Battle ensign

In what could become a very confusing situation with thick clouds of gunsmoke the ensign gave additional identification, hence their large size, which for the Royal Navy in the 17th and 18th centuries was about 20 by 40 ft (6.1 by 12.2 m).

If a warship was sinking and had to be abandoned, flags such as the battle ensigns would be taken off the ship before it sank and were entrusted to the senior (surviving) officer.

The battle ensign flown from USS Arizona during the attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese Naval Air Forces on December 7, 1941 was badly stained with oil and it was burned as being 'unfit for further use', before anyone thought to save it.

The USS Ramage uses the flag of the New York City Police Department as its battle ensign in commemoration of the actions of the NYPD during the September 11 attacks.

[3][4] In the early days of World War II Captain F. S. Bell of the cruiser HMS Exeter gave the order to hoist five 24' by 12' (7·32m by 3·66m) battle ensigns from the main topmast, port and starboard yardarms, the top mizzen and the lower mizzen as Exeter turned to engage the German pocket battleship Admiral Graf Spee, which significantly outgunned her (660lb shells against 256lb shells), during the Battle of the River Plate.

The Tonnant at the Battle of the Nile , by Louis Lebreton .
Niagara flying Perry's Don't Give Up the Ship battle ensign at the Battle of Lake Erie , 10 September 1813.
USS McFaul flying her battle ensign as she returns to Naval Station Norfolk , Virginia from deployment.
Battle ensign of the Imperial Japanese Navy .
Postcard commemorating the naval victory of Australian light cruiser HMAS Sydney over the German light cruiser Emden at the Battle of Cocos in 1914.