The uniform of the Russian fleet

With the creation in Russia by Peter the Great of a regular fleet for lower ranks and sailors , a suit was introduced consisting of elements of Dutch marine clothing - a wide-brimmed hat, short green pants, stockings, leather shoes and a coarse-gray or green jacket. The sailors were charged with preserving their uniforms - otherwise the culprit would face severe punishment. According to the Maritime Charter of 1720 :

The uniform of the fleet’s ranks under Peter the Great was very simple and the sailors consisted of a short bostrog , short knee-length trousers, blue stockings and shoes with copper buckles , and a high black felt hat with rather large brim was put on his head in summer and winter; the camisole and trousers were dark green cloth in winter and white linen in summer; the ranks of the soldier regiments had the uniform uniform almost identical to that of the ground forces. Navy officers had no uniforms. The uniform of sailors' uniforms during the time from Peter I to Alexander I almost does not change, but only becomes more complicated; the sides and collars of the camisole of the highest ranks are embroidered with gold, they put on boots, they collect hair in beads and braids and powder. The uniforms of uniforms in the period from 1764-1802 differed in a rather significant variety; during this time, naval gunners had all the uniforms of red color, helmets with a bear crest served as their headdress; the sailors had uniform white jackets with the same lapels, double-breasted, with a gray-green collar and cuffs, and working jackets, the so-called bostrogs, were single-breasted gray-green, in both cases short pants to the knees, in summer white, linen; high boots; the cap was original, felt, high, with a lapel below, resembling a Russian Greek. In summer, the sailor's work suit consisted of teak camisole with blue longitudinal stripes and shoes. In general, it should be noted that the uniform of sailors of the XVIII century. was quite well adapted to his work and quite comfortable.

The form of fleet uniforms changes quite sharply during the reign of Alexander I; here, just like in the ground forces, uniforms appeared with daggers, in the form of tailcoats , with high collars, in the navy crews white, in the guard’s black with buttonholes , long woolen trousers , on the heads of officers high double-sided hats with plume , at the lower ranks hats with wide brim, tall, cylindrical, in a guards carriage with a coat of arms in front, and in naval hats with a cockade made of ribbon on one side. At the same time, the raincoats were replaced by a narrow overcoat sewn into the waist, with a standing collar.

In 1826, fleet officers were given frock-coats ( uniforms ) with long tails and upright high collars; hats are replaced by shakos with small visors and a coat of arms; the shakos were truncated cones. Both the officers and the lower ranks received caps with edgings in the manner of the army, from a company on a fringe ; overcoats, however, remained the former inconvenient. During all this time, as can be seen from the description, the marine form was slightly different from the land.

In November 1811, the cap was introduced as an everyday, everyday headdress in all parts of the Russian army and navy. . This cap was distinguished by the absence of tape, dark green color and large piercing numbers of naval crews on the outskirts. Since the middle of the XIX century. they began to make white edging on their visors - narrow white piping - a detail that has survived on modern visors.

The uniforms changed dramatically during the reign of Alexander II; sailors received their original caps with ribbons, from the Black Sea and St. George’s guards, from the others - black; the cut of the naval overcoat is the same as the overcoat, but it is black; black and officer coats .

The uniforms were replaced by the so-called. pea -collars with turn-down collars and buttons in two rows; this uniform is worn in certain cases, but in general the sailor's clothes are made up of a flannel blue loose shirt , reaching to the waist and falling down in a lap; the shirt collar is carved in front, a wide collar covers the back; under this shirt a uniform linen is worn, of the same cut, white with a blue turn-down collar, released over the flannel; a body knitted sweatshirt is put on the body, which is visible in the open collar of the shirts; trousers are black long or in boots, and in summer white, linen; there is no ceremonial headdress. Officers in the seventies of the XIX century. instead of deaf frock coats, they got open with a shirt-front, their uniforms remained with high collars, but with long tails; the shaver was replaced by a triangular hat , such as that of civilian officials ; in 1902, officers and officials of the maritime department received permission during the summer to wear special capes with hoods.