Flagship: Difference between revisions
imported>J. Noel Chiappa (→Symbolic roles: Hey, I liked that anecdote - fits better here, I guess) |
mNo edit summary |
||
(6 intermediate revisions by 4 users not shown) | |||
Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{subpages}} | {{subpages}} | ||
{{TOC | {{TOC|right}} | ||
A '''flagship''', in naval operations, is the vessel from which the senior officer of the formation commands. | A '''flagship''', in naval operations, is the vessel from which the senior officer of the formation commands. Admirals, for instance, are termed "flag officers" for a characteristic flag denoting their rank when they are aboard or assigned to that vessel. The flag itself may also be notable in some way, as, for example, when Admiral Chuichi Nagumo hoisted, on December 7, 1941, the same "Z" flag that Admiral Heihachiro Togo had hoisted to start the Battle of Tsushima in 1905. | ||
In a very large formation, there may be flagships for the commanders of subordinate units. These flags may indicate rank (e.g., [[vice admiral]]), or, especially in the days of sail, an organizational identifier (e.g., [[rear admiral]] of the red [squadron]). | In a very large formation, there may be flagships for the commanders of subordinate units. These flags may indicate rank (e.g., [[vice admiral]]), or, especially in the days of sail, an organizational identifier (e.g., [[rear admiral]] of the red [squadron]). | ||
==Symbolic roles== | ==Symbolic roles== | ||
Flagship roles are sometimes symbolic rather than actual. '''HMS Victory''', a wooden [[ship of the line]] built in 1765, is the official flagship of the United Kingdom Home Command. She served as the flagship of [[Horatio Nelson]] at the [[Battle of Trafalgar]]. On taking command of the U.S. Pacific Fleet after the [[ | Flagship roles are sometimes symbolic rather than actual. '''HMS Victory''', a wooden [[ship of the line]] built in 1765, is the official flagship of the United Kingdom Home Command. She served as the flagship of [[Horatio Nelson]] at the [[Battle of Trafalgar]]. On taking command of the U.S. Pacific Fleet after the [[Pearl Harbor (World War II)|attack on Pearl Harbor]], [[Chester Nimitz]], who actually directed operations from his headquarters ashore, formally took command of the fleet on the deck of the [[submarine]] ''USS Grayling''. | ||
==Technical requirements== | ==Technical requirements== | ||
An admiral will be said to be "flying his flag" on a given vessel. Until into the middle of the [[Second World War]], admirals usually used a major combatant vessel such as a [[ship of the line]] or [[battleship]]. Under some circumstances, when the admiral's attention was needed close inshore, he might board a smaller, handier vessel. As electronics became more important, it became obvious that ships with heavy guns were a bad choice for a flagship; the shock of the guns firing tended to break the fragile electronics of the time. WWII commanders became more likely to use [[aircraft carrier]]s or purpose-built [[command ship]]s, (e.g., [[USS Mount McKinley (AGC-7)]]. | An admiral will be said to be "flying his flag" on a given vessel. Until into the middle of the [[Second World War]], admirals usually used a major combatant vessel such as a [[ship of the line]] or [[battleship]]. Under some circumstances, when the admiral's attention was needed close inshore, he might board a smaller, handier vessel. As electronics became more important, it became obvious that ships with heavy guns were a bad choice for a flagship; the shock of the guns firing tended to break the fragile electronics of the time. WWII commanders became more likely to use [[aircraft carrier]]s or purpose-built [[command ship]]s, (e.g., [[USS Mount McKinley (AGC-7)]]. | ||
In modern warships, gunnery shock is not a major concern, but certain ships have space set aside for an admiral's staff. These include aircraft carriers, command ships, and, in the U.S. Navy, [[cruiser]]s [[Ticonderoga-class]]. The additional space and communications is one of the features that distinguishes a Ticonderoga from a similar [[destroyer]] of the [[Burke-class]]. Large [[amphibious warfare]] ships also often have staff spaces as part of their design. | In modern warships, gunnery shock is not a major concern, but certain ships have space set aside for an admiral's staff. These include aircraft carriers, command ships, and, in the U.S. Navy, [[cruiser]]s [[Ticonderoga-class]]. The additional space and communications is one of the features that distinguishes a Ticonderoga from a similar [[destroyer]] of the [[Burke-class]]. Large [[amphibious warfare]] ships also often have staff spaces as part of their design.[[Category:Suggestion Bot Tag]] |
Latest revision as of 07:00, 17 August 2024
![](http://s9.addthis.com/button1-share.gif)
A flagship, in naval operations, is the vessel from which the senior officer of the formation commands. Admirals, for instance, are termed "flag officers" for a characteristic flag denoting their rank when they are aboard or assigned to that vessel. The flag itself may also be notable in some way, as, for example, when Admiral Chuichi Nagumo hoisted, on December 7, 1941, the same "Z" flag that Admiral Heihachiro Togo had hoisted to start the Battle of Tsushima in 1905.
In a very large formation, there may be flagships for the commanders of subordinate units. These flags may indicate rank (e.g., vice admiral), or, especially in the days of sail, an organizational identifier (e.g., rear admiral of the red [squadron]).
Symbolic roles
Flagship roles are sometimes symbolic rather than actual. HMS Victory, a wooden ship of the line built in 1765, is the official flagship of the United Kingdom Home Command. She served as the flagship of Horatio Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar. On taking command of the U.S. Pacific Fleet after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Chester Nimitz, who actually directed operations from his headquarters ashore, formally took command of the fleet on the deck of the submarine USS Grayling.
Technical requirements
An admiral will be said to be "flying his flag" on a given vessel. Until into the middle of the Second World War, admirals usually used a major combatant vessel such as a ship of the line or battleship. Under some circumstances, when the admiral's attention was needed close inshore, he might board a smaller, handier vessel. As electronics became more important, it became obvious that ships with heavy guns were a bad choice for a flagship; the shock of the guns firing tended to break the fragile electronics of the time. WWII commanders became more likely to use aircraft carriers or purpose-built command ships, (e.g., USS Mount McKinley (AGC-7).
In modern warships, gunnery shock is not a major concern, but certain ships have space set aside for an admiral's staff. These include aircraft carriers, command ships, and, in the U.S. Navy, cruisers Ticonderoga-class. The additional space and communications is one of the features that distinguishes a Ticonderoga from a similar destroyer of the Burke-class. Large amphibious warfare ships also often have staff spaces as part of their design.