US Flags on US Coast Guard Vessles

Factual Questions
1

I just recently returned from the seeing the Tall Ships in Halifax. (It was absolutely amazing BTW) I did, however, notice something that was a little strange.

The United States Coast Guard had one of their large training sailboats in port. On the bowsprite of the ship was what appeared to be an American flag (Stars & Stripes), however, it looked like some had cut away all of the stipes and just left the “stars” portion of the flag flying. Is this some sort of special version of the Stars and Stripes reserved for Coast Guard vessels or just some other flag?

Chief Scott, anyone? Please help out a bewildered Canadian.

2

I believe that’s the “ensign”. It’s on Naval vessels too. Chief Scott will be able to tell you all about it, I’m sure!

3

That sounds like the Navy flag. The Coast Guard flag is white with an eagle on it. The ensign has red and white stripes on it, but they are vertical, not horizontal.

4

I believe it’s customary to salute the ensign upon boarding a Naval vessel.

(It’s been a long time since I was a Sea Cadet!)

5

As far as I know, the only Coast Guard vessel taking part in OpSail is the Coast Guard Barque Eagle (click on the small picture there to get a bigger image). In this picture and others I have seen, it appears to be flying the stars and stripes.

6

The blue field is referred to as the union.

7

I should have been more thorough, the blue field is the union or union jack. The national ensign is the American flag.

8

Isn’t the blue field with the stars the Naval Ensign?

9

As noted on this site
Naval Jack
the jack is flown from the bow, while the ensign is flown from the stern.

This matches the OP’s observation that the jack was seen on the bowsprit.

10

U. S. Coast Guard Flags

U. S. Navy Flags

U. S. Flags

From the Flags of the World selection page.

11

It definitely was the Barque Eagle that I saw and it was flying the Naval Jack on the bowsprit.

Thanks for all the quick replies and especially to tomndeb for the links.

Just a couple of more questions. The links that you provided, tom, did not discuss when the flag is generally flown. Is this something that is only done in port? In addition, why would a Coast Guard vessel be flying a Navy flag?

Thanks again.

12

As others have pointed out, US Navy and CG ships fly two flags when in port. From the bow (the pointy end of the boat), they fly the jack which is the blue w/white starts flag that the OP saw. From the stern, the fly the National Ensign which is the standard US flag (stars & stripes). This is the “Ensign” that Johnny L.A. is talking and the one you salute when comming on board. There is often another Ensign (again, the standard US flag) on a flag pole on the quaterdeck (the ceremonial area that the ladder leads to where you board the ship.) If there’s a flag on the quarterdeck, you direct your salute towards it instead of the one at back of the ship.

While in port, the flags fly from 0800 until sunset. As soon as the ship casts off lines and gets underway the Bos’n’s Mate of the Watch will blow is whistle over the ships loudspeakers (called the 1MC) and say “Underway, Shift Colors.” The crew then lowers the jack and the Ensign and raises another Ensign from the mast which is flown 24hrs/day when at sea.

13

Naval as in “armed maritime” rather than naval as in “U. S. Navy.” The majority of military sea forces each have their own flag that is known as the “naval jack.” Since the USCG is a military force at sea, they follow the tradition of flying the Jack from the stem, same as the Navy does.