REPUBLIC OF PERU
NAVAL ENSIGNS & FLAGS • CIRCA 1900
The naval ensign and jack of Peru in the early twentieth century were the same as those currently in use, except that the red border of the jack was wider. The commissioning pennant, appointment flags, rank flags and command pennants were, however of a different pattern. The commission pennant was vertically striped red-white-red. A square version of the ensign was specified for the Minister of Marine. Vice-admiral was the highest naval rank; the associated rank flag was a square version of the national flag with the Sun of May over crossed anchors on the white stripe. The flag for rear-admirals was the same with the crossed anchors omitted. A captain in command of a naval force flew a swallowtailed broad pennant, vertically striped red-white-red, with the Sun of May on the white stripe. Officers below the rank of captain in command of a flotilla had distinctive command pennants. The senior officer's pennant was triangular, vertically striped red-white-red, with the Sun of May on the white stripe.
Though the Sun of May, symbolizing Latin American independence, does not figure in Peru's coat of arms, it was used as a device for military and civil rank and appointment flags.
The flags depicted below were in use from around 1900 to the 1950s.
Flag Proportions: The national flags of Peru, including the naval ensign, were made in 2:3 proportions.
