Last modified: 2023-06-03 by 
zachary harden
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![[Flag of NATO]](../images/n/nato.gif)
by Željko Heimer
See also:
NATO military commands and some other organization also have flags. Almost
all commands have their own flags (or banners), which have a great importance in
all military units, and they have a special role during ceremonies held in
occasions of changes of commanders. It is a subject of hand-over ceremony when
former commander gives the flag into new commander's hand. It is a formal moment
of transfer of his authority to new one.
All commands and other organizations has a badge or crest, generally it is
placed on a monocoloured (blue, white, or green) flag as a command's flag. The
official NATO military structure is a good base to introduce flags of various
military commands, organizations and NATO-led military missions. More
information on NATO structure:
http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/structure.htm
Zoltan Horvath, 11 February 2010
Information of its flag has not been available yet.
Zoltan Horvath, 11 February 2010
Information of its flag has not been available yet.
Zoltan Horvath, 11 February 2010
Information of its flag has not been available yet.
Zoltan Horvath, 11 February 2010
Information of its flag has not been available yet.
Zoltan Horvath, 11 February 2010
![[Rapid Deployable Turkish Corps - Istanbul]](../images/n/nat-strikf.gif)
by Zoltan Horvath, 20 February 2010
Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO - STRIKFORNATO is a maritime formations,
its headquarters is located in Naples. This command originally was established
in 1953 as a Principle Subordinate Command under CINCSOUTH.
The Commander was also the Commander of the U.S. SIXTH FLEET, a dual assignment
that continues to this day. This force is subordinated directly to SACEUR.
Its flag is blue with its badge in the center.
Image of flag:
http://www.afsouth.nato.int/organization/STRIKFORNATO/Images/2009/005.jpg
Symbolism of badge:
http://www.afsouth.nato.int/organization/Strikfornato/Badge.htm
Zoltan Horvath, 20 February 2010
![[Ensign of the Stanavforlant]](../images/n/nat~nf.gif)
by
Željko Heimer
In proportion 3:5, the NATO flag is used as the ensign of the Stanavforlant (Standing Naval Force in the Atlantic) or Stanavforchan (Standing Naval Force in the Channel) vessels.
Ivan Sache, 8 January 2001
Source: Pavillons nationaux et marques distinctives
Flags of the Stanavforlant or Stanavforchan vessels (dimensions 3:5) are same as
the organization flag, but for the ratio. I believe that this flag is not used
as an ensign (i.e., at stern, to indicate ship's nationality) - the ships retain
their national ensigns, and fly this flag somewhere else (mainmast port side?).
Željko Heimer, 2 December 2003
Photos I've seen show the NATO flag flying at the starboard yardarm, but this
may vary according to national practice and other flags that have to be flown.
Joe McMillan, 2 December 2003
There are four NATO organizations called "Immediate Reaction Forces (Maritime)."
Three come under Allied Command Europe and one under Allied Command
Transformation, formerly known as Allied Command Atlantic.
Under Allied Command Europe:
- Standing Naval Force Mediterranean (STANAVFORMED), known before 1992 as Naval
On-Call Force Mediterranean (NAVOCFORMED). A force of about 8 destroyers and
frigates reporting to Allied Forces Southern Europe (AFSOUTH).
- Mine Countermeasures Force South (MCMFORSOUTH), formerly MCM Force
Mediterranean. Minehunters and minesweepers, also under AFSOUTH.
- Mine Countermeasures Force North (MCMFORNORTH), formerly STANAVFORCHAN.
Similar to MCMFORSOUTH, but subordinated to Allied Forces Northern Europe.
STANAVFORCHAN was never the commander of an entire region; as I understand it it
was always pretty much a mine warfare force. There was once an allied CINCCHAN,
but it disappeared quite a while back and its very small geographic domain was
divided among the other two, much larger commands.
Under Allied Command Transformation:
- Standing Naval Force Atlantic (STANAVFORLANT), created 1968, made up of 6-10
destroyers, frigates, and a support ship or two.
So MCMFORNORTH is the successor of STANAVFORCHAN, but MCMFORSOUTH is not the
successor of STANAVFORLANT.
Joe McMillan, 2 December 2003
![[Stanavforlant commander's ensign]](../images/n/nat~snl.gif)
by Gerard van der Vaart, 4 October 2001
The Netherlands navy uses a similar flag but with two shades of blue.
According to NL navy regulations (VVKM 19 bijlage O, p.65) this is the
commander ensign of STANAVFORLANT or STANAVFORCHAN.
Two sizes, both 2:3.
Gerard van der Vaart, 4 October 2001
A slightly different flag prescribed for the purpose in the Dutch naval
regulations, having the field of lighter blue shade (but the "voided" parts of
the compass points still dark blue), otherwise very much like the design in the Album des Pavillons (2000)
(regarding the shape of the emblem), but the ratio being 2:3.
Željko Heimer, 2 December 2003
Information of its flag has not been available yet.
Zoltan Horvath, 11 February 2010
![[Stanavforchan commander's ensign]](../images/n/nat~nfc.gif)
3:5 by Željko Heimer
In proportion 3:5, but in trapezoidal, swallow-tailed shape, and with
the lines around the compass removed, it is the ensign used by the
Stanavforchan commander.
Ivan Sache, 8 January 2001
Source: Pavillons nationaux et marques distinctives
The COMSTANAVFORCHAN has been changed into COMMCMFORNORTH (Commander Mine Counter Measure Forces Northern Europe). The same pennant
is also flown by COMMCMFORSOUTH (Southern Europe). The flag is not trapezoidal anymore but rectangular, still with swallowtail.
Roel Vandenvonder, 7 June 2002
A dark blue broad pennant (i.e., swallow tailed triangular pennant) with the
white emblem next to the hoist (without the outlaying lines). The emblem here is
slightly different, regarding the with of the ring and fact that it touches the
compass points. Album des Pavillons (2000) does
not give any hint that there may be a similar pennant for Stanavforlant, so
maybe there was none.
Željko Heimer, 2 December 2003
