The N-3 SHIRT L/S (MODIFY) combines the authentic sewing specifications and details of the original with a modern, casual silhouette. Crafted from vat-dyed cloth, it features a full button-front closure, a curved hem, and distinctive home plate-shaped front pockets, as seen in the earlier N-3 shirt models.

The N-3 shirt is part of the four-piece utility uniform developed for naval ground personnel during World War II. Issued to land units, construction battalions (Seabees), and amphibious units, it incorporated the sewing specifications and details of the time into a casual silhouette. Made from lightweight cotton to adapt to tropical climates, its design was based on the Navy's work chambray shirt, with variations in chest pocket shapes, such as the older home plate shape with a pointed bottom.

After World War II, surplus N-3 shirts continued to be used, seeing service during the Korean War and in Operation Deep Freeze, an Antarctic exploration mission. During the Vietnam War, some N-3 shirts were repurposed for the U.S. Army, with Army insignia covering the original USN stamp due to their suitability for hot and humid climates. Occasionally, these shirts were found with shortened sleeves, a modification mostly seen in the Vietnam era.

The development of the N-3 shirt was part of a broader effort by the Navy to improve special and protective clothing in 1943. This new line included various garments designed for different climates and job functions, using colors like khaki, olive drab, and light green for better camouflage. The N-3 utility uniform, along with other items like jackets and trousers, was issued to naval personnel serving in tropical, temperate, cold, and arctic regions.

The design of the N-3 shirt was directly taken from the pattern of the blue chambray shirt, a practical choice to avoid the expense of new designs. Constructed from lightweight cotton broadcloth, the shirt could be worn without the jacket in hot climates, providing a cooler alternative in the Pacific theater. The shirt featured the "U.S.N." stamp on the left chest pocket, with the sailor's name stenciled above it.

Throughout its history, the N-3 shirt underwent minor design variations attributed to different manufacturers, such as the shape of the pocket bottoms and button colors. Despite these variations, the shirt's core design remained consistent, making it a reliable and enduring piece of military clothing across several decades and conflicts.

100% Cotton

Vat Dyed

Urea Button

Cotton Sewing Thread Construction

Made in Japan