be flown at the foretruck and the national ensign flown
at the main-truck. When a single masted flagship is
dressed or full-dressed, however, the personal flag or
pennant is hoisted at the starboard yardarm. During a
gun salute, the ensign is displayed at the main-truck.
Any personal flag is lowered clear of the ensign.
FLAG DISPLAYS IN BOATS
The ensign is flown from the stern of naval boats.
The ensign should never be so large that it hangs in the
water when the boat is afloat. When the ensign becomes
soiled, it should be changed for a clean ensign. Our flag
should be flown from boats during the following times:
When under way during daylight in a foreign port
When ships are required to be dressed or
full-dressed
When going alongside a foreign vessel
When an officer or official is embarked on an
official occasion
When a flag or general officer, a unit
commander, a commanding officer, or a chief of
staff, in uniform, is embarked in a boat of the
command or in one assigned for personal use
At other times when prescribed by the senior
officer present
When an officer in command (or chief of staff)
entitled to a personal flag or pennant is embarked in a
boat on an official occasion, the appropriate flag or
pennant is flown at the bow. (If not entitled to a personal
flag or pennant, a commission pennant is displayed.) On
other than official occasions, a miniature personal flag
or pennant is displayed near the coxswain’s station.
Bow Markings
Many boats carry bow markings to indicate to
whom the boat is assigned. A boat having an arrow in
the bow is assigned for use by a commanding officer or a
chief of staff who is not a flag officer. A miniature of the
command pennant is on the bow of the boat assigned to a
unit commander. A boat assigned for the personal use of
a flag or general officer has on each bow the number of
stars corresponding to the officer’s rank.
Flagstaff Insignias
Boats assigned to officers for personal use or boats
in which a civil official is embarked on official business
are marked with special devices on the flagstaff. The
flagstaff for the ensign and for the personal flags or
pennants is fitted at the peak with these special devices,
shown in figure 4-29, as follows:
Spread eagle: For any civilian official or flag
officer whose official salute is 19 guns or more
Halbert: For a flag or general officer whose
official salute is less than 19 guns or for a civil
official whose salute is 11 guns or more but less
than 19
Ball: For an officer of the grade, or relative grade,
of captain in the Navy, and for certain diplomatic
officials
Star: For an officer of the grade, or relative
grade, of commander
Flat truck: For an officer below the grade, or
relative grade, of commander, and for civil
officials entitled to honors of a lesser nature than
those previously described
4-26
Student Notes:
Figure 4-29.—Flagstaff insignias.
