Imperial Navy Uniforms
- Thread starter Andrew Boulton
- Start date
I'm with you on this one, Hans.
There is some precedent - Rob Caswell did a great job on Scout Service uniforms in Grand Census (CT) and World Builder's Handbook (MT), as well as Imperial Guard Uniforms in Travellers' Digest #9. The later also included a nice version of an Imperial Marine Dress Uniform. Bryan Gibson also did some nice Marine uniforms for Travellers' Digest #14. Of course these are from DGP, so they are 'authoritative but not canon' according to FFE. But 'authoritative' works for me, especially when it is quality work like these.
Unfortunately there are no such illustrations for the Imperial Navy, which is strange considering its importance in the Imperium. I have been wondering if it would be feasible to set up a contest for artists to design a set of uniforms, much as we have had/are having contests here for starship and vehicle designs?
Anyway, as I see it, Imperial Navy uniforms would be heavily influenced by the feudal nature of Imperial society, where the senior levels of the naval hierarchy are intertwined with the Imperial nobility – at least in the CT Imperium. The formal dress uniforms for officers should be showpieces, with lots of gold brocade, cords and tassels, fringed epaulets, even short capes (though I’m not big on them myself). William H. Keith Jr. did many illustrations that were suggestive of this, though unfortunately none of them were definitively naval uniforms. Regular duty uniforms would necessarily be less ornate, but would still have some ‘flash’ to them.
On the other hand the uniforms of enlisted personnel would be much simpler affairs, helping to highlight and perpetuate the class differences between the officers and crew.
Of course once the Rebellion began, the pomp and ceremony of Imperial naval life gave way to they systematic exercise of war and destruction. Lucan shut down the Imperial Moot and the important bonds of feudal fealty gave way to factional loyalties. In such an atmosphere, I expect that the uniforms of naval personnel (as they were redesigned by various factions) would become much simpler and more functional. But that is another story.
As for the color of Imperial Naval Uniforms (getting back on topic for this thread), why should they be limited to one color? Modern wet navies tend to have different uniforms and colors for different occasions: Dress Blues, Summer/Tropical Whites, Service Khakis, flight suit grey, etc. I would expect that the Imperial Navy would show at least as much diversity as our modern militaries. Again, this is a way of showing off class/rank status.
So as I envision them, Imperial Naval uniforms would be:
- Formal Dress: Black (or dark navy blue) with lots of gold dressing
- Dirt-side: Red or White (depending on the environment of the planet)
- Service: Blue-Grey
- Flight suit: Dark Grey
That's my two credits worth anyway.
Andrew Boulton
The Adminator
Blue, according to several CT/MT covers.
chshrkt
SOC-12
I just got back from BayCon where I was dressed as Han Solo, but I would love to go back next year in either a IISS or IN uniform for one of the days. My wife sat in on a costuming panel while I was listening to Doug Berry talk about world building, and one of the panelists in the costuming thing talked about Traveller and military uniforms therein, so she swears. She does not remember who it was that talked about Traveller though.
The panelists were, according to my program:
Chris Bertani, Kathe Gust, Tory Parker, and the moderator was Jennifer Tifft.
Do those names ring a bell with anyone?
The panelists were, according to my program:
Chris Bertani, Kathe Gust, Tory Parker, and the moderator was Jennifer Tifft.
Do those names ring a bell with anyone?
This is an area that Marc could really develop. A line of clothing/costumes modelled after the Imperium Campaign that could easily be used for LARPing commmunities. Even if they don't play Traveller, it would provide great inspiration and bring new gamers back.
I recently read a review of Traveller just being for military types and just one dimensional, now, we all know on this list that this simply is not true, but what are we doing about it? More importantly, what are the owners of the IP doing about it.
I recently read a review of Traveller just being for military types and just one dimensional, now, we all know on this list that this simply is not true, but what are we doing about it? More importantly, what are the owners of the IP doing about it.
Andrew Boulton
The Adminator
First In showed them in grey. Scouts & Assassins said black. Neither are true canon.
It's not a question of showing them how I think the uniform of the [Imperial organization of your choice] looks. It's a question of a Traveller illustrator making an illustration of someone that I think looks just like [useful NPC] and wanting to show it to my players to enhance the verisimilitude of the adventure. Only, last session I showed them[*] an illustration of [another NPC belonging to the same organization] by another illustrator, and the uniform is completely different. Bummer.
Hans
[*] This is a bit theoritical right now, mind you, as I don't run any F-t-F games at the moment. But I hope you understand my drift.
Last edited:
Due to shipboard storage considerations, transportation/distribution distances, the number of different uniforms and durability of the uniforms would have to be a major consideration.
White is always good for Navy Dress uniforms that only have to be worn occasionally.
A dark stain/rip proof uniform for duty/maintenance would be nessecary.
Anyone operating in vacuum or small craft should be in a very high visability color, such as distress orange.
Officers can always be designated by adding piles of spagetti on shoulder boards and hats. That means they can draw uniforms from the same stores as the crew.
