Flags - Commissioning Pennant
This consisted of a long pennant, flown from the tallest mast of the
vessel. It indicated that the vessel was in commission to that country.
The images shown are shortened for clarity and should be approx 20 times
as long as they are high.
Union Navy
This was a long swallowtail pennant, with thirteen white stars on blue next to the
staff and the remainder horizontaly dived into red above blue.
(no picture yet available)
Confederate Navy
At the outset of the war, until 1863, there were no rules about the commissioning
pennant. The pennant normally used is very similar to earlier United states
pennants, but has seven stars to indicate the first states of the Confederacy,
and has a swallowtail tip.
This was replaced in 1863 with the pennant shown below. Note: This pennant
does NOT have a swallowtail tip.
Other styles were also used such as that shown below.
