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Naval Rank Flags 1914-1923 or 1931 (Spain)

Insignias

Introduction
Royal Decree of 18th February 1914
Minister (other than Minister of the Navy) (Minister of the Crown, Ministro de la Corona)
Minister of the Navy (Ministro de Marina)
Captain General of the Navy (Capitán General de la Armada)
Admiral (Almirante)
Vice Admiral (Vicealmirante)
Vice Admiral not in command (Vicealmirante subordinado)
Rear Admiral (Contralmirante)
Rear Admiral not in command (Contralmirante subordinado)
Captain commanding a Division (Capitán de Navío con mando de División)
Commander or Lieutenant Commander commanding a Division (Capitán de Fragata o Corbeta con mando de División)
Senior Officer Pennant (Comandante más Antiguo en Reunión de Buques or Jefe de Bahía)

See also:

Rank Flags 1923-1931 and 1938-1977 (Spain)
Army Rank Flags 1930-1931 (Spain)
Naval Rank Flags
Historical Flags 1785-1931 (Spain)
Spain

Introduction

The Decree on rank flags of 18th February 1914 appears to have been the first time when the current system of rank flags with blue and red discs for Spanish admirals was adopted. The discs were smaller at the time, though, their diameter defined as 1/3 of the width of the yellow stripe, thus 1/6 of the hoist.

Calvo and Grávalos 1983 claims that there was some kind of flag regulation issued in 1923, which may imply either:

that it was in 1923 when the larger discs were first adopted, or
that Calvo and Grávalos 1983 mistakes the date of the 1914 Decree.

After researching all the 1923 issues of the Official Bulletin (Gaceta de Madrid), there appears to be no 1923 flag legislation at all. In the latter case, the rank flags would have been used until the Republic was proclaimed in April 1931, and possibly also 1936-1945.

Luis Miguel Arias, translated by Santiago Dotor, 24 Apr 2002