar, eye pieces up, embroidered in silver. Under twenty years' service as such, a binocular glass, placed as above, embroidered in gold.
Pay clerks.-- The corps device of the pay corps embroidered in gold.
Collar devices for the service coat shall be embroidered in high relief upon dark navy-blue cloth. They shall be 1 inch in height, with other dimensions proportionate, and shall be placed vertically or horizontally with reference to the upper edge of the collar.
The rank device shall commence three-quarters of an inch from the front edge of the collar. The corps device shall be placed three-quarters of an inch in rear of the rear edge of the rank device.
For flag officers the stars shall be placed 1 1/4 inches between centers, with one point up, the center line of the upper point being at right angles to the upper edge of the collar.
Where two bars are worn the distance between them shall be the width of a bar. The bar shall always be placed at right angles to the upper edge of the collar.
The anchor shall be placed with the shank parallel to the upper edge of the collar, and the crown to the front. Devices representing a leaf or a sprig of leaves shall be placed with the axes parallel to the upper edge or the collar, stem to the front, and acorn, if any, on the upper side.
Devices shall be as follows:
For rear admirals.-- Two silver stars and a silver foul anchor.
For commodores.-- One silver star and a silver foul anchor.
For captains.-- A silver spread eagle and a silver foul anchor.
For commanders.-- A silver oak leaf and a silver foul anchor.
For lieutenant commanders.-- A gold oak leaf and a silver foul anchor.
For lieutenants.--Two silver bars and a silver foul anchor.
For lieutenants (junior grade).-- One silver bar and a silver foul anchor.
For ensigns.-- A silver foul anchor.
For naval cadets (line division) who have completed the four years' course at the Naval Academy.-- A gold foul anchor.
Staff officers shall wear the same rank devices as are prescribed for line officers with whom they have relative rank, substituting the proper corps devices for the anchor.
Warrant officers, mates, and pay clerks shall wear the same devices on the collar of their service coat as are prescribed for the frock coat.
All commissioned officers, except chaplains, shall wear a rigid cocked hat, made of black silk beaver, of the following dimensions:
Five to 5 � inches high on the left fan, 4 to 4 � inches high on the right fan, and between 16 and 18 inches long from peak to peak.
For rear admirals and commodores, a strip of 1 � inch gold lace, to be laid on flat, around the outer rims of the fans, passing under the peaks.
For all other officers a strip of black silk lace 2 � inches wide, binding the rims of the fans, and showing 1 1/4 inches on each side and under the peaks.
In the fold at each end of the hat a tassel shall be placed, formed of five gold bullions, underlaid by five blue bullions, and on the right fan a black silk cockade 3 3/4 inches in diameter.
All officers shall wear over the cockade a loop formed of two parts of gold lace of the width prescribed to be worn on the collar of the special full-dress coat of the wearer, except in the case of flag officers and commodores, who shall wear a loop of 11/2 inch lace. Above the V formed at the lower end of the loop by folding over the lace, a large-sized navy button shall be fastened. The point of the loop shall touch the middle of the lower rim of the fan, and the loop shall slope upward and forward at an angle of 35 from the vertical, the ends being carried over the rim of the fan.
The cap for all officers shall be of dark navy-blue cloth, the diameter at the top to be one-half inch greater than that at the base, the quarters not less than 1 1/4 nor more than 1 � inches high, and of the same height in front and at the back. The seam around the top shall be made without a welt, and neatly stitched on each side. The band shall be 1 � inches wide with a welt one-eighth of an inch in diameter at the top and bottom. The bottom welt shall be one-eighth of an inch from the base of the cap. A band of lustrous black mohair braid, similar to that used for the trimmings of the service coat, shall be worn between upper and lower welts. The visors shall be of black patent leather, molded to shape and bound with the same. Those for rear admirals, commodores, captains, commanders, and officers of corresponding relative rank, shall be covered with blue cloth and embroidered as follows: Rear admirals and commodores, embroidered all around with oak leaves; staff officers of corresponding relative rank, a gold band, one-half inch wide, embroidered all around the edge; captains and commanders, embroidered along the front edge with oak leaves; staff officers of corresponding relative rank, a gold band, one-half inch wide, embroidered along front edge. All visors shall be green underneath, rounded and sloping downward not less than 20 nor more than 30 from the horizontal. The inside band shall be of leather, and shall extend from the base of the cap to within 1 inch of the top. The sweat lining shall be of morocco. Four black metal eyelets, two on each side, shall be placed above the band in the quarters for ventilation. A small-sized navy button shall be placed on each side beyond the ends of the visor, the eye of the button immediately above the lower welt. For all commissioned officers and naval cadets, a sliding chin strap of leather, faced with half-inch gold lace, with two gold-lace slides of the same width, shall be fastened over the buttons; for all other officers a similar chin strap one-quarter of an inch in width. When not used under the chin, the strap will be drawn between the buttons, resting on the upper edge of the visor.
