A new ensign for the Naval Service?

Boreas

Just a semi-random thought but seeing some of the coverage of LÉ Eithne on deployment in the Med I was wondering if the Irish Naval Service should emulate the many navies that have unique flags/ensigns. I suppose the Royal Navy White Ensign is the best known.

Something like



or

Sitamoia

Ren2k7

What's wrong with the present naval jack?



It's a simple and elegant design.

Boreas

Ren2k7 wrote: »

What's wrong with the present naval jack?

Not a bad idea, the Canadian Navy switched their ensign and jack a couple of years ago. Maybe a darker green though.

Tabnabs

The Irish ensign is the same as the Irish flag, and so it should be. What you are suggesting is essentially a bastardisation of the British ensign (Blue, Red or White). We're past that stage for about a hundred years now and if colonies or commonwealths want to go down that path, then fine, but we have an ensign and should be proud of it.

Larbre34

The naval jack is the same as the flag of Leinster, possibly some room for originality.

Boreas

Tabnabs wrote: »

The Irish ensign is the same as the Irish flag, and so it should be. What you are suggesting is essentially a bastardisation of the British ensign (Blue, Red or White). We're past that stage for about a hundred years now and if colonies or commonwealths want to go down that path, then fine, but we have an ensign and should be proud of it.

I do see where you're coming from but a number of countries with no connection to the British Commonwealth have unique ensigns for their navies.

Ukraine



Estonia



Belgium



Libya

Boreas

Perhaps a design that looks less like the RN ensign?

Tabnabs

Boreas wrote: »

I do see where you're coming from but a number of countries with no connection to the British Commonwealth have unique ensigns for their navies.

A number do, but it's a small number and the vast majority don't. Be proud of the tricolour as it's worn by our Naval and Merchant vessels.

Boreas

Tabnabs wrote: »

A number do, but it's a small number and the vast majority don't. Be proud of the tricolour as it's worn by our Naval and Merchant vessels.

A quick check shows that 24 out of 33 navies in Europe have unique ensigns which differ from their national flags. Although in some of the Nordic countries the difference is just in shape of the flag, swallow tail vs rectangular.

I haven't looked at non-European navies.

Anyway it was just a thought, a way to promote esprit de corps and distinguish Irish naval ships. Obviously it's not going to happen and if it did any new ensign should be designed by the NS itself with appropriate vexillological advice.