Polaris Tartan

[Cerebite]

My opinion as a Submariner:

The existence of the Polaris tartan is one of the things that got me interested in wearing the kilt and having an option [yet to find a single drop of scottish blood in 400+ years of family tree] of a tartan to wear.
I served on Real Boats not boomers and was never stationed nor visited Holy Loch so I am still convincing myself to get a Polaris Tartan [rarity and price aside]. If SubVets or the Navy [or the Royal Navy for that matter] themselves were to make it the "official" tartan of the Submarine force I would feel better about getting it myself.
The comparison between the Polaris and the Edzel/ US Navy is comperable to the comparison between the Special Forces/ US Army [granted the Special Forces tartan does have restrictions]. You can wear and respect/ represent the "more restrictive" tartan you just must be prepared for more attention/ questions from those in the know about the history of the tartan.

A lot of it comes down to "levels of fraternity." There is in this case the general fraternity of being in the Navy , then the more exclusive fraternity of the Submarine force, then within that the subset of Boomer [missile submarines for you land lubbers], and finally within that those that served on Polaris class boats or where stationed at Holy Loch which has its own tartan.
A comparable example from one of the editors at the Rocky Mtn. New who is a Vietnam era Army vet. but served as a journalist at West Point who stated that he is not "in the club" compared to combat vets who in turn are not in "the club" compared to POWs such a McCain.

Sorry for rambling but this, as I am sure you are aware, is a regular topic with regard to Military tartans and I wanted to give my perspective. As others have said you can do what you choose you just need to be prepared to answer the questions that arise.

As a couple of the other bubbleheads have mentioned the discussion of wearing dolphins [or a fouled anchor, or the eagle, globe & anchor, or a Ranger Tab] as a kilt pin or a broach is a more sensitive discussion.

[wsk]

My opinion as a Submariner:
A lot of it comes down to "levels of fraternity." There is in this case the general fraternity of being in the Navy , then the more exclusive fraternity of the Submarine force, then within that the subset of Boomer [missile submarines for you land lubbers], and finally within that those that served on Polaris class boats or where stationed at Holy Loch which has its own tartan.

Holy Loch has its own tartan? Not according to the Scottish Registry of Tartans. If you know of a Holy Loch Tartan, I'd like to know more about it.

Dunoon has a tartan that may be my next kilt.

[tooltruckguy]

I used to have a flat hat in the Polaris tartan from Bells of Dunoon. It's long gone somewhere in my past. Does anyone have any ideas on finding a replacement?

[wsk]

I used to have a flat hat in the Polaris tartan from Bells of Dunoon. It's long gone somewhere in my past. Does anyone have any ideas on finding a replacement?

Umm, Bell's of Dunoon? If you don't find what you're looking for, there is a Contact link. I've emailed with them so I suspect they will answer any questions you have.

I, too, used to have a flat cap that I used to wear everywhere until I misplaced it someplace. No desire to replace it though.

[castledangerous]

Holy Loch has its own tartan? Not according to the Scottish Registry of Tartans. If you know of a Holy Loch Tartan, I'd like to know more about it.

Dunoon has a tartan that may be my next kilt.

I think that was a misplaced modifier and he was referring to the Polaris tartan

[tooltruckguy]

I contacted Bells of Dunoon last year and they don't carry the tartan anymore since the tender is long gone.