Through the early twentieth century the US Navy issued denim “dungaree” uniforms to ship crews; however, around the beginning of US involvement in WWII ground personnel may have been issued Army one-piece suits and two-piece uniforms in herringbone twill for chore work and hot weather field use. The adoption of HBT uniforms led to the Navy’s development of a specialized uniform designated N-3. This new uniform was modelled on the USMC M-1941 utility uniform but made from OD7 HBT.

Our TROUSERS, UTILITY N-3 are an authentic reproduction of utility trousers issued to naval ground personnel in WWII. They are made from cotton 2x1 herringbone twill, the same HBT used for the US Army fatigue uniform. They are distinguished as a naval garment by a laurel leaf button.

The N-3 utility trousers are 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. They are constructed with a button fly, two curved, front pockets and two rear patch pockets with the resulting silhouette being reminiscent of a classic five-pocket jean, evidencing the interplay between military utility and civilian workwear which took place at the time. This pattern is derived from the Marine Corps M-1941 utility trousers but differs in material and also in an exposed top front button, making them more appropriate for casual wear today.

The Navy began using olive drab uniforms to offer greater concealment for shore parties and other ground units. While the marines and Army experimented with camouflage late in the war, it was found that plain OD7 offered greater concealment in the jungle environments of the Pacific than any pattern design available at the time. In 1944 OD7 Herringbone Twill was standardized across Army and Navy utility uniforms under joint Army-Navy specification JAN-C-154, Cloth, Herringbone Twill.

100% Cotton Herringbone Twill

Laurel Leaf Top Button

Button-fly

Flat-felled Seams

Made in Japan