Last modified: 2001-05-18 by elias granqvist
Keywords: sweden | cross | scandinavian cross | cross: scandinavian (yellow) | historical | rank | navy |
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I know that from 1815 to 1858 the navies of Sweden and Norway used
common rank flags. For the period 1858-75, did Sweden, like Norway, use
its war ensign, flown from different masts according to rank, as the
admirals' flag?
Tom Gregg, 2000-Aug-12
As for the admirals, the rank flag system was the same as for Norway: The
war ensign with 3, 2, or 1 star (white) in the lower hoist side blue field.
Union mark in canton, naturally. I have made GIF images of these flags,
the dark blue
colour is intentional, as typical of the 1870's and 1890's.
The broad pennant of the commodore, or the commander of an 'escadre' as the
caption is in Hägg's flag chart, was slightly different from that used
today. It was blue over yellow with the union mark in canton, but the
pennant consisted of a swallow-tailed field with the upper and lower edges
running parallel.
There is also a pennant, triangular, blue over white with the union mark at
the hoist side. This is similar to the pennant for a Commander of a
detachment in the Norwegian navy, though this pennant is only illustrated
in the 1875 regulations - no explanatory caption or text. However, Hägg
captions this as the pennant of a Commander of a detachment or of the
senior officer.
An all-blue pennant (triangular) is also shown in the 1875 regulations,
but again no caption or explanation is given. Admiral Hägg, however,
explains that this pennant was by petty officers when in command of a
vessel.
Swedish Naval Rank Flags, 1875-1905
Can anyone describe Swedish naval rank flags for this period? Were they
of the same pattern as the Norwegian rank flags of the time, i.e. based
on the Swedish war ensign with union mark in the first quarter and rank
insignia (crossed batons, 3 stars, two stars, one star) in the third
quarter? Also, were the commodore's broad pennant and the senior
officer's pennant the same as the current ones but with the union mark?
To answer this, I have looked up two regulations for the Norwegian navy,
Salutreglement med Tillaeg om Flage of Kommandotegn, Christiania,
1875 and Reglement for saluter fra rigets faestninger, Kristiania,
1901, both of which contain brief information on Swedish rank flags. I have
supplemented this information with that found in the 1896 flag chart of
Swedish admiral Jacob Hägg. Based on the information found in these
sources, it seems the Swedish system of rank flags in the period 1875 to
the dissolution of the union, was largely similar to the Norwegian rank
flag system:
Admiral
![[Admiral's flag until 1905]](../images/s/se~a75.gif)
by
Jan Oskar Engene, 2000-Aug-14
Vice Admiral
![[Vice Admiral's flag until 1905]](../images/s/se~va75.gif)
by
Jan Oskar Engene, 2000-Aug-14
Rear Admiral
![[Rear Admiral's flag until 1905]](../images/s/se~ka75.gif)
by
Jan Oskar Engene, 2000-Aug-14
Commodore, or commander of an 'escadre'
![[Commodore's pennant until 1905]](../images/s/se~b75.gif)
by
Jan Oskar Engene, 2000-Aug-14
Commander of a detachment or of a senior officer
![[Senior officer's pennant until 1905]](../images/s/se~d75.gif)
by
Jan Oskar Engene, 2000-Aug-14
Command flag for a petty officer
![[Command flag for a petty officer]](../images/s/se~p75.gif)
by
Jan Oskar Engene, 2000-Aug-14
|
![[Chief of the Department of the Navy]](../images/s/se~m75.gif)
![[Head of Maritime Services]](../images/s/se~fs75.gif)