"which ships flew the pennants? " Topic

my google search is weak, help me out please TMP..
(remember I am a AoS rookie)

Which ships in a squadron flew the pennants? Just the flag ship? All of them?

For example: My British Squadron has a first rate, and let's say 3 third rate ships. All of them have the Blue Ensign from the spanker. I imagine that only the first rate (the flagship) would fly the Blue pennant correct? (from the main mast I assume).

for a French Squadron of the same make up, All are flying the Tri-color from the spanker and I imagine it's the same, that the flagship would also fly a tricolor pennant?

Or can all ships fly a pennant? I really dunno. When I buy my flags it comes with 3 flags and 3 pennants…

Thanks a bunch for the advice!

-Stew

Dredging this from the mass of clutter at the back of my mind (much of it originating with CS Forester and Patrick O Brian, it must be said) wasn't the pennant the mark that the vessel that flew it was a warship in commission, and therefore it was carried by all warships? A broad pennant, I believe, marked that the ship had a commodore aboard. Anyone else operating on firmer foundations than mine?

Mollinary

The commission pennant was a very long, slender flag flying from the tip of the mainmast. It is prominently shown in he great "Master and Commander…" film. As noted above, a commodore would fly a broad pennant. Admirals would fly an appropriate flag of their color: Blue, red, or white.

Thanks guys!

I didn't make a distinction between the commission pennant and the broad pennant. I'm pretty sure then the pennant that comes with the flags is the commission pennant (as it's long and narrow), so I'll be adding these.

My ships are about to be prettier…

Thanks Again Gentlemen.

-Stew

To be honest I am too lazy to look at my references. Suffice to say it isn't that simple, Pennants, flags and ensigns flew from different parts of the ship and varied in appearance depending on rank, squadron, and commanding officer.

Maybe someone with more knowledge off the top of their head or reference to hand can give a more comprehensive answer. What period are you talking about? Conventions changed throughout the Age of Sail.

A vice admiral's flag flew from the foremast, the admiral from the main mast, and the rear admiral from the mizzen mast. Do not recall from which mast the commodore's broad pennant flew.

And British admirals were "ranked" by color. Here is the promotion track for British admirals:

link

from here: link

Jim

Nice work ColCampbell.

Thanks again and thanks for the link.

@Dantheman: I was thinking of the Napoleonic / Nelson era.

I think I'll continue in adding the commission pennants to all the ships since
1) I have them
2) it looks pretty.

:)

All ships flew ensigns, either on a staff at the poop or from the spanker halyards. The color depended on the rank of the flag officer commanding the squadron. If he were a Vice Admiral of the Blue Squadron, all ships under his command flew the blue ensign. His flagship flew an additional one at the forepeak.

Depending on exactly when in the period, a ship sailing under Admiralty command (i.e., not answerable to any squadron/fleet commander) might fly the Union Flag as an ensign, this being the command flag of the Admiral of the Fleet (aka Prince William, Duke of Clarence).