Posted on Jul 26, 2015
Who dips the flag first when a US ship passes by another ship on the high seas? come on Navy!!
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who dip the flag first when a US ship meets another on the high seas.
Common Navy. This question has bugged me since a 1955 promotion Board asked it.
Common Navy. This question has bugged me since a 1955 promotion Board asked it.
Posted in these groups: 
Customs and Courtesies
Customs and Courtesies
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 15
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When passing foreign vessels, US ships do not dip unless they are returning the gesture, which they will, if it's offered. When passing another US ship, the junior ship dips. ALL US ships dip (I believe) when passing the Arizona.
US Navy Regulations, Chapter 12, section 1263:
"1. When any vessel, under United States registry or the registry of a nation formally recognized by the Government of the United States, salutes a ship of the Navy by dipping her ensign, it shall be answered dip for dip. If not already being displayed, the national ensign shall be hoisted for the purpose of answering the dip. An ensign being displayed at half-mast shall be hoisted to the truck or peak before a dip is answered.
2. No ship of the Navy shall dip the national ensign unless in return for such compliment.
3. Of the colors carried by a naval force on shore, only the battalion or regimental colors shall be dipped in rendering or acknowledging a salute.
4. Submarines, or other ships of the line in which it would be considered hazardous for
personnel to do so, shall not be required to dip the ensign."
US Navy Regulations, Chapter 12, section 1263:
"1. When any vessel, under United States registry or the registry of a nation formally recognized by the Government of the United States, salutes a ship of the Navy by dipping her ensign, it shall be answered dip for dip. If not already being displayed, the national ensign shall be hoisted for the purpose of answering the dip. An ensign being displayed at half-mast shall be hoisted to the truck or peak before a dip is answered.
2. No ship of the Navy shall dip the national ensign unless in return for such compliment.
3. Of the colors carried by a naval force on shore, only the battalion or regimental colors shall be dipped in rendering or acknowledging a salute.
4. Submarines, or other ships of the line in which it would be considered hazardous for
personnel to do so, shall not be required to dip the ensign."
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SN Greg Wright
Erm, not sure. I haven't heard of that.
Edit:
To be clear, I've not heard of marines being called Commodore. That's a naval designation for a staff officer, again as PO1 pointed out.
Edit:
To be clear, I've not heard of marines being called Commodore. That's a naval designation for a staff officer, again as PO1 pointed out.
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CPO (Join to see)
SSG Michael Hasbun
Commodore would be Staff COs. For example DESRON, PHIBRON etc... COs would be Commodores and embark on their flag ship with the ships CO. So you would have a Commodore and a Captain on one ship, many times both full birds. When I was on the Dubuque we were apart of ESG-3/PHIBRON3, the Peleliu had PHIBRON 3 Commodore onboard and he was a Full Bird but ESG-3, their parent command was a 2 Star.
Commodore would be Staff COs. For example DESRON, PHIBRON etc... COs would be Commodores and embark on their flag ship with the ships CO. So you would have a Commodore and a Captain on one ship, many times both full birds. When I was on the Dubuque we were apart of ESG-3/PHIBRON3, the Peleliu had PHIBRON 3 Commodore onboard and he was a Full Bird but ESG-3, their parent command was a 2 Star.
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CPO (Join to see)
As an example---
Commander, Expeditionary Strike Group THREE
under then you would have-
COMNAVBEACHGRU ONE
COMPHIBRON FIVE
COMPHIBRON ONE
COMPHIBRON THREE
COMTACGRU ONE
and under PHIBRON you would have the units the Commodore would be embarked
USS AMERICA
USS Makin Island
USS Peleliu
USS BOXER
USS Essex
and then the supporting ships (LPD/LSD)
USS Comstock
USS Pearl Harbor
USS San Diego
USS SOMERSET
USS Harpers Ferry
USS New Orleans
USS Anchorage
USS Rushmore
TACRON ELEVEN
TACRON TWELVE
Commander, Expeditionary Strike Group THREE
under then you would have-
COMNAVBEACHGRU ONE
COMPHIBRON FIVE
COMPHIBRON ONE
COMPHIBRON THREE
COMTACGRU ONE
and under PHIBRON you would have the units the Commodore would be embarked
USS AMERICA
USS Makin Island
USS Peleliu
USS BOXER
USS Essex
and then the supporting ships (LPD/LSD)
USS Comstock
USS Pearl Harbor
USS San Diego
USS SOMERSET
USS Harpers Ferry
USS New Orleans
USS Anchorage
USS Rushmore
TACRON ELEVEN
TACRON TWELVE
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PO1 John Miller
SN Greg Wright
Great input, but allow me to make a minor correction. the Captain of an LSD is almost always the rank of Commander and not Captain. I was stationed on the USS Pearl Harbor (LSD52) for just over 2 years (my last command prior to retirement) and both of my CO's were Commanders.
Furthermore, the XO of an LSD typically "fleets up" and is the next CO (just an interesting bit of side trivia).
Great input, but allow me to make a minor correction. the Captain of an LSD is almost always the rank of Commander and not Captain. I was stationed on the USS Pearl Harbor (LSD52) for just over 2 years (my last command prior to retirement) and both of my CO's were Commanders.
Furthermore, the XO of an LSD typically "fleets up" and is the next CO (just an interesting bit of side trivia).
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SN Greg Wright hit it right on the nose. If anyone was wondering about how two US naval ships determine who is the junior vessel, they refer the lineal list for COs. An now a days, dipping for the Arizona is purely for ceremony. You only man the rails and dip the ensign the first time entering port (visiting ships). Any subsequent times, it is not required.
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SN Greg Wright
Ah, thanks, PO1. I didn't know that about the Arizona. It's interesting to note, though, that even foreign Naval visitors generally also man the rails and render honors. I know for sure Canada does.
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CPO (Join to see)
They do. Which is why it kinda sucks pulling for Rimpac lol. On a side note, though honorable, I find it somewhat ironic when Japan does it when they pull in.
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PO1 John Miller
PO1 Andrew Gardiner
I believe we have some kind of mutual aid pact with Japan that allows us to sell our weapons/self-defense technology to them.
I was also about to say that they buy their ships from us too but some quick Googling revealed that they build their own.
I believe we have some kind of mutual aid pact with Japan that allows us to sell our weapons/self-defense technology to them.
I was also about to say that they buy their ships from us too but some quick Googling revealed that they build their own.
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