A battle ensign is the name given to a large war flag which
is flown on a warship's mast just before going into battle.
The flag identified the allegiance of the ship in what could
be a very confusing situation, with thick clouds of gun smoke obscuring the
ships in action, hence the large size of these ensigns typical for the Royal
Navy from the 17th to 18th centuries of about 20 by 40 ft (6.1 by 12.2 m). It
was commonly accepted that so long as a ship flew its ensign it was an active
participant in battle; prior to action it was an acceptable ruse to fly a false
flag.
If a ship surrendered then it would take down its ensigns
(which was known as striking the colors). This is also the origin of the phrase
"To nail one's colors to the mast", showing a determination to fight
on and never surrender. In practice, warships would fly more than one battle
ensign, so that if the flag was destroyed or brought down during the fighting
there would be no confusion. Conversely, keeping the flag flying even though
the ship might appear to be past fighting was a sign of determination rather
than foolishness. The German battleship Bismarck continued to fly its battle
ensign even after its gun batteries had all been silenced by British shells,
and it sank with the ensign still up.
The battle ensign was seen as an important element for the
morale of the crew and was held in high regard. If a warship was sinking and
had to be abandoned, flags such as the battle ensigns would be taken off the
ship before it sank and were entrusted to the senior (surviving) officer.
Some countries use their national flag as the battle ensign,
while others use their naval ensign. Sometimes unique flags were made and used
as battle ensigns, for example the one flown by United States Naval Forces at
the Battle of Lake Erie in the War of 1812.
The battle ensign is sometimes also flown by U.S. Navy
warships as a courtesy when entering or leaving foreign ports.
In the United States Navy, battle ensigns from American
warships and battle ensigns captured from enemy ships are displayed at the
United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland. The battle ensign flown
from USS Arizona during the attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese Naval Air
Forces on December 7, 1941 was badly stained with oil and it was burned as
being 'unfit for further use', before anyone thought to save it.
From the start of the Naval Battle of Casablanca during
Operation Torch, the USS Massachusetts flew an extra-large battle ensign in the
hopes the French Forces would decide not to fight the U.S. Navy. The French
decided to fight, and the Massachusetts continued to fly the large battle
ensign, throughout the battle.
The USS Ramage uses the flag of the New York City Police
Department as its battle ensign in commemoration of the actions of the NYPD
during the September 11 attacks.
The British National Maritime Museum has in its collection a
battle ensign taken from the Spanish San Ildefonso, captured at the Battle of
Trafalgar which measures 9.8 by 14.4 m (32 by 47 ft).
An ensign from the French Généreux of 8.2 by 16 m (27 by 52
ft) was captured by HMS Foudroyant in 1800, and presented by its captain, one
time Flag Captain of Lord Nelson, to the City of Norwich.
On 9 November 1914, HMAS Sydney wore a large Australian
National Flag as a battle ensign from the mainmast during her celebrated
victory over German warship SMS Emden at the Battle of Cocos. The battle was
the first naval clash and first victory for the Royal Australian Navy.
In the early days of World War II Captain F. S. Bell of HMS
Exeter gave the order to hoist battle ensigns as Exeter turned to engage German
"pocket battleship" Admiral Graf Spee, which significantly outgunned
her, during the Battle of the River Plate.
During the battle of the North Cape, after being ordered to
close with and engage the German battleship Scharnhorst with torpedoes, Captain
Skule Storheill of the Norwegian destroyer HNoMS Stord ordered the ship's
battle ensign to be hoisted on the mainmast, so that "those bastards can
see who they're dealing with!"
Battle ensigns were flown by nearly all British and
Commonwealth ships, who had them available when about to go into surface action
with enemy forces. The sole purpose was to ensure that an ensign would be left
flying in the case of damage to the main mast or funnel gaff, where the ship's
one flag was normally flown.
They were often larger than the standard size issued for the
class of ship: e.g., if the normal ensign was 8 breadths—a breadth being 9
inches—battle ensigns would be 10 to 12 breadths, if available. When flown,
they were flown from the foremast head or the foremast starboard yard. They
were not normally flown in submarine actions, as there was little likelihood of
damage to the upperworks.
In the cruiser action off the
River Plate (Rio de la Plata) in December 1939, H.M.S. Exeter is
reported to have flown four battle ensigns in all, just as well in view of the
battle damage she sustained! In the second battle of Narvik, H.M.S. Warspite
is shown in several paintings flying a very large battle ensign.
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| The 48-star battle ensign of the destroyer escort USS Samuel B. Roberts (DE-413). |
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| HMNZS Achilles battle ensigns. |