A good quality cloth that is airtight may sound good for use when sudden pressure loss is possible, but wearing a covering that does not pass any air, moisture, or heat very quickly becomes extremely uncomfortable to the point where duty is affected. Just ask anyone who wore chem gear in MOPP4 for more than a few minutes how long it took them to pull off thier mask after the all clear horn was blown, or how long it took them to strip after the EndEx was called. The effieciency loss would not make sense when a vacc suit could be put on quickly.
White is always good for Navy Dress uniforms that only have to be worn occasionally.
A dark stain/rip proof uniform for duty/maintenance would be nessecary.
Anyone operating in vacuum or small craft should be in a very high visability color, such as distress orange.
Officers can always be designated by adding piles of spagetti on shoulder boards and hats. That means they can draw uniforms from the same stores as the crew.
A good quality cloth that is airtight may sound good for use when sudden pressure loss is possible, but wearing a covering that does not pass any air, moisture, or heat very quickly becomes extremely uncomfortable to the point where duty is affected. Just ask anyone who wore chem gear in MOPP4 for more than a few minutes how long it took them to pull off thier mask after the all clear horn was blown, or how long it took them to strip after the EndEx was called. The effieciency loss would not make sense when a vacc suit could be put on quickly.
Hi
Here is how the US Navy does it on a carrier flight deck.
http://www.chinfo.navy.mil/navpalib/ships/carriers/rainbow.html
something like this on larger ships would be handy.
For Solomani Marine Battle Dress,how about the same color as the bulkheads in Imperial warships?
Vargr Breath
Here is how the US Navy does it on a carrier flight deck.
http://www.chinfo.navy.mil/navpalib/ships/carriers/rainbow.html
something like this on larger ships would be handy.
For Solomani Marine Battle Dress,how about the same color as the bulkheads in Imperial warships?
Vargr Breath
navywarlord
SOC-9
Imperials IMTU
Officers: Dress uniforms - white with gold trim
Working uniforms - gray jumpsuits (special underlayer of a military vaccsuit)
Enlisted: Dress uniforms - Dark blue with red trim (junior) or gold trim (senior)
Working uniforms - blue jumpsuits (as officers)
(as a retired enlisted carrier sailor - always hated that khaki color)
Officers: Dress uniforms - white with gold trim
Working uniforms - gray jumpsuits (special underlayer of a military vaccsuit)
Enlisted: Dress uniforms - Dark blue with red trim (junior) or gold trim (senior)
Working uniforms - blue jumpsuits (as officers)
(as a retired enlisted carrier sailor - always hated that khaki color)
I agree. And don't get me started on their hats! :nonono:
Andrew Boulton
The Adminator
I had a gentleman in the store I work at that was wearing a Short Sleeve Mock Turtleneck Golf shirt that lookd perfect for a Traveller Naval uniform, at least the undress version
It was a light blue in color and had a light sheen to it and I'm going to check if other colors are available.
It was a light blue in color and had a light sheen to it and I'm going to check if other colors are available.
Keklas Rekobah
SOC-14 1K
Navy Color is "Navy Blue" or Black
I'm a former Navy man, so my answer is somewhat prejudiced.
While I do not see the "Cracker-Jack" uniform surviving another 3700 years - buttoning those 13 buttons during a decompression drill would drive your survival rating down - but I do see the Navy still using uniforms to distinguish between the "Bluejackets" and the "Khakis."
E1-E6:
Working Uniform: Blue Jumpsuit (Everywhere) and watchcap
Duty Uniform: White Jumpsuit & Beret (Shipboard/Highport), White Ensemple (Dirtside) and Beret
Formal Uniform: Navy Blue / Black Ensemble and Beret
E7+:
Working Uniform: Khaki Jumpsuit (Everywhere) and watchcap
Duty Uniform: Khaki Jumpsuit & Beret (Shipboard/Highport), Khaki Ensemble & Beret (Dirtside)
Formal Uniform: Navy Blue / Black Ensemble and Beret
Officers:
Work Uniform: White Jumpsuit & Beret (Everywhere)
Duty Uniform: White Jumpsuit & Beret (Shipboard/Highport), White Ensemble & Beret (Dirtside)
IYTU, results may vary.
I'm a former Navy man, so my answer is somewhat prejudiced.
While I do not see the "Cracker-Jack" uniform surviving another 3700 years - buttoning those 13 buttons during a decompression drill would drive your survival rating down - but I do see the Navy still using uniforms to distinguish between the "Bluejackets" and the "Khakis."
E1-E6:
Working Uniform: Blue Jumpsuit (Everywhere) and watchcap
Duty Uniform: White Jumpsuit & Beret (Shipboard/Highport), White Ensemple (Dirtside) and Beret
Formal Uniform: Navy Blue / Black Ensemble and Beret
E7+:
Working Uniform: Khaki Jumpsuit (Everywhere) and watchcap
Duty Uniform: Khaki Jumpsuit & Beret (Shipboard/Highport), Khaki Ensemble & Beret (Dirtside)
Formal Uniform: Navy Blue / Black Ensemble and Beret
Officers:
Work Uniform: White Jumpsuit & Beret (Everywhere)
Duty Uniform: White Jumpsuit & Beret (Shipboard/Highport), White Ensemble & Beret (Dirtside)
IYTU, results may vary.
