WW2 Japanese Navy Round Rate Summer Petty Officer 3rd Class Rare Printed Variant

This type of round rate was worn by the Imperial Japanese Navy from the early 1900s all the way into the middle stages of the Pacific War.

White cotton rates were sewn on white summer uniforms.

Black wool rates were worn on the winter wool uniform.

These rates, in both white & black, were also occasionally sewn on khaki, short sleeve, shirts by members of the Special Naval Landing Force and other shore-based sailors according to photographs taken during the war.

Starting on June 7, 1929, IJN personnel fighting on land in China were authorized to dye their white uniforms, hat covers leggings and their white rates, a tea brown color called chakasshoku 茶褐色. These chakasshoku uniforms blended in much better than white.

Round rates were to be replaced in the Japanese Navy by a black geometric shaped rate by an order published on April 1, 1942. Photos depict both types of rates being worn concurrently due to the inability to push enough of the new rates out to the far reaches of the fleet.

These round rates were produced in a few ways including hand sewing, embroidery and screen printing.