NATIONAL ENSIGN
The following rules govern the display of the
national ensign in port and under way.
In Port
When not under way, commissioned ships display
the ensign from the flagstaff at the stern and the union
jack from the jackstaff at the bow from 0800 to sunset.
In the case of a mastless ship, the ensign will be
displayed from the loftiest hoist on board. After
entering a foreign port during darkness, a Navy ship
briefly displays the ensign from the gaff at first light
to establish nationality. Other ships of war present
customarily display their ensigns in return.
According to SECNAVINST 10520.4, the oldest
ship in the Navy, as identified by the Chief of Naval
Operations, is to display the first Navy jack, in lieu of
the union jack, at the jackstaff.
Under Way
When flown under way during peacetime, the
ensign normally is displayed during daylight from the
gaff (or triatic stay in the case of those ships with
mast-mounted booms and stays, which would
interfere with the hoisting, lowering, or flying of the
national ensign) under the following situations unless
otherwise directed by the senior officer present:
Getting under way or mooring/anchoring
Falling in with other ships
Cruising near land
When engaged in battle
When cruising under wartime conditions, it is
customary to fly the national ensign continuously at
sea, since battle action may be regarded as always
imminent.
The union jack is not flown under way except in
the case to denote a general court-martial or court of
inquiry is in session. In that case, it is flown from a
signal yardarm.
Size of Ensign/Jack for Shipboard Use
Table 10-l shows the appropriate size of the
ensign and jack to be used aboard your ship.
Remember that the union jack must be the same size
as the union portion of the ensign being flown from
the flagstaff.
Shore Display of the National Ensign
The national ensign is displayed from 0800 until
sunset at all U.S. naval activity headquarters. The
following are additional rules that apply to the display
of the national ensign:
No other flag or pennant will be displayed above
or, if on the same level, to the right of the ensign.
Table 10-1.—Sizes of Ensigns and Jacks for Shipboard Use
LENGTH
HOLIDAY
DAILY
SHIP
FLAG
JACK
S
ENSIGN
JACK
S
ENSIGN
JACK
STAFF
STAFF
I
DIMENSION
DIMENSION
I
DIMENSION
DIMENSION
Z
Z
E
E
Less 100'
10'
Jackstaffs with
8
3'6"
1' 10 9/16"
10
2' 4 7/16"
(See Note 1)
anchor lights
6' 7 3/4"
×
×
×
mounted thereon
2' 7 5/16"
4'6"
100'-150'
12'
shall be of
sufficient height
8
3'6"
1' 10 9/16"
10
2' 4 7/16"
(See Note 1)
so as to conform
×
×
×
to Rules of tbe
6' 7 3/4
2' 7 5/16"
4'6"
151'-200'
15'
Road
7
5' 0"
2' 8 l/4"
8
3'6"
1' 10 9/16"
×
×
×
×
9' 6"
3' 9 5/8"
6' 7 3/4"
2' 7 15/16"
201'-450'
17'
7
5' 0"
2' 8 l/4”
8
3'6"
1' 10 9/16"
×
×
9'6"
3' 9 5/8"
×
6' 7 3/4"
2' 7 15/16"
451'-UP
22'
5
8' 11 3/8"
4' 9 13/16"
7
5'0"
2' 8 l/4"
×
×
×
×
17' 0"
6' 9 5/8"
9'6"
3' 9 5/8"
10-2
