Jack of the United States
Encyclopedia
The jack of the United States is a maritime flag
representing United States
nationality flown on the jackstaff
in the bow of its vessels. The U.S. Navy
is a prime user of jacks, but they are also used by ships of the Coast Guard
, Military Sealift Command
, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
, and other governmental entities. "The jack is flown on the bow (front) of a ship and the ensign
is flown on the stern (rear) of a ship when anchored or moored. Once under way, the ensign is flown from the main mast."
The primary jack design until September 11, 2002 was the blue canton
with stars (the "union") from the U.S. national ensign
. Since September 2002, the US Navy has made use of the so-called First Navy Jack
. However, the standard US jack (i.e., 50 white stars on a blue field) continues to be used as the jack by vessels of the US Coast Guard, the Military Sealift Command, and NOAA, to name but a few federal agencies. The blue, starred jack is referred to as the Union Jack, but should not be confused with the British Union Jack
. Like the ensign, the number of stars on the jack has increased with each state admitted into the union. Rules for flying the jack are similar to the national ensign, except that the jack is only worn at the bow when the ship is anchored, made fast or alongside.
Since September 11, 2002, the Navy has instead flown the First Navy Jack, a flag bearing 13 red and white stripes, a rattlesnake
and the motto "DONT TREAD ON ME", coming from the first jacks supposedly used by the Navy during the Revolutionary War. It is flown from the jackstaff from 08:00 to sunset while Navy ships are moored or at anchor
. It is required to be the same size as the union of the ensign being flown from the stern of the ship. It is also flown from the yardarm
during a general court-martial
or court of inquiry. During times when the ensign is at half mast
, the jack is also at half mast. The jack is hoisted smartly and lowered ceremoniously in the same manner as the ensign, however the jack is not dipped when the ensign is dipped.
Some exceptions to the use of the Union Jack have occurred in the case of the U.S. Navy, the most prominent being the use of the First Navy Jack
by the U.S. Navy in honor of the country's Bicentennial and subsequently. On June 3, 1999, the Secretary of the Navy authorized the flying of the Submarine Centennial Jack aboard US Navy submarines and sub tenders during the year 2000.
Maritime flag
A maritime flag is a flag designated for use on ships, boats, and other watercraft. Naval flags are considered important at sea and the rules and regulations for the flying of flags are strictly enforced...
representing United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
nationality flown on the jackstaff
Jackstaff
A jackstaff is a small vertical spar in the bow of a ship, on which a particular type of flag, known as a jack, is flown. It is from this that the term Union Jack derives ....
in the bow of its vessels. The U.S. Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
is a prime user of jacks, but they are also used by ships of the Coast Guard
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
, Military Sealift Command
Military Sealift Command
The Military Sealift Command is a United States Navy organization that controls most of the replenishment and military transport ships of the Navy. It first came into existence on 9 July 1949 when the Military Sea Transportation Service became solely responsible for the Department of Defense's...
, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration , pronounced , like "noah", is a scientific agency within the United States Department of Commerce focused on the conditions of the oceans and the atmosphere...
, and other governmental entities. "The jack is flown on the bow (front) of a ship and the ensign
Ensign
An ensign is a national flag when used at sea, in vexillology, or a distinguishing token, emblem, or badge, such as a symbol of office in heraldry...
is flown on the stern (rear) of a ship when anchored or moored. Once under way, the ensign is flown from the main mast."
The primary jack design until September 11, 2002 was the blue canton
Flag terminology
Flag terminology is a jargon used in vexillology, the study of flags, to describe precisely the parts, patterns, and other attributes of flags and their display.-Description of standard flag parts and terms:...
with stars (the "union") from the U.S. national ensign
Flag of the United States
The national flag of the United States of America consists of thirteen equal horizontal stripes of red alternating with white, with a blue rectangle in the canton bearing fifty small, white, five-pointed stars arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of six stars alternating with rows...
. Since September 2002, the US Navy has made use of the so-called First Navy Jack
First Navy Jack
The First Navy Jack is the current U.S. jack authorized by the United States Navy. The design is traditionally regarded as that of first U.S. naval jack flown in the earliest years of the republic.-History:...
