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Nigerian Naval Flags

Last modified: 2009-02-07 by phil nelson
Keywords: nigeria | navy | naval ensign | st george's cross | anchor | eagle | dolphin |
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Naval Ensign
[Naval flag of Nigeria] image by Željko Heimer
Proportions: 1:2 [FIS Code]


See also:

Naval Ensign

A white ensign (without red cross throughout) with the national flag in canton and naval badge in fly. The badge consist of a blue oval containing a cable white anchor topped with the red national bird all bordered with yellow containing black inscription NIGERIAN NAVY / ONWARD TOGETHER.
source: Albums des Pavillons
Željko Heimer, 5 July 2002

Jan Zrzavy mentions that "Flaggkarta" (Lantmäteriet - Kartförlaget, 1995 (Swedish)) shows the naval ensign as white with the national flag in the canton and the Navy's emblem (a blue oval with anchor and eagle) in the fly.
Ole Andersen 14 May 1998


Alternative or Prior Naval Ensign

[Naval flag of Nigeria] image by Željko Heimer

William Crampton states ('The World of Flags', London, 1990) that the naval ensign is white with the national flag in the canton and the badge of the navy in the fly.
Vincent Morley, 10 February 1998


I have since noticed that William Crampton in 'Observers Flags' (London 1992), which was published two years after his 'World of Flags', says that 'The naval ensign is like that of the UK but with the flag of Nigeria in the canton', which contradicts his earlier statement and agrees with the drawing on FOTW. Of course, the southern half of Nigeria is mainly Christian, so perhaps the use of a cross on a _naval_ flag is not such a big problem.
Vincent Morley, 13-FEB-1998


Smith's Flags Through the Ages and Across The World 1975 and 1985 illustrate the naval ensign with a red cross, which is illustrated as being about 11/70ths of the hoist. Crampton's 1989 "Complete Guide to Flags" says (p 105),

Naval Ensign: White with the national flag in the canton and the Naval badge in the fly in red.

Finally, the 1998 "Flagchart", by Shipmate, authenticated by the Flag Research Institute, shows the naval ensign without the cross and with the badge in full colour. The Navy badge is shown here as an upright blue oval, charged with a red eagle as in the Arms' crest over a white fouled anchor, with a thick yellow border displaying the motto "NIGERIAN NAVY" (above) "ONWARD TOGETHER" (below) in black capital letters
Santiago Dotor, 13 April 2000


Naval Jack

[Flag of Nigeria] image by Antonio Martins

A photo on thamesshipsociety.org.uk shows the Nigerian flag used as a jack.
Jan Mertens, 29 December 2008


Note that the jackstaff (and presumably also the ensign staff) was topped by the national crest - a red eagle.

This follows the example of the British Royal Navy, whose jackstaffs and ensign staffs have Royal Crown finials.
Miles Li, 30 December 2008


Naval Board

The flag of the Nigerian Naval Board is green, with a horizontal foul anchor in yellow.
Source: Flags of the World (Barraclough and Crampton) page 153
Santiago Dotor, 13 April 2000


Naval aircraft Marking

[Naval roundel] image by Željko Heimer

Green-white-green roundel with black anchor overall. National flag on the fin, says a note.
source: Albums des Pavillons
Željko Heimer, 5 July 2002