Baseball cap : USS Fletcher DD-992

Dark blue baseball style cap with embroidered 'USS FLETCHER DD-992' on the front of the crown, alongside a heraldic emblem with crossed swords and anchor. On the back of the crown is a 10 mm high yellow embroidered letters 'CMC'. Below this embroidery is a nylon size adjusting tab with seven size variations. The lower side of the visor is dark green in colour and shows signs of use. There are no markings on the inside of the crown. A small manufacturer's tag is on the insider right of the sweat band.

'Baseball' style caps are very popular with United States Navy (USN) as they are practical and easy to wear while conducting duties onboard ships. The trend of wearing baseball caps was started by the USN after the Second World War. Today, baseball caps are now made officially and un-officially by many other Navies such as the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) for and by their particular crews and ships. They are popular trading items amongst the different Navies and forces. During 'Operation Slipper', RAN ships and crews worked alongside American and other coalition partners. It is likely this cap was swapped by an Australian sailor for his ships cap. The abbreviation 'CMC' on the rear of this cap stands for 'Command Master Chief' of the Military Police onboard USS Fletcher. USS Fletcher (DD-992) is a 8280-ton Spruance class destroyer commissioned in July 1980. USS Fletcher served in the Persian Gulf during both Gulf Wars against Iraq and participated in Maritime Interception in the Persian Gulf. In 2004 USS Fletcher was de-commissioned from the USN.