Who or what is a “flag officer”, “flagship” and “Flag Captain” ?
A flag officer is a senior officer of commodore status or above with the authority to command a group of ships usually described as a squadron or fleet. As a senior officer he is entitled to a flag denoting his rank and it is flown aboard whichever ship in his squadron or fleet he chooses as his “headquarters” or “flagship”. Thus, the captain of that ship becomes the “Flag Captain” of the squadron or fleet. In Nelson’s career, these are the notable “flag” details giving his rank, ship and captain:The Battle of St. Vincent, 14th. February 1797 Commodore Horatio Nelson, HMS Captain, Captain Ralph Miller.The Battle of The Nile, 1st. August 1798 Rear Admiral Sir Horatio Nelson, HMS Vanguard, Captain Edward Berry.The Battle of Copenhagen, 2nd. April 1801 Vice Admiral Lord Nelson, HMS Elephant, Captain Thomas Foley.The Battle of Trafalgar, 21st. October 1805 Vice Admiral Viscount Nelson, HMS Victory, Captain Thomas Hardy.A “Fleet” can be defined as the total number of ships assigned to a par
