Upside down flag

"Mike Keown" wrote in message
...
Heard a curious conversation on a late night talk show.
One of the speakers said: " If you ever see a warship
flying its national ensign (flag) upside down it means that
the crew has mutinied and taken over the vessel..." Is that true? If so,
is
it a international sign known to all sailors
and what mutiny originated it?

Never heard that myself and it would seem to be a silly thing to do if
you're a mutineer. Anyone could tell you had mutinied and may therefore not
be trusted (or an obvious enemy to be captured).

AFAIK an inverted flag has always been the internationally recognised symbol
for distress. Too bad if you have a laterally symetrical flag
...........Perhaps it's a British thing, as most naval flags have a UJ in the
corner which would be noticable if inverted.

Anyhow, now I'll read the other responses and find out how wrong I
am...................... :-)


--
The Raven
http://www.80scartoons.co.uk/batfinkquote.mp3
** President of the ozemail.* and uunet.* NG's
** since August 15th 2000.

"The Raven" wrote in message
...
"Mike Keown" wrote in message
...
Heard a curious conversation on a late night talk show.
One of the speakers said: " If you ever see a warship
flying its national ensign (flag) upside down it means that
the crew has mutinied and taken over the vessel..." Is that true? If so,
is
it a international sign known to all sailors
and what mutiny originated it?

Never heard that myself and it would seem to be a silly thing to do if
you're a mutineer. Anyone could tell you had mutinied and may therefore
not
be trusted (or an obvious enemy to be captured).


Unless you WANT people to know your a mutineer

The ships taken over by mutineers at the Nore ran up
red flags IRC

Keith

"Keith Willshaw" wrote in message
...

"The Raven" wrote in message
...
"Mike Keown" wrote in message
...
Heard a curious conversation on a late night talk show.
One of the speakers said: " If you ever see a warship
flying its national ensign (flag) upside down it means that
the crew has mutinied and taken over the vessel..." Is that true? If
so,
is
it a international sign known to all sailors
and what mutiny originated it?

Never heard that myself and it would seem to be a silly thing to do if
you're a mutineer. Anyone could tell you had mutinied and may therefore
not
be trusted (or an obvious enemy to be captured).


Unless you WANT people to know your a mutineer

The ships taken over by mutineers at the Nore ran up
red flags IRC


There may be instances where you'd want to identify yourself as a mutineer
or defector but, on the whole it's probably uncommon.


--
The Raven
http://www.80scartoons.co.uk/batfinkquote.mp3
** President of the ozemail.* and uunet.* NG's
** since August 15th 2000.