Naval heraldry in the Commonwealth (Part 2)
Posted: 26 Apr 2016, 18:34
PART 2 : OTHER COMMONWEALTH COUNTRIES
When India and the various dominions (now called "realms") established their own navies, they followed the Royal Navy model closely in most respects, including badges. As they began to assert their own identities, they adapted the RN format to make their badges nationally distinctive.
The circular frame remains the most widely used format, but some countries have adopted pentagonal frames for specific classes of ship or types of unit. Some have modified the naval crown by making the sails white instead of gold.
Here are some examples :
India -- The Royal Indian Navy version, introduced during World War II, with rays of the sun in place of the frame of rope ... and the post-republic Indian Navy design, from c1950, with a different type of naval crown, and a frame of lotus flowers in place of the rays :
> HMIS Narbada (sloop) (c1942)
> INS Teg (frigate)
> INS Mysore (destroyer) : pentagonal badges have been introduced for destroyers.
[Lots more Indian Navy badges here : http://amateurheralds.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=34&t=915.]
Canada -- The Royal Canadian Navy version, introduced in 1946, with white sails on the naval crown, and maple leaves at the base of the frame (and wings at the top, in the case of the now-defunct naval air squadrons) :
> HMCS Discovery (reserve unit) (1940s) : a canting design ("disc over Y")
> 21 Squadron FAA
Australia -- The Royal Australian Navy format, designed in 1947, differs considerably from the others, with white sails on the naval crown, a name scroll rather than a plaque, a trophy of Aboriginal weapons below the frame, and a motto scroll. Since 1967, shore establishments have had a different pattern, which omits the name scroll and the trophy and places the name on a circlet around the badge :
> HMAS Ipswich (patrol boat) : a canting design
> Navy HQ South Australia (shore establishment) : the South Australian state arms.
[You'll find an interesting article on the history of RAN badges here : http://www.nxtbook.com/faircount/RoyalAustralianNavy/RAN100/index.php?startid=90.]
When India and the various dominions (now called "realms") established their own navies, they followed the Royal Navy model closely in most respects, including badges. As they began to assert their own identities, they adapted the RN format to make their badges nationally distinctive.
The circular frame remains the most widely used format, but some countries have adopted pentagonal frames for specific classes of ship or types of unit. Some have modified the naval crown by making the sails white instead of gold.
Here are some examples :
India -- The Royal Indian Navy version, introduced during World War II, with rays of the sun in place of the frame of rope ... and the post-republic Indian Navy design, from c1950, with a different type of naval crown, and a frame of lotus flowers in place of the rays :
> HMIS Narbada (sloop) (c1942)
> INS Teg (frigate)
> INS Mysore (destroyer) : pentagonal badges have been introduced for destroyers.
[Lots more Indian Navy badges here : http://amateurheralds.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=34&t=915.]
Canada -- The Royal Canadian Navy version, introduced in 1946, with white sails on the naval crown, and maple leaves at the base of the frame (and wings at the top, in the case of the now-defunct naval air squadrons) :
> HMCS Discovery (reserve unit) (1940s) : a canting design ("disc over Y")
> 21 Squadron FAA
Australia -- The Royal Australian Navy format, designed in 1947, differs considerably from the others, with white sails on the naval crown, a name scroll rather than a plaque, a trophy of Aboriginal weapons below the frame, and a motto scroll. Since 1967, shore establishments have had a different pattern, which omits the name scroll and the trophy and places the name on a circlet around the badge :
> HMAS Ipswich (patrol boat) : a canting design
> Navy HQ South Australia (shore establishment) : the South Australian state arms.
[You'll find an interesting article on the history of RAN badges here : http://www.nxtbook.com/faircount/RoyalAustralianNavy/RAN100/index.php?startid=90.]