Friday, May 03, 2013

The Royal Canadian Navy is flying a new flag. The new ensign will debut on May 5, marking the anniversary of the Battle of the Atlantic, a time when the navy and Canadians salute the sacrifices of sailors during the Second World War.

CBC News

Posted: May 2, 2013 8:07 PM AT

Last Updated: May 2, 2013 10:19 PM AT

The new naval ensign. (Courtesy Royal Canadian Navy)

After 48 years, the Royal Canadian Navy will be flying a new flag.

The new ensign will debut on May 5, marking the anniversary of the Battle of the Atlantic, a time when the navy and Canadians salute the sacrifices of sailors during the Second World War.

Since 1965, the Canadian maple leaf flag has flown off the stern of Canadian warships. The new design harkens back to the wartime navy. Back then, the naval ensign had a British flag in the upper corner on an all-white background.

In a reversal, the flag known as the Naval Jack will become the new Canadian naval ensign and the maple leaf design will become the new Naval Jack.

The new naval ensign incorporates the national flag in the upper left hand corner and the naval badge.

The navy said the switch doesn't mean they’ll scrap the maple leaf flag. Previously the ensign flag was displayed on the bow of Canadian warships, a less prominent position in navy protocol.

The new ensign will fly on 34 Canadian warships. The first ship to show it will be HMCS Toronto, now serving in the Persian Gulf.

Canada and their new white ensign

In the early 1990s, the British Royal Navy-style Commissioning Pennant was phased out in favour of a new Canadian-designed Commissioning Pennant, which featured a maple leaf instead of the Cross of St. George. Only commissioned warships fly the Commissioning Pennant.

On August 16, 2011, the historic name of the RCN was restored and Maritime Command became known as the “Royal Canadian Navy.” On May 5, 2013, the Government of Canada restored a standard Commonwealth naval practice by authorizing RCN vessels to fly a distinctive Canadian Naval Ensign and fly the National Flag as the Naval Jack. Essentially, the flag previously known as the Canadian Naval Jack became the Canadian Naval Ensign, whereas the National Flag became the Canadian Naval Jack.

Domestic Stories: Display of naval flags on Her Majesty’s Canadian ships as of May 5, 2013

The three main positions for flags on a Canadian warship are:

The Jack staff(bow), where the Naval Jack is flown while alongside, moored or at anchor.	The Masthead (top center of ship), where the Commissioning Pennant is flown, and where the Naval Ensign is flown while at sea.	The Ensign staff(stern), where the Naval Ensign is flown while alongside, moored or at anchor.

This table outlines the various flags flown by Canadian warships to indicate their Canadian nationality since 1910:

	Canadian Naval Ensign The Naval Ensign is flown at the masthead while at sea, or at the stern when alongside, moored or at anchor.	Canadian Naval Jack The Naval Jack is flown at the bow when alongside, moored or at anchor.	Commissioning Pennant Flown from the masthead, the Commissioning Pennant is hoisted on the day a warship is commissioned and is displaced only by the personal flag of the Sovereign or senior officer when embarked.
1910 – 1911 The Naval Service of Canada, later known as the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN), flew the Canadian Government Blue Ensign and the Union Jack. The Royal Navy (RN) Commissioning Pennant (cross of St. George) was also adopted.*
1911 – 1922 In December 1911, the RCN adopted the RN White Ensign as the Canadian Naval Ensign and the Canadian Government Blue Ensign as the Canadian Naval Jack.
1922 – 1957 A new Blue Ensign with a shield of the new coat of Arms was introduced by the Government of Canada, and adopted by the RCN as the Canadian Naval Jack.
1957 – 1965 A new Blue Ensign with red maple leaves at the base of the shield was adopted by the Government of Canada, and adopted by the RCN as the Canadian Naval Jack.
1965 – 1968 With the adoption of the Maple Leaf Flag as the Canadian National Flag in 1965, the RCN adopted the new National Flag as an Ensign and a Jack.
1968 until early 1990s In 1968, a new distinctive Canadian Naval Jack was adopted which incorporated the Maple Leaf flag in its canton.
Early 1990s to 2013 In the early 1990s, the RN style Commissioning Pennant was phased out in favour of a new Canadian designed Commissioning Pennant (Maple Leaf).
2013 On May 5, 2013, the RCN restored a standard Commonwealth naval practice and adopted a distinctive Canadian Naval Ensign. The National Flag was also adopted as the Naval Jack.

* Canada’s first warship, HMCS Niobe, flew the White Ensign vice the Blue Ensign as her Naval Ensign on arrival in Halifax on October 21, 1910 as the formal transfer to Canada did not occur until November 12, 1910.

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