List of Singaporean flags explained

Government

FlagDurationUseDescription
1960  - Presidential standard Used to denote the presence of the President of Singapore while in the country.
1960  - State marine ensign Used by non-military, government vessels. Referred colloquially to as the Blue Ensign.
1966  - Used by Singapore-registered civilian ships. Referred to in law as the Red Ensign.

Military

FlagDurationUseDescription
1965  - State flag with the emblem of the Singapore Armed Forces on the lower right.
1965  - Crescent and stars in a red field on the top left, with the remaining 3/4 of the flag in yellow, and the emblem of the Singapore Armed Forces on the lower right.
1990  - Service flag of the Republic of Singapore Air ForceCrescent and stars in a red field on the top left, with the remaining 3/4 of the flag in blue, and the Lion Head symbol on the lower right.
1967  - Crescent and stars in a red field on the top left, with the remaining 3/4 of the flag in white, and the mariner's compass rose on the lower right. The naval ensign is mandated to be of a 1:2 ratio (top) as set out in the Misc.1 of 1967 legislation passed in the Parliament of Singapore. However, a 2:3 variant is used today (bottom).
1965  - Triangular pennant with the crescent and stars on the far left; flown at the highest mast of commissioned naval ships at all times.

Historic

FlagDurationUseDescription
1025 - 1070 A red swallowtailed field with a tiger in the center.
1398 - 1400 13 horizontal stripes alternating red and white.
1400 - 1511 a red swallowtailed field with a black crescent.
1511 - 1521 A White banner with the coat of arms of the Kingdom in the center.
1521 - 1578 A White banner with the coat of arms of the Kingdom in the center.
1578 - 1614 A White banner with the coat of arms of the Kingdom in the center.
1614 - 1636 A Red Banner with a white crescent moon and a 5 pointed star. a sword is below them.
1636 - 1819 A simple white banner.
1819 - 1824 A striped banner with the Union Jack in the canton.
1824 - 1874 United Kingdom A superimposition of the flags of England and Scotland with the Saint Patrick's Saltire (representing Ireland).
1874 - 1904 Adopted when Singapore was joined with Malacca and Penang as a single Crown colony.
1904 - 1925 similar to the previous flag, with different crowns.
1925 - 1942
1945 - 1946
similar to the previous flag, without the white disc.
1942 - 1945 Used during the Japanese occupation of Singapore. The actual flag is still used in Japan as the national flag (officially since 1999 after some modifications).
1943 - 1945 A horizontal tricolour of saffron at the top, white in the middle, and green at the bottom. In the centre, a blue spinning wheel.
1946 - 1952 Adopted when Singapore became a Crown colony on its own following the dissolution of the Crown colony of the Straits Settlements.
1952 - 1963 Modification from the previous flag; this version has a slightly modified crown.
1963 - 1965 Used in Singapore during the statehood in Malaysia. Still the current flag of Malaysia.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Malaysia Revenue Vessels Act (Repealed) . Singapore Statutes Online . 22 March 2021.