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Up until 1980 all peacoats, with a few exceptions, were made of Kersey wool. In the mid to late 70s the Navy let some contracts for the Melton wool, evidently experimenting with changing to Melton. From all I have seen, these coats were marked as Melton wool. Evidently, from what you tell us, some of the coats were black Melton, instead of the midnight blue. Not sure if these coats had the insulating liner or not.
When the Melton coats were first issued, I know there were complaints about the lack of warmth from those in the colder climates. The Navy fixed this by adding the liner. Don't know when this was. Evidently it was in the period of the mid to late 70s, as I have a 1980 coat (first year of the changeover) that has the liner. I hadn't noticed until someone mentioned that Navy had started that practice because of the complaints.
Nor did I know the Navy issued the "black" Melton peacoats as early as 1975. I thought it was in 1977 or thereabouts. I have one or two coats from the late 70s and they are of the standard Kersey midnight blue shell.
Thanks for the information. I will add it to the data bank.
When the Melton coats were first issued, I know there were complaints about the lack of warmth from those in the colder climates. The Navy fixed this by adding the liner. Don't know when this was. Evidently it was in the period of the mid to late 70s, as I have a 1980 coat (first year of the changeover) that has the liner. I hadn't noticed until someone mentioned that Navy had started that practice because of the complaints.
Nor did I know the Navy issued the "black" Melton peacoats as early as 1975. I thought it was in 1977 or thereabouts. I have one or two coats from the late 70s and they are of the standard Kersey midnight blue shell.
Thanks for the information. I will add it to the data bank.
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