Signalman 1 & C - Historic Naval Ships Association

RED CROSS FLAGThe Red Cross (Geneva Convention) flag is thedistinctive mark flown from the after truck of ahospital ship of the Navy in commission.In general, the Red Cross flag is regarded as aninternational guarantee of amnesty from attack It isdisplayed ashore at the sanitary branch (dispensary orinfirmary) of an activity of the Navy, in company withthe national flag, to indicate that the area immediatelysurrounding it is entitled to protection under the rulesof the Geneva Convention. None of the militaryservices, however, flies it on the same halyard as thenational flag. Boats engaged in sanitary service andlanding party hospital boats display the Red Cross flagfrom a staff in the bow.Some nations in the Middle East regard the crossas a symbol contrary to their religious beliefs. Insteadof a red cross on the flag, they use designs such as ared crescent on a white field or a red lion and sun ona white field as an indication of a mission of mercy oramnesty from attackCHURCH AND JEWISHWORSHIP PENNANTSWith the sole exception of flag displays at UnitedNations headquarters, where special rules apply, onlythe church or Jewish pennant may be flown above thenational ensign. The church services must beconducted by a Navy chaplain or visiting churchdignitaries aboard ship.Many ships are fitted with two halyards to the samepoint of hoist at both the staff and gaff to permit displayof the church pennant and ensign simultaneously.In displaying the church pennant, it is hoisted tothe peak or truck, the ensign then being dipped justclear of it. If services are being conducted at the timeof morning colors, the ensign is hoisted to the truck atthe prescribed time. The church pennant is thenhoisted and the ensign dipped just clear of the pennant.If the ensign is displayed at half-mast, the churchpennant is hoisted just above the ensign. In loweringthe church pennant, the ensign is closed up before thepennant is lowered.Although the church pennant maynotbeflownabovethe national flag ashore, it may be displayed separately.The Jewish worship pennant is displayed duringJewish religious services afloat and ashore. The samerules governing the display of the church pennantapply to the display of the Jewish worship pennant.POW/MIA FLAGAll activities authorized to fly the national ensignare encourage to fly the POW/MIA flag on occasionssuch as Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and NationalPOW/MIA Day.Ships are to display the flag from the inboard portsignal halyard. Ashore display should be beneath thenational ensign. The POW/MIA flag can also be usedfor indoor display to enhance ceremonies.AWARD FLAGS AND PENNANTSWhen not under way, ships should fly awardpennants at the foremast from sunrise to sunset, on thesame halyard, one below the other, in order ofseniority. When ashore, award pennants may bedisplayed in the order of seniority from the portyardarm at U.S. naval activities. For commandswithout an appropriate flagpole, a replica of the awardflag or pennant may be displayed in or near the vicinityof the command’s quarterdeck. When an award flag orpennant is awarded to a department or division withina command, a replica may be displayed in or near themain entrance to that department or division.ABSENTEE PENNANTSWhen a ship is not under way, the absence of anembarked officer, unit commander, chief of staff, chiefstaff officer, or commanding officer is indicated fromsunrise to sunset by an absentee pennant displayedfrom the signal yardarm as prescribed in the followingtable. In the case of the absence of the commandingofficer who is also a unit commander or acting as atemporary unit commander, both absentee pennantswill be displayed.SignalFIRST SUB—starboardoutboardSECOND SUB—port inboard Absence of chief of staff or chiefstaff officer of the commanderwhose personal flag is flying onthis ship.THIRD SUB—port outboard Absence of commanding officer(its use immediately shifts to theexecutive officer when thecommanding officer departs fora period of absence of 72 hoursor more).FOURTH SUB—starboardinboardMeaningAbsence of a flag officer or unitcommander whose personal flagor command pennant is flyingon this ship.Absence of civil or militaryofficial whose flag is flying onthis ship.10-21