. However, the standard US jack (i.e., 50 white stars on a blue field) continues to be used as the jack by vessels of the US Coast Guard, the Military Sealift Command, and NOAA, to name but a few federal agencies. The blue, starred jack is referred to as the Union Jack, but should not be confused with the British Union Jack
Union Flag
The Union Flag, also known as the Union Jack, is the flag of the United Kingdom. It retains an official or semi-official status in some Commonwealth Realms; for example, it is known as the Royal Union Flag in Canada. It is also used as an official flag in some of the smaller British overseas...
. Like the ensign, the number of stars on the jack has increased with each state admitted into the union. Rules for flying the jack are similar to the national ensign, except that the jack is only worn at the bow when the ship is anchored, made fast or alongside.
Since September 11, 2002, the Navy has instead flown the First Navy Jack, a flag bearing 13 red and white stripes, a rattlesnake
Rattlesnake
Rattlesnakes are a group of venomous snakes of the genera Crotalus and Sistrurus of the subfamily Crotalinae . There are 32 known species of rattlesnake, with between 65-70 subspecies, all native to the Americas, ranging from southern Alberta and southern British Columbia in Canada to Central...
and the motto "DONT TREAD ON ME", coming from the first jacks supposedly used by the Navy during the Revolutionary War. It is flown from the jackstaff from 08:00 to sunset while Navy ships are moored or at anchor
Anchor
An anchor is a device, normally made of metal, that is used to connect a vessel to the bed of a body of water to prevent the vessel from drifting due to wind or current. The word derives from Latin ancora, which itself comes from the Greek ἄγκυρα .Anchors can either be temporary or permanent...
. It is required to be the same size as the union of the ensign being flown from the stern of the ship. It is also flown from the yardarm
Yard (sailing)
A yard is a spar on a mast from which sails are set. It may be constructed of timber, steel, or from more modern materials, like aluminium or carbon fibre. Although some types of fore and aft rigs have yards , the term is usually used to describe the horizontal spars used with square sails...
during a general court-martial
Court-martial
A court-martial is a military court. A court-martial is empowered to determine the guilt of members of the armed forces subject to military law, and, if the defendant is found guilty, to decide upon punishment.Most militaries maintain a court-martial system to try cases in which a breach of...
or court of inquiry. During times when the ensign is at half mast
Half-staff
Half-staff is the American term for to describe a flag flying a flag below the summit of the flagpole . The rest of the English-speaking world uses the term half-mast. Technically the flag should be flown one breadth lower to allow for the invisible flag of death...
, the jack is also at half mast. The jack is hoisted smartly and lowered ceremoniously in the same manner as the ensign, however the jack is not dipped when the ensign is dipped.
Some exceptions to the use of the Union Jack have occurred in the case of the U.S. Navy, the most prominent being the use of the First Navy Jack
First Navy Jack
The First Navy Jack is the current U.S. jack authorized by the United States Navy. The design is traditionally regarded as that of first U.S. naval jack flown in the earliest years of the republic.-History:...
by the U.S. Navy in honor of the country's Bicentennial and subsequently. On June 3, 1999, the Secretary of the Navy authorized the flying of the Submarine Centennial Jack aboard US Navy submarines and sub tenders during the year 2000.
