Jack of the United States

Common card · No. 210026

The jack of the United States, referred to as the Union Jack by the U.S. Navy, is a maritime jack flag flown on the bow of U.S. vessels that are moored or anchored. In addition to commissioned U.S. Navy ships, the jack is used by the U.S. Coast Guard, the Military Sealift Command, the ships of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and other U.S. government entities. While anchored or moored, the jack is flown on the bow of a ship, and the ensign (which, for the U.S. Navy is the national flag) is flown on the stern. Once under way, the jack is lowered. The Union Jack was adopted on June 14, 1777, alongside the U.S. national flag itself. Since then, the jack has essentially consisted of the canton of the national flag, with each star added to the national flag being added to the Union Jack also. It is widely held that, before the Union Jack, the jack of the United States was the First Navy Jack. The exact historical appearance of this flag is disputed, but it is displayed today...

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