The new uniform is made from flame-resistant Nomex – used in the suits of F1 drivers – which allows the body to breathe
The uniform, known as Rig22, is part of a 10-year, £78 million revamp of Royal Navy clothing and is intended to be cooler and more practical in hot conditions, according to the service.
The New Uniform
Sailors are getting a new uniform, and more than 1,000 people are already wearing it on operations in hot climates. The rest of the Navy will receive the uniform by the end of 2023, to make it more durable, practical, and well-fitting.
The goal is to provide clothing that can withstand the rigors of sea life while also being more practical and better fitting than the uniform it replaces.
Uniform project leader Georgina Davies said, “We understand just how important having the right kit is. We appreciate the complexities and emotional attachments people have to the uniform and that’s why the uniform improvement project is something I feel very passionate about.’
‘’The team wants to deliver the best uniform that we can and the project is the way we hope to achieve this. Uniform is not simple and getting it right is challenging and complex. But we are committed, and we will work hard to ensure that the money is spent where it really matters.” she adds.
Warrant Officer First Class Simon ‘Bagsy’ Baker said the new kit feels “light and airy” and “looks smarter” than the old uniform.
“In the hot climate of the Gulf, it performs head and shoulders above PCS (the old working uniform), making any firefighting and emergency duties far more comfortable,” he said.
“Although I don’t work in Rig 22 all of the time, I like the new rig, the lighter material is cooler and easier to maintain,” said Marine Engineer Engineering Technician Robert Forster.
The new clothing is made of flame-resistant Nomex, which is also used in F1 driver suits and allows the body to breathe.
More than 7,000 personnel provided feedback, and three different fabrics were extensively tested by 130 sailors on warships in the Gulf during the height of summer, where temperatures can reach 55 degrees Celsius.
“We have carried out thorough research and testing and this is the best uniform that the industry can offer to meet our requirements,” said Warrant Officer 1st Class Lee ‘George’ Reeves.
“This is a major investment in our people. The new uniform is lightweight, more breathable, will fit more people better, and has lots of good features designed specifically for our sailors,” he adds.
A further £40 million will be spent on replacing other components such as boots and belts, and a new Gore-Tex foul weather jacket and the thermal layer will be available this autumn.
The Royal Navy has launched a short feature video about what it means to wear the Royal Navy’s recognizable blue uniform.
The video is intended to demonstrate the Royal Navy’s diversity, with people from various backgrounds and beliefs working together in the blue rig to form one formidable team.
The new uniform aims to be more practical, better fitting, and to withstand life at sea.
How does the new Royal Navy uniform look?
The project team has already responded to feedback and made some changes to the uniform, including:
• Extra sizes of trousers and shirts.
• Repositioning of buttons for better collar fit.
• A loop on the shirt for hanging.
• Increased pleat size in the shirt for better movement under the arms.
• Velcro mounted White (for RN) or Blue (Royal Fleet Auxiliary) Ensign.
HMS Montrose sailors, who are currently deployed in the Gulf, were among the first to test Rig22. It means the new clothing has been put through rigorous testing in some of the most extreme conditions the Royal Navy has ever faced.
You might also like: US Space Force New Service Uniform Unveiled with Tweaked Pant Designs
