The 1941 Pattern Utility Uniform was one of the standard uniforms of the United States Marine Corps during World War II.
Uniform[]
The uniform was exceedingly simple, consisting of only two pieces. These were the green or khaki, cotton jacket and trousers. While initially intended only to be a working uniform or one to be used for general purpose work, it quickly became adopted as standard for field and combat duty. Most importantly for the Pacific, it was straightforward and did not contain unnecessary features that would hinder marines in combat.[1]
The jacket itself had three pockets, all without flaps, and only three metal buttons that ran down its center. The trousers contained more variables, with pockets being shifted and or removed depending on manufacturer. Notably, it was reported by marines in combat that the standard utility uniform held better camouflage characteristics than the dedicated M1942 One-Piece Camouflage Suit when moving.[2]
History[]
The 1941 Utility Uniform was standardized for widespread usage on November 7, 1941. Because the utility uniform was used for basically all combat, field, and harsh environments and used without the service uniform underneath, the service uniform was effectively reserved only for formal events. By the end of the Pacific War, the M1941 Utility Uniform along with the M1942 M1 Helmet Cover effectively became the stand out icon of the United States Marine Corps and its service during the conflict.