Some Portuguese Naval Heraldry

[Marcus Karlsson]

From the site of the Portuguese Navy http://www.marinha.pt/ some examples of its Heraldry. Both Land based Units and Ships have got Armorial Bearings, Commanding Officers might add a Crest to the CoA of the Unit they Command. This is only used during the time of Office. The Arms of Units and Ships themselves are crowned by Naval Crowns, and Mottos and Decorations might be added.


CoA of the Navy.


CoA of the Helicopter Squadron.


CoA of the Ocean Escort Squadron.


CoA of the Patrol Boat Squadron.


CoA of the Submarine Squadron.

[Marcus Karlsson]

From the Book Genealogica & Heraldica Lisboa 1986 Actas do 17o Congresso Internacional das Ciencias Generalogica e Heraldica:


CoA of the Naval Defence Command of the Port of Lisbon (I'm not sure if this organization still exists). The Arms were approved on 10 December 1984, the Raven is from the Arms of the City of Lisbon.

Blazon: "Or a Raven Sable armed Gules holding in dexter Claw a Battle Axe Gules and standing on a Mount of seven Colles Sable issuant from a base wavy Vert and Argent".


CoA of the Vasco da Gama Aquarium, approved on 13 May 1981.

Blazon: "Vert two fesses wavy Argent the upper one charged with a Fish between two Escallops and the lower one with a Escallop between two Fishes all Gules."

Please note that the blazons are created by me as a translation from Portuguese from Catalogue of the Exposição de Heraldica Naval 9.Set -26 Out 86 at the Museu de Marinha.

[Marcus Karlsson]

CoA of the Viceadmiral-Superintendent of Personnel Service. Approved on 21 April 1976.

"Azure semee of Anchors Or, an Arm enbowed in Armour Argent holding in the naked hand proper a Staff Argent.
Mantling: Azure doubled Argent.
Crest: A Sealion issuant Azure and armed Gules."

The Superintendenture of Personnel Service uses the Shield as above ensigned with the Portuguese Naval Crown and the Motto: Semper adest.


CoA of the President of the Permanent Commission of Cultural Activities. Approved on 10 December 1984.

"Purpure within an orle of four Escallops alternating with four Conch shells a Dolphin all Or.
Mantling: purpure doubled Or.
Crest: A Triton proper issuant and playing on two Trumpets Or."

The Arms of the Permanent Commission of Cultural Activities is the same Shield ensigned with the Portuguese Naval Crown. Below the Shield on a banderole Argent the Text Comissão Premanente de Acção Cultural.

[Chris Green]

I like semee of anchors!

[Martin Goldstraw]

I like semee of anchors!

The anchors caught my eye too. Marvellous.

[Marcus Karlsson]

Yes it is a striking design. Here are a canting one, the Arms of the Corps of Naval Fusiliers (the Portuguese Marine Corps):


Fusilly Argent and Auzure a pile issuant from the base Gules.

It might be added that the Commandant of the Naval Fusiliers has the same Shield placed on two crossed Anchors and a Helmet with mantling Azure doubled Argent and for a Crest: an Armored Arm Gules holding in the Hand a Sword Proper.

[Marcus Karlsson]

CoA of the Frigate NRP Vasco da Gama.


CoA of the Frigate NRP Alvares Cabral.


CoA of the Frigate NRP Corte Real.

All are named after famous Portuguese explorers and their arms are those of their namesakes. The prefix NRP is the Portuguese equivalent to HMS or USS.

[Marcus Karlsson]

Former Frigate NRP Hermenegildo Capelo. The Cobra is canting as in Portuguese it is called Capelo.

My try at a blason: "Argent a pile sable charged with a Cobra coiled to strike Or languaged Gules".

[Marcus Karlsson]

A nice Picasa Album with more Portuguese Naval Heraldry https://picasaweb.google.com/116420511985015636984/HeraldicaUnidadesMGP

[Marcus Karlsson]

And here the Ships prefixed NRP = Navio de Republica Portugues (Ship of the Portuguese Republic). NRP Arapão och NRP Tridente are the newest German built Submarines to enter service with the Portuguese Navy. The Frigates NRP Bartolomeu Dias and NRP Fransisco de Almeida where recently bought from Dutch Surplus. The Arms of NRP B. Dias shows the monuments called Pardão which his explores placed on the Coasts of Africa where they landed. NRP F. de Almeida shows the Arms of the de Almeida Family.

https://picasaweb.google.com/116420511985015636984/HeraldicaNaviosMGP