US Navy uniforms in China 1920 - 1941

I found this very good series of uniform illustrations on the following website: http://www.thesandpebbles.com/yangtze_patrol/china_uniforms.html regarding uniforms worn by the US Navy in between the world wars with an emphasis on those commonly worn by personnel assigned to the US Navy's Asiatic Fleet and the Yangtze River Patrol.

On a side note, I highly recommend the movie The Sand Pebbles starring Steve McQueen and Richard Crenna, it's a little dated (released in 1966) but it's an epic. The movie tells the story of a fictional but based on real events US Navy gunboat called the USS San Pablo patrolling China's Yangtze River in the 1920s amidst the turmoil the Chinese Civil War. There's an epic battle scene towards the end when the San Pablo takes on some Chinese river pirates to rescue some American missionaries complete with a US Navy boarding party wielding cutlasses, M1911 pistols, M1903 Springfield rifles, and Browning Automatic Rifles. The final line in the movie sums up the stupidity of war at it's worst.

Hi Chris,
Came across this photo and thought it might be of interest.

https://i.servimg.com/u/f88/13/98/25/75/shangh10.jpg
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Taken in Shanghai in 1925, although supposed to be on guard duty they seem quite relaxed. The detail is nice, clearly showing the 1903 Springfirld rifle with bayonet and US Army web equipment and gaiters for action on shore.

Regards.
Les

Very good picture Les, thanks for the find. It was probably taken during one of the many riots where US Navy sailors were sent to protect American citizens and their property in Shanghai.

Hi Chris,
I think I might have couple more photos from China of US sailors somewhere I'll go through my files.

There are loads of great photos out there of Shanghai in the 1930's with military forces from all over the world shown in very clear detail not to mention of course the Chinese forces.

I also have a load of photos of the US Navy during their landings in Vera Cruz, mexico, in 1914. I might start a new thread with that as the uniform detail is interesting.

If you download the photo and lighten it slightly ,I think that you will find that the sailor second from the right is a rank of some kind. Not high enough to get a pistol however which were reserved for Petty Officers and above and specialists like signallers.

Best Regards,
Les