The Coloured Squadrons of the Royal Navy[1] were first introduced in the Tudor Period during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I of England (1558-1603) The purpose was to separate the English fleet into three squadrons for better command and control, though in 1596 there were four squadrons. In 1620 as the fleet was expanding the system was changed to include three squadrons but also three sub divisions. Assigned to each of these squadrons were flag officers who were separated in terms of their seniority by the use of coloured flags: in effect the squadrons provided a system of designating the nine or ten most senior admirals of the Royal Navy until the system was abolished in 1864.[2]Squadrons and divisions continued to be used as system of managing large formations when the British navy consisted of more than one fleet for most of the twentieth century until 1971.[3]
Historically, the English fleet was first divided into three squadrons distinguished by colour in 1558, the Admiral of the English fleet, the Lord Admiral of England's squadron, flew a plain red flag as its ensign. The Vice-Admiral of the fleet, or Vice-Admiral of England, flew a plain blue flag, and the Rear-Admiral of the fleet flew a plain white flag. Order of precedence was red, blue, and white until May 1596.[4]
In June 1596 the English fleet was divided into four squadrons for the expedition for the Capture of Cádiz. The fleet during this expedition had joint commanders-in-chief styled as "Joint Generalls of the Armies by Sea and Land". Naval forces were under the command of the Lord Admiral of England, Charles Howard, 1st Earl of Nottingham whose squadron was in the centre, whilst land forces were under the command of the General of the Army, Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex whose squadron was also in the centre. The van squadron, or front, was commanded by the Vice Admiral of the Fleet (Vice-Admiral of England). The rear squadron (called the wyng) was commanded by the Rear-Admiral of the Fleet. After this expedition the system returned to a three squadron fleet.[4]
In 1620 these squadrons had grown to the point where they could not be managed effectively by one admiral alone. This led to the introduction of a new system whereby squadrons were further subdivided into three subdivisions, each then led by three admirals of different ranks. Admiral was the senior rank, followed by Vice-Admiral and Rear-Admiral. In 1620 flag ranks were formally established in terms of promotion.[5] From 1620 until 1652 the order of precedence of the squadrons was Red, Blue and White, until 1653, when the order of precedence was changed to red, white, and blue. In 1688 the permanent rank of Admiral of the Fleet was created, replacing the Lord High Admiral England operationally as commander-in-chief.[4]
In 1805, after the battle of Trafalgar, the rank of Admiral of the Red was introduced. It became the highest rank that an Admiral could attain until 1862, when an allowance was made for more than one Admiral of the Fleet to be appointed. In 1864 the colour squadron organisation was abolished and the Royal Navy adopted the White Ensign of the former White Squadron. The Red Ensign of the Red Squadron became the ensign of the British Merchant Navy, and the Blue Ensign of the Blue Squadron became the ensign of the Auxiliary Fleet.[4][6]
During expedition to capture Cadiz with the aid of the Dutch (in 1 squadron) in June 1596 the English fleet was divided into 4 squadrons which had joint commander in chiefs naval forces were commanded by the Lord Admiral whilst land forces were commander by the General of the Army each allocated corresponding flags to differentiate them as shown below.[4]
The senior (red) squadron was usually placed in the centre of the line of battle, and always led by the commander-in-chief of the fleet, initially the Admiral of England, later called Lord Admiral until the creation of the rank of Admiral of the Fleet in 1688. During this period his van division was led by the Vice Admiral England (Red) and his rear division by the Rear Admiral of England (Red). From 1688 the Admiral of the Fleet's van division was led by the Vice Admiral of the Red and his rear division by the Rear Admiral of the Red. In 1805 the rank of Admiral of Red was created; the van and rear commands remained the same.[7]
The white squadron, ranked second and generally placed in the van, would be commanded by the Admiral of the White, and its subdivisions would be led by a Vice Admiral of the White (van), and a Rear Admiral of the White (rear).[7]
The blue squadron, ranked third or junior, was similarly commanded with an Admiral, Vice Admiral and Rear Admiral of the Blue, each flying a blue ensign.[7]
Flag officers and commodores promotion pathway within squadronsEdit
English then British flag officers promotion path from 1702 to 1805. Beginning with Commodore of the Blue through to Admiral of the Fleet the officers command flags are shown for the periodPromotion path of British flag officers from 1805 to 1864 the flags shown are the coloured squadrons naval ensigns
Promotion of Admirals also took place in this order - a Rear-Admiral of the Blue on promotion became a Rear-Admiral of the White as his first flag promotion. Once he had reached Rear-Admiral of the Red, on his next promotion he became a Vice-Admiral of the Blue and so on, until he finally became an Admiral of the White. It was only in the Red squadron that the hierarchy was not followed. There was no Admiral of the Red since this would be deemed as being in overall command of the whole fleet until the rank was introduced in 1805. Until 1862 there could only be one Admiral of the Fleet.[4][7]
Rear-Admiral of the Blue became Rear-Admiral of the White as his next promotion
Rear-Admiral of the White became Rear-Admiral of the Red as his next promotion
Rear-Admiral of the Red became Vice-Admiral of the Blue as his next promotion
Vice-Admiral of the Blue became Vice-Admiral of the White as his next promotion
Vice-Admiral of the White became Vice-Admiral of the Red as his next promotion
Vice-Admiral of the Red became Admiral of the Blue as his next promotion
Admiral of the Blue became Admiral of the White as his next promotion
Admiral of the White became Admiral of the Red as his next promotion (until 1804 Admiral of the Fleet)
Admiral of the Red became Admiral of the Fleet as his next promotion (from 1805)
^Wragg, David (2012). "National Entries". The World Sea Power Guide. Barnsley, England: Pen and Sword. ISBN9781783035588.