The device shall be embroidered on dark-blue cloth in high relief, and attached to the front of the cap, with its center over the upper welt.
For all commissioned officers and naval cadets who have completed the four years' course at the Naval Academy, the device shall be a silver shield, emblazoned paleways, of thirteen pieces, with a chief strewn with stars surmounted by a silver spread eagle, the whole being placed upon two crossed foul anchors embroidered in gold.
For warrant officers, mates, and pay clerks, two gold foul anchors crossed.
All caps shall strictly conform to the standard sample that has been approved by the Department.
White cap covers shall be made of linen and secured on either side to the cap buttons. The chin strap shall be worn on the outside of the white cap cover. It may be worn over the blue cap or stretched on a skeleton frame.
The sword for all officers shall be a cut and thrust blade, not less than 26 nor more than 32 inches long; half-basket hilt; grip white; scabbards of black leather; mountings of yellow gilt, and all as per pattern.
For rear admirals and commodores, the belt shall be of dark navy blue cloth, with gold-embroidered stripe one-quarter of an inch wide on each edge, and one of the same width in the center. The sling straps shall be of dark navy-blue cloth, with three gold embroidered stripes one-eighth of an inch wide, arranged as on the belt.
For captains and commanders, the belt shall be of dark navy blue silk webbing, with 7 one-sixteenth inch gold-lace stripes, woven as per pattern.
For lieutenant commanders and lieutenants, the belt shall be of dark navy-blue silk webbing, with 5 one-sixteenth inch gold lace stripes, woven as per pattern.
For lieutenants (junior grade) and ensigns, the belt shall be of dark navy-blue silk webbing, with 3 one-sixteenth inch gold-lace stripes, woven as per pattern.
For naval cadets, warrant officers, mates, and clerks, same as dress.
The sling straps for captains, commanders, lieutenant commanders, lieutenants, and ensigns shall be double, three-quarters of an inch wide, with buckle.
Staff officers shall wear the same belt and slings as are prescribed for line officers with whom they have relative rank.
For all officers, the belt shall be of plain black grained leather, not less than 1 5/8 nor more than 2 inches wide, with sling straps of the same, not less than one-half nor more than three-quarters of an inch wide, and with a hook in the forward ring to suspend the sword. The belt plate shall be of yellow gilt in front, 2 inches in diameter. The sword belt shall be worn over the special full-dress and frock coats, with the lower edge of the belt placed above the two lower buttons in front and the two at the waist behind. The short sling clasp shall be immediately in rear of the left hip bone; the long sling clasp exactly in the center of the back between the buttons.
With the service and evening-dress coats and the overcoat, the belt is to be worn underneath.
When an officer is in uniform, the sword shall always be carried attached to the slings, and with the belt properly adjusted on the body.
When the sword is hooked up it shall be with a half turn, so that the hilt shall be to the rear of the hook; the back of the blade turned to the front, sling straps outside. The sword is to be worn outside the overcoat, the long sling of the belt passing through the rear slit, and the short sling through the side slit of the coat.
For all officers, except boatswains, gunners, carpenters, sailmakers, mates, and clerks, the sword knot shall be a strap of half inch gold lace 24 inches long, including the tassel, with a gold slide, tassel of twelve gold bullions, 1 3/4 inches long, inclosing five blue bullions, and with basket-worked head.
Shall be gilt, convex, and of two sizes in exterior diameter; large, seven-eighths of an inch; and small, nine-sixteenths of an inch. The device shall conform to pattern.
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