Peaked cap

Piping is also often found, typically in contrast to the crown colour, which is usually white for navy, blue for air force, and green for army.

[citation needed] In 1846, the United States Army adopted the peaked cap during the Mexican–American War due to the unsuitability of the shako in the hot Mexican climate.

The British Army adopted peaked caps in 1902 for both the new khaki field dress and (in coloured form) as part of the "walking out" or off-duty wear for other ranks.

During the Cold War and after dissolution of the Soviet Union, uniforms copied from the Russian pattern were issued to the armies of various Asian, Eastern European, African communist nations and post-Soviet states (except Baltic states, Azerbaijan (similar design but closely aligned with the Turkish counterparts), Georgia (after 2004) and Ukraine (after 2016)).

[citation needed] Members of the People's Liberation Army also wear a peaked cap, with the design influences from the former Soviet Union.

[12] Peaked caps were first issued to German Landwehr troops during the Napoleonic Wars known as the Wachstuchmütze and made from oil cloth, since these were cheaper and easier to maintain than the heavy leather shakos and elaborate tailcoats worn by the British, French and Russian armies.

), but before the First World War a field grey hat was issued, with piping colour coded for infantry, artillery or cavalry.

But the new national emblem featuring eagle clutching swastika, and black-red-white roundel in oak wreath were introduced on the caps.

[citation needed] The rogatywka is a 4-cornered type of peaked cap, related to the czapka and worn by members of the Polish Land Forces.

Agencies like railway workers, firemen, pilots, mining supervisors, foresters, customs officers in the Soviet Union also were organised along military lines and wore uniforms with peaked caps of various designs.

[citation needed] In 2012, after army general Sergey Shoygu was appointed Minister of Defence, the design of the peaked cap was changed again to a lower and more proportional style.

From 1846, it was worn with a crown on the front, and later (from 1856), gold braid was added to the brim to ensure commissioned officers were instantly recognised by their subordinates.

[citation needed] Before the Second World War, naval officers were required to possess two caps: one with a white cover for summer and one without for winter.

[citation needed] All Royal Marines personnel wear a cap with a white cover and a red band with 'blues' uniform.

The peaked caps were widely worn on campaign during the First and Second World Wars, until the more practical beret was popularised by generals like Sir Bernard Montgomery.

[16][17] All personnel of most regiments and corps of the British Army wear a forage cap, as the peaked cap is formally called, in numbers 1 and 2 dress, the exceptions being:[citation needed] It has a cap band which may be coloured (red for all royal regiments and corps), a crown (formerly khaki, now dark blue, except for the Royal Military Police, who have always worn red, and the Rifles, who wear rifle green), which may have coloured piping or a regimental/corps colour, and a patent leather peak and chinstrap.

[citation needed] All male personnel of the Royal Air Force wear a cap with a blue-grey crown and a black band, worn with the appropriate badge, in no 1 dress, and sometimes in other uniforms as well.

[citation needed] In the United States Air Force, all personnel have the option to wear service caps, but only field-grade (major through colonel) and general officers are required to own one.

The clouds and bolts are jokingly referred to in military slang as "farts and darts", much as the other services' oak leaf motifs are known as "scrambled eggs".

They consist of a dark olive drab top and hat band matching the uniform coat with a russet brown leather visor and chinstrap.

Coast Guard officers' cap device is an eagle with wings outstretched, above an anchor grasped horizontally in its talons.

[citation needed] For the green service uniforms, an olive drab combination cap is available; the EGA device and the chin strap are black for all ranks.

[26] Public safety officers, such as those from the police, fire department, ambulance service, and customs, often wear peaked caps, especially on formal occasions.

In the US, police forces use caps that have softer tops and are not round and rigid in form (notable are those worn in New York and San Francisco).

The original civilian variant of the peaked cap was widely worn by sailors and workers from the mid 19th century onwards.

Female police officers' caps have a coloured band, no crown top and front of the brim is flat with sides/back folded upwards.

Caps are also part of the uniforms of male police community support officers (PCSOs), who wear a plain light blue band.

These officers wear uniforms and rank insignia adopted from the U.S. Navy, albeit with United States Merchant Marine's own button design, cap device, awards, and decorations.

A typical peaked cap has a spring stiffening, often in the form of a wire grommet frame, to ensure the sides and rear of the fabric covering have the proper shape.

Such modified caps were especially popular among US Army Air Force's combat pilots and German tank commanders and submariners in the Second World War.