ITALIAN REPUBLIC

CURRENT NAVAL ENSIGNS & FLAGS

With the abolition of the monarchy in 1946, the arms of the House of Savoy were removed from Italian flags. The plain green-white-red tricolor became the national flag of the Italian Republic, and a new naval ensign and jack were introduced. The shield on the white stripe of the ensign quarters the arms of Italy's historical maritime states: Venice (gold winged lion on red), Genoa (red cross on white), Amalfi (white cross on blue) and Pisa (white cross on red), and is ensigned by a "naval crown." The jack is a banner of the quartered arms. The flag officer commanding a naval force in action flies a flag similar to the jack, but with a blue border. Other naval rank flags are similar to those used up to 1946 by the Royal Italian Navy. The highest substantive commissioned rank is Admiral of Squadron (Ammiraglio di Squadra), whose flag bears three stars. An officer of this rank appointed as Chief of Staff of the Navy or Undersecretary of Defense is titled Admiral of Squadron with Special Appointment (Ammiraglio di Squadra con Incarichi Speciali) and is entitled to display a flag with four stars within a frame. If appointed as Chief of the Defense Staff, an officer of this rank bears the title Admiral (Ammiraglio) and displays a dark blue flag with four white stars within a double frame. This flag is used by the CoDS regardless of branch of service. Flag Proportions: Most current Italian naval ensigns and flags are made in 2:3 proportions. The jack and the command flag are made square.

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