Navy Tartan Question

**fluter** · 8th January 11, 07:46 PM

The Edzell tartan and its story are pretty interesting.

I have read that it contains colors representing each of the 4 US branches, all of whom had some presence in the USN unit at RAF Edzell. The dark blue for Army, medium (the marl) for Navy, lighter blue for USAF, and the red stripe for USMC. Which does make one wonder what sort of mission at a radar base would involve all 4 services...

The tartan design by Strathmore was instigated by the USN commanding officer's wife, to commemmorate some substantial period their unit had been in place (20-plus years), a sort of hands-across-the-sea gesture.

Under duress, I can probably come up with a reference for some of the above!

Edzell tartan:

tobermoryXedzell by arcturus1997, on Flickr

**Riverkilt** · 9th January 11, 12:39 AM

Well, if L.L. Bean calls the Edzell tartan "Navy" and Rocky calls the Edzell tartan "Navy" then that must be the "most" official Navy tartan...God help me I did once wear the shirt and the kilt at the same time....

MAN OVERBOARD!!

**Donnie** · 9th January 11, 07:18 AM

Originally Posted by M. A. C. Newsome

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.

My daughter plays tenor drum in the US Naval Accademy Pipe Band. they Wear the Polaris Tartan, simply because the person that started the pipe band picked it as the tartan they would wear. I have heard that only submariners could wear it, but how do you enforce anything like that. I think that the wearing of any tartan honors the origines of said tartan.

**sydnie7** · 9th January 11, 01:38 PM

Originally Posted by Riverkilt

Well, if L.L. Bean calls the Edzell tartan "Navy" and Rocky calls the Edzell tartan "Navy" then that must be the "most" official Navy tartan...God help me I did once wear the shirt and the kilt at the same time.... [snip]

Ron, tell me that you were still drinking at the time. . .

There's no other excuse!

**Whidbey78** · 9th January 11, 02:11 PM

Originally Posted by fluter

Which does make one wonder what sort of mission at a radar base would involve all 4 services...

Joint Ops are much more common than most folks think. In my six years active duty I spent most of my time on joint operations. My first two squadrons did a lot of in-country work with the USMC, and then with ELU I was I-level support for expeditionary EA-6B squadrons assigned to the USAF.

With all the time I spent working with other branches and seeing how they do business, I have to say that I enjoyed working with Marines over everyone else, though most of us squids would disagree.

**Riverkilt** · 9th January 11, 02:23 PM

Nope Syd...stone sober....a dry drunk I guess...just had to try it...tartan on tartan

**celtophile** · 9th January 11, 03:24 PM

As a submariner who wears both the Polaris (an older version that I had to have specially woven in the mid 90s) and the Edzel "Navy" tartan I wanted to chime in.

The most widely available Navy Tartan is the Edzell and many wear it as the Navy tartan in the SAMS posts I hang with. Perfectly acceptable for anyone who is affiliated with the Navy. I have a Japanese friend who was a Physics professor at the Naval Postgraduate School and he wears the Edzell tartan.

The Polaris is my favorite but I have a relative close association with it because I did a patrol on a Polaris Sub (after Holy Loch had been abandoned and the ship had been upgraded to carry Poseidon missiles). I would be careful wearing this if you don't have some association with the Sub Force but I personally would have no problem with anyone from the US Navy wearing it.

When I choose to get a "Navy" tartan kilt I picked the Polaris because the Edzell is more closely associated with the Cryptography community but it has since been more widely accepted as a general Navy tartan.

I have done some research on other US Military tartans and there are now several other registered with the Scottish Tartan Authority including the Seabee tartan and recently a "Beartrap" tartan registered by a US Navy Antisubmarine Aircraft Wing. A beartrap is a type of sonobuoy pattern used for detecting subs.

You can find many military tartans if you type "military" into the keyword block on the STA Tartan Ferret.

**celtophile** · 9th January 11, 03:36 PM

If you happen to want to find the "Beartrap" tartan be careful not to confuse it with the "Bear" tartan.

**Detroitpete** · 9th January 11, 03:50 PM

Originally Posted by Riverkilt

Well, if L.L. Bean calls the Edzell tartan "Navy" and Rocky calls the Edzell tartan "Navy" then that must be the "most" official Navy tartan...God help me I did once wear the shirt and the kilt at the same time....

MAN OVERBOARD!!

Now Ron, THAT'S doin' the Navy proud!

**Gunny5711** · 9th January 11, 05:10 PM

Originally Posted by Riverkilt

Well, if L.L. Bean calls the Edzell tartan "Navy" and Rocky calls the Edzell tartan "Navy" then that must be the "most" official Navy tartan...God help me I did once wear the shirt and the kilt at the same time....

MAN OVERBOARD!!

I think I'd wear the shirt before I'd put those shoes on. Those are pretty frightening.