Merchant Navy marine Epaulettes – Second Officer

Merchant Navy Marine Epaulettes – Third Officer

Third Officer Epaulettes – Velvet black fabric |
Recognized by all shipping companies

Dieselship supplies epaulettes, insignia, and shoulder boards for all merchant navy ranks.
Visit the full collection here:Epaulettes Collection

Interesting Facts About Epaulettes

History

Epaulettes resemble the shoulder pteruges of ancient Roman military costumes. Their modern form originated in the late 17th century from decorative ribbon bunches designed to prevent shoulderbelts from slipping. Over the 18th and 19th centuries, this evolved into the familiar epaulette design.

By the 18th century, epaulettes became rank indicators in French and other European armies. Officers were identified by the shoulder on which an epaulette was worn or by wearing a pair of them. “Counter-epaulettes” without fringe were later added for balance.

Throughout the Napoleonic era, specialist military units such as light infantry, grenadiers, and voltigeurs used colored fringed epaulettes for distinction. Cavalry units used shoulder scales,while artillery units often featured unique spherical shoulder decorations.

The simplified shoulder board, still used today, emerged in the 19th century as a practical everyday alternative to the heavy, fringed dress epaulette.

Modern Derivations

Today, epaulettes are widely replaced by shoulder boards—five-sided cloth flaps sewn along the shoulder seam. These provide a simplified and professional method of displaying rank.

Shoulder marks, which slide over uniform straps, allow easy interchange of rank insignia, making them practical for modern uniforms.

Airline uniforms use tubular cloth epaulettes with braid stripes to indicate rank—four stripes for captain, three for first officer, and so on. Many airline caps also feature embroidered braid patterns to denote seniority.