This is the list of naval and maritime flags of Poland.

Jack

Flag Date Name Note
28.08.1919[1] – circa 1946 Jack (proporzec marynarki wojennej) Formally it remained in force until 31.12.1955
c. 1946 – 31.12.1955[2] Jack (proporzec marynarki wojennej) Early People's Republic of Poland period. No precise date of introduction nor legal source can be found
31.12.1955[3] – 28.12.1959 Jack (proporzec marynarki wojennej) According to some sources, not used in practice[2]
28.12.1959[4] – 30.04.1993 Jack (proporzec marynarki wojennej) People's Republic of Poland period. Basically the same, as 1919-1946
from 30.04.1993[5] Jack (proporzec marynarki wojennej)

Naval ensign

Flag Date Name Note
28.08.1919[1] – 29.03.1928 Naval ensign and land war flag (bandera wojenna i flaga wojenna lądowa) Aspect 8:5
29.03.1928 – c. 1946 Naval ensign (bandera wojenna) Formally it remained in force until 31.12.1955, but apparently a flag with the crownless eagle was introduced after WWII. Aspect 5:10½ (1:2.1)
c. 1946 – 30.04.1993 Naval ensign (bandera wojenna) People's Republic of Poland period. Formally from 31.12.1955.[3]
Aspect 1:2.1
From 30.04.1993[5] Naval ensign (bandera wojenna) Basically the same, as 1928-1946.
Aspect 1:2.1

Ensigns of auxiliary vessels of the Navy

Flag Date Name Note
31.12.1955[3] — 14.03.1996 Ensign of auxiliary naval vessels (Bandera pomocniczych jednostek pływających) Introduced in People's Republic of Poland period (the crownless eagle).
From 14.03.1996[6] Ensign of auxiliary naval vessels (Bandera pomocniczych jednostek pływających)

Flags of ships of Border Guard

Flag Date Name Note
24.04.1953[7] – 19.11.1990 Ensign of vessels of the Border Defence Army (Bandera jednostek pływających Wojsk Ochrony Pogranicza) In addition to People's Republic of Poland naval ensign[8]
from 03.03.1992[9] Flag of the Polish Border Guard
(Flaga Straży Granicznej) 		In addition to state ensign

Ensigns of civilian ships

Flag Date Name Note
1783 — c. 1864 So-called Polish merchant ensign Used on ships of Cherson Trade Company 1783-1793 and on Congress Poland's vessels on the Vistula in the first half of the 19th century, under Russian protectorate
28.08.1919[1] — 29.03.1928 Merchant and foreign representatives ensign Aspect 8:5
29.03.1928 — c. 1946 Merchant ensign and state flag with a coat of arms Aspect 8:5
c. 1946 — 22.02.1990 Merchant and state ensign Formally from 31.12.1955
From 22.02.1990 Merchant and state ensign The same, as 1928-1946
current River craft ensign At least from 29. 03. 1928
1920-1930 State water administration flag not in use

Other Navy flags

Image English name
Polish name 		Use
Commissioning pennant Commissioning pennant
Znak dowódcy okrętu 		Ship commanded by a navy officer in a campaign
Detailed description in List of Polish flags
Navy flag Navy flag
Flaga Marynarki Wojennej 		Ceremonial flag used on military holidays, visits of high civilian or military authorities, or representatives of foreign countries, as well as other ceremonies.[6]
Detailed description in List of Polish flags
Naval airport flag Naval aviation flag
Flaga lotnictwa wojskowego Marynarki Wojennej 		Naval airports and heliports, 28.12.1959[4] — 14.03.1996
Border defence naval airport flag Flag of naval aviation of the Border Defence Army
Flaga lotnictwa morskiego Wojsk Ochrony Pogranicza 		Naval airports and heliports, 28.12.1959[4] — 1991 (formally until 30.04.1993)
Naval airport flag Naval airport (heliport) flag
Flaga lotnisk (lądowisk) Marynarki Wojennej 		Naval airports and heliports, from 14.03.1996[6]
Detailed description in List of Polish flags
Naval ensign of the river fleet (Flaga wojskowych statków żeglugi śródlądowej) 1930-1938
Naval ensign of the river fleet (Flaga wojskowych statków żeglugi śródlądowej) 1938-1939

