Why Some Submarines Return to Port Flying Pirate Flags
The USS Jimmy Carter returns to its home port in Maine, flying a jolly roger flag. (U.S. Navy/Lt. Cmdr. Michael Smith)
Military.com | By Blake Stilwell
When the USS Jimmy Carter sailed into its home port in Washington state in September 2017, it was flying an unusual flag: the distinctive skull and crossbones of a Jolly Roger.
There�s no telling exactly what the Jimmy Carter was doing at sea, as its missions are probably among the most closely guarded secrets in the U.S. Navy, but submarines fly those pirate flags when they return from a mission after some kind of �operational action.�
(...SNIPPED)
"Haijun" means "navy" in Mandarin Chinese.
"You have enemies? Good. It means you stood up for something in your life."- Winston Churchill
I believe it started in the RN in WWI. It may date from before that however, as it seems it began when submarines were first commissioned and the admirals considered them underhand weapons of war. They referred to them as pirates and the submariners took that to heart!
In 1757 Admiral John Byng was shot "pour encourager les autres". Voltaire
RN subs flew a white ensign with a skull & cross bones symbol for a kill, and a dagger (of "cloak and dagger" ) for an intelligence / landing mission.
USS Jimmy Carter was modified to carry ROVs, and had manoeuvring modifications to allow special missions - so that MIGHT (???) earn a dagger or two - however as Trump decried any efforts of China to interfere with underwater cables I am "sure" that the USN wouldn't - the USA wouldn't want to be hypocrites (despite boasting of previous cable tapping in the 80's and 90's ).
