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Italy - Naval Rank Flags

Last modified: 2002-11-09 by dov gutterman
Keywords: italy | admiral | captain |
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Chief-of-Staff of Navy


by Ivan Sache, 13 July 1999

Dark blue field with four golden stars placed diagonally inside a golden-outlined dark blue rectangle
Ivan Sache,13 July 1999

According to Italian Navy site this is the "Insegna del Capo di Stato Maggiore della Marina" (Chief-of-Staff of Navy ).
Dov Gutterman and Pier Paolo Lugli, 5 September 2000


Commander in Chief of Italian Navy in Combat


by Jaume Olle and Dov Gutterman, 5 September 2000

According to Italian Navy site this is the "Insegna del Comandante in Capo delle
Forze Navali in combattimento"  (Ensign of the c. in c. of the Navy Force on battle).
Dov Gutterman and Pier Paolo Lugli, 5 September 2000


Fleet Admiral


by Ivan Sache, 13 July 1999

According to Album des Pavillons, correction #30 (June 1998), pp. 146-147 [pay], it is "Admiral with Command in Central Mediterranean Sea" - same with four stars
Ivan Sache, 13 July 1999

According to Italian Navy site this is the "Insegna di Comando per Ammiraglio d'Armata"
Dov Gutterman, 5 September 2000

Ammiraglio d'Armata translates directly as "Admiral of Fleet."  As I recall from the MMI rank insignia pages, this rank doesn't exist at present.
Joe McMillan, 5 September 2000


Squadron Admiral


by Ivan Sache, 13 July 1999

According to Album des Pavillons, correction #30 (June 1998), pp. 146-147 [pay], it is "Fleet Admiral" - Dark blue field with three golden stars placed diagonally
Ivan Sache, 13 July 1999

According to Italian Navy site this is the "Insegna di Comando per Ammiraglio di Squadra"
Dov Gutterman, 5 September 2000

"Squadra" is "squadron," same as French "escadre" or Russian "eskadra."
Joe McMillan, 5 September 2000


Division Admiral


by Ivan Sache, 13 July 1999

Same with two stars
Ivan Sache, 13 July 1999

According to Italian Navy site this is the "Insegna di Comando per Ammiraglio di Divisione"
Dov Gutterman, 5 September 2000


Rear Admiral


by Ivan Sache , 13 July 1999

Same with one star
Ivan Sache, 13 July 1999

According to Italian Navy site this is the "Insegna di Comando per Contrammiraglio"
Dov Gutterman, 5 September 2000


Captain of Vessel with Senior Command


by Ivan Sache ,13 July 1999

Blue triangular pennant.Source: Album des Pavillons, correction #30 (June 1998), pp. 146-147.
Ivan Sache, 13 July 1999


by Ivan Sache, 11 March 2000

I compared the images that based on Album des Pavillons with the site that Pascal Vagnat found in 7 January 1999 (Italian Navy site) and one flag is different: "Insegna di Comando per Cap. di Vascello comandante superiore navale"
Dov Gutterman, 26 July 1999

Here it is: a 2:3 blue swallow-tailed (fork depth 1/3th of flag width) ensign
Ivan Sache, 27 July 1999

The flag is used by the Capitano di Vascello (Warship Captain) when holding the higher rank in the fleet.
Pier Paolo Lugli, 30 July 1999

"Cap. di Vascello" is a Captain, Italian Navy, with superior command
Jack Kowalski, 31 July 1999


Senior Commander of Lower Rank than Captain of Vessel


by Ivan Sache, 13 July 1999

White triangular pennant with a red cross all over it
Ivan Sache, 13 July 1999

According to Italian Navy site this is the "Guidone per comandante superiore navale di grado inferiore a Cap. di Vascello".
Dov Gutterman, 5 September 2000


Captain of Vessel Commanding a Flotilla


by Ivan Sache, 13 July 1999

Triangular pennant with 10 alternating blue and red diagonal stripes
Ivan Sache, 13 July 1999

I have a doubt on the guidon cross red / white which is presented twice in the Italian Navy site:
1 - captain comanding a flotilla or squad
2 - off of rank lower than capt, same command -
In my opinion (based on an official ital navy documents) it should be a guidon with red and white bands oblical from top hoist to low fly
Armand du Payrat, 7 January 1999


Captain Commanding a Flotilla or Squadron


by Ivan Sache, 13 July 1999

According to Album des Pavillons, correction #30 (June 1998), pp. 146-147 [pay], it is "Fregate Captain, Corvette Captain or Vessel Lieutnant Commanding a Flotilla"
Ivan Sache, 13 July 1999

According to Italian Navy site this is the "Guidone per Cap. di Fregata o di Corvetta o Ten. di Vascello comandante di Squadriglia o di Flottiglia di Unità minori" (Ensign for Captain of Fregate or Corvette or Tenente of Vessel leading a Squad or a Fleet of minor ships).
Dov Gutterman and Pier Paolo Lugli, 5 September 2000

Capitano di vascello equates to English captain  (French capitaine de vaisseau).  Frigate captain and corvette captain equate to US/UK commander and lieutenant commander respectively (Fr. capitaine de fregate/capitaine de corvette; Ger. Fregattenkapita"n/Korvettenkapita"n).  I'd translate as "pennant of a captain commanding a flotilla or squadron." There's a running problem with the English term "squadron" when translating into other languages.  It can mean either escadre/squadra, which is a large unit commanded by a senior flag officer as Squadron Admiral, or squadriglia and the equivalent, a small force of destroyers, submarines, etc., usually commanded by a captain
Joe McMillan, 5 September 2000