Need help w/age of this Camouflage Navy Seal Team Shirt

I have this Camouflage Shirt that may have been a part of a Navy Seal Team Uniform, I am thinking 70's but really have no idea.

Regarding the name tapes, the fabric is the same and in the same condition as the rest of the fabric and lines up with the edges of the pockets but the thread used to sew it on is a tan color instead of the green used on the rest of the shirt, the tan colored thread is also used on the hem and around the sleeves so I am thinking this shirt was tailored to fit the soldier.

Thanks in advance!

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...s_Camo_B-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...s_Camo_C-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...s_Camo_G-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...s_Camo_H-1.jpg

Where's the bottom pockets? The sleeves should be long with button cuff. Yes, it's been altered. I had one here that was USMC and the same pattern. I think these were used from the 60s to 70s and then the new BDU came in. It's OK, we have a few Mudrollers here that will speak up shortly.

Thank you for the reply Jim, I was wondering why it looked like patches or something was removed on the bottom of each side, it must have been the pockets, why oh why would someone alter this shirt?? I guess that will devalue it quite a bit. Thanks again, Tori~!

I can explain. I was Canadian army for 35 years. We had quite a pile of different uniforms through the years, not all of them useful. We had a work shirt that was huge as issued. I had mine taylored and the sleeves shortened both like this shirt you have. I knew a man in another Regiment that altered his combat uniform and starched it to the point we called him Stitch-and-Starch. He couldn't tell you which way was up but boy he looked sharp! The uniforms we were issued were valuless to us at the time.

Well where are all those mudrollers Jim? LOL, I was hoping someone else would voice an opinion......

Don't know...They're here somewhere.

SEALs are more or less a law to themselves, odds are the bottom pockets were removed to tuck the shirt in, or just not snag. Several of my BDU blouses had the bottom pockets sewn shut for that reason with body armor.

That said, I have NEVER (ever.....ever..ever) known a SEAL to advertise. They, "At most" have "US NAVY" and a name tape. Sometimes a Budweiser (Seal badge). That's it. There is no "SEAL TEAM" name tape, the Budweiser says it all. And I have known a fair number of them (over a dozen) covering the spectrum of service from the late 70s to currently serving.

Special Forces and SEALs among others have considerable freedom to modify uniforms as needed, so adding/removing pockets, adding velcro for removable unit patches and name tapes to make them instantly 'clean' when in transit or on an operation are all well known mods. The current Army ACU velcro-fest started out because of some of those features (as did the arm pockets, a common mod going back to WW2 paratroopers).

As to the uniform itself, it looks like the early-type summerweight ripstop BDU. It's not the ERDL pattern, but it's the late 70s/early 80s type.

I thought it earlier because the set I still have are horizontal pockets. Still ripstop material but ...well, have a look.

Colonel I know that's still in says it could be one the late Vietnam camo fatigue uniforms that were around. ERDL was a similar one before woodland, so while the base uniform says to me "mid 60s" the camo pattern is probably later. Kind of odd.

Guess you all missed it! The nomenclature tag says this was 1968 mfg and it IS Erdl!
Unless someone made that Seal Team name tape as a joke, that is NOT something that a Seal would have worn. It would be like an SF soldier having one that said "Green Beret".

The mid/late 70s (post VN) Erdl jackets had straight top pockets and then they went to the BDUs.
Sarge

I can't read your stock numbers, but I did put it in that time frame...but that was from experience.

As others have stated there is no "standard"when it comes to SEAL Team uniforms or items.Your jacket is definately with out a doubt a modified jungle jacket.Typical issue ERDL/leaf pattern rip stop.It was very common in the Navy (and the Air Force)to cut the sleeves off.Many photos and examples exist from the era showing the Brown WaterNavy/RiverBoat units.I have seen and own articles of clothing that were in country tailored.Trouser legs that were pegged,sleeves shortened,pencil/pen pockets added,zippers added to pockets etc.Anything you could imagine would be done.Removal of the lower pockets would allowed the shirt to be worn like a standard fatique shirt either in or out of the trousers.

The name tape and the SEAL tape look vn made to me.This said the jacket may have been one worn in a camp setting or done as a personal/custom jacket.Hard to say.I have seen jackets worn by instructors or advisiors in various capacities with UDT or SEAL on them.I own a hand full of jackets from Gary Smith and no two are a like.This said your jacket was not one that would be worn on operations or in the field.

Can you privide any other info or have any other items of his??

I hope this helpes.

RD

I tried bidding on this shirt but it got WAY past what I thought it was worth. I have pictures of the guy that this shirt belonged to and I have 2 other shirts that are similar to this one that belonged to 2 members of the same SEAL platoon that this guy did.

Sarge is 100% correct in every detail. Take that to the bank on all these camo shirts !