Who dips the flag first when a US ship passes by another ship on the high seas? come on Navy!!

2015-07-26T22:03:59-04:00

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.

Response by MSgt Marvin Kinderknecht made Jul 26 at 2015 10:04 PM

2015-07-26T22:04:43-04:00

Damifino!!

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 26 at 2015 10:18 PM

2015-07-26T22:18:29-04:00

No one

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Jul 26 at 2015 10:21 PM

2015-07-26T22:21:02-04:00

The non US ship.

Response by SN Greg Wright made Jul 26 at 2015 10:35 PM

2015-07-26T22:35:27-04:00

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."

Response by SGT Ray Grooms made Jul 26 at 2015 10:44 PM

2015-07-26T22:44:18-04:00

Historically, various countries have attempted to claim sovereignty over portions of the high seas and required that foreign ships passing through those seas salute the ships and forts of the coastal states by lowering their flags, taking in their sails, and so on. Over the centuries, such claims came to be rejected and the requirements for paying tribute to the coastal state were dropped. Perhaps the only vestige remaining is the custom by which a merchant ship passing near a warship of any country dips its ensign in salute. U.S. Navy and Coast Guard vessels are entitled to this salute and dip their ensigns in return, the only case in which the U.S. flag is dipped in salute.

The procedure followed is that, as it approaches the warship, the merchant ship lowers its ensign to approximately a half-mast position and holds it there. The warship responds by lowering its own ensign at the moment the two ships reach their nearest point of approach, holding it there for an instant, then returning it to the peak of the gaff (under way) or truck of the flagstaff (not under way). The merchant ship then returns its own ensign to the peak or truck. When a warship receives a salute while it is not flying its ensign, such as in port before 8:00 a.m. or after sunset, or when steaming in peacetime out of sight of land, it hoists an ensign for the purpose of returning the salute, then lowers it again after the salute is concluded. The U.S. Navy and Coast Guard return salutes only from vessels flying the U.S. flag or the flag of a nation formally recognized by the Government of the United States. Warships never initiate such a salute, nor do they dip to each other. Ships of the Military Sealift Command, however, do follow the merchant marine custom in dipping to men-of-war, and also answer salutes rendered to them by merchant ships. By Navy Regulations, submarines and or ships in which doing so would be hazardous for the crew are not required to dip the ensign.

Response by SGT Ray Grooms made Jul 26 at 2015 10:45 PM

2015-07-26T22:45:06-04:00

Response by CPO Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 26 at 2015 10:49 PM

2015-07-26T22:49:41-04:00

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.

Response by COL Charles Williams made Jul 27 at 2015 1:03 AM

2015-07-27T01:03:25-04:00

No idea

Response by PO3 Jeanne Clayton made Jul 27 at 2015 1:28 AM

2015-07-27T01:28:41-04:00

I was a BM and if my memory serves me right, there has to be a flag officer on board to dip a flag, the ship without the flag officers is the one to dip the flag.

Response by PO1 Rick Serviss made Jul 27 at 2015 3:15 AM

2015-07-27T03:15:55-04:00

We return dip to a foreign ship but never initiate one. If both are U.S. Navy ships, the junior Commanding Officer dips to the senior.

Response by SGT William Howell made Jul 27 at 2015 7:17 AM

2015-07-27T07:17:55-04:00

I believe it is the ship with the less kick ass navy has to dip first. We dip to nobody first.

Response by SCPO Lee Pradia made Jul 27 at 2015 2:44 PM

2015-07-27T14:44:12-04:00

When two US Navy ships pass each other, the junior ship dips first and then the senior returns the dip, its like saluting. The line officers have a list of who's senior to whom, and they follow that.

Response by CDR Michael Goldschmidt made Jul 28 at 2015 7:50 AM

2015-07-28T07:50:49-04:00

I'm really pleased how many non Surface sailors and non-sailors at all knew the answer to this. Bravo Zulu, everyone!

Response by PO1 John Miller made Jul 31 at 2015 6:43 AM

2015-07-31T06:43:29-04:00

That's what I get for not checking in to RP in 5 days! You ask a question I know the answer to and SN Greg Wright answers it 100% correctly!

Response by Bob Kish made Jun 24 at 2022 2:25 PM

2022-06-24T14:25:33-04:00

My dad served in the Navy following an Army tour of duty during the Korean war. I've been a power boater all my life and now fly the US Yacht Ensign when in US waters. Next time I'm on the water and pass a USCG or Navy ship I will dip the ensign on my boat and salute. Wasn't familiar with this custom until I read the history of the US Yacht Ensign. I love this tradition and feel its a important way to honor my dad and others who have served this great county.