U.S. Navy Flags
In the early days of the U.S. Navy, a variety of flags including the Grand Union Flag, the Washington's Cruisers Flag, and the Gadsden Flag. Near the end of the 19th century, the U.S. Navy began to use the Infantry Battalion Flag for naval landing forces. This was a blue flag that consisted of a white diamond shape with a blue anchor in the center of it. The Infantry Battalion Flag served as the unofficial flag of the U.S. Navy for over sixty years and was used in drill formations, parades, and other ceremonies.
The new seal design was created from recommendations of heraldic experts and historians, and was officially approved by President Eisenhower on October 1957.
What is the US Navy?
The US Navy was established by an Act of Congress on April 30, 1798. The Department of the Navy was an Executive Department and the Secretary of the Navy was a member of the President's cabinet until 1949, when amendments to the National Security Act of 1947 changed the name of the National Military Establishment to the Department of Defense and made it an Executive Department. The Department of the Navy then became, along with the Department of the Army and Department of the Air Force, a Military Department within the Department of Defense: subject to the authority, direction and control of the Secretary of Defense.
What is the Design of the US Navy Flag?
The flag of the United States Navy consists of the seal of the U.S. Department of the Navy in the center, above a yellow scroll inscribed "United States Navy" in dark blue letters, against a dark blue background. The US Navy emblem is as described: On a circular background of fair sky and moderate sea with land in sinister base, a three-masted square-rigged ship underway before a fair breeze with after topsail furled, commission pennant atop the foremast, National Ensign atop the main, and the commodore's flag atop the mizzen. In front of the ship a Luce-type anchor inclined slightly bendwise with the crown resting on the land and, in front of the shank and in back of the dexter fluke, an American bald eagle rising to sinister regarding to dexter, one foot on the ground, the other resting on the anchor near the shank; all in proper colors.
Displaying the US Navy Flag?
It is used on land, displayed inside naval offices, in parades, and for other ceremonial occasions, and often on a staff at the quarterdeck of ships in port. It is not flown by ships at sea, nor on outdoor flagpoles on naval land installations, and is not used as an identifying mark of U.S. Navy ships and facilities, as the U.S. Coast Guard ensign is. The flag of the U.S. Navy is flown in offices, in parades, and for ceremonial occasions. It is never flown by ships at sea or on naval bases.
When was the US Navy Flag Adopted?
The US Navy flag was officially adopted on December 1864.
What were the Early US Navy Flags Used?
The U.S. Navy is a prime user of jacks for its warships and auxiliaries, but they are also used by ships of the U.S. Coast Guard, the predominantly civilian-manned replenishment and support ships of the U.S. Navy's Military Sealift Command, the ships of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and other U.S. governmental entities. It is a maritime flag representing United States nationality flown on the jackstaff in the bow of American vessels that are moored or anchored.
"The jack is flown on the bow (front) of a ship and the ensign is flown on the stern (rear) of a ship when anchored or moored. Once under way, the ensign is flown from the main mast."
The modern First Navy Jack as used by the U.S. Navy is a flag bearing 13 red and white stripes, a rattlesnake and the motto "DONT TREAD ON ME", coming from the supposed design of the first jacks used by the U.S. Navy during the Revolutionary War.
