Why Did U-Boat Captains Wear White Caps?

[Gustav Schiebert]

What it says on the tin really. Can anyone else shed some light on the origins of this tradition? Did it start in the U-boat arm, or from sometime before?

I've done a bit of digging, so far:

• White caps were just navy summer issue, not a special 'U Boat issue'
• Most commanders wore them - but not all. Bleichrodt and Teddy Suhren being two who didn't
• An oft-quoted reason is 'to identify the commander' - fine, but where did this tradition in itself start? Why did no other arms adopt it?
• Gunther Prien's propaganda biography, which covers his merchant career, makes mention of the master of a merchant ship also wearing a white cap 'by tradition', so maybe it wasn't a specifically U-boat tradition.

Realise that isn't strictly SH3 related but hopefully some of you old sea dogs might know this one being a young sea pup, no-one's told me this so far.

[Sailor Steve]

To keep their heads warm!

[Reinhard Hardegen]

Originally Posted by Gustav Schiebert

What it says on the tin really. Can anyone else shed some light on the origins of this tradition? Did it start in the U-boat arm, or from sometime before?

I've done a bit of digging, so far:

• White caps were just navy summer issue, not a special 'U Boat issue'
• Most commanders wore them - but not all. Bleichrodt and Teddy Suhren being two who didn't
• An oft-quoted reason is 'to identify the commander' - fine, but where did this tradition in itself start? Why did no other arms adopt it?
• Gunther Prien's propaganda biography, which covers his merchant career, makes mention of the master of a merchant ship also wearing a white cap 'by tradition', so maybe it wasn't a specifically U-boat tradition.

Realise that isn't strictly SH3 related but hopefully some of you old sea dogs might know this one being a young sea pup, no-one's told me this so far.

The uniform for an enlisted sailor consisted of a jacket, a pair of trousers, a white and a blue shirt, matching collars edged with three stripes, a silk neckerchief, grey gloves and a cap with two ribbons. An officer wore a midnight-blue [1] double-breasted jacket with ten brass buttons and a matching peaked cap. U-boat personnel also wore jackets and overtrousers of brown or grey leather. As an unwritten rule, the captain of a U-boat wore a white peaked cap.

When U-boats were at sea, there were few dress restrictions. Full uniforms were typically worn on departure from and return to base, but due to the cramped and humid conditions, U-boat crews wore more comfortable civilian clothing on patrol. These included seaman's jumpers and sleeveless shirts. Lookouts wore oilskins and sou'westers on duty. A grey-brown denim "battle-dress" uniform was also worn on patrol, the original issue being from British uniform stocks abandoned at Dunkirk.

So from what I have been reading it was to quickly identify the commander in times of need, as if the lights go out from damage, you can see the white cap better then the blue in close quarters. Which is why only the boat commander wore it, unlike the other ships within the navy.

Hope that helps.

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Reinhard Hardegen

The uniform for an enlisted sailor consisted of a jacket, a pair of trousers, a white and a blue shirt, matching collars edged with three stripes, a silk neckerchief, grey gloves and a cap with two ribbons. An officer wore a midnight-blue [1] double-breasted jacket with ten brass buttons and a matching peaked cap. U-boat personnel also wore jackets and overtrousers of brown or grey leather. As an unwritten rule, the captain of a U-boat wore a white peaked cap.

When U-boats were at sea, there were few dress restrictions. Full uniforms were typically worn on departure from and return to base, but due to the cramped and humid conditions, U-boat crews wore more comfortable civilian clothing on patrol. These included seaman's jumpers and sleeveless shirts. Lookouts wore oilskins and sou'westers on duty. A grey-brown denim "battle-dress" uniform was also worn on patrol, the original issue being from British uniform stocks abandoned at Dunkirk.

So from what I have been reading it was to quickly identify the commander in times of need, as if the lights go out from damage, you can see the white cap better then the blue in close quarters. Which is why only the boat commander wore it, unlike the other ships within the navy.

Hope that helps.

Rgr that.

[Rhodes]

And then, there also the special, maybe secret for some, club of u-boat captains, that used a tea cozy! One very famous does come to mind!

[HW3]

And then, there also the special, maybe secret for some, club of u-boat captains, that used a tea cozy! One very famous does come to mind!

You would be referring to the great one, Balz, and his sidekick Bernard I presume. I miss those stories. Every once in a while, while on patrol, I swear I hear the banana's fart.

[Jimbuna]

Ah yes, the great Balz

[Gustav Schiebert]

Thanks for the responses, chaps! Its original roots may be lost in the depths of time but spotting the Captain in dim emergency lighting may well have been the reason. This is my personal favourite headress, from Jürgen Oesten:

[Vince82]

Why did no other arms adopt it?

On a ship it's hard to get sniped. And it looks rediculous if ur not on a ship or in the navy.

[flag4]

Why Did U-Boat Captains Wear White Caps?

to get to the other side.

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by flag4

to get to the other side.

And exactly what does that have to do with Bears and Popes?

Why Did U-Boat Captains Wear White Caps?

Cause Fuchsia just didn't work.

[J0313]

Originally Posted by privateer

Why Did U-Boat Captains Wear White Caps?

Cause Fuchsia just didn't work.

Are you sure you spelled Fuchsia right? LOL!

[Herr-Berbunch]

Why did U-Boat Captains wear white caps?

Less cleaning with gull poop.

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by privateer

Why Did U-Boat Captains Wear White Caps?

Cause Fuchsia just didn't work.

LOL

It certainly worked for Todd