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Naval Rank Flags (Sweden)

Last modified: 2021-08-25 by christopher oehler
Keywords: naval rank flag | sweden | cannons | fouled anchors | stars | scandinavian cross |
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Inspector General of the Navy

[Admiral flag of Sweden] by Željko Heimer
Yellow over blue square flag with crossed marchal's staffs in the yellow field and yellow naval emblem in the blue. The naval emblem consists of two cannon barrels in saltire behin a cabled anchor (the cable actually passing around the barrels. too.)

Source: Album des pavillons (2000)
Željko Heimer, 11 March 2003

Admiral (Amiral)

[Admiral flag of Sweden] by Željko Heimer
Source: Album des pavillons (2000)

Until 1972, the flag of an admiral had three stars (like the present flag of a vice admiral).

The change in number of stars was made in 1972, when there was a general change in the rank titles in the Swedish armed forces. This information was given me in a mail by Col. Hans Norlén, who is "handläggare av uniforms- och traditionsärenden", i.e. he is dealing with matters regarding uniforms and traditions, at the Swedish Armed Forces.
Elias Granqvist, 31 August 2000

At present only the king has the rank of full admiral, thus this flag is inactive.
Per Hansson, 13 January 2002

Vice Admiral (Viceamiral)

[Vice Admiral flag of Sweden] by Željko Heimer

Source: Album des pavillons (2000)

Until 1972, the flag of a vice admiral had two stars (like the present flag of a rear admiral).

Rear Admiral (Konteramiral)

[Rear Admiral flag of Sweden] by Željko Heimer
Source: Album des pavillons (2000)

Until 1972, the flag of a rear admiral had one star (like the present flag of a flotilla admiral).

Flotilla Admiral (Flottiljamiral)

[Flotilla Admiral flag of Sweden] by Željko Heimer
Source: Album des pavillons (2000) The rank of flottiljamiral [flotilla admiral, equivalent to brigadier general] was introduced only in 2001. He flies the naval ensign with ONE star at the hoist = the same flag as a rear admiral prior to 1972. Between 1972 and 2000 there existed the equivalent rank of kommendör1.klass [Captain 1st rank] who flew the same burgee as kommendör/captain. Existing holders of this rank have NOT been promoted to flotilla admiral, so peculiarly we have two ranks at one and the same level right now!
Per Hansson, 13 January 2002

Commodore (UK) / Captain (US) (Kommendör)

[Commodore flag of Sweden] by Željko Heimer
Source: Album des pavillons (2000)

Forked broad pennant (5:8), horizontally divided (1:1)
Commodore or Captain's ensign.
Ivan Sache, 25 January 2000

Masthead Pennant - Commander/Lt. Commander

[Masthead pennant] by Željko Heimer

Blue over yellow long tappering swallow-tailed pennant. Based on the image in Album 2000, the constuction details might be approximated to ratio 1:24~, indentation ca. 6 hoist sizes, fly size ca. 1/2 the hoist. Possibly these details are not defined strictly but more by tradition... What ranks are using this masthead pennant seems to differ (I wander if this is correct anyway, wouldn't this be only two ranks?). What seems clear is that this pennant is used by higher naval officers, but not those enitiled to specially flag (above). The lower officers or according to other sources, the NCO's) commanding ships used small pennant instead.

Source: Album des pavillons (2000)
Željko Heimer, 13 March 2003

Command pennant for a Lieutenant or Ensign

[Lieutenant/Ensign Pennant] by Željko Heimer

Triangular pennant vertically divided into yellow and blue. Construction 1+1:1+2.

The ranks that use these pennant are reported differently in different sources - in the first place I think here on various Album issues 1995-2002, and Flaggenbuch; it may be result of changes in regulations too, not only in different rank "translations". Knowing that Norway also uses a special pennant for NCO's commanding a ship I suspect that there may be a connection here, and that this pennant might indeed be for NCO's, too.

Source: Album des pavillons (2000)
Željko Heimer, 13 March 2003

Fleet Commander

[Fleet Commander] by Željko Heimer

Blue over yellow triangular pennant.

Source: Album des pavillons (2000)
Željko Heimer, 13 March 2003

Flotilla Commander

[Flotilla Commander] by Željko Heimer

Triangular pennant vertically divided in blue-yellow-blue in ratio 1+1+2.

Source: Album des pavillons (2000)
Željko Heimer, 13 March 2003

Division Commander

[Division Commander] by Željko Heimer

Triangular pennant, blue with yellow Scandinavian cross. Construction details match the national flag: (4+1+1+4:5+2+33).

Source: Album des pavillons (2000)
Željko Heimer, 13 March 2003

Senior Commander Alfoat

[Senior Commander Afloat rank flag] by Željko Heimer

Blue trangular pennant with yellow horizontal stripe along the middle. Width of fields is, as usual, 4+2+4 (or 2+1+2 if you prefer).

Source: Album des pavillons (2000)
Željko Heimer, 15 March 2003

Command pennant for a petty officer (Örlogsgaljadet)

[Örlogsgaljadet] by Ivan Sache

Örlogsgaljadet: Triangular ensign (5:8), vertically divided yellow-blue (1:2)
Command pennant for a petty officer.
Ivan Sache, 25 January 2000

Maritime Region Commander
Naval Base Commander
Coastal Artillery Defence Zone Commander

[Maritime Region Commander, Naval Base Commander, Coastal Artillary Commander] by Željko Heimer
Source: Album de Pavillions 1995

Blue flag with the yellow navy emblem. The meblem consists of two cannon barrels in saltire and a cabled anchor (cf. IG Navy in Album 2000)

This flag (and the positions?) might have been made obsolete today.
Željko Heimer, 15 March 2003

Standard of Royal Naval Reserve Officer with rank at least "Oberleutenant sur See" Commanding the Ship

[Reserve Officer] Ratio: 5:8 by Željko Heimer
Source: Flaggenbuch

Blue swallow-tailed broad pennant with yellow anchor surrounded with three crowns, one above and one on each side.

Construction details match those of the broad pennant for Captain in Command.
Željko Heimer, 16 March 2003