Navy Tartan Question

**Spartan Tartan** · 3rd January 11, 08:44 AM

Alright. This is my first attempt to ask a question, so forgive me if I placed it in the wrong place.

My question is about which tartan is the "official" U.S. Navy Tartan. I have found a couple different Navy tartans listed on the Scottish Register of Tartans...

http://www.tartanregister.gov.uk/qRe...rchString=navy

There is one listed as "NAVY" and another listed as "U.S. Navy Edzell". I am interested to add a Navy kilt as my second and was wondering which is the "proper" tartan?

Any clarification would be nice, especially from fellow Sailors that own a Navy kilt--which tartan is your kilt made from?

Thanks!!

Jeremy

**KD Burke** · 3rd January 11, 08:58 AM

Well.....here's my stab at it.

No "Official" US Navy tartan exists, however pipers at the Naval Academy wear the Polaris tartan.

I'd be tempted to choose that one, particularly if you ever sailed on a boomer!

**Spartan Tartan** · 3rd January 11, 09:03 AM

Originally Posted by KD Burke

Well.....here's my stab at it.

No "Official" US Navy tartan exists, however pipers at the Naval Academy wear the Polaris tartan.

I'd be tempted to choose that one, particularly if you ever sailed on a boomer!

I hesitated to use "official" because I know there is no "official" tartan. However, an Admiral I worked with recently transferred and they presented him a kilt made from the "NAVY TARTAN". Apparently, I didn't get a close enough look, because now I can't recognize the pattern... Thanks for the Polaris idea!

**macwilkin** · 3rd January 11, 09:07 AM

US Navy Edzell tartan

http://tartanregister.gov.uk/tartanD....aspx?ref=4188

Notes: "Designed by Arthur Mackie of Strathmore Woollens for USN personnel at Edzell radar base in Angus, Scotland."

US Navy Polaris tartan

http://tartanregister.gov.uk/tartanD....aspx?ref=3350

Notes: "Although known as 'Polaris' for many years, this tartan's correct name is 'Polaris Military'. It was designed in 1964 by Alexander MacIntyre of Strone, Argyll, for the officers and men of the American submarine base at the Holy Loch - making the Polaris submarine the first ship in history to have its own tartan. The idea originated with Captain Walter F Schlech of the USS Proteus AS19 who was Commander of the submarine squadron. This version is based on a first generation copy by Jamie Scarlett MBE of DC Stewart's original Sindex card (stored in the Inverness Archives). The Polaris woven by Lochcarron and supplied to MacIntyre of Strone for sale on the Polaris base was yellow, green, ancient blue, green, yellow. Dalgliesh have woven it using gold, dark blue, sky blue, dark blue, gold. The next weave was undertaken by Scott Brothers of Hawick in July 1978 who seem to have reverted to what is now regarded as the correct sequence YKBKY. The navy blue represents the naval uniform, the dark green the depths of the oceans and the Royal Blue and gold overchecks represent the 'Blue' and 'Gold' crews who alternate. Sample in Scottish Tartans Authority Johnstone Collection. Only available from Bells of Dunoon (Sept 2004)."

The Polaris tartan is worn by the USNA Pipes & Drums.

Regards,

T.

**RockyR** · 3rd January 11, 09:58 AM

There are actually a few US Navy tartans as others have pointed out... Another one not mentioned yet is the Seabees Tartan. Also as others pointed out, none of them are "official".

MOST people view the Edzell as the 'US Navy' tartan as it's readily available in 13 oz wool. Though I just realized, Polaris is a stock tartan as well.... Hmm.

**macwilkin** · 3rd January 11, 10:03 AM

Originally Posted by RockyR

There are actually a few US Navy tartans as others have pointed out... Another one not mentioned yet is the Seabees Tartan. Also as others pointed out, none of them are "official".

MOST people view the Edzell as the 'US Navy' tartan as it's readily available in 13 oz wool. Though I just realized, Polaris is a stock tartan as well.... Hmm.

I'm not challenging Rocky's post, but as an addendum, several years ago there was a member who was also an ex-sub man who was pretty insistant that the Polaris tartan was really only for submariners. I don't remember what his take was on the USNA Pipes & Drums wearing it was, but he mentioned a Submarine organization that had adopted it, if memory serves me correctly.

T.

**Detroitpete** · 3rd January 11, 11:16 AM

Originally Posted by cajunscot

I'm not challenging Rocky's post, but as an addendum, several years ago there was a member who was also an ex-sub man who was pretty insistant that the Polaris tartan was really only for submariners. I don't remember what his take was on the USNA Pipes & Drums wearing it was, but he mentioned a Submarine organization that had adopted it, if memory serves me correctly.

T.

Ugh--and some would say that one needed to be a CT then, in order to wear the Edzell tartan. Sheesh--the drama we can make for ourselves, eh? To the OP's questions: Nope--no 'official' US Navy tartan. I think it is nice however that for us sailors, active, reserve and/or retired, we have a few to choose from. My personal choice: I wouldn't wear the Polaris because I only spent TDY time on 2 subs. I wear the Edzell because I was a CT and this tartan makes more sense to me to wear. I wouldn't wear the Seabee because I didn't have a Seabee rating--but that's just my personal opinion of which tartan I wear.

Choose whichever you like--and keep an eye out for new tartans as well. I'm sure with the proliferation of tartan designs, more in this vein will come out sooner or later. I'm even toying with one which represents SWCCs/MIUW and other Riverine ops.

Most important advice I can offer is--choose the highest quality kilt you can afford. It's always worth it.

**macwilkin** · 3rd January 11, 11:24 AM

Originally Posted by Detroitpete

Ugh--and some would say that one needed to be a CT then, in order to wear the Edzell tartan. Sheesh--the drama we can make for ourselves, eh? To the OP's questions: Nope--no 'official' US Navy tartan. I think it is nice however that for us sailors, active, reserve and/or retired, we have a few to choose from. My personal choice: I wouldn't wear the Polaris because I only spent TDY time on 2 subs. I wear the Edzell because I was a CT and this tartan makes more sense to me to wear. I wouldn't wear the Seabee because I didn't have a Seabee rating--but that's just my personal opinion of which tartan I wear.

Choose whichever you like--and keep an eye out for new tartans as well. I'm sure with the proliferation of tartan designs, more in this vein will come out sooner or later. I'm even toying with one which represents SWCCs/MIUW and other Riverine ops.

Most important advice I can offer is--choose the highest quality kilt you can afford. It's always worth it.

Don't shoot the messenger!

I was only reporting what this fellow said, not necessarily that I agree with it. FWIW, my priest was stationed at Holy Loch in the 1960s, and he hadn't heard of the Polaris tartan.

T.

**Detroitpete** · 3rd January 11, 12:08 PM

Originally Posted by cajunscot

Don't shoot the messenger!

I was only reporting what this fellow said, not necessarily that I agree with it. FWIW, my priest was stationed at Holy Loch in the 1960s, and he hadn't heard of the Polaris tartan.

T.

No aiming you at all, brother! Just always seems silly to me how bent we can get about some things--and I always appreciate your well thought out input and attention to detail of historical nature.

**M. A. C. Newsome** · 3rd January 11, 01:12 PM

In general usage, I've only known the Polaris tartan to be worn by those with direct affiliation to Holy Loch/Polaris. On the other hand, I've seen the Edzell tartan worn by anyone affiliated with the US Navy.