Ensign (flag)

This article is about the flag. For the rank, see Ensign (rank). For other uses, see Ensign (flag) (disambiguation).

National civil ensign of New Zealand flown from the stern of Hikitia

Ensign is the national flag flown on a vessel to indicate nationality. The ensign is the largest flag, generally flown at the stern (rear) of the ship. Naval ensigns, used on warships, may be different from the civil ensign (merchant ships) or the yacht ensign (recreational boats). Large versions of naval ensigns called battle ensigns are used when a warship goes into battle.

In its widest sense, an ensign is just a flag or other standard. The European military rank of ensign, once responsible for bearing a unit's standard (whether national or regimental) derives from it (in the cavalry the equivalent rank was cornet, named after a type of flag). In contrast, the Arab rank of ensign, liwa, derives from the command of a unit or units with an ensign, not the carrier of such a unit's ensign, and is a general officer. In Arab armies, "ensign" is a unit title equivalent to a Western brigade, and as a rank is equivalent to a divisional commander.

The ensign of the French régiment de Navarre, 1745.

Ensigns, such as the ancient Roman ensigns seen here in the Arch of Constantine, are not always flags.

National ensigns

In nautical use, the ensign is flown on a ship or boat to indicate its appartenance. While this includes its nationality, it may well indicate more information (e.g. civilian, naval, or police vessel) rather than being the national flag itself. This is particularly common for commonwealth and European countries.

Ensigns are usually at the stern flagstaff when in port, and may be shifted to a gaff (if available) when the ship is under way, becoming known as a steaming ensign.

Vexillologists distinguish three varieties of a national flag when used as an ensign:

• A civil ensign (usage symbol ) is worn by merchant and pleasure vessels. In some countries the yacht ensign, used on recreational boats or ships instead of merchant vessels, differs from the civil ensign.
• A state ensign or government ensign (usage symbol ) is worn by government vessels, such as coast guard ships.
• A naval ensign (usage symbol ) is used by a country's navy.

Many countries do not distinguish between these uses, and employ only one national flag and ensign in all cases; in the United States, for example, all ships of the seagoing services of the United States Government with the exception of the United States Coast Guard fly the national flag as their ensign, although the ships of some agencies also fly an agency flag as a "distinguishing mark." Other countries (like the United Kingdom, Ukraine, Italy, Russia, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan) use different ensigns. Such ensigns are strictly regulated and indicate if the vessel is a warship, a merchant ship, a ship under contract to carry mail, or a yacht, for example.

Several Commonwealth countries' national flags had their origin in the ensigns of their original colonising power, the United Kingdom. Most notable of these national flags are those of Australia, New Zealand, and several smaller island nations. It is also very likely that the original design from which the flag of the United States developed was strongly influenced by the British Red Ensign or the flag of the (British controlled) East India Company.

Air ensigns

With the creation of independent air forces and the growth in civil aviation in the first half of the 20th century, a range of distinguishing flags and ensigns were adopted. These may be divided into air force ensigns (often light blue in colour, such as the Royal Air Force Ensign) and civil air ensigns.

Heraldic ensigns

In heraldry, an ensign is the ornament or sign, such as the crown, coronet, or mitre, borne above the charge or arms.

Gallery

• 
  Royal Australian Navy ensign (foreground), Royal Australian Navy jack (background)
• 
  Royal Australian Air Force Ensign
• 
  Belgian Navy Ensign
• 
  Egyptian Navy Ensign
• 
  Finnish yacht club ensign. The circled X represents the club emblem
• 
  Civil and Naval Ensign of France
• 
  German Navy Ensign
• 
  Indian Navy Ensign
• 
  Naval ensign of Italy
• 
  North Korean navy ensign
• 
  Myanmar navy ensign
• 
  Polish Navy ensign
• 
  Ensign of the Russian Navy
• 
  Spanish yacht ensign
• 
  Naval ensign of Sri Lanka
• 
  Naval ensign of Thailand
• 
  Ukrainian Navy ensign
• 
  The White Ensign as currently used for British military vessels
• 
  The Red Ensign as currently used for British civilian vessels
• 
  United States Coast Guard ensign
• 
  Naval ensign of the Imperial Japanese Navy and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force

See also

• Distinguishing mark

References

Sources

• Znamierowski, Alfred (2002). The world encyclopedia of flags : The definitive guide to international flags, banners, standards and ensigns. London: Hermes House. ISBN 1-84309-042-2.