REPUBLIC OF PORTUGAL

NAVAL ENSIGNS & FLAGS  •  WORLD WAR II & COLD WAR ERA

The current national flag and coat of arms of Portugal were adopted in 1911, after a revolution that resulted in the abolition of the monarchy and the proclamation of a republic. The arms consist of the traditional shield of Portugal over an armillary sphere, an antique navigational device symbolizing Portugal's maritime heritage. The colors green and red were chosen for the flag because they had been widely used by various republican clubs and movements prior to the revolution. In the years following the establishment of the republic, a complete range of naval flags was adopted. The national flag doubles as the naval ensign; the naval jack displays the arms on a red field with a green border. Perhaps reflecting Portugal's longstanding ties to Britain, the naval rank flags in use since 1911 are similar to those of the Royal Navy. The President of the Republic, who is titular commander-in-chief of the armed forces, flies his flag when aboard ship. The modernization and reorganization of the Navy since the end of the Cold War era led to the abolition of some of the flags depicted below, including that of the Minister of Marine. See Current Naval Flags of Portugal. Up to the 1970s, the Portuguese Navy was a small and not particularly up-to-date force that mostly concerned itself with the policing of Portugal's extensive colonial possessions in Africa and East Asia. At the beginning of World War Two, the fleet in home waters consisted of a light flotilla (destroyers and torpedo boats), a submarine flotilla and various patrol vessels. Some twenty patrol frigates, seagoing gunboats and river gunboats were allotted to colonial service. Flag Proportions: Most Portuguese naval flags have 2:3 proportions. The jack is square.

BACK to PORTUGAL Page