Canadian Forces Maritime Command Naval Jack

On March 11, 1911 His Majesty's Royal Canadian Navy was granted the right to fly the white ensign which was a St. Georges Cross with a Union Jack in the canton. Once known as the "Tin-Pot Navy" it is credited with turning the tides in World War I in favour of Great Britain and her allies. She sailed again in defence of the Mother country in World War II ensuring the shipping lanes between England and North America remained open. In later years the Canadian Blue Ensign which was similar to the Canadian Red Ensign was the official flag of the RCN.

In February of 1968 the Canadian government combined the Royal Canadian Navy, the Royal Canadian Air Force and the Canadian Army into the Canadian Armed Forces. With this unification, the use of their royal status and seperate identities were lost. Only the vessels would retain the royal marking in the form of HMCS before the ship's name. This signified that Her Majesty's Canadian Ships were still under her command.

After several years of operating under a unified banner, the individual commands were allowed to once again reflect their own identity within the Canadian Forces. The Canadian Forces introduced the Canadian Naval Jack which was white with the Canadian Maple Leaf in the canton and the Maritime Forces badge in blue in the fly. The badge comprises a fouled anchor with the flukes at 90 degrees to the top bar, the eagle of the air force and a naval coronet.