The QE2 flies her “Paying off” pennant. 41 feet long: representing one foot per year of service. It is the custom in many navies for a ship which is "paying off" to wear an extremely long commissioning pennant, which is normally at least the length of the ship, and the length of which reflects the length of service. This is in contrast to the modern practice of using pennants of not more than one or one-and-a-half metres for convenience.
It is said that the custom of wearing a pennant at the masthead of men-of-war stems from Tromp’s broom and Blake’s whip. In the 1650’s the Dutch Admiral Van Tromp lashed a broom to his masthead as a sign that he had swept the British off the seas. In reply the British Admiral Blake hoisted a whip to the masthead to signify that he would whip the Dutchman into subjection. However, records show that pennants were in use well before this period as the mark of a warship.
In the days of chivalry, knights and their squires carried pennons and penoncels on their lances, just as men-of-war fly pennants from their masts. Records show that pennants were in use in the 13th century, when merchant ships were commandeered during war and placed in command of military officers, who transferred their trail pendants from their lances to the mastheads of the ships they commanded.
It is said that the custom of wearing a pennant at the masthead of men-of-war stems from Tromp’s broom and Blake’s whip. In the 1650’s the Dutch Admiral Van Tromp lashed a broom to his masthead as a sign that he had swept the British off the seas. In reply the British Admiral Blake hoisted a whip to the masthead to signify that he would whip the Dutchman into subjection. However, records show that pennants were in use well before this period as the mark of a warship.
In the days of chivalry, knights and their squires carried pennons and penoncels on their lances, just as men-of-war fly pennants from their masts. Records show that pennants were in use in the 13th century, when merchant ships were commandeered during war and placed in command of military officers, who transferred their trail pendants from their lances to the mastheads of the ships they commanded.
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