Vice-Admiral of the White was a senior rank of the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom, immediately outranked by the rank Vice-Admiral of the Red (see order of precedence below). Royal Navy officers holding the ranks of commodore, rear admiral, vice admiral and admiral of the fleet are sometimes considered generically to be admirals. From 1688 to 1805, this rank was fifth in order of precedence; after 1805, it was the sixth. In 1864, it was abolished as a promotional rank (pictured opposite is the command flag for a Vice-Admiral of the White).[1]
The Navy Royal inaugurated squadron colours during the reign of Elizabeth I (1558-1603) to subdivide the English fleet into three squadrons. There were three classes of admirals and differentiated by using coloured flags.[2] In 1620 the official flag ranks of admiral, vice admiral, and rear admiral were legally established that arose directly out of the organisation of the fleet into three parts. Admiral of the Fleet as an official flag rank was formally created in 1688.[3]
Vice-Admiral of the White was a senior rank of the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom, immediately outranked by the rank of Vice-Admiral of the Red (see order of precedence below). Such senior ranks or offices generally qualified the Royal Navy officers holding them to be considered admirals, a category that consists of the ranks of commodore, rear admiral, vice admiral and admiral of the fleet.[4] From 1688 to 1805 the rank of Vice-Admiral of the White was fifth in the order of precedence; after 1805 it was the sixth. In 1864 it was abolished as a promotional rank.[5]
Order of precedence of Admirals of the Colour
The Navy was divided into three squadrons-Red, White and Blue-in order of seniority. Admirals were appointed to these squadrons and therefore their rank and squadron split the seniority originally into nine bands, later ten with the Admiral of the Fleet being senior to all others.[6]
Admirals without an appointment were colloquially referred to as yellow admirals. Ships of the Royal Navy flew the Ensign that coincided with the squadron of their commanding officer.[7]
Former command flag 1625 to 1805
Vice Admiral of the White Squadron command flag 1625 to 1805.
↑ "Naval Ranks NMRN Portsmouth". www.nmrn-portsmouth.org.uk. Portsmouth, England: The National Museum of the Royal Navy. 2015. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
Perrin, W. G. (William Gordon) (1922). "Flags of Command: Admirals Flags". British flags, their early history, and their development at sea; with an account of the origin of the flag as a national device. Cambridge, England: Cambridge: The University Press.
Squadron Colours" (2014), (PDF). National Museum of the Royal Navy.
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