Naval Rank Flags (Denmark)

Last modified: 2025-08-30 by klaus-michael schneider
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• Colours of the Flags of the Royal Danish Navy
• Rank Flags (since 1625)
• Rank Flags (reported around 1805)
• General Admiral Lieutenant
• Vice Admiral
• Rear Admiral
• Admiralty and Commisariats Collegium
• Rank Flags (reported around 1865)
• High Admiral of Denmark
• Admiralty
• Admiral
• Vice Admiral
• Rear Admiral
• Rank Flags (reported 1889)
• Vice Admiral
• Rear Admiral
• Rear Admiral Variant
• Ship Lieutenant
• Rank Flags (19th Century-1980s)
• Admiral
• Vice Admiral
• Rear Admiral
• Flotilla Admiral
• Senior Officer Afloat
• Officer replacing Admiral (also Chief of Group)
• Chief of Staff
• Rank Flags as reported in Flaggenbuch (1939)
• Naval Pennant 1st Grade (Squadron Chief)
• Squadron Chief Pennant
• Naval Pennant 2nd Grade (Division Chief)
• Fleet Chief Pennant
• Naval Pennant 3rd Grade (Flotilla Chief)
• Group Chief
• Senior Officer Afloat
• Group Chief Pennant
• Free Time Pennant
• Rank Flags (reported 1979)
• Admiral
• Vice Admiral
• Rear Admiral

• Denmark
• Miscellaneous Naval Flags (Denmark)

Colours of the Flags of the Royal Danish Navy

Around 1720 the fleet of Royal Danish Navy, or more precisely the then Royal Dano-Norwegian Navy, began to use Orlogsrød for its split flags. Source admits that the exact reason for this decision is unknown. The most widespread perception is that the navy wanted to minimise the risk of being mismatched as ships of the Sovereign Military order of Malta. At the same time Denmark-Norvegia and Sweden signed a treaty of neutrality. As a result the maritime trade of both flourished.
The paintings of various artists however display the flag colour as the lighter shade of Dannebrogsrød. They are however only conditionally dependable, as some of them had been painted centuries later.
Source: Danish WIKIPEDIA
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 28 Aug 2025

Rank Flags (since 1625)

According to source the Royal Dano-Norwegian Navy since 1625 used the common naval ensign also as rank flag, which had been hoisted on the main mast for admirals (see right ship in image above) and on the fore mast for viceadmirals (see left ship in image above). The main ensign on the stern had not necessarily been a Dannebrog, as Norwegian ships also used a red ensign with the golden Norwegian lion.
Source: Vilhelm Adolf Secher (1897). "Skibsartikler 1625 8. maj.". in "Forordninger, Recesser Og Andre Kongelige Breve, Danmarks Lovgivning Vedkommende, 1558–1660" . Corpus constitutionum Daniæ Vol. 4, Kjøbenhavn: Nielsen og Lydiche. p. 272
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 26 Aug 2025

Rank Flags (reported around 1805)

Jan Henrik Munksgaard has written that the images at least are edited and perhaps also painted by Gabriel Hesselberg, later a Danish-Norwegian Admiral. When the paintings were made, the age of Hesselberg then had been between 13 and 18. That means the images had been painted between 1802 and 1807. All images of this plate are marked by a starlet. That means: Hesselberg was sure of their existence.
The plate displays eight images. Among them was a "Royal Danish Flag", i.e. a flag with the Greater Danish Arms on a white panel. This version shows the shield with supporters surmounted by a crown but without mantle. The details of the shield are not really recognisable due to the small size of the image.
There is also Flag of the General Admiral (of Denmark), on centre on a white panel there is an oval shield with three coronets symbolising the Kalmar Union surrounded by a golden wreath (similar pictures by Steenbergen (1862 - 1868) and Laurie(1832), version previous to that one in our bibliography. Hesselberg paintings for Admiralty, Vice- and Rear Admiral might have been the models for Steenbergens paintings. We also learn, a royal standard was in use at least since 1807 but probably already on the end of the 18th century. Three flags mentioned here were to be hoisted on top and on the "chalupe", commonly translated as sloop. The correct term probably is longboat as biggest tender of an admirals vessel.
Source: Hesselberg (1802 - 1807)
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 23 Aug 2025

General Admiral Lieutenant

The Flag of the General Admiral Lieutenant, the deputy of the General Admiral, displays the shields of Denmark and Norway surrounded by a green wreath and surmounted by a royal crown, the former shield on hoist side in bend sinister, the latter on fly side in bend and of French style.
Source: Hesselberg (1802 - 1807)
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 23 Aug 2025

Vice Admiral

The flag of a vice admiral had been a splitflag with one white cross patty on canton.
Source: Hesselberg (1802 - 1807)
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 23 Aug 2025

