Mystery

[jonesey2k]

I'd love to buy one of those old Destroyers and convert it into a private yacht. I'd keep the exterior looking like a big grey war canoe but have the interior like the QM2!

[DaveB]

So basically the lower your rank the more balls ya got?

Yup.. this is a case of less is definitely more. Should you reach the dizzy height of Admiral of the Fleet.. you get to have the Union Flag flown at the masthead! Cool While a senior officers flag carries more bits and pieces at the lower end of the scale, the lack of additions as one gets higher is more than made up for by the extra gold on his uniform

ATB
DaveB

[Garry Russell]

Reminds me of the medical profession where when you became a top doctor and specialise you earn the right to be caller Mister

[John]

That's an odd one John. She's flying a Rear-Admirals flag and still has her pennant number How old is that shot?
For the uninitiated.. an Admiral has no balls, a Vice-Admiral has one ball, a Rear-Admiral has 2 balls and a Commodore flies a pennant with one ball. Has that come out right
ATB
DaveB

Hi Dave.. that shot about 12-14 months?

JR

[DaveB]

Thanks for that John I can't see why her side number had been put back or fathom why whe was flying an R-A's flag. Which Admiral would want his flag flown in a stripped warship that's been out of commission for donkey's! There must be a logical explanation.. just that I don't know what it is

ATB
DaveB

[airboatr]

Hey Brian.....

[jonesey2k]

Lucky I don't have anything to do with it as I'd have an LFC flag up there in no time!

[DaveB]

THAT would be a flag too far

ATB
DaveB

[TSR2]

Hi DB,

I was looking into this and technically she is still on commission so still wears her pennant.

[DaveB]

Hi Ben..

Yes.. I went back through my phots taken 6.4.07 and she still had her side number then. How ones memory plays tricks as one gets older...



However.. that still doesn't explain why she's flying a Rear-Admirals flag?? A bit of digging shows that the Second Sea Lord (2LS) and the Commander Naval Home Command (CINCNAVHOME) were amalgamated in '94 (after I left but before the shot above was taken) and they share a joint base at Whale Island (where Bristol is berthed) with CINCFLEET (Commander in Chief Fleet). Even so.. the Admirals flag has always been flown in HMS Victory as far as I'm aware (certainly that of CinCNavHome). CinCFleet was based at Northwood when I left in '89 and it seems much has changed. This listing from the RN site shows info of the planned update that has just been completed but still.. to fly an RA's flag

http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/operations- ... /index.htm

This shot is an old one as she no longer has a 965 radar on her fwd mast.

ATB
DaveB