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. A war flag (or military flag) is a variant of a national flag for use by the nations military forces on land. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

The flag identified the allegiance of the ship in what could be a very confusing situation, with thick clouds of gunsmoke 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. 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 colours 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. The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the oldest of the British armed services (and is therefore the Senior Service). ... Striking the colors was and is the universally recognized indication of surrender. ...

USS McFall flying her battle ensign as she returns to Norfolk, Virginia from deployment.

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. Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... Motto: Crescas (Latin for, Thou shalt grow. ... The German battleship Bismarck is one of the most famous warships of the Second World War. ...

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 Dannebrog, national flag of Denmark, is the oldest state flag still in use. ... A naval ensign is the flag used by a countrys navy on their ships. ... Combatants United Kingdom United States Commanders Robert Heriot Barclay Oliver Hazard Perry Jesse Elliot Strength 2 ships 2 brigs 1 schooner 1 sloop 3 brigs 5 schooners 1 sloop Casualties 41 dead 93 wounded prisoners 306 surrendered Entire squadron captured 27 dead 96 wounded One brig heavily damaged The Battle... Combatants United States Great Britain Canada Bermuda Eastern Woodland Indians Commanders James Madison Henry Dearborn Jacob Brown Winfield Scott Andrew Jackson George Prevost Isaac Brock† Tecumseh† Strength •United States Regular Army: 35,800 •Rangers: 3,049 •Militia: 458,463* •US Navy & US Marines: (at start of war): •Frigates:6 •Other...

The battle ensign is sometimes also flown by U.S. Navy warships as a courtesy when entering or leaving foreign ports. The United States Navy (USN) is the branch of the United States armed forces responsible for naval operations. ...

Examples

In the United States Navy, battle ensigns from United States 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. USN redirects here. ... The United States Naval Academy (USNA) is an institution for the undergraduate education of officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps and is in Annapolis, Maryland . ... City nickname: Americas Sailing Capital Location in the state of Maryland Founded 1649 Mayor Ellen O. Moyer (Dem) Area  - Total  - Water 19. ... Official language(s) None (English, de facto) Capital Annapolis Largest city Baltimore Area  Ranked 42nd  - Total 12,407 sq mi (32,133 km²)  - Width 90 miles (145 km)  - Length 249 miles (400 km)  - % water 21  - Latitude 37° 53′ N to 39° 43′ N  - Longitude 75° 03′ W to 79° 29... Arizona (BB-39) in Pearl Harbor, see USS Arizona Memorial. ... This article is about the harbor in Hawaii. ... is the 341st day of the year (342nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the movie, see 1941 (film). ...

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 (32.2 by 47.2 ft). The National Maritime Museum, Greenwich The National Maritime Museum (NMM) is the leading maritime museum of the United Kingdom, and one of the most important in the world. ... Combatants United Kingdom First French Empire Kingdom of Spain Commanders Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson † Pierre Charles Silvestre de Villeneuve Strength 27 ships of the line and 6 others. ...

An ensign from the French Le Genereux of 8.2 by 16 m (26.9 by 52.5 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. Two Royal Navy ships have been named Foudroyant: Foudroyant was an 80-gun ship, captured from the French on 28 February 1758. ... In the Royal Navy a Captain of the fleet could be appointed to assist an admiral when the admiral had ten or more ships to command. ... Norwich (IPA: //) is a city in East Anglia, in Eastern England. ...

See also

• Flag
• Flag terminology
• Vexillology
• British ensigns
• Japanese ensigns