Rear Admiral

The flag of a rear admiral had been a splitflag with two white crosses patty in pale on canton.
Source: Hesselberg (1802 - 1807)
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 23 Aug 2025

Admiralty and Commisariats Collegium

Finally there is a flag of the Admiralty and Commisariats Collegium, probably to be hoisted on a building.
Source: Hesselberg (1802 - 1807)
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 23 Aug 2025

Rank Flags (reported around 1865)

High Admiral of Denmark

It is a split flag in Dannebrogsrød, on an off-centred white square is an oval shield Azure three crowns Or ordered 2:1, surrounded by a golden fimbriation and surmounted by a royal crown, issuant from shield a pair of wings Or and all in base surrounded by a wreath of laurel Or, in base crossed per saltire. The High Admiral of Denmark is probably one title of the sovereign, i.e. the king. The arms are strange and at the first glance look like the arms of Sweden. But the three crowns had also been part of the Danish arms until 1972, representing then however the Kalmar Union. Norie and Hobbs don´t give any comment. Steenbergen describes it as flag of "Admiralty" with comment: "apparently changed", furthermore the scroll there is green.
Sources: Norie Hobbs, (1848), plate IX, image 104 (no comment) and Steenbergen (1865), plate 10, image 362
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 8 Aug 2025

Admiralty

It is a splitflag in Dannebbrogsrød with centred white rectangle. The rectangle is charged as follows: On a green base are two oval shields. The shield at hoist is slightly sinister bendy, on a yellow background is a black anchor in bend sinister superimposing (or supeimposed by) three black fish. The shield is superimposing two black anchors in saltire. The shield at fly is slightly bendy, on a white background with base wavy of black and white is an sailing ship in reddish brown with white sails and two flags. Both shields are surmounted by one single royal crown.
Source: Steenbergen (1865), plate 10, image 360
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 8 Aug 2025

Admiral

It is the same flag like that one described before but without wings and with wreath Vert tied Gules in base. US Navy doesn´t give any comment, while Le Gras says: "the charge is abolished and the flag does no longer exist". Finally Hesselberg denotes the same flag as "Flag of the General Admiral".
Sources: US Navy (1882), plate X row 2 column 2, Le Gras (1858), page 16, image II and Hesselberg (1802 - 1807)
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 8 Aug 2025

Vice Admiral

The flag of a vice admiral had been a splitflag with one white cross patty on canton.
Source: Steenbergen (1865), plate 10, image 358
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 23 Aug 2025

Rear Admiral

The flag of a rear admiral had been a splitflag with two white crosses patty in pale on canton.
Source: Steenbergen (1865), plate 10, image 359
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 23 Aug 2025

Rank Flags (reported around 1889)

Vice Admiral

The flag of a vice admiral had been a splitflag with one white crosslet patty in upper hoist corner.
Source: Album de Pavillons 1889, plate XIII image 4
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 28 Aug 2025

Rear Admiral

The flag of a rear admiral had been a splitflag with two white crosslets patty in pale in upper hoist corner.
Source: Album de Pavillons 1889, plate XIII image 5
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 28 Aug 2025

Rear Admiral Variant

Source presents the flag of a rear admiral, as a Danish spitflag with two white crosslets patty ordered per fess in the canton. This flag is not confirmed by any other source. According it had been in use between 1882 and about 1900.
Please note: Source paints that flag, like any other Danish navy flag, in the darker Orlogsrød. But all evidence by sea painters shows Danish war ships exclusively with flags in Dannebrogsrød
Source: English WIKIPEDIA
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 9 Aug 2025

Ship Lieutenant

The flag of a ship lieutenant, probably the deputy of a captain, had been a red triangular pennant with one white crosslet patty in upper hoist corner.
Source: Album de Pavillons 1889, plate XV image 14
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 28 Aug 2025

Rank Flags (19th Century - 1980s)

The admiralty rank flags have been described differently by National Geographic (1917) and Flaggenbuch (1939).  Flaggenbuch shows one star less on each flag than National Geographic.  Album des Pavillons (2000) again adds the extra star.  I am sure that changes in the military structure caused the changes, or possibly a matter of translation? There appear to have been several changes in the 20th century.
Željko Heimer, 29 May 2004

Admiral

State split flag with white six-pointed stars. Flaggenbuch (1939) shows two in first quarter and two in third; National Geographic (1917) shows two and one.
Željko Heimer, 12 June 2001

Vice Admiral

State split flag with white six-pointed stars. Flaggenbuch (1939) shows two in first quarter and one in third; National Geographic (1917) shows one and one.
Željko Heimer, 12 June 2001

Rear Admiral

State split flag with white six-pointed stars. Flaggenbuch (1939) shows one in first quarter and one in third; National Geographic (1917) shows only one star in first quarter.
Željko Heimer, 12 June 2001

