"Red or Blue Ensigns" Topic

At what battles would the Royal Navy ships have flown Red or Blue ensigns?

This will cover the questions.

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Mine always fly yellow flags…

As for what flags appeared at what battles – you would need to know who was in command and what rank he held. Paintings of particular battles are a good start.

- Ix

The theoretical principle was that flag officers flew a flag of his own colour at the appropriate masthead and that ships under his command took their ensign colour from his flag. Or red if on detached duty.

However the real answer is "it depends". Among other things on the colour of the enemy's ensigns.

At The Nile where Nelson had his blue flag at the mizzen, he ordered his ships to fly the white ensign to avoid confusion with the French tricolor ensign.

This was nothing new, Rodney at the Battle of the Saints ordered red ensigns that would not be confused with the French white ensign, even though he was Admiral of the White.

I used similar reasoning when I painted my 1/2400 sailing fleets, and my Royal Navy vessels have worn the red ensign since I built them. The red flag stands out from white French or Spanish flags (18th C.), Spanish red/yellow flags, and tricolors.

- Ix