Mozambican Military flags

Last modified: 2002-07-05 by jarig bakker
Keywords: mozambique | warflag | roundel |
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• Mozambican warflag
• Mozambican roundel
• (no) Naval Ensign

• Mozambique

War flag (1975-1983)

The flag is from 'Flags and arms across the world', by Whitney Smith, 1980 - no text.
Does anybody know when this flag was used? Is it still used or has it been replaced?
Jarig Bakker, 8 Feb 2001

I can't give much more info now then I was able in 1996. I am not aware of any other source then Smith 1980 showing this flag (smi75 does not yet have it). Certainly, it is not shown in Album recap. 1995 nor Album 2000. OTOH, very similar (or even exactly the same) emblem is used still nowdays as part of the air force roundel. (black, red equaliateral triangle pointing up, yellow emblem). The flag looks more like a party flag, or possible military colour then the war flag. It may be conceived that such flags were (mis?)reported in 1980 as war flag as still the country was young and possibly situation was unsetteled.
Zeljko Heimer, 9 Feb 2001

On Antonio Martins' website is written (my translation):
"In an unusual arrangement, even more so for military flags, this one consisted onf a version of the then national flag with a plain red background and a simplified yellow coat of arms. Very similar to what would become the flag of FRELIMO itself."
Jorge Candeias, 20 Feb 2001

In view of Antonio's caption "Moçambique (1975-1983): bandeira militar" I assume that it was an army flag of some kind (FRELIMO paramilitaries?), but not the Mozambican warflag - Mozambique's warflag is its national flag, no?
Jarig Bakker, 20 Feb 2001

Actually it isn't clear at all. The expression "bandeira militar" means "military flag". Now, what's a military flag? Either it's a generic term for any flag used in the military forces, or it's something quite close to a warflag. But not quite a warflag, I suppose. My impression is that the status of this flag was pretty close to the status of the Portuguese military flag. The Portuguese military flag does not replace the national flag in any circumstance (and therefore is not a warflag) but is the flag of the Portuguese armed forces. A sort of the top in the hierarchy of branch and regimental colors.
Jorge Candeias, 21 Feb 2001

The technical term for a military color in a number of Spanish-speaking countries is "bandera de guerra"--war flag. But it's not a war flag as used by FIAV, it's (usually) a variation of the national flag with fancier embroidery and the unit name, motto, etc., on it, carried on parade, not hoisted above the camp as a substitute for the national flag.
Joe McMillan, 21 Feb 2001

This is most probably correct as respects (some/all?) Central and South American countries, however it should be stressed that "bandera de guerra" is only used in Spain to designate the war *ensign*. An army colour is simply a "bandera" or at most a "bandera del regimiento" etc. Up to the early 1800s, they used to be called "[bandera] coronela" etc. depending on whether it was the flag of the regiment's first battalion (i.e. "Leibfahne", "Drapeaux colonel" or "King's Colour") or not.
Santiago Dotor, 22 Feb 2001

The flag is honoured, yes, but soldiers sware to the *national* flag when they finish basic instruction, for instance.
Jorge Candeias, 22 Feb 2001

Mozambican roundel

The ex-Portuguese colony became independent in 1975 and formed an armed combat airforce by 1976. Markings are based on the national flag and consist of a black disc containing a red triangle. On this area various designs: a book for education, a hoe for agriculture, and a rifle for the fight for independence. Aircraft are marked above and below the wings and on the fin.
Source: Cochrane and Elliot's 'Military Aircraft Insignia of the World', 1998.
The emblem on the roundel is uncanny similar to the mysterious Mozambican warflag, wherefore I've stolen it from Zeljko Heimers's rendering of that flag and put it on the roundel. Including the indentations or serrations or whatever one might have to call it.
Jarig Bakker, 26 Mar 2001

That's the outline of a cogwheel.
Jorge Candeias, 26 Mar 2001

Aircraft Marking.
Black roundel with red up-pointing equilateral triangle containing yellow  emblem - cog wheel, book, rifle, hoe and star.
Zeljko Heimer, 1 Jul 2002

Naval Ensign