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Russian Navy: 19th cent. flags

Last modified: 2005-12-10 by antonio martins
Keywords: navy | ensign | fleet commander | admiral | vice admiral | rear admiral | ceremonial | aeronautic section | air ensign | anchor (red) | anchor: winged |
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Ensign (1712-1917)

1712 ensign
image by Yosef Obskura and Željko Heimer, 06 Apr 1999

See here


Honour ensign (1819-1917)

1819 ensign
image by Victor Lomantsov, 24 Jul 2000

St. George Ensign is a honour ensign. It was granted to heroic ships. It was an award for ship. By one of first St.George Ensigns had received by ships Azov and Mercury. The shield had the points at the top and at the bottom, the shield had thin yellow border.
Victor Lomantsov, 24 Jul 2000

George’s stern flag [i.e. St. George’s ensign, reffering to the patron in the shield] (1819-1917). Also Ceremonial George’s flag (1819-1917).
Željko Heimer, 06 Apr 1999, quoting from Flag-znamya korablya, Russian Navy website, consulted 07 Mar 1999

However, regarding the «Ceremonial George’s flag (1819-1917)» it seems that the “onepointed” shield was used — at least so it is depicted on the Russian Navy webasite. There it is called «Знаменный георгиевский флаг (1819-1917)». I guess that it is supposed to be the “unit colour” and not the flag used as ensign, and therefore the “ornamentation” of the upper point of the shield was not needed. In any case, the George’s flags seems to be origins of the latter Soviet practice of adorning the naval flags with the orders and ribbons as honor emblems.
Željko Heimer, 30 Jul 2000


Flag of the fleet commander (1899-1917)

Ceremonial naval flag (1837-1917)
image by Yosef Obskura and Željko Heimer, 06 Apr 1999

Flag of the fleet commander (1899-1917).
Željko Heimer, 06 Apr 1999, quoting from Flag-znamya korablya, Russian Navy website, consulted 07 Mar 1999


Admiral flag (1810-1917)

Admiral flag
image by Yosef Obskura and Željko Heimer, 06 Apr 1999

Flag of admiral (1810-1917)
Željko Heimer, 06 Apr 1999, quoting from Flag-znamya korablya, Russian Navy website, consulted 07 Mar 1999


Vice admiral flag (1810-1917)

Vice admiral flag
image by Yosef Obskura and Željko Heimer, 06 Apr 1999

Flag of vice admiral (1810-1917)
Željko Heimer, 06 Apr 1999, quoting from Flag-znamya korablya, Russian Navy website, consulted 07 Mar 1999


Rear admiral flag (1810-1917)

Rear admiral flag
image by Yosef Obskura and Željko Heimer, 06 Apr 1999

Flag of rear admiral (1810-1917)
Željko Heimer, 06 Apr 1999, quoting from Flag-znamya korablya, Russian Navy website, consulted 07 Mar 1999


Ceremonial naval flag (1837-1917)

Ceremonial naval flag (1837-1917)
image by Yosef Obskura and Željko Heimer, 06 Apr 1999

Ceremonial naval flag (1837-1917).
Željko Heimer, 06 Apr 1999, quoting from Flag-znamya korablya, Russian Navy website, consulted 07 Mar 1999


Customs flag (1827-1917?)

[Russian Customs flag]
image by Željko Heimer, Jozef Obskura and António Martins, 24 May 1999

The green flag with white saltire is the Customs Flag. It was readopted 3 december 1994 by presidential decree No 2152. This flag was Customs Flag of imperial Russia since 1827.
Victor Lomantsov, 11 Mar 2000

Customs flag (1827-1972)?

previous Russian Customs flag?
image by Željko Heimer, Jozef Obskura and António Martins, 24 May 1999

The first Finnish customs ensign was adopted on 2 April 1813: the Mercury staffs below the Russian merchant flag. Russia’s customs ensign 1827-1872 was black with a white saltire. In 1872 Russia took over the flag from the Finnish, and Finnish customs vessels put the Mercury staffs into the fly of the flag.
Ralf Stelter, 03 Mar 2001

I think it is a misprint.
Victor Lomantsov, 03 Mar 2001


Flag of the Aeronautic Section of the Imperial Russian Navy

Aeronautic Section
image by Dave Martucci, 24 Nov 1999

This is perhaps the first russian air ensign, published in 1904 in the official Album Shtandartov [blv04]. It is the flag of the Aeronautic Section of the Imperial Russian Navy, bearing the badge of that service, an upright anchor with wings. In 1924, the Soviet Union adopted a similar design for its Air Force.
Dave Martucci, 24 Nov 1999


Fortress ship under officer

[Fortress ship ensign]
image by Victor Lomantsov, 21 Jul 2000

Ensign for ships of naval fortresses (under command of navy officer) Blue flag with Andrew’s cross in white canton, two crossed guns below. Ensign was adopted on 23, September, 1913.
Victor Lomantsov, 21 Jul 2000


Fortress ship under non-officer

[Fortress ship ensign]
image by Victor Lomantsov, 21 Jul 2000

Ensign for ships of naval fortresses (under command of non-officer) Blue flag with national flag in canton, two crossed guns below. Ensign was adopted on 23, September, 1913.
Victor Lomantsov, 21 Jul 2000