http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=32012 Maybe they will go back to tradition never saw pipeing on Dress whites before might be interesting.

Do they still get to keep the hats for officers and chiefs?

Mulder I didn't see where they would take the billed cap away. The CPO & Officer's flat hat has been modified but it has a long tradition going back to the 1850's

http://www.bluejacket.com/sea-service_uniform_b.htm This has a pretty good read on the orignal uniform.

Very informative SULLY1. The uniform speaks well of the Navy tradition.

What about the kilt?
The US Navy has registered a blue sett tartan with the Lord Lyon King of Arms for an ' official tartan ' of the US Navy and it has been suggested as an alternate form of 'dress' for formal/mess events...

http://www.quarterdeck.org/uniforms/uniforms.htmMulder here is another good read just open the plates esp 1-11 & 20-29.

Rocketeer I don't know the reason for the request or registeration for the Tartan crest what was the date.Most of the Uniforms of the US Navy orignaly had a meaning and use until the 70's.

Sully:

don't have all the details on the Navy kilt..

I did have a copy of the Offical Tartan Registry that listed those patterns that were 'recognized ' as "Tartans" as opposed to those patterns that constitute just "plaid"

The United States Navy Tartan is one of the officially registered patterns..it is alovely blue/black and white weave..I'll see if I can google up a link/photo...

Sully:

found it:

Scottish Tartans Authority
ITI # 80 registered 1986 designed by Arthur H. Mackie
Offical Designation: US Navy/Udzell

http://www.tartansauthority.com/Web/site/cart2.asp

if you check out the ' tartan ferret ' there is a category called American military and they list tartans for a number of US military units, etc.. 7th US Cavalry for instance..[ Armstrong tartan after Gen. George Armstrong Custer ]...

have this image of Charlie Sheen in Navy Seals storming the beach in a kilt..LOLOL

didn't realize the USA went in for stuff like this.. up here in the True North we have a national tartan, almost every province has its own tartan and even our Air Farce has its own..[ of course my home regiment sports the only important tartan ! ]

Did get a good guffaw over the fact that the Hare Khrishna religious organization has its own tartan...saffron robes and kilts blinging little cymbols as they prance around airports [ do they still do that? ]

Don't surprise me too much our Police in the US maintain a band of Bagpipes for their Funerals also I think the US Navy has a Bagpipe band not sure.