Commodore of the Red
Commodore of the Red
Flag_Commodore_of_the_Red_1702_to_1864.png
Active 1805-1826
Country United Kingdom
Branch Royal Navy
Abbreviation CDRE
Next higher rank Rear-Admiral of the Blue
Next lower rank Commodore of the White

The Commodore of the Red was a senior rank of the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom first introduced in 1805, it was immediately outranked by the rank Rear-Admiral of the Blue (see order of precedence below). Royal Navy officers currently holding the ranks of commodore, rear admiral, vice admiral and admiral of the fleet are sometimes considered generically to be admirals. In 1826 the rank was abolished and replaced by a Commodore of the Red First Class. (pictured opposite is the command flag for an Commodore of the Red).

1) History

The Commodore of the Red was a senior rank of the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom first introduced in 1805, it was immediately outranked by the rank Rear-Admiral of the Blue (see order of precedence below). Royal Navy officers currently holding the ranks of commodore, rear admiral, vice admiral and admiral of the fleet are sometimes considered generically to be admirals. In 1826 the rank was abolished and replaced by a Commodore of the Red First Class. (pictured opposite is the command flag for an Commodore of the Red).

2) Order of precedence Admirals of the Colour

Today we are used to the White Ensign being flown by all ships of the Royal Navy. However in Nelson's Day a different system was in use. The Navy was divided into three squadrons Red, White and Blue in order of seniority. Admirals were appointed to these squadrons and therefore their rank and squadron split the seniority different bands.

Admirals without an appointment were colloquially referred to as Yellow Admiral's. Ships of the Royal Navy flew the Ensign that coincided with the squadron of their commanding officer.

3) See Also

  1. Flag Officers Promotion Path (1545-1864)

4) Sources

  1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_command_flags_of_the_Royal_
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