Last modified: 2009-07-26 by dov gutterman
Keywords: lithuania |
Links: FOTW homepage |
search |
disclaimer and copyright |
write us |
mirrors
See also:
Lithuanian flags at Neubecker's Flaggenbuch [neu92]. Note that the date 1939
refers to the Flaggenbuch rather then to the date of introduction
of these flags - which is unknown to me. On Central Lithuania (Historical Flags) we
have entirely different set of flags (described mostly)
apparently from 1920's. When and how this was changed?
Considering the ratio change of the national flag, and the
different function of the KYC flag, we may well conclude that no
pre-WWII flags were readopted in the modern Lithuania. That is
just unusual, and there must be some catch. On the other hand, I
don't suppose that we have any information about current MoT
flags (if they exist) nor about KYC. For what we may be sure, the
flag nr. 1 is not used today, neither as the state flag (banner)
and ensign, nor the presidential flag. Also the pilot flag is
probably as obsolete as it is any any other country.
Željko Heimer, 15 May 2002
Lithuania had a little navy before II WW. It contained one
500-tones patrol vessel "Antanas Smetona" (built in
1917 as German "M59", in 1940 conquered by Russians and
renamed "Otlichnik") and 6 motorboats:
"Partizanas" (1933), "Aitvaras" and
"Zaibas" (1932), "S^aulis" (1924),
"Lietuvaite" and "Savanoris" (1923). Surely,
it was rather a lake-fleet in comparison with such fleets as
Estonian and Latvian (they had even submarines).
Oskar Myszor, 16 May 2002
Lithuania maintained what was probably the world's smallest
navy before World War II, with just one warship of note,
"Prezidentas Smetona" (not "Antanas Smetona"
as named above), and there has been some uncertainty as to what
flags it flew.
There is a
photo of "Prezidentas Smetona", circa 1937-38. This
photo clearly shows the "state ensign"
(a red shield bearing a white double cross placed in the middle
on the two upper stripes of the national flag, proportions 2:3)
to be both the naval ensign and the naval jack.
By implication, the "naval ensign" (proportions 1:2)
and the "naval jack" are probably
"reconstructions" which never existed.
Another photo is here.
Those photos shows "Prezidentas Smetona" wearing a
masthead pennant as well, which appears to be similar to the one in use today: "Rectangular pennant
with swallow-tail, national tricolour at hoist (1:4) and blue
fly"
Miles Li, 18 November 2008
image by Željko
Heimer, 15 May 2002
image by Željko
Heimer, 15 May 2002
1. State Flag, President of the Republic and State Ensign.
Obverse: Red with Vytis rider in the middle. Reverse: Red with
white castle emblem. From what's written this flag would have FIS
symbol -S-/-S-. Ratio 2:3.
Obverse made from a scan from [neu92].
Željko Heimer, 15 May 2002
image by Željko
Heimer, 15 May 2002
3. National Flag and Merchant Ensign (C--/C-- 2:3) - YVR
tricolour, but ratio 2:3.
Željko Heimer, 15 May 2002
image by Željko
Heimer, 15 May 2002
4.Yacht Club Kaunas (2:3) - White flag with blue cross and the
national tricolour in canton. Similar flag is nowadays used as
naval ensign. I was wandering - maybe Lithuanian did not have any
navy before WWII? Or KYC and Transportation ministry had some
"paramilitary" functions?
Željko Heimer, 15 May 2002
image by Željko
Heimer, 15 May 2002
5.Ministry of Transportation (-S-/-S- 2:3) - White flag with
the national tricolour in canton and black emblem in lower fly.
The emblem consists of a winged rail-road wheel, anchor and
thunderbolts. I wrote -S-/-S- assuming that this was used as
ensign on the MoT vessels as well as flag on land (say on the
road construction sites as suggested on of the next flags).
However, the true function of this and subsequent flags should
yet be investigated.
Željko Heimer, 15 May 2002
![[Latvian Consul]](../images/l/lt_mit39.gif)
image by Željko Heimer, 15 May 2002
6. Minister of Transportation (2:3) - As the flag of the
ministry, but with the emblem coloured red. This is, presumably,
the positional flag of the minister, and possibly also equivalent
to "rank flag" when he was on vessel.
Željko Heimer, 15 May 2002
image by Željko
Heimer, 15 May 2002
7. Ministry of Transportation Pennant of Port and
Road-Construction Director (1:3) - Pennant of the same design as
the MoT flag, but longer and swallow tailed. Obviously, this is
the "rank flag" of the MoT "officer".
Željko Heimer, 15 May 2002
image by Željko
Heimer, 15 May 2002
8. Captain's Pennant (1:3) - As previous pennant but without
the black emblem. Neither the caption, nor design, make it clear
weather this is an other flag used by MoT, or if this is possibly
in a more general use.
Željko Heimer, 15 May 2002
image by Željko
Heimer, 15 May 2002
9. Pilot Ensign - Following the custom of the time, the pilot
ensign is white bordered national flag.
Željko Heimer, 15 May 2002
