 | |
| Use | Naval ensign   |
|---|---|
| Adopted | First used on RAN ships in 1967. |
| Design | A defaced British White Ensign without the cross. The cross is replaced with the Southern Cross and the Commonwealth Star/Federation Star. |
The Australian white ensign (also known as the Australian naval ensign or the Royal Australian Navy ensign) is a naval ensign used by ships of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) from 1967 onwards. From the formation of the RAN until 1967, Australian warships used the British white ensign as their ensign. However, this led to situations where Australian vessels were mistaken for British ships, and when Australia became involved in the Vietnam War, the RAN was effectively fighting under the flag of another, uninvolved nation. Proposals were made in 1965 for a unique Australian ensign, which was approved in 1966, and entered use in 1967.
The Australian white ensign is identical in design to the Australian national flag, but with the reversal of the blue background and the white Commonwealth Star and Southern Cross.