REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA
CURRENT ENSIGNS & FLAGS OF THE BULGARIAN NAVY
The current ensign and flags of the Bulgarian Navy were adopted in 1990-91 and are based on those used in the communist era, the rampant lion of Bulgaria's traditional coat of arms replacing the red star. The first proposal for a new ensign displayed a large rampant lion in the white area of the hoist, but the version ultimately adopted placed the lion in a small red canton, similar to the ensign used by the Kingdom of Bulgaria. The jack is also similar to the old royal version, but rectangular rather than square. There are no rank flags as such; instead senior officers fly flags indicating their appointment. Photographs of Bulgarian warships indicate that the commission pennant displays the naval ensign at the hoist and has a tapered red fly. In the late 1990s the Border Guard was demilitarized and renamed the Border Police. It operates a variety of small vessels and continues to use the green Border Guard ensign. The flags of the Minister of Defense and Minister of the Interior are hoisted when these officials are aboard a naval or Border Police vessel.
The Bulgarian Navy is a small force of frigates, mine warfare ships, fast attack craft and patrol vessels. Some of the ships currently in service date from the communist era while others are transfers from Western European navies.
