The Canadian Forces

Canadian Forces

The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...

 (CF) introduced the Distinct Environmental Uniform (DEU) in the late 1980s. Members of the naval, air, and land forces received uniforms distinctive to their service or "environment". While the term "DEU" refers to the different environmental uniforms, in general usage it refers to what is more properly known as "No 3 (Service) Dress".

Sea element personnel were issued a "navy blue

Navy blue

Navy blue is a very dark shade of the color blue which almost appears as black. Navy blue got its name from the dark blue worn by officers in the British Royal Navy since 1748 and subsequently adopted by other navies around the world....

" (actually a tone of black according to Canadian Forces Dress Instructions) double-breasted, six-button jacket and trousers, and white peaked cap. For the summer periods, an optional white uniform may be worn; it consists of a white tunic with closed stand-up collar, and with black shoulder boards for officers; white trousers; white web belt for the trousers; and white socks and shoes. Officers' and non-commissioned members' uniforms are identical, differing only in insignia and accoutrements.

The following are the different categories of naval uniforms in Canada:

No. 1 (Ceremonial) Dress

• No. 1 – Navy blue uniform with medals, swords, etc.
• No. 1A – Navy blue uniform with medals only
• No. 1C – White high-collar uniform, with medals
• No. 1D – White high-collar uniform, with ribbons only

No. 2 (Mess) Dress

• No. 2 – Navy blue mess uniform (mess jacket, tuxedo style trousers), authorized white (tuxedo) shirt, hand-tied black bow tie
  Bow tie
  The bow tie is a type of men's necktie. It consists of a ribbon of fabric tied around the collar in a symmetrical manner such that the two opposite ends form loops. Ready-tied bow ties are available, in which the distinctive bow is sewn into shape and the band around the neck incorporates a clip....
  
  , white vest (blue vest for "mess undress") or black or other branch cummerbund
  Cummerbund
  A cummerbund is a broad waist sash, usually pleated, which is often worn with single-breasted dinner jackets . The cummerbund was first adopted by British military officers in colonial India as an alternative to a waistcoat, and later spread to civilian use...
  
  , black oxford shoe
  Oxford shoe
  An Oxford is a style of laced shoe characterized by shoelace eyelet tabs that are stitched underneath the vamp, a construction method that is also sometimes referred to as "closed lacing". Oxfords first appeared in Scotland and Ireland, where they are occasionally called Balmorals after the Queen's...
  
  s, miniature medals are worn; for officers gold lacing on the trousers. Tailcoat
  Tailcoat
  A tailcoat is a coat with the front of the skirt cut away, so as to leave only the rear section of the skirt, known as the tails. The historical reason coats were cut this way was to make it easier for the wearer to ride a horse, but over the years tailcoats of varying types have evolved into forms...
  
  s for captains and above.
• No. 2A – As per above with white mess jacket.
• No. 2B – Normal service dress, however with a hand-tied black bow tie instead of the neck tie, oxford shoes and ribbons only (without medals). Worn by personnel not in possession of mess kit, which is purchased at the member's expense.
• No. 2C – Shipboard mess order. Like 3Bs, however, with a cummerbund (black for sea ops trades) and without ribbons, specialist skill insignia, and name tags. Referred to as "Red Sea rig
  Red Sea rig
  Red Sea rig, sometimes known as gulf rig or schooner rig, is a dress code for semi-formal evening events, which in general consists of black tie attire with the jacket removed, a red bow tie and red cummerbund, although there are local variations....
  
  ."
• No. 2D – Canadian Forces Standard (the midnight blues) which was worn by all members of the CF, during the unified uniform period (1970 to 1986). Is the same as Air Force No. 2.

No. 3 (Service) Dress

Also called a "walking-out" or "duty uniform", it is the military equivalent of the business suit. It was the standard uniform for appearing in public (hence the moniker "walking-out dress"). The Navy has an optional white summer uniform with white high-collared tunic.

• No. 3 – Like No. 1A, however, without medals, ribbons only.
• No. 3A – White long-sleeve shirt with neck tie and navy blue trousers. (Worn indoors when an occasion allows the removal of jackets for a more casual work appearance or with headdress when moving between adjacent buildings within the confines of DND property.)
• No. 3B – White, short-sleeve shirt, with ribbons, specialist skill insignias, and name tag, navy blue trousers and black oxfords or white trousers and white oxfords during summer dress months.
• No. 3C – Navy blue wool sweater worn with the long sleeve shirt (Neck tie optional).
• No. 3D – Tan, short-sleeve shirt, specialist skill insignias, and name tag, tan trousers and black oxfords. (Tropical uniform)

This uniform is the same as No 2B (Mess) Dress when the shirt and tie is replaced with a white shirt and bow tie, or the No 1 (Ceremonial) Dress that includes ceremonial web or sword belt and sword, medals and other service specific accoutrements such as gloves.

No. 4 (Base) Dress

When DEU was introduced, Naval personnel were issued No. 4 (Base) Dress, which consisted of a jacket and trousers similar to old CF work dress but in black. It was worn with a white dress shirt — open-necked or with necktie — or with the Naval blue work shirt.

This uniform has since been phased out and replaced with the No 5 (Naval Combat) Dress.

No. 5 (Naval Combat) Dress

Originally specialized uniforms for wear in an operational theatre, they have now superseded No. 4 uniform for comfortable everyday wear in garrison.

• No. 5 – Navy combat jacket, with beret (or baseball cap), trousers, "high top" sea boots (essentially steel-toed Gore-Tex
  Gore-Tex
  Gore-Tex is a waterproof/breathable fabric, and a registered trademark of W. L. Gore and Associates. It was co-invented by Wilbert L. Gore, Rowena Taylor, and Gore's son, Robert W. Gore. Robert Gore was granted on April 27, 1976, for a porous form of polytetrafluoroethylene with a...
  
  combat boots), and naval combat shirt.
• No. 5A – Same as above, without naval combat jacket.
• No. 5B – Same as above, however, with naval combat shirt sleeves rolled.
• No. 5C – (no longer authorized) Same as above, with navy blue wool sweater.
• No. 5D – Same as above, however, with naval (dark blue) shorts, socks and sandals. (Tropical uniform)

Ball caps (with unit’s name and designator) and berets are authorized for wear with Naval Combat Dress.