| Stars | Design | Dates in general use | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 |  or  |
January 8, 1776–June 14, 1777 | There is little evidence this jack had the rattlesnake Rattlesnake Rattlesnakes are a group of venomous snakes of the genera Crotalus and Sistrurus of the subfamily Crotalinae . There are 32 known species of rattlesnake, with between 65-70 subspecies, all native to the Americas, ranging from southern Alberta and southern British Columbia in Canada to Central... or motto as traditionally depicted (see First Navy Jack First Navy Jack The First Navy Jack is the current U.S. jack authorized by the United States Navy. The design is traditionally regarded as that of first U.S. naval jack flown in the earliest years of the republic.-History:... ). |
| 13 |  |
June 14, 1777–May 1, 1795 | Examples of many layouts of the 13 star pattern exist. See US Flag for details. |
| 15 |  |
May 1, 1795–July 3, 1818 | Quasi War, War of 1812 War of 1812 The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant... |
| 20 |  |
July 4, 1818–July 3, 1819 | |
| 21 |  |
July 4, 1819–July 3, 1820 | |
| 23 |  |
July 4, 1820–July 3, 1822 | |
| 24 |  |
July 4, 1822–July 3, 1836 | |
| 25 |  |
July 4, 1836–July 3, 1837 | |
| 26 |  |
July 4, 1837–July 3, 1845 | |
| 27 |  |
July 4, 1845–July 3, 1846 | |
| 28 |  |
July 4, 1846–July 3, 1847 | |
| 29 |  |
July 4, 1847–July 3, 1848 | |
| 30 |  |
July 4, 1848–July 3, 1851 | |
| 31 |  |
July 4, 1851–July 3, 1858 | |
| 32 |  |
July 4, 1858–July 3, 1859 | |
| 33 |  |
July 4, 1859–July 3, 1861 | Civil War American Civil War The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25... |
| 34 |  |
July 4, 1861–July 3, 1863 | |
| 35 |  |
July 4, 1863–July 3, 1865 | |
| 36 |  |
July 4, 1865–July 3, 1867 | |
| 37 |  |
July 4, 1867–July 3, 1877 | |
| 38 |  |
July 4, 1877–July 3, 1890 | |
| 43 |  |
July 4, 1890–July 3, 1891 | |
| 44 |  |
July 4, 1891–July 3, 1896 | |
| 45 |  |
July 4, 1896–July 3, 1908 | Sinking of the USS Maine USS Maine (ACR-1) USS Maine was the United States Navy's second commissioned pre-dreadnought battleship, although she was originally classified as an armored cruiser. She is best known for her catastrophic loss in Havana harbor. Maine had been sent to Havana, Cuba to protect U.S. interests during the Cuban revolt... Spanish-American War Spanish-American War The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence... Great White Fleet Great White Fleet The Great White Fleet was the popular nickname for the United States Navy battle fleet that completed a circumnavigation of the globe from 16 December 1907 to 22 February 1909 by order of U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt. It consisted of 16 battleships divided into two squadrons, along with... |
| 46 |  |
July 4, 1908–July 3, 1912 | |
| 48 |  |
July 4, 1912–July 3, 1959 | World War I World War I World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918... and World War II World War II World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis... |
| 49 |  |
July 4, 1959–July 3, 1960 | |
| 50 |  |
July 4, 1960—October 12, 1975 | |
| January 1, 1977—Sept 11, 2002 | From 1980, the oldest active ship in the navy, the USS Constitution USS Constitution USS Constitution is a wooden-hulled, three-masted heavy frigate of the United States Navy. Named by President George Washington after the Constitution of the United States of America, she is the world's oldest floating commissioned naval vessel... , flies the First Navy Jack instead |
||
| Sept 11, 2002 — | MSC Military Sealift Command The Military Sealift Command is a United States Navy organization that controls most of the replenishment and military transport ships of the Navy. It first came into existence on 9 July 1949 when the Military Sea Transportation Service became solely responsible for the Department of Defense's... and non-Navy vessels |
||
| 0 | First Navy Jack |
October 13, 1975—December 31, 1976 | United States Navy United States Navy The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S... bicentennial and United States Bicentennial United States Bicentennial The United States Bicentennial was a series of celebrations and observances during the mid-1970s that paid tribute to the historical events leading up to the creation of the United States as an independent republic... |
| Sept 11, 2002— | War on Terrorism War on Terrorism The War on Terror is a term commonly applied to an international military campaign led by the United States and the United Kingdom with the support of other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation as well as non-NATO countries... Navy vessels only; Military Sealift Command Military Sealift Command The Military Sealift Command is a United States Navy organization that controls most of the replenishment and military transport ships of the Navy. It first came into existence on 9 July 1949 when the Military Sea Transportation Service became solely responsible for the Department of Defense's... (MSC) and non-Navy vessels continue to fly the Union Jack See First Navy Jack First Navy Jack The First Navy Jack is the current U.S. jack authorized by the United States Navy. The design is traditionally regarded as that of first U.S. naval jack flown in the earliest years of the republic.-History:... for explanation |
See also
- First Navy JackFirst Navy JackThe First Navy Jack is the current U.S. jack authorized by the United States Navy. The design is traditionally regarded as that of first U.S. naval jack flown in the earliest years of the republic.-History:...
- Flags of the United States armed forcesFlags of the United States armed forcesThe several branches of the United States Armed Forces are represented by flags, among other emblems and insignia. Within each branch, various flags fly on various occasions, and on various ships, bases, camps, and military academies....