ORIENTAL REPUBLIC OF URUGUAY
 

Uruguay was part of Argentina between 1810 and 1828, being known as the Eastern Province (Provincia Oriental). Upon independence the title República Oriental del Uruguay was adopted—denoting that its territory lay east of the Uruguay River. The design of Uruguay’s national flag derives from the historical association with Argentina: the colors blue and white and the golden yellow “Sun of May.” The nine stripes (five white, four blue) symbolize the nine provinces of Uruguay at the time of independence.

The national flag also serves as the naval ensign and war flag. The naval jack has a white field with a blue saltire cross and the Sun of May. The artistic rendition of the sun replicates its original depiction on the national flag. This jack was first adopted in the nineteenth century but was replaced by a different design. In the 1990s it was brought back as both the jack and the flag of the Navy.

Naval rank flags are white with medium blue insignia. There is only one full admiral on active duty at any given time, serving as Chief of the Naval Staff, and he has a special flag displaying a foul anchor. A captain commanding a naval group flies a rectangular flag with one star; group commanders below captain's rank fly a white pennant with a blue cross. The senior officer's pennant is plain blue. General officers of the Army and Air Force both have forked appointment flags, blue, with stars according to rank. Commanders of Army groups have a triangular pennant, blue with a white cross. Commanders of Air Force groups have a forked flag striped white and blue, bearing the Air Force roundel.

Images Added November 2017

Army & Air Force Appointment Flags & Command Pennants