Some aspects of U.S. Navy officer uniforms in the First World War marked the end of an era. After the war, the high-collared, braid-trimmed "military" blouse would give way to the international style double-breasted blue service coat, and a new system of insignia would de-emphasize the difference between line and staff corps officers. The insignia on this page were those authorized by the uniform regulations of 1913, revised in 1917. The change of July 1918 concerning chaplains is also illustrated. For the major changes to officer insignia that began in November 1918, please see: U.S. Navy Officer Corps Insignia Changes, 1918-1922.
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Medical Corps and Dental Corps
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Medical Director
with rank of Rear Admiral |
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Medical Director
with rank of Captain
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Medical Inspector
with rank of Commander
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| Surgeon or Passed Assistant Surgeon with rank of Lieutenant Commander
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| Passed Assistant Surgeon or Assistant Surgeon with rank of Lieutenant
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| Passed Assistant Surgeon or Assistant Surgeon with rank of Lieutenant (Medical Corps Reserve)
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| Assistant Surgeon with rank of Lieutenant, junior grade
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| Dental Surgeon with rank of Lieutenant, junior grade
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Pay Corps
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Pay Director
with rank of Rear Admiral |
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Pay Director
with rank of Captain
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Pay Inspector
with rank of Commander
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| Paymaster or Passed Assistant Paymaster with rank of Lieutenant Commander
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| Passed Assistant Paymaster with rank of Lieutenant
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| Passed Assistant Paymaster or Assistant Paymaster with rank of Lieutenant, junior grade
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| Assistant Paymaster with rank of Ensign
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Chaplain Corps
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Chaplain
with rank of Captain
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Chaplain
with rank of Commander
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| Chaplain with rank of Lieutenant Commander
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| Chaplain with rank of Lieutenant
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Chaplain
with rank of Lieutenant, junior grade
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The black trim in place of gold was unpopular with many chaplains, and some had appealed to the Secretary of the Navy for chaplains' insignia to be brought into line with that of other officers. On June 26, 1918, Change Number 19 to the uniform regulations was issued, and prescribed gold rank stripes for chaplains. Corps was to be indicated by "lustrous black cloth" between the stripes. Cap ornamentation was also changed to the standard of other staff officers, with gold chin straps and visor trim for higher ranks. The shepherd's crook was also officially authorized for Jewish chaplains.
Authorized June 26, 1918:
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Chaplain
with rank of Captain
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Chaplain
with rank of Commander
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| Chaplain with rank of Lieutenant Commander
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| Chaplain with rank of Lieutenant
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Chaplain
with rank of Lieutenant, junior grade
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Chaplain (Jewish)
with rank of Lieutenant, junior grade
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Construction Corps
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Naval Constructor
with rank of Rear Admiral
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Naval Constructor
with rank of Captain
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Naval Constructor
with rank of Commander
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| Naval Constructor with rank of Lieutenant Commander
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Naval Constructor
or Assistant Naval Constructor with rank of Lieutenant
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Assistant Naval Constructor
with rank of Lieutenant, junior grade
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Professors of Mathematics
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Professor of Mathematics
with rank of Captain
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Professor of Mathematics
with rank of Commander
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Professor of Mathematics
with rank of Lieutenant Commander
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Professor of Mathematics
with rank of Lieutenant
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Civil Engineer Corps
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Civil Engineer
with rank of Rear Admiral
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Civil Engineer
with rank of Captain
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Civil Engineer
with rank of Commander |
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| Civil Engineer with rank of Lieutenant Commander
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| Civil Engineer or Assistant Civil Engineer with rank of Lieutenant
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| Assistant Civil Engineer with rank of Lieutenant, junior grade
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| Assistant Civil Engineer with rank of Ensign
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Commissioned Warrant and Warrant Officers
Commissioned Warrant Officers
Commissioned warrant officers wore the commissioned officers cap device and used silver corps devices on the collar and shoulder marks with one exception: Chief pay clerks wore the oak sprig of the pay corps in gold, because the silver corps device on the collar was the insignia for assistant paymasters of ensign rank.
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line
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staff
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Warrant Officers
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line
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staff
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Mates
Mate was a rank which dated from the earliest days of the navy. Mates were enlisted men, senior to all chief petty officers, but wore uniforms identical to those of warrant officers. The last mates were appointed in the 1890s, and there were probably few in the navy by World War I, but their uniforms were still covered in the regulations for many years.