Rank flags used in all branches of the Armed Forces

Image English name
Polish name 		Design Use
Presidential jack Jack of the President of the Republic of Poland
Proporzec Prezydenta Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej 		Red flag emblazoned with the white eagle of the arms of Poland and bordered with a white wężyk generalski, an ornate wavy line used in the Polish military as a symbol of general's rank
Proportion 5:6[6] 		On Navy vessels when the President is on board.[6] On land when the President is present.
Flag of the Minister of National Defence Flag of the Minister of National Defence
Flaga Ministra Obrony Narodowej 		Swallow-tailed horizontal bicolor of white and red defaced in the white stripe with the arms of Poland and in the red stripe with a white anchor entwined with an S-shaped rope and a yellow cannon barrel in saltire
Proportion 5:8[6] 		On Navy vessels when the Minister is on board.[6] On land when the Minister is present.
Flag of the Marshal of Poland Flag of the Marshal of Poland
Flaga Marszałka Polski 		Red flag with a double white border emblazoned with the Eagle of the Marshal of Poland holding two hetman's batons (buławy) in saltire
Proportion 5:6[6] 		On Navy vessels when the Marshal is on board.[6] On land when the Marshal is present.
Flag of the Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces Flag of the Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces
Flaga szefa Sztabu Generalnego Wojska Polskiego 		Red flag with a double white border emblazoned with the Generals' Eagle
Proportion 5:6[6] 		On Navy vessels when the Chief of the General Staff is on board.[6] On land when the Chief of the General Staff is present.

Rank flags

Image English name
Polish name 		Use
Flag of the Commander of the Navy Flag of the Commander of the Navy
Flaga dowódcy Marynarki Wojennej 		On naval vessels when the Commander of the Navy is on board[6]
Detailed description in List of Polish flags
Admiral's Flag Admiral's Flag
Flaga admirała 		On naval vessels when an admiral is on board
Admiral's Flag Admiral of the Fleet Flag
Flaga admirała floty 		On naval vessels when an admiral is on board
Vice Admiral's Flag Vice Admiral's Flag
Flaga wiceadmirała 		On naval vessels when a vice admiral is on board
Rear Admiral's Flag Rear Admiral's Flag
Flaga kontradmirała 		On naval vessels when a rear admiral is on board
General's Flag General's Flag
Flaga generała 		On naval vessels when a general is on board

Rank pennants

Image English name
Polish name 		Use
Pennant of the Chief of the Naval Staff Pennant of the Chief of the Naval Staff
Proporczyk szefa Sztabu Marynarki Wojennej 		On naval vessels when the Chief of the Naval Staff is on board[6]
Detailed description in List of Polish flags
Flotilla Commander's Pennant Flotilla Commander's Pennant
Proporczyk dowódcy flotylli 		On naval vessels when a flotilla commander is on board
Division Commander's Pennant Division Commander's Pennant
Proporczyk dowódcy dywizjonu 		On naval vessels when a division commander is on board
Group Commander's Pennant Group Commander's Pennant
Proporczyk dowódcy grupy 		On naval vessels when a group commander is on board

Special state service vessels

Image Date English name
Polish name 		Use
Police vessels flag 1996 Police flag
Flaga Policji 		Police vessels (from 2 May 1996)[10]
Special state service flags (below) are used by state-employed civil special-purpose ships while on duty, from 16 December 2005. These flags all follow the same basic design; a white flag with a horizontal stripe 1/5 the width of the flag's width. In the middle, each flag is emblazoned with the national coat of arms superimposed on a golden or yellow anchor whose height is 3/5 of the flag's width. The middle stripe is broken in the middle and does not touch the anchor or the arms. The type of special service performed by the ship is indicated by the color of the middle stripe. Proportion 5:8.[11] From 1967 there were basically similar flags carried, but with PRL coat of arms (eagle without a crown)[12]
Hydrographic vessel flag 2005 Hydrographic survey and Maritime Office flag
Flaga statku hydrograficznego i dozorczego urzędu morskiego 		Hydrographic survey vessels and vessels of Maritime Offices (blue stripe)
Lifeboat flag Rescue ship and pollution-control flag
Flaga statku ratowniczego oraz specjalnego statku do zwalczania zanieczyszczeń 		Lifeboats and pollution-control vessels (orange stripe)
Icebreaker flag Icebreaker flag
Flaga statku używanego wyłącznie do łamania lodów 		Vessels used exclusively for breaking ice (violet stripe)
Pilot boat flag Pilot boat flag
Flaga statku pilotowego 		Pilot boats (ash-grey stripe)
Fireboat flag Fireboat flag
Flaga statku pożarniczego 		Fireboats (red stripe)
Training ship flag Training ship flag
Flaga statku szkolnego 		Training ships (black stripe)
Customs ship flag Customs ship flag
Flaga statku celnego 		Customs ships (green stripe)
Hospital ship flag Hospital ship flag
Flaga statku sanitarnego 		Hospital ships (yellow stripe)
Telecommunication ship flag Telecommunication ship flag
Flaga statku telekomunikacyjnego 		Telecommunication ships (brown stripe)
Telecommunication ship flag Flag / ensign of the Maritime Search and Rescue Service

Flaga / bandera / znak armatorski: Morska Służba Poszukiwania i Ratownictwa (MSPiR)

