US Marine Corps Men's Caps

Caps, Storm, Pile Lined (Type I & Type II)

Left and right views of the Type I USMC pile lined storm cap. On the left, the face shield is extended in the open position. On the right, the face shield is buttoned across the front.

Quick Reference Guide For USMC Pine Lined Storm Cap
Type I & Type II

Design	Use	Important Dates	Procurement & Production
(Type I) A cap made of water‐repellent, wind‐resistant poplin, having a visor of the cap material on top and alpaca pile on the bottom, a four piece crown made of the cap material on top and a four piece lining made of dark green kersey wool, a wind flap of the cap material will extend from the bottom of the back half of the crown, there will be ear flaps of the cap material lined with alpaca pile and tapes of the cap material attached to the right and left side of the ear flaps. Additionally, a face protector of the cap material and lined with alpaca pile will be buttoned and secured to the left ear flap, a braided tubular cord will be attached to each ear flap and run in a channel along the forward edge of the flap. The left and right ear flaps will each have three buttons to secure the face protector and rear wind flap. The top of the visor and corresponding forward section of the crown will have snap fasteners to hold the visor against the crown. (Type II) The same as above but with the addition of an interlining of rigid material to the visor, a dark green cotton drill lining added on the inside crown, and a new triangular arrangement of the flap buttons.	A pile cap intended for issue in cold weather to men requiring head movement and peripheral vision where a parka hood would inhibit such movement and limit the vision. The cap was worn with a variety of USMC winter service and field uniforms. It was often issued with sheepskin and pile parkas and the pile lined vest.	Adopted: 1944 (Unconfirmed). Evidence suggests that the pile lined storm cap was adopted in 1944. It first appeared in the October 1944 price list of USMC clothing. At the time, this publication still listed the lambskin lined cap as being available. It has been confirmed that the alpaca vest, also appearing for the first time in the October 1944 price list of clothing, was adopted in 1944. Both the pile vest and cap seem to first appear in use during the occupation of Northern China during 1945‐49. Additionally, 1944 was also the year that the USMC sheepskin lined coat, in use since the pre‐war years, was changed to an alpaca pile lining. It is possible, however, that the pile storm cap was adopted earlier in 1943. The change to a cotton lined inside crown parallels the developments of the Navy's N‐1 winter helmet, which was adopted in 1943 and went through the same material change.	Centralized contracting through The Quartermaster General of the Marine Corps, U.S.M.C. Washington, D.C. To date, no caps have been observed with contractor labels attached. It is unknown if the pile lined storm cap was produced at the Marine Corps Depot in Philadelphia where clothing production facilities existed or were made by external contractors.
Distinctive Features	Fabrics & Fasteners	Labeling	Types & Variants
This cap is unmistakable in appearance. The combination of features it has makes it instantly recognizable. Type I Diagonal arrangement of flap buttons. Inside crown lining made of forestry green kersey wool. Visor lacks inside stiffening material. Type II Triangular arrangement of flap buttons. Inside crown lining made of forestry green cotton drill. Layer of stiffening material added to middle of visor.	Exterior Fabrics: Cotton Poplin (light green): Outer shell. Alpaca Pile (dark brown): Inside of ear flaps, face protector, and bottom of visor. Type I Kersey Wool (forestry green): Inside crown material. Type II Cotton Drill (forestry green): Lining for inside of crown. Buttons (6 total): 3 x 22‐ligne on each side of the ear flaps for securing the face protector and wind flap. Pressure Snaps (2 sets): Attached to visor and front of cap to secure visor in up position. Tie‐Downs (1 set): Each side of ear flaps. Drawstrings (1 set): Each side of ear flaps to cinch face opening.	Contractor Label: As of this writing no contractor labels have been noted on this cap. Size Label: Type I Small cloth loop attached to inside crown. Type II As of this writing no size labels or markings have been noted on this variant.	Two types of pile lined storm caps have been identified to date: Type I Notable for exposed green kersey wool on inside crown, flat buttons, and size label attached to inside crown. Type II Green cotton drill lining added to inside of crown, utilized dished buttons arranged in a triangular pattern, stiffening material added to inside of visor. The majority of caps that survive today are the Type II variety.
Integral Garments & Equipment	Insignia	Lineage	Inter-Service Use & Equivalents
Vest, Alpaca, Pile Lined.	None observed.	Preceded By: Caps, Storm, With Electrified Lambskin Lining. Superseded By: Cap, Field, Pile, OD; Specification PQD 383. Cap, Field, Pile, OD, MQ‐1.	Use of this cap appears to have been limited to the USMC. US Army Equivalent: Caps, Field, Pile, OD ‐ Specification PQD 383 dated 29 June 1943. US Navy Equivalent: Helmet, Winter, N‐1 ‐ Specification No. 37‐H‐3.
Allowances & Purchases	Theaters & Campaigns	Comments	References & Further Reading
Unknown.	Used by First Marine Division during occupation of Northern China (1945‐49). Used to a limited extent during the Korean War (1950‐53).	This cap was a standard issue item and routinely appeared in MC tables of clothing and equipment. It was constructed using all standard materials procured by the USMC during the WW2 period. Curiously, the pile lined storm cap is often omitted from discussions of USMC field uniforms and equipment and is sometimes misidentified as a locally procured or non‐standard item. By the Korean War, it appears this cap had been largely replaced by the different types of US Army olive‐drab pile field caps. The Pile Lined Storm Cap was a substantial and remarkably well‐made item compared to similar winter caps of the period.	Marine Corps Order No. 199, Marine Corps Price List Of Clothing, Etc., U.S. Marine Corps, Washington, 30 October 1944.