Original Item: Only One Available. Easy to recognize is the more familiar white hat, nicknamed the “Dixie cup hat,” but the distinctive “flat hat” came first, and was standard issue for more than a century.

Records of the Naval Historical Center show that the flat hat was authorized in 1852, was standard throughout the American Civil War, and remained in use long after white headgear – much later given the “Dixie cup hat” appellation – was introduced as an alternative in 1886.

At first, flat hats were made of dark blue wool known as Metcalf serge. If the skipper permitted, a white cover could be attached to the top of the hat to protect the wearer from sunlight during periods of warm weather. After white hats were added to the Navy issue, many sailors received both flat hats and white hats. The choice between the two depended upon the whim of skippers at sea and shore-based commanders.

Prior to the U. S. entry into World War II, most flat hats, but not all, had unit or ship names embroidered on the front. This practice was ended in January 1941 to make it more difficult for potential adversaries to learn the whereabouts of U.S. ships. Thereafter, flat hats were embroidered with the legend “U.S. Navy.”

In the 1950s and 1960s, the hats were still a part of Navy attire, but were rarely seen.

This flat hat is in lovely condition and features a tally that bears the name of the ship, the U.S.S. Ohio. The once gold lettering is now darkened to a lovely gray patina but is still easily recognizable.

There is wear present on the cap, but nothing too extensive or damaging. The crown stiffener is still solid and has not worn through the heavy blue wool. The lining is still intact and even still has the crown adjustment string on the “skull cap” of the liner.

This is truly a wonderful example of the legendary US Navy “Flat Hat”. A welcomed addition to any Naval collections. Comes more than ready for display!

USS Ohio (BB-12)
USS Ohio (BB-12), a Maine-class pre-dreadnought battleship, was the third ship of her class and the third ship of the United States Navy to be named for the 17th state. She was laid down at the Union Iron Works shipyard in San Francisco in April 1899, was launched in May 1901, and was commissioned into the fleet in October 1904. She was armed with a main battery of four 12-inch (305 mm) guns and could steam at a top speed of 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph).

Ohio initially served in the Asiatic Fleet, from 1905 to 1907, when she returned to the United States. In December that year, she joined the Great White Fleet for its world cruise, which lasted until early 1909. She served with the Atlantic Fleet for the next four years conducting a peacetime training routine. In 1914, she was sent to Mexico to protect American interests in the country during the Mexican Revolution. She served as a training ship during America's involvement in World War I from 1917 to 1918. Thoroughly obsolete by that time, Ohio was decommissioned in July 1919, and was ultimately sold for scrap in March 1923 under the terms of the Washington Naval Treaty.