![[Navy Ensign]](../images/b/bg_949ne.gif)
2:3,
by Željko Heimer
Last modified: 2012-01-13 by rob raeside
Keywords: bulgaria | naval rank flag |
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The first set of Bulgarian post-WWII naval flags was established by the naval
fleet commander order of 30 May 1949, and these flags were to be used from 01 July 1949. These flags were replaced with the new set in 1955.
Željko Heimer, 09 September 2001
With the end of World War II and the change of the political system on 09
September 1944, the old flags became obsolete. The flag situation until 1949 is
not clear, and it seems that there was no established system. Only on 30 May
1949 did the commander in chief of the navy issue an order (numbered No.
I-M-131) establishing the ensign, jack, pennants and personal flags in the navy
to be used from 01 July 1949.
Željko Heimer, 16 January 2004
The proportions of these flags were set as 2:3. Below, I also add a table of sizes provided for these flags.
Size # |
Rear Flags |
Rank Flags |
Pennant |
Jack |
1 |
2 x 3 m |
1 x 1.5 m |
--- |
--- |
2 |
1 x 1.5 m |
0.6 x 1.2 m |
0.2 x 4 m |
1.2 x 1.35 m |
3 |
0.5 x 0.75 |
0.5 x 0.75 m |
0.15 x 3 m |
0.6 x 0.7 m |
The size in the 1st row was reserved, prescribed for big vessels.
The size in the 2nd row was for destroyer class (razrushiteli) and
coast guard vessels (bregova ohrana).
The size in the 3rd row was for all other vessels.
The source of information about all those Bulgarian navy and rank flags is
Ivanov (1998) Bylgarski bojni znamena i flagove. -
Sofia, 1998.- 175 pp.
Andrew Rukkas, 06 March 1999
All these flags shown below are described only in
Ivanov (1998) and not pictured. So the
following pictures should be considered as reconstructions. I like to think that
they are rather good, since Ivanov provided much of the detail. The comparison
with Soviet flags of the period would reveal a level of similarity (but also
compare e.g. flags of the Yugoslav Navy at the time), but yet not so much as the
similarity that came in the 1950's when both Soviet and Bulgarian flags were
redesigned (and, but for minor differences, the same in style).
Željko Heimer, 16 January 2004
2:3,
by Željko Heimer
Naval Ensign (Voennomorsko zname (k'rmovo)) National tricolour of white-green-red with red square in
the canton with
golden rampant lion (uncrowned) and below it a white square with red five-pointed
star.
One should note that the lion does not have a crown.
Željko Heimer, 09 September 2001
![[Minister-chairman]](../images/b/bg_949mc.gif)
2:3,
by Željko Heimer
Minister-Chairman (Flag na minist'r-predsedatelya) Is that Prime
Minister? A red flag with the naval ensign in the canton.
Željko Heimer, 09 September 2001
![[Minister of People's Defence]](../images/b/bg_949md.gif)
2:3,
by Željko Heimer
Minister of People's Defence (Flag na minist'ra na narodnata otbrana -
presumably the Defence Minister). Red flag with the naval ensign in the canton in
which the red star in the white square is surrounded with a golden wreath. The
wreath in my image is a reconstruction based on its description -- I have not seen an
image of it. It might be more elaborate.
Željko Heimer, 09 September 2001
![[Chief of the General Staff of the Bulgarian People's Army]](../images/b/bg_949gs.gif)
2:3,
by Željko Heimer
Chief of the General Staff of the Bulgarian People's Army (Flag na
nachalnika na Generalniya shtab na B'lgarskata narodna armiya). The flag is the same as the flag of the defence minister, but the fly is slanted.
Željko Heimer, 09 September 2001
![[Naval Force Commander, Commander of Army, Commander of Corps]](../images/b/bg_949nc.gif)
2:3,
by Željko Heimer
Naval Force Commander, Commander of Army, Commander of Corps (Flag na
komandira na VMS [Voennomorskite sili] (komandir na armiya ili korpus)). A red flag with the naval ensign in
the canton and three white five-pointed
stars -- one in the middle of each remaining quarter of the flag.
Željko Heimer, 09 September 2001
![[Naval Fleet Chief of the Staff]](../images/b/bg_949nf.gif)
2:3,
by Željko Heimer
Naval Fleet Chief of the Staff (Flag na nachalnik-shtaba na Voennomorskiya
flot). As Naval Force Commander above, but with the fly end slanted.
Željko Heimer, 09 September 2001
![[Commander of Brigade]](../images/b/bg_949cb.gif)
2:3,
by Željko Heimer
Commander of Brigade (Flag na komandir na brigadata). As Naval Force Commander above, but only with two stars in the flag
quarters.
Željko Heimer, 09 September 2001
![[Commander of Military District, Commander of Division ("polk"),
Deputy Commander of Division]](../images/b/bg_949cd.gif)
2:3,
by Željko Heimer
Commander of Military District, Commander of Regiment ("Polk"), Deputy
Commander of Regiment (Flag na komandir na OVR (OZR) [Otbrana voden raion (Ohrana
zemen raion)], komandir na polk i zam.- komandir na polk). Blue flag with the naval ensign in
the canton and one white five-pointed
star in the middle of the fly half.
Željko Heimer, 09 September 2001
Also reported as "Commander of Coastal Defence Region".
Andrew Rukkas, July 2001
![[Commander of Flotilla, Commander of Groups and Deputy Commander of
Group]](../images/b/bg_949cf.gif)
2:3,
by Željko Heimer
Commander of Flotilla, Commander of Groups and Deputy Commander of Group (Flag
na komandir na flotiliya (komandir na druzhina i zam.- komandir na druzhina)). White triangular pennant with green outer edges and with three red
five-pointed stars, two one above the other in the hoist and one in the fly.
Željko Heimer, 09 September 2001
![[Commander of Squadron, Commander of "rot"]](../images/b/bg_949cs.gif)
2:3,
by Željko Heimer
Commander of Squadron, Commander of "Rot" (Flag na komandir na otryad (komandir
na rota)). White triangular pennant with green outer edges and with a red five-pointed star.
Željko Heimer, 09 September 2001
![[Commander of Vessel]](../images/b/bg_949wp.gif)
1:20, by Željko Heimer
Commander of Vessel (Flag na komandir na otdelen korab). Blue triangular long pennant with white canton with red five-pointed
star in the middle of it.
Željko Heimer, 09 September 2001
![[Jack]](../images/b/bg_949ja.gif)
6:7 | 8:9,
by Željko Heimer
Jack (Kreposten flag - gyois). Red flag with white outlined red five-pointed star with golden lion in
the middle.
Željko Heimer, 09 September 2001
