USS Constitution 1797
USS Constitution 1797
The name the navy uses for the US Flag is the Ensign. They also fly a commissioning pennant from the highest point on the ship. And there are also signal flags used to communicate.
A flag flown at sea is known as an ensign. They can be Red, Blue or White. Civilian and Merchant vessels fly the Red Ensign, Navy Vessels fly either the Red, Blue of White depending on the rank of the Unit. Ensigns are used in cases where it is illegal to fly the National flag, such as at sea from a British ship.
There are many rules governing the use of these ensigns under different circumstances and by ships of varying size, actions such as leaving harbour etc. Check the Related Links for more info. Red British ship receiving a signal by a British naval vessel, entering or leaving a foreign port, and if over 50 tons entering or leaving a British port Blue merchantman commanded by a Naval Reservist Officer etc White Only vessels of the Royal Navy or the Royal Yacht Squadron (plus the Trinity House vessel "Patricia" when escorting the Sovereign) are allowed to fly the white ensign at sea or in harbour. During times of war, R.N. vessels fly the Union Jack, and when going into battle, strike the jack and hoist the White Ensign, also known as "The Battle Flag ". Afterwards, the White Ensign is flown until the ship returns to her home port, when the Union Jack is re-hoisted as she enters harbour. Royal The Royal Ensign is ONLY flown when the Monarch is aboard a vessel.
Whilst the Union Flag has never been officially adopted by law as the national flag of the UK, it has become so by usage (which can count for a lot in the British constitutional/legal system) and the government has stated it is the correct flag for use by British citizens. Afloat though, the Union Flag has been reserved by the United Kingdom government for specific, military purposes. It is the jack of the Royal Navy and the flag of rank for an Admiral of the Fleet. These are the reasons why it is illegal for a civilian ship to fly it. A First Sea Lord will inevitably hold the rank of Admiral and it is therefore considered that the Union Flag would be flown from the bow jack-stay with the Royal Navy white ensign at the stern when alongside. When under-way a St. Georges flag as an Admirals ensign would additionally be flown from the main-mast.
The small flagpole at the prow (front) of a ship is called the jack. Flags flown from this are called jack flags and are be necessity quite small. Royal Navy battleships traditionally fly the Union Flag from the jack (and the Royal Ensign from the stern), which is where the incorrect name (Union Jack) comes from.
It depends on the type of ship, the type of flag in question, and whether or not the vessel is in port or underway at sea. (This applies to U.S. Ships) Typically in port, a U.S. warship flies 2 primary flags, one on the bow mast and one on the stern mast. The one on the bow is known as the Jack, while the flag on the stern is known as the Ensign, and is the warship's national flag. The Jack on a U.S. warship is comprised of the blue field of stars typically seen on the U.S. National Flag, or Ensign; the British Jack, called the Union Jack, is a cross with an X over it and is widely known. By contrast, where U.S. warships fly the U.S. flag, the British Royal Navy has its own Naval Ensign, different from the National Ensign of England. There are usually different sizes for holidays, in port and underway. Depending on the size of ship and occasion, some flags can be huge in size. Surface warships will fly their Ensigns from the stern mast underway; Submarines are different in that they fly the Ensign from a stern mast in port, but from the bridge at the top of the fairwater (also known as the sail, the wide tower that rises from the deck about 30' above it). Warships also fly what are know as Unit and Battle Flags, which denote commendations from the Division or Squadron Commander, President, etc. for battles or unit excellence in other areas. These are only flown in port at the quarterdeck. Merchant vessels typically will fly the flag of the nation they're flagged under. Nations can have agreements with nations that have stronger navies to provide protection for their ships moving through hostile waters, and as such agree to fly the flag of the protecting nation. This is how the U.S. originally got involved militarily in the Persian Gulf, by reflagging Kuwaiti tankers. They will fly either their own national ensign from the stern mast, or the flag of the protecting nation. The bow mast usually has the flag of the company the ship belongs to.
The term "Union Jack" is not considered correct because a Jack is a flag flown from a ship and British merchant ships fly the Red ensign and the Royal Navy flies the White Ensign. The Official title of the Flag of the United Kingdom is the "Union Flag" and unoffically "British Flag" although this term might be considered controversial in Northern Ireland
The British Union. It is commonly referred to as the "Union Jack" but technically that name applies only when a flag of that design is flown from the jack staff at the bow of a ship. When flown on land it is called the Union Flag. When flown at sea you can be in trouble because only the Royal Navy may fly the Union Flag or Union Jack at sea. Private citizens are not allowed to do so; their yachts must fly the Red Ensign.
hot air balloon
US Marine Ace Major "Pappy" Boyington was part Indian.
Space Ship 1