Mexico - Navy: Jack

Torrotito de proa

Last modified: 2005-09-02 by juan manuel gabino villascán
Keywords: mexico | torrotito | proa (torrotito de) | bauprés | jack | naval jack | navy | military |
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	1:1 Jack adopted on October 20, 2000. Before Sept. 1945, Mexican jacks were after the national flags.
by Juan Manuel Gabino Villascán, September 1, 2002

• Description of the torrotito de proa (jack)
• Jack: Nov. 26, 1994 - Oct. 19, 2000
• Jack: 1945-1987/1994
• Possible or erroneous jack used about 1984

• Mexico - Navy
• Mexico - Army of the Three Guarantees
• Mexico

After the first "differentiated" jack was adopted in Sept. 1945 (recall previous ones were after the national flags), at least, two more jacks have come into effect: Nov. 1994, and the last one (very similar to that of 1945): Oct. 2000. Some sources talk about other jack used about 1984, though this information is not confirmed by any official (Secretaría de Marina) source at the time. All of them are based on the Army of the Three Guarantees flags but with golden stars instead of alternate-colored ones. The present-day jack was adopted on Oct. 20, 2000 by decree published in DOF on Oct. 19, whose Article 61 states:

"The jack (Torrotito de Proa flag) is square, it has three equal-width diagonal stripes colored after the National Flag in the following order, ...white in the upper part near the hoist, green in the middle, and red in the lower fly, in the center of the green stripe is depicted an anchor whose heigth and base is equivalent to 70% and 30% the stripe's width...
...It has three golden eight-pointed stars placed in the upper left corner and in the two lower ones, traced within an imaginary circle whose diameter is equivalent to 10% the flag's fly..."

Juan Manuel Gabino Villascán , May 13, 2001

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by Juan Manuel Gabino Villascán, September 1, 2002.

Diario oficial (DOF) dated November 25, 1994 [in effect a day later], page 125, lamina 116 gives that "seal & inscription" jack used for fig 2 of Album 2000. Alas, mexican saga is not finished, I have just received diario oficial dated 19 10 2000, coming back to the precedent jack, white anchor in center, 3 yellow stars in white triangle, red triangle and low hoist green band happily the new diario oficial confirms presidential mark with 5 stars vertically aligned on the green band (Fig 3 of Album 2000) as "para honores al mando supremo en ceremonias navales"("to honour the supreme commander in naval ceremonies"). Fig 4 of Album 2000 is also confirmed "for visits to ships and establishments".
Armand du Payrat, January 29, 2001.

I think we covered the design of the Mexican jack fairly recently in the context of Album 2000 and that Armand had an unhasty and unbaseless source for the design he shows, which has the same stripes described here but with the Armada de México emblem in gold surrounded by the words SECRETARIA DE MARINA - ARMADA DE MEXICO.
Joe McMillan, January 28, 2001.

Before October 20, 2000, date when the new Jack came into effect, the vessels of the Mexican Navy fleet used this Jack, that according the Manual del Marinero (Saylor's Manual) edited by the Secretaría de Marina was described as follows:

"...it will be a square flag with diagonal stripes and colored after the National Flag in the following order (from the hoist) white, green and red. In the center, the emblem of the Secretariat of Navy in gold covering 75% the flag's fly..."

Juan Manuel Gabino Villascán, May 10, 2001.

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by Juan Manuel Gabino Villascán, September 1, 2002.

The "Reglamento de uniformes, divisas y distintivos para la Armada de México", publised on DOF of September 7, 1945 (in effect a day later), established the national jack (Torrotiito de Proa) with the following features, it is remarkable that until that date the torrotito de Proa was the National Flag:

ARTICLE 127: "The national jack (torrotito de proa) shall be a square flag divided diagonally into three stripes: white [upper hoist], green [middle], red [lower fly], and a golden eight-pointed star on each stripe. It shall carry centered an "admiralty" silver anchor."

Curiously, the b/w graphic attached in the same decree shows a Jack with three five-pointed stars! (perhaps a printer mistake). There is not any specification about the bought.

Juan Manuel Gabino Villascán, September 01, 2002.

Pedersen states that many Latin American countries commemorate older flags in the jack. In Mexico it is the flag of the Army of the Three Guarantees in square version.
Ole Andersen, 16 Jun 1998, and Jaume Ollé, 27 Dec 1998

1945 jack with white anchor: 1987-1994

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by Juan Manuel Gabino Villascán, September 1, 2002.

This "torrotito" is illustrated in the Manual del Marinero (SEMAR) 1987 ed. Though the elements of this jack are exactly the same of the 1945, the Manual del Marinero indicates the anchor should be white, instead of silver as appointed in the 1945-decree.
It could mean that, out of this, there were no jacks used between 1945 and 1994.

Along with this jack, the same book shows three more singular ensigns: Secretary of Navy with two crossed anchors above a vertical line of four white five-pointed stars; Chief of Naval Operations, three stars along with a white anchor (this position desappeared in 1993); and a swallow-tailed for the Chief of the General Staff, whose green stripe is charged with three stars and a white anchor.

Juan Manuel Gabino Villascán, September 01, 2002.

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by Juan Manuel Gabino Villascán, September 1, 2002

According to Michel Lupant’s article in Flaggenmitteilungen Nr 100, Jul. 1984 [fbn], the Mexican jack has changed, it is reportedly oblique triband but now from top hoist to low fly, green / white / red; in the middle of each band a yellow octagonal star.
Armand du Payrat, 11 Jan 1999.

Some sources show a different jack, with stripes in a different order: green, white and red, lacking the anchor, but I'm almost sure one more wrong interpretation, hasty and baseless.
José Luis Brugués Alonso
Translated by: António Mártins Tuválkin, January 28, 2001.