frigate Essex reported the capture of HM brig Alert on 13 August 1812 in these words: 'He avoided the dreadful consequences that our broad side would in a few moments have produced by prudentially striking his colours.' brig Nautilus, reported his capture by a British squadron in these words: 'the chasing ship put her helm up hoisted a broad pendant and English colours and ranged under my lee quarter-unable to resist I was compelled to strike the Flag of the United States.' Ĭaptain David Porter, USN, of U.S. On 29 July 1812, at the start of the War of 1812, Lt. embraced the earliest moment to stop our fire and prevent the further effusion of blood.' John Rodgers, Captain of President reported to the Secretary of the Navy, that 'when perceiving our opponent's Gaff & Colours down. frigate President engaged HM sloop of war Little Belt.

In 1811, while the United States and Great Britain were at peace with each other, U.S. Since most of the American crew had fled belowdecks, the British sailors pulled down Chesapeake's flag themselves. Following a brief exchange of gunfire, 21 of the British crew boarded and took control of Chesapeake. the Leopard ceased firing and sent her Boat on board.' Īlmost exactly six years later, when the United States had declared war in Great Britain, Chesapeake engaged Shannon outside Boston in the only equal match of that war. frigate Chesapeake: 'Having one Gun ready fired and haul'd down our Colours. The British refused to accept the ship as a prize of war, the two nations being at peace. In 1807, when the captain of United States frigate Chesapeake refused to permit officers of HMS Leopard to search her for deserters from the Royal Navy, Leopard ranged alongside Chesapeake and fired into her for ten minutes until Chesapeake struck her colors as a token of surrender. Jones has been quoted as replying, 'I have not yet begun to fight'. John Paul Jones of Bonhomme Richard if Jones had struck his colors. When Pearson saw that the colors were down, he asked Capt. ĭuring the same battle, Bonhomme Richard's ensign was shot away.

He had to tear it down himself when surrendering. Richard Pearson of HMS Serapis, nailed the British ensign to the ensign staff with his own hands before going into battle against Continental Navy ship Bonhomme Richard. Nailing the colors to the mast is a traditional sign of defiance, indicating that the colors will never be struck, that the ship will never surrender. ( December 2010) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message) You may improve this section, discuss the issue on the talk page, or create a new section, as appropriate. The examples and perspective in this section deal primarily with the United States and do not represent a worldwide view of the subject. Under the Geneva Conventions, persons carrying or waving a white flag are still not to be fired upon, nor are they allowed to open fire. Rather, hoisting a white flag indicates a request for a truce in order to communicate with the enemy. In distinction to striking one's colors, hoisting a white flag, in itself, is not an indication of surrender. What would be perfidy in the case of a warship is not in the case of a merchant ship: A merchant ship may strike its colors as a ruse de guerre in an attempt to escape capture, since it does not engage the enemy in combat.

For this reason, striking the colors is conclusive evidence of a surrender having taken place in the case of a warship, but not in the case of a merchant ship. It was and is an offense to continue to fight after striking one's colors, and an offense to continue to fire on an enemy after she has struck her colors, unless she indicates by some other action, such as continuing to fire or seeking to escape, that she has not truly surrendered. During battle there is no purpose in striking the colors other than to indicate surrender. International law absolutely requires a ship of war to fly its ensign at the commencement of any hostile acts, i.e., before firing on the enemy. are hauled down as a token of submission.' For a ship, surrender is dated from the time the ensign is struck. Striking the colors-meaning lowering the flag (the ' colors') that signifies a ship's or garrison's allegiance-is a universally recognized indication of surrender, particularly for ships at sea. HMS Iphigenia striking her colours at the Battle of Grand Port (historically, happened the day after)

Surrender naval actio