Australian white 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.[2] During the early 1900s, several British dominions, including Australia, began to campaign for the right to create naval forces independent of the Royal Navy, and capable of deploying outside territorial waters.[1] During the 1909 Imperial Conference, Canada and Australia campaigned for this, and