Flotilla Admiral

The Flotilla Admiral used a state flag with one white six-pointed star in the first quarter (Flaggenbuch, 1939). National Geographic (1917) shows the Commodore with a triangular swallow-tailed Dannebrog pennant.
Željko Heimer, 12 June 2001

Senior Officer Afloat

Triangular cut pennant with split tail (i.e. trapezoid with indentation) approximate ratio 2:3 with indentation reaching 2/3 of hoist size, pennant width at fly about 1/4 of hoist, width of indentation at fly equal to width of white cross (Flaggenbuch, 1939). National Geographic (1917) shows a triangular Dannebrog, ratio 3:4~
Željko Heimer, 12 June 2001

Officer replacing Admiral (also Chief of Group)

The national flag in form of a triangular pennant cut vertically at fly and with a triangular indentation in the white crossbar, i.e., similar to senior officer afloat, but rather longer (1:3~). Note to the figure in Album des Pavillons explains that the same is used also for Chief of Group.
Željko Heimer, 12 June 2001

Chief of Squadron

The flag in shape as the Senior Officer Afloat above, but vertically divided into red field with a white cross at hoist and a entirely white field in the fly.
Željko Heimer, 28 May 2004

Rank Flags as reported in Flaggenbuch (1939)

Naval Pennant 1st Grade (Squadron Chief)

Flaggenbuch (1939) shows a trapezoidal pennant of the same design as the national flag, with an indentation at the fly. The horizontal crossbar converges toward the fly, too (i.e., it is thinner at the fly than at the hoist). The indentation is shown as a thin rectangular cut, as long as the hoist breadth.
Željko Heimer, 30 May 2004

Squadron Chief Pennant

Flaggenbuch (1992) reprint shows a trapezoidal red pennant with a white cross with an indentation at the fly. The dimensions are given as 252:756, width at the fly 42, white cross horizontal 36 at hoist, 14 at fly, vertical 32, distance from hoist to middle of the vertical bar 189, indentation depth 378. The indentation is triangular, but no width of the triangle at fly is given (still lesser then the white stripe there). This is more or less similar to that shown in Album des Pavillons (figure 21), the pennant of the Chief of a Group of Officer replacing Admiral.
Željko Heimer, 30 May 2004

Naval Pennant 2nd Grade (Division Chief)

A trapezoidal red pennant with a white horizontal stripe converging towards the fly. No indentation at fly! (Flaggenbuch, 1992)
Željko Heimer, 30 May 2004

Fleet Chief Pennant

Flaggenbuch (1992) reprint shows a trapezoidal red pennant with a white cross with an indentation at the fly. The dimensions are given as 168:252, width at the fly 28, white cross horizontal 24 at hoist, vertical 24, distance from hoist to middle of the vertical bar 63, indentation depth 126. The indentation is triangular, but no width of the triangle at fly is given (still less than the white stripe there, that is not given either). This is more or less similar to what in Album des Pavillons (figure 20), the pennant of the Senior Officer Afloat.
Željko Heimer, 30 May 2004

Naval Pennant 3rd Grade (Flotilla Chief)

Flaggenbuch (1939) shows a trapezoidal red pennant with a white vertical stripe.
Željko Heimer, 30 May 2004

Group Chief

Flaggenbuch (1939) shows a red equilateral triangle.
Željko Heimer, 30 May 2004

Senior Officer Afloat

Flaggenbuch (1939) shows a red equilateral triangle with a white cross.
Željko Heimer, 30 May 2004

Group Chief Pennant

Flaggenbuch (1992) reprint shows a red equilateral triangle with a white cross and indentation at the fly. The construction details are provided: equilateral triangle with side of 90, cross width 10, hoist to mid vertical 26, indentation 39. If I interpret the caption correctly, the pennant used on starboard meant Senior Officer Afloat.
Željko Heimer, 30 May 2004

Free Time Pennant

Shown in Flaggenbuch (1929) as a red over white bicolour triangular pennant.

I suppose that this flag was used (in the Navy) to indicate that the crew is having "time off", so that the ship is working only with the essential crew (the others may be on shore leave in the port or something like that).
Željko Heimer, 3 June 2004

Rank Flags (reported 1979)

Admiral

It is a split flag with white six-pointed stars, two in the first quarter and one in the third. The basic colour is dannebrogsrød.
Source: Pedersen (1979); p.23 also Flaggenbuch (1939); p.40
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 6 Mar 2009

Vice-Admiral

It is a split flag with white six-pointed stars, one in the first quarter and one in the third. The basic colour is dannebrogsrød.
Source: Pedersen (1979); p.23 also Flaggenbuch (1939); p.40
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 6 Mar 2009

Rear Admiral

It is a split flag with a white six-pointed star in the first quarter. The basic colour is dannebrogsrød.
Source: Pedersen (1979); p.23 also Flaggenbuch (1939); p.40
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 6 Mar 2009

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