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![[Masthead Pennant]](../images/a/ah~1730w.gif)
image
by Željko Heimer, 5 October 2007
As per other Hapsburg maritime and naval flags, the story of masthead
pennants begins with the See-Articuli of 1730 where a "Wimpel" or a "Flamme"
is prescribed to be hoisted from the main mast of the Habsburg ships in shape of
black-yellow long triangular bicolour [Lehnert].
Željko Heimer,
5 October 2007
![[Masthead Pennant]](../images/a/ah~1749p.gif)
image
by Željko Heimer, 3 October 2007
With the reform of the flag by Maria Theresa in 1749 this pennant was
redefined with the addition of a square panel next to the hoist containing the
black imperial eagle. [Baumgartner, 1977] It may well be presumed that size
details for these early pennants were not prescribed, but in accordance to the
customs of the period, they must have been very long in practice.
Željko Heimer,
5 October 2007
![[Masthead Pennant]](../images/a/ah~1786p.gif)
image
by Željko Heimer, 5 October 2007
The Josephinian reform of 1786 replaces the dynastic black-yellow colours
with the Austrian red-white-red and the masthead pennant is changed accordingly,
introduced on the same time as the new naval ensign (adopted on 20 March 1786,
Siegel notes the dates of introduction was 1 January 1787 in Adriatic and 26
March 1787 for the Austrian Netherlands). [Lehnert; Baumgartner, 1977;
Rosenfeld]
Željko Heimer, 5 October 2007
See also: MERCHANT PENNANT in Dictionary of Vexillology
![[Masthead Pennant]](../images/a/ah~1846p.gif){kind=small}
image
by Željko Heimer, 5 October 2007
This (as previous pennants also) was prescribed both for naval and merchant
ships. The permission for the merchant ships to fly this pennant was revoked in
1804. Since that time (as was practice in all marines around the world,
gradually at the period), the masthead pennant becomes a signal denoting a
warship.
In 1842 the Emperor Ferdinand I granted the right to the
Austrian Lloyd shipping company to bear a special postal flag as the jack and
also a special masthead pennant indicating the privilege these ships have in
carrying postal service. Since 1849 this was also granted to the Danube Steam
Shipping Company (DDSG). The use of the flag by the Lloyd was discontinued in
1866, while the DDSG retained the practice at least until the end of the
century, but only in the Austrian part of the Dual Empire and abroad (i.e. not
in the Hungarian waters). The post pennant was yellow-black triangular bicolour
in overall ratio 1:100. [Lehnert; Le Gras]
Željko Heimer, 5 October 2007
![[Masthead Pennant]](../images/a/ah~1894p.gif)
image
by Željko Heimer, 5 October 2007
The "1894 Muster" also provides for a more detailed prescription of the
masthead pennant introduced in 1786, although retaining the basic pattern -
namely it was now prescribed to be 100 times as long as wide (i.e. ratio 1:100).
Of course, by now it is only prescribed for naval ships. [Baumgartner, 1977;
USNavy, 1899; Ruhl; HMStationery office, 1907]
Željko Heimer, 5 October 2007
The "1915 Muster" that introduced many small changes to include the Hungarian
emblem, however, retained the 1894 pattern for this pennant entirely.
[Baumgartner, 1977]
The use of the masthead pennants was, of course,
dropped with the downfall of Austria-Hungary in 1918. The new Austria prescribed
similar, but much shorter (due to the technology requirements), pennants (in
1926, 1936 and 1976) designating the presence of the higher military officials
on its patrol boats.
Željko Heimer, 5 October 2007
- Josef von Lehnert: "Beiträge zur Geschichte der k. k. Flagge. Vortrag,
gehalten im militär-wissenschaftlichen Verein zu Wien am 13. März 1885", Organ
der militär-wissenschaftlichen Vereine, nr. 31, Mayer, Wien 1886 p. 4
-
Lothar Baumgartner: Die Entwicklung der österreichischen Marineflagge, Militaria
Austriaca, Gesellschaft für Österreichische Heereskunde, Wien, 1977 p. 30
-
Friedrich Heyer von Rosenfeld: "Die See-Flaggen, National und Provincial-Fahnen
sowie Cocarden aller Laender", Verlag der kaiserlich-königlichen Hof- und
Staatsdruckerei, Wien, 1883 pl. 1
- Le Gras: "Album des pavillons, guidons et
flammes de toutes les puissances maritimes", Dépôt des Cartes et Plans de la
Marine, Paris, 1858. p. 8
- "Flags of Maritime Nations", U.S. Department of
the Navy, Bureau of Equipment, Washington, 1899. pl. 7
- Moritz Ruhl: "Flaggenbuch",
Reichs-Marine-Amt, Berlin, 1905. pl. II-49 pl. II-48
- "Drawings of the Flags
in Use at the Present Time by Various Nations", H. M. Stationery Office,
Greenwich, 1907. pl. 53