U.S. Navy Retires the Venerable Peacoat From Service
After well over 100 years of service afloat, the venerable peacoat is set to retire from the U.S. Navy's official uniform options.
As part of a "seabag reduction" plan, currently-authorized optional wear of the peacoat will phase out in October 2027, along with the dinner dress white jacket and the acrylic V-neck. The digital desert camouflage uniform will phase out even more quickly, ending its tenure on deck at the end of this month.
The changes are part of a broader effort to streamline the service's uniform, reducing cost and making procurement easier. The changes will be complemented by new digital app tools allowing sailors to custom-configure their new uniforms with insignia.
The peacoat - originally the Dutch "pije" or "pijjakkers," or perhaps the "p-coat" or "pilot coat" - is a thick, heavy woolen coat designed for harsh weather. It is an iconic naval mainstay in British and American naval service, keeping sailors protected from the elements in high-seas conflicts for at least the last two centuries. Its appearance in U.S. Navy standard service dates back to at least 1897, and perhaps earlier. It is so emblematic of the sea service that it is the mode of dress for the "Lone Sailor" program, the bronze U.S. Navy sailors' memorial statues found at 19 sites around the world.
The Navy has been trying to phase out the peacoat since 2017. It has been optional for years, and growing rarer in use, as it is an extra expense for recruits. In its place, modern-day sailors will get a new synthetic-material parka, which replaces both the peacoat and the former "foul weather jacket" (A2 Deck Jacket).
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