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Russian Navy: fleet sections (I)

See also:

Main fleet (1700-1712)

image by Yosef Obskura and Željko Heimer, 06 Apr 1999

Flag of "Kordebatali" (i.e Main fleet) (1700-1712)
Željko Heimer, 06 Apr 1999, quoting from Flag-znamya korablya, Russian Navy website, consulted 07 Mar 1999

The French originals are of course "Corps de Bataille", "Avant Guarde" and "Arrière Guarde". These were standard military terms in the early modern period.
Norman Martin, 13 Mar 1999

In fact since 1701 the Russian fleet was divided into 3 formations, each of them using a different flag: the first formation's (battle vessels) flag was white, the second one's (vanguard) was blue and the third one's (rear-guard) was red. All of them have a white canton with a blue St.Andrew cross.
Giuseppe Bottasini, quoting [zig94]

Avant Guarde (1700-1865)

image by Yosef Obskura and Željko Heimer, 06 Apr 1999

Flag of "Avangard" (i.e. Avant Guarde) (1700-1865)
Željko Heimer, 06 Apr 1999, quoting from Flag-znamya korablya, Russian Navy website, consulted 07 Mar 1999

Rear Guard (1700-1865)

image by Yosef Obskura and Željko Heimer, 06 Apr 1999

Flag of "Ar’ergard" (i.e. Arriáre Guarde - Rear Guard) (1700-1865)
Željko Heimer, 06 Apr 1999, quoting from Flag-znamya korablya, Russian Navy website, consulted 07 Mar 1999

Fleet cargo ensign (1700-1845)

image by António Martins, 21 Oct 1997

From 1700 till 1845 used on cargo vessels of the fleet and was called "proviant flag", from 1705-1917 this flag was used by merchant vessels. In 1883 it became the state flag of Russia. Stern flag [i.e. ensign] (1697-1700).
Željko Heimer, 03 Apr 1999, quoting from Flag-znamya korablya, Russian Navy website, consulted 07 Mar 1999

Identical to the current national flag
António Martins, 23 Oct 1999