US Army college American footballers get WWII-themed kit for Navy clash

The US Military Academy at West Point has chosen an historical theme in its kit for the annual academy rivalry American football clash with the US Navy.

The kit pays tribute to the soldiers of the 1st Armored Division who were involved in the US contribution to Operation Torch during the Second World War, which brought America into the conflict.

Operation Torch – the Allied invasion of French North Africa – began with amphibious landings in Morocco.

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The kit and the history behind its patterns and colours are explained in an action-filled YouTube video posted on the US Army Old Ironsides football page.

The Nike swoosh is deep green on the taupe bottoms and a gold colour on the taupe and khaki jersey.

The uniform also incorporates a 'mud splatter' design in honour of the hostile conditions faced by the 1st Armored Division's tanks and vehicles as they faced down Axis forces in the European and North African theatres.

There is a streamer on the helmets, which includes components of the American Defense Medal ribbon, whilst an arrowhead reflects the amphibious assault element of Operation Torch.

A green background represents Europe's green fields, whilst brown border stripes are a nod to the African sand. The 1st Armored Division unit patch is on the side.

Each cadet wears their regiment number and company mascot on their right chest. The bottoms also point to 'bumper numbers' – a system of identifying Army vehicles in WWII, still used today.

Nike also used a font from the 1st Armored Division's M3 tanks.

It comes after the Navy revealed its space-themed uniform for the match.

The Army Black Knights and Navy midshipmen will go head to head on Saturday 10 December.