^"The National Archives:Trafalgar Ancestors, Glossary, Admiral". www.nationalarchives.gov.uk. Kew, London, England: The National Archives UK. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
^(PDF). National Museum of the Royal Navy. 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 November 2020. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
^ abcdefghijklmnopqPerrin, W. G. (William Gordon) (1922). "Flags of Command". British flags, their early history, and their development at sea; with an account of the origin of the flag as a national device. Cambridge, England: Cambridge : The University Press. pp. 85–99.
^"Naval Ranks". www.nmrn-portsmouth.org.uk. National Museum of the Royal Navy. 2015. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
^The Orders in Council for the Regulation of the Naval Service. London, England: Harrison and Sons. 28 July 1864. p. 45.
^ abcdHeathcote, T. A. (2002). British Admirals of the Fleet: 1734-1995. Barnsley, England: Pen and Sword. pp. 1–7. ISBN9781473812703.
BibliographyEdit
Heathcote, T. A. (2002). British Admirals of the Fleet: 1734-1995. Barnsley, England: Pen and Sword. ISBN9781473812703.
Information sheet no 55 Squadron Colours" (PDF). National Museum of the Royal Navy. 2014. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
"Naval Ranks". www.nmrn-portsmouth.org.uk. National Museum of the Royal Navy. 2015. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
Perrin, W. G. (William Gordon) (1922). "Flags of Command". British flags, their early history, and their development at sea; with an account of the origin of the flag as a national device. Cambridge, England: Cambridge : The University Press.
The National Archives:Trafalgar Ancestors, Glossary, Admiral. www.nationalarchives.gov.uk. Kew, London, England: The National Archives UK.
The Orders in Council for the Regulation of the Naval Service. (1864). London, England: Harrison and Sons.
Wragg, David (2012). "National Entries". The World Sea Power Guide. Barnsley, England: Pen and Sword. ISBN9781783035588.
October 28, 2023
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The Coloured Squadrons of the Royal Navy 1 were first introduced in the Tudor Period during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I of England 1558 1603 The purpose was to separate the English fleet into three squadrons for better command and control though in 1596 there were four squadrons In 1620 as the fleet was expanding the system was changed to include three squadrons but also three sub divisions Assigned to each of these squadrons were flag officers who were separated in terms of their seniority by the use of coloured flags in effect the squadrons provided a system of designating the nine or ten most senior admirals of the Royal Navy until the system was abolished in 1864 2 Squadrons and divisions continued to be used as system of managing large formations when the British navy consisted of more than one fleet for most of the twentieth century until 1971 3 Contents 1 History 2 Squadron colours 1558 1596 3 Squadron colours 1596 3 1 Lord Admirals squadron centre 3 2 General of the Army s squadron centre 3 3 Vice Admiral of England s squadron van front 3 4 Rear Admiral of the Fleet s squadron wyng rear 4 Red squadron centre 1596 1864 5 White squadron van front 1596 1864 6 Blue squadron wyng rear 1596 1864 7 Flag officers and commodores promotion pathway within squadrons 8 See also 9 Footnotes 10 BibliographyHistory EditHistorically the English fleet was first divided into three squadrons distinguished by colour in 1558 the Admiral of the English fleet the Lord Admiral of England s squadron flew a plain red flag as its ensign The Vice Admiral of the fleet or Vice Admiral of England flew a plain blue flag and the Rear Admiral of the fleet flew a plain white flag Order of precedence was red blue and white until May 1596 4 In June 1596 the English fleet was divided into four squadrons for the expedition for the Capture of Cadiz The fleet during this expedition had joint commanders in chief styled as Joint Generalls of the Armies by Sea and Land Naval forces were under the command of the Lord Admiral of England Charles Howard 1st Earl of Nottingham whose squadron was in the centre whilst land forces were under the command of the General of the Army Robert Devereux 2nd Earl of Essex whose squadron was also in the centre The van squadron or front was commanded by the Vice Admiral of the Fleet Vice Admiral of England The rear squadron called the