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[U-33]

Anyone give me an idea of which flags I should fly on the new Spearfish? I did see BECC do a nice Fairey pennant, so that one's earmarked for the foremast above the lights, etc...but what to fly off the stern pole? Would a Red Ensign be appropriate? Union Jack?


Rich

[pugwash]

Rich - Red ensign would be the correct flag for a motor boat or yacht unless the owner is a member of certain yacht clubs which allow the blue ensign to
be flown.  The only person who flies a Union Flag on the stern of a boat or ship is a plonker who knows nothing about ships or flags - but you do see it
done quite often.
The place on a ship for the Union flag is a warship on the bows but only when it is anchored, tied up alongside or full dress ship for a ceremonial occasion
Hope that answers your question

Geoff

[U-33]

Perfect Geoff...that's exactly what I need to know. Red Ensign and the Fairey pennant it will be.

Thanks mate,



Rich

[Norseman]

Hi Guys

I posted this up ages ago in the name the flag thread ........

I was interested by the Union Jack discussion because in Liverpool I have always heard it called the Union Jack - but that doesn't mean it is correct to do so. I looked around and found this http://www.flaginstitute.org/index.php?location=7.2

In the 18th century the small mast on the bowsprit was replaced by staysails on the stays between the bowsprit and the foremast. By this time the Ensign had become the principal naval distinguishing flag, so it became the practice to fly the Union Jack only in harbour, on a specially rigged staff in the bows of the ships, the jackstaff. It should thus be noted that the jack flag had existed for over a hundred and fifty years before the jack staff came into being, and its name was related to its size rather than to the position in which it was flown.
 
It is often stated that the Union Flag should only be described as the Union Jack when flown in the bows of a warship, but this is a relatively recent idea. From early in its life the Admiralty itself frequently referred to the flag as the Union Jack, whatever its use, and in 1902 an Admiralty Circular announced that Their Lordships had decided that either name could be used officially. Such use was given Parliamentary approval in 1908 when it was stated that "the Union Jack should be regarded as the National flag".
 
Cdr Bruce Nicolls OBE RN (Retd)

Regards Dave

[pugwash]

Yes Dave I have read all that before.  Guess what my first job was for 10 years - Signalman of various ranks in the RN and part of that job was
knowing  about flags of all shapes and sizes, including foreign flags - even making them if we didn't have them onboard.

Geoff

[Bryan Young]

Another occasion when a Union Flag should be flown is as a "Courtesy Flag".
Any vessel entering a Foreign port must fly the National Flag of the country being visited. Obviously this includes foreig ships entering British ports. More often than not foeign ships visiting Britain fly the Red Ensign as a courtesy flag. This is wrong. The Union Flag is our National flag and should be shown. BY.

[Arrow5]

The Union Flag when flown from the mainmast of a Royal Navy ship indicates that a Court Martial is in progress.