NATO

North Atlantic Treaty Organization

Last modified: 2003-04-19 by rob raeside
Keywords: nato | otan | compass | international organization |
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by Zeljko Heimer and Antonio Martins

• NATO Allied Command Europe
• Significance of various dimensions
• Ensign of the Stanavforlant
• Stanavforchan commander's ensign
• Commander ensign of Stanavforlant (Dutch usage)
• Unknown NATO flag

See also:

• NATO web page
• International Organizations
• Member states:
  • Belgium
  • Canada
  • Denmark
  • France
  • Germany
  • Greece
  • Iceland
  • Italy
  • Luxembourg
  • Netherlands
  • Norway
  • Poland
  • Portugal
  • Spain
  • Turkey
  • United Kingdom
  • United States of America
• Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council

The NATO flag is 3:4, as described at the Nato Website.

I quote a portion of the above referenced web site:

The Official NATO-color code is Pantone Color Guide No 280

Dimensions
Length:	400
Width:	300
Star:	150
Diameter of circle	115
Space between points of star and start of white lines	10
Space between outer edge of flag and extremity of white lines	30

I found the badge needed at the website for Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, so here's the flag for NATO's Allied Command Europe. Proportions are based on my estimate from seeing the flag outside the SHAPE liaison office in the Pentagon. The flag is trimmed with gold (not golden yellow) fringe. The motto translates as "Vigilance is the price of liberty."

Joe McMillan, 22 May 2000

I've seen this flag listed in various flag books as the SHAPE flag, rather than as Allied Command Europe. Is there any distinction between the two entities?

Roy Stilling, 23 May 2000

SHAPE is the headquarters of ACE. I suppose that since the various components of ACE have their own flags, it is more correct to call this the flag of SHAPE. On the other hand, it is used to represent all of ACE, as shown in photographs of General Joseph Ralston, USAF, replacing General Wesley Clark, USA, as Supreme Allied Commander Europe and Commander in Chief, US European Command.

Joe McMillan, 23 May 2000

by Ivan Sache, 8 January 2001, based on image by Zeljko Heimer and Antonio Martins

According to Pavillons nationaux et marques distinctives, it is also used in proportion 2:3 and 1:2.

Ensign of the Stanavforlant

In proportion 3:5, the NATO flag is used as the ensign of the Stanavforlant (Standing Naval Force in the Atlantic) or Stanavforchan (Standing Naval Force in the Channel) vessels.
Ivan Sache, 8 January 2001
Source: Pavillons nationaux et marques distinctives

Stanavforchan commander's ensign

In proportion 3:5, but in trapezoidal, swallow-tailed shape, and with the lines around the compass removed, it is the ensign used by the Stanavforchan commander.
Ivan Sache, 8 January 2001
Source: Pavillons nationaux et marques distinctives

The COMSTANAVFORCHAN has been changed into COMMCMFORNORTH (Commander Mine Counter Measure Forces Northern Europe). The same pennant is also flown by COMMCMFORSOUTH (Southern Europe). The flag is not trapezoidal anymore but rectangular, still with swallowtail.
Roel Vandenvonder, 7 June 2002

Commander ensign of Stanavforlant (Dutch usage)

The Netherlands navy uses a similar flag but with two shades of blue. According to NL navy regulations (VVKM 19 bijlage O, p.65) this is the commander ensign of STANAVFORLANT or STANAVFORCHAN. Two sizes, both 2:3.

I think, from the context of the picture, that that might be the flag of the International Military Staff or the personal flag of the chairman of the Military Committee. Just a guess.
Joe McMillan, 8 January 2001