wyng was commanded by the Rear Admiral of the Fleet After this expedition the system returned to a three squadron fleet 4 In 1620 these squadrons had grown to the point where they could not be managed effectively by one admiral alone This led to the introduction of a new system whereby squadrons were further subdivided into three subdivisions each then led by three admirals of different ranks Admiral was the senior rank followed by Vice Admiral and Rear Admiral In 1620 flag ranks were formally established in terms of promotion 5 From 1620 until 1652 the order of precedence of the squadrons was Red Blue and White until 1653 when the order of precedence was changed to red white and blue In 1688 the permanent rank of Admiral of the Fleet was created replacing the Lord High Admiral England operationally as commander in chief 4 In 1805 after the battle of Trafalgar the rank of Admiral of the Red was introduced It became the highest rank that an Admiral could attain until 1862 when an allowance was made for more than one Admiral of the Fleet to be appointed In 1864 the colour squadron organisation was abolished and the Royal Navy adopted the White Ensign of the former White Squadron The Red Ensign of the Red Squadron became the ensign of the British Merchant Navy and the Blue Ensign of the Blue Squadron became the ensign of the Auxiliary Fleet 4 6 Squadron colours 1558 1596 EditIncluded 4 nbsp Flag of the English fleet 1545 1558 nbsp Flag of the Red Squadron centre 1558 1596 nbsp Flag of the Blue Squadron van 1558 1596 nbsp Flag of the White Squadron rear 1558 1596Squadron colours 1596 EditDuring expedition to capture Cadiz with the aid of the Dutch in 1 squadron in June 1596 the English fleet was divided into 4 squadrons which had joint commander in chiefs naval forces were commanded by the Lord Admiral whilst land forces were commander by the General of the Army each allocated corresponding flags to differentiate them as shown below 4 Lord Admirals squadron centre Edit Included 4 nbsp Flag of the Lord Admiral nbsp Flag of the Vice and Rear Admirals in this squadronGeneral of the Army s squadron centre Edit Included 4 nbsp Flag of the General of the Army nbsp Flag of the Vice and Rear Admirals in this squadronVice Admiral of England s squadron van front Edit Included 4 nbsp Flag of the Vice Admiral of England nbsp Flag of the Vice and Rear Admirals in this squadronRear Admiral of the Fleet s squadron wyng rear Edit Included 4 nbsp Flag of the Vice Admiral of England nbsp Flag of the Vice and Rear Admirals in this squadronRed squadron centre 1596 1864 EditIncluded 4 nbsp Flag of the Red Squadron 1558 1595 1596 1603 nbsp Flag of the Red Squadron 1620 1707 nbsp Flag of the Red Squadron 1707 1800 nbsp Flag of the Red Squadron 1801 1864The senior red squadron was usually placed in the centre of the line of battle and always led by the commander in chief of the fleet initially the Admiral of England later called Lord Admiral until the creation of the rank of Admiral of the Fleet in 1688 During this period his van division was led by the Vice Admiral England Red and his rear division by the Rear Admiral of England Red From 1688 the Admiral of the Fleet s van division was led by the Vice Admiral of the Red and his rear division by the Rear Admiral of the Red In 1805 the rank of Admiral of Red was created the van and rear commands remained the same 7 Flag officers in order of precedence 4 Flag officer Notes1 Lord Admiral of England Commanded red squadron until 16882 Admiral of the Fleet Commanded red squadron from 1688 18043 Admiral of the Red Commanded red squadron from 1805 18646 Vice Admiral of the Red Second in command red squadron 1620 18649 Rear Admiral of the Red Third in command red squadron 1620 1864White squadron van front 1596 1864 EditIncluded 4 nbsp Flag of the White Squadron 1558 1595 1596 1603 nbsp Flag of the White Squadron 1620 1702 nbsp Flag of the White Squadron 1702 1707 nbsp Flag of the White Squadron 1707 1800 nbsp Flag of the White Squadron 1801 1864The white squadron ranked second and generally placed in the van would be commanded by the Admiral of the White and its subdivisions would be led by a Vice Admiral of the White van and a Rear Admiral of the White rear 7 Flag officers in order of precedence 4 Flag officer Notes4 Admiral of the White Commanded white squadron from 1620 18647 Vice Admiral of the White Second in command white squadron from 1620 186410 Rear Admiral of the White Third in command white squadron from 1620 1864Blue squadron wyng rear 1596 1864 EditIncluded 4 nbsp Flag of the Blue Squadron 1558 1596 1596 1603 nbsp Flag of the Blue Squadron 1620 1707 nbsp Flag of the Blue Squadron 1707 1800 nbsp Flag of the Blue Squadron 1801 1864The blue squadron ranked third or junior was similarly commanded with an Admiral Vice Admiral and Rear Admiral of the Blue each flying a blue ensign 7 Flag officers in order of precedence 4 Flag officer Notes5 Admiral of the Blue Commanded blue squadron from 1620 18648 Vice Admiral of the Blue Second in command blue squadron from 1620 186411 Rear Admiral of the Blue Third in command blue squadron from 1620 1864Flag officers and commodores promotion pathway within squadrons Edit nbsp English then British flag officers promotion path from 1702 to 1805 Beginning with Commodore of the Blue through to Admiral of the Fleet the officers command flags are shown for the period nbsp Promotion path of British flag officers from 1805 to 1864 the flags shown are the coloured squadrons naval ensignsPromotion of Admirals also took place in this order a Rear Admiral of the Blue on promotion became a Rear Admiral of the White as his first flag promotion Once he had reached Rear Admiral of the Red on his next promotion he became a Vice Admiral of the Blue and so on until he finally became an Admiral of the White It was only in the Red squadron that the hierarchy was not followed There was no Admiral of the Red since this would be deemed as being in overall command of the whole fleet until the rank was introduced in 1805 Until 1862 there could only be one Admiral of the Fleet 4 7 Rear Admiral of the Blue became Rear Admiral of the White as his next promotion Rear Admiral of the White became Rear Admiral of the Red as his next promotion Rear Admiral of the Red became Vice Admiral of the Blue as his next promotion Vice Admiral of the Blue became Vice Admiral of the White as his next promotion Vice Admiral of the White became Vice Admiral of the Red as his next promotion Vice Admiral of the Red became Admiral of the Blue as his next promotion Admiral of the Blue became Admiral of the White as his next promotion Admiral of the White became Admiral of the Red as his next promotion until 1804 Admiral of the Fleet Admiral of the Red became Admiral of the Fleet as his next promotion from 1805 See also EditList of command flags of the Royal NavyFootnotes Edit Wragg David 2012 National Entries The World Sea Power Guide Barnsley England Pen and Sword ISBN 9781783035588 The National Archives Trafalgar Ancestors Glossary Admiral www nationalarchives gov uk Kew London England The National Archives UK Retrieved 27 February 2019 Information sheet no 55 Squadron Colours PDF National Museum of the Royal Navy 2014 Archived from the original PDF on 8 November 2020 Retrieved 26 February 2019 a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Perrin W G William Gordon 1922 Flags of Command British flags their early history and their development at sea with an account of the origin of the flag as a national device Cambridge England Cambridge The University Press pp 85 99 Naval Ranks www nmrn portsmouth org uk National Museum of the Royal Navy 2015 Retrieved 26 February 2019 The Orders in Council for the Regulation of the Naval Service London England Harrison and Sons 28 July 1864 p 45 a b c d Heathcote T A 2002 British Admirals of the Fleet 1734 1995 Barnsley England Pen and Sword pp 1 7 ISBN 9781473812703 Bibliography EditHeathcote T A 2002 British Admirals of the Fleet 1734 1995 Barnsley England Pen and Sword ISBN 9781473812703 Information sheet no 55 Squadron Colours PDF National Museum of the Royal Navy 2014 Retrieved 26 February 2019 Naval Ranks www nmrn portsmouth org uk National Museum of the Royal Navy 2015 Retrieved 26 February 2019 Perrin W G William Gordon 1922 Flags of Command British flags their early history and their development at sea with an account of the origin of the flag as a national device Cambridge England Cambridge The University Press The National Archives Trafalgar Ancestors Glossary Admiral www nationalarchives gov uk Kew London England The National Archives UK The Orders in Council for the Regulation of the Naval Service 1864 London England Harrison and Sons Wragg David 2012 National Entries The World Sea Power Guide Barnsley England Pen and Sword ISBN 9781783035588 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Coloured squadrons of the Royal Navy amp oldid 1178096939, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