Flag of the service
Hydrographic vessel flag 1967 Hydrographic survey and Maritime Office flag
Flaga statku hydrograficznego i dozorczego urzędu morskiego 		Hydrographic survey vessels and vessels of Maritime Offices (blue stripe)
Lifeboat flag Rescue ship and pollution-control flag
Flaga statku ratowniczego oraz specjalnego statku do zwalczania zanieczyszczeń 		Lifeboats and pollution-control vessels (orange stripe)
Icebreaker flag Icebreaker flag
Flaga statku używanego wyłącznie do łamania lodów 		Vessels used exclusively for breaking ice (violet stripe)
Pilot boat flag Pilot boat flag
Flaga statku pilotowego 		Pilot boats (ash-grey stripe)
Fireboat flag Fireboat flag
Flaga statku pożarniczego 		Fireboats (red stripe)
Training ship flag Training ship flag
Flaga statku szkolnego 		Training ships (black stripe)
Customs ship flag Customs ship flag
Flaga statku celnego 		Customs ships (green stripe)
Hospital ship flag Hospital ship flag
Flaga statku sanitarnego 		Hospital ships (yellow stripe)

Yachting

Flag Date Name Note
1956-1990 Polish Yachting Association Ensign
Since 1990 Polish Yachting Association Ensign
Since 1990 Polish Navy Yacht Club Kotwica Ensign
Since 1990 Yacht Club of Poland Ensign

References

  1. ^ a b c (in Polish) Law of 1 August 1919 on Coat of Arms and Colours of the Polish Republic (Ustawa o godłach i barwach Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej), Dz.U. 69 of 1919, pos.416
  2. ^ a b Kazimierz Madej, Polskie symbole wojskowe 1943-1978, Warsaw, 1980, ISBN 83-11-06410-5, p.74
  3. ^ a b c (in Polish) Decree of 9 November 1955 on insignia of the Armed Forces (Dekret o znakach Sił Zbrojnych), Dz.U. nr. 47 of 1955, pos.315
  4. ^ a b c (in Polish) Law of 10 December 1959 amending Decree of 9 November 1955 on insignia of the Armed Forces (Ustawa o zmianie dekretu z dnia 9 listopada 1955 r. o znakach Sił Zbrojnych), Dz.U. nr. 71 of 1959, pos.447
  5. ^ a b (in Polish) Law of 19 February 1993 on insignia of the Polish Armed Forces (Ustawa o znakach Sił Zbrojnych Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej), Dz.U. z 1993 r. Nr 34, poz. 154
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m (in Polish) Zarządzenie Ministra Obrony Narodowej z dnia 29 stycznia 1996 r. w sprawie szczegółowych zasad używania znaków Sił Zbrojnych Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej oraz ustalenia innych znaków używanych w Siłach Zbrojnych Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej (Ordinance of the Minister of National Defence on Detailed Rules for the Use of the Insignia of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland and Establishment of other Insignia Used in the Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland, 29 January 1996), Monitor Polski z 1996 r. Nr 14 poz. 178
  7. ^ (in Polish) Decree of 23 April 1953 on ensign of vessels of the Border Defence Army (Dekret o banderze jednostek pływających Wojsk Ochrony Pogranicza), Dz.U. nr.23 of 1953, pos.94
  8. ^ Volker Preuß. "Polen Marineflagge der Grenztruppen" (in German). Retrieved 2007-07-01.
  9. ^ (in Polish) Ordinance of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of 20 December 1991 on flag of the Border Guard, conditions of flying a flag and markings of vessels and aircraft (Zarządzenie Ministra Spraw Wewnętrznych z dnia 20 grudnia 1991 r. w sprawie wzoru flagi Straży Granicznej, okoliczności i warunków jej podnoszenia oraz sposobu oznakowania jednostek pływających i statków powietrznych, a także znaków rozpoznawczych używanych na nich przez Straż Graniczną w nocy), Monitor Polski nr.5 of 1992, pos.29
  10. ^ (in Polish) Ordinance of the Minister of Internal Affairs and Administration on the Flag and Markings for Police Vessels and Aircraft, 18 April 2005, Dz.U. 2005 Nr 84 poz. 724
  11. ^ (in Polish) Rozporządzenie Ministra Infrastruktury z dnia 21 października 2005 r. w sprawie wzorów flag dla statków morskich na oznaczenie pełnionej specjalnej służby państwowej oraz okoliczności i warunków ich podnoszenia (Ordinance of the Minister of Infrastructure on Flags for Special State Service Vessels), Dz.U. 2005 Nr 235 poz. 1998
  12. ^ (in Polish) Zarządzenie Ministra Żeglugi z dnia 4 stycznia 1967 r. w sprawie określenia wzorów flag dla statków morskich pełniących specjalną służbę państwową (Ordinance of Shipping Ministry of 4 January 1967), M.P. 1967 Nr. 8 Pos. 46

See also

Categories