What is a flagship? – Discover the characteristics of a flagship
He flagship it always stands out and is the most important within a group of ships, so in wars it was one of the first to receive attacks. In this article, we present to you what this ship is and all the related information such as its history. In the same way, it is mentioned who is usually transported in these ships and the privacy policy that is handled in the choice of the boat. In addition, there is talk of current flagships with the ability to read email from companies such as Oceania Cruises.
What does the term flagship mean?
In the naval language, there are a large number of names that designate the different ships that exist. In that sense, most of these titles represent the characteristics that the ship has, such as a motorboat, an Oceania Cruises cruise ship, a military battleship or a coastal fishing boat. Likewise, in the military field there is a ship that designates that it is the leader of the fleet, this is known as the flagship.
The name flagship is the ship in which the commander-in-chief of a fleet of ships or a squadron is transported. Similarly, it can be referred to as captain ship and is the one that leads a squad or group of naval troops in an attack. It is usually ranked first when the fleet is at sea.
The flagship title began to be used as a temporary term, that is, it was not the fixed name of a ship. In this sense, said ship could be any vessel in which the admiral was found and there he hoist their flag or insignia. However, then it began to be used as an unwritten law, as the ship where the admiral or commander spent the most time.
The flagship can be defined as a military ship, although one used to be designated in the merchant fleets. It is a large ship that has the capabilities to run and complete a long voyage. In addition, she has the comforts for the admiral or commander to inhabit while at sea.
What are the characteristics of a flagship?
A flagship is not a specific type of ship, there is no law that designates which ship will have that honor, since the admiral can choose any ship in his fleet according to his privacy policy or tastes. However, the heads of the naval armies used to choose the best ships to carry out the task of leading the fleet on the move. In this sense, they were looking for bigger, faster, in addition to those who had the best weapons to execute an offense or a defense. In this way, frigates and ships with anti-aircraft defenses can be ruled out, since these serve as companions and protect the perimeter.
- The flagship is a ship with adequate facilities for the admiral, so he has a good cabin and a meeting room in which to share information about the war.
- The admiral also requested that the ship have a room for his staff on board with a strict privacy policy, which must be complied with by law.
- Many of the flagships were ships big, long and heavy. However, in World War II, admirals preferred to lead the fleet from a fast ship to prevent an enemy attack.
- Current flagships have telecommunications services such as email and other networks, in addition to radio. This so that the crew can receive any important information before sailing.
Before ships became battleships, the flagship was a first-class ship, that is, the one with three masts for sails. Where the admiral had a space behind the decks to rest, as well as one where he could meet other officers. In times when there was no war, the flagship designated the lead ship, a trading fleet that moved goods or resources. therefore also was the fastest and the one that carried the best treasures in case of a pirate attack.
There are cruise travel companies such as Oceania Cruises in which they carry out tourist trips in large groups of people. Therefore, they do not transport passengers in a single ship, on the contrary, they group a small fleet of three or four cruisers. Therefore, they choose one to be the first to set sail and the one to guide them through the journey, also called the flagship.
Currently, the phrase flagship can be used in fields other than the military or naval, as it is now used like a metaphor. In this sense, it now describes an object that serves as the most important thing in a group or that stands out more than the other things. In the same way, it is applied to talk about a person who stands out above others or who has the leadership of the group. For example, the flagship of a phone company is the most representative and popular cell phone.