Russian Navy: 19th cent. flags

Last modified: 2002-12-20 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)
• Honour ensign (1819-1917)
• Flag of the fleet commander (1899-1917)
• Admiral flag (1810-1917)
• Rear admiral flag (1810-1917)
• Vice admiral flag (1810-1917)
• Ceremonial naval flag (1837-1917)
• Customs flag (1827-1917?)
• Aeronautic Section
• Fortress ship under officer
• Fortress ship under non-officer

• Russian Navy: historical flags
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• Russian Navy website,
  reported by Pascal Vagnat, 16 Dec 1998

See here

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).
Zeljko 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 «Çíàìåííûé ãåîðãèåâñêèé ôëàã (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 addoring the naval flags with the orders and ribbons as honor emblems.
Zeljko Heimer, 30 Jul 2000

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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