Illustrious - flag etiquette

[ms1]

Saw Illustrious at Greenwich today.
From numerous posts on this forum I believe that a pilot jack and no other is permitted on the bow of a British vessel.
She is not flying a pilot jack here so I am wondering quite what 'the rules' are ...

 

[Dave_Seager]

Although it is illegal to fly the union flag from a merchant ship I belive that is is correct for it to be used on a naval vessel. This is also when it is correct to refer to the flag as the Union Jack as it is flown near the bow.

 

[ms1]

ah thanks David .. as a flag officer of my own cruiser club I might have guessed you would know the rules.
Here's another bow pic with Canary Wharf in the background.
Pic taking is not ideal as she is lying right next to a huge building site on the south side.

 

[Athene V30]

[ QUOTE ]
I believe that a pilot jack and no other is permitted on the bow of a British vessel.

[/ QUOTE ]
Only the RN is permitted to fly Union Flag which becomes known as the Union Jack as it is on the Jack Staff. Always flown in harbour / at anchor etc. It can only be flown at sea when escorting Her Majesty.

 

[byron]

AHA! Do you know the reason only the Royal Navy can fly the Union Flag? As with EVERY aspect of flag etiquette there is/was a sound reason.
It dates back to Charles 1st (I think). Naval vessels entering ports do not have to pay any dues. To avoid paying harbour fees Captains of merchant vessels would fly a Union Flag and claim they were under the auspices of the Navy. To stop this practice the edict was issued and from there on only Royal Navy Warships were allowed the Union Flag.

That's me... a mine of useless information when it comes to flag etiquette.

 

[Richard Shead]

Just seen some of those bad boys sitting on the front fly past..

 

[teddington_lock]

Saw them too .... there was at least 15 in a line came overhead ..... looked very cool ...

 

[Richard Shead]

From Tedd? wow they need a big turning circle!

They are still buzzing around

 

[ADLS]

Should'nt the union flag be edged in white when flown from the jack?????

 

[pande]

I saw them taking off from Northolt earlier. Looked pretty awesome!

 

[byron]

[ QUOTE ]
Should'nt the union flag be edged in white when flown from the jack?????

[/ QUOTE ]
On a Merchant Vessel this is so. A warship can fly a clean Union Flag. In battle the vessel will fly three ensigns.

 

[Andrew_Fanner]

Been trying to persuade my next door neighbour to commandeer Jedi for an afternoon so we can run up a White. Mind you, the only one I can get hold of "fell" off a ship a while back, the owner won it in a ship's charity lottery, its been flown in combat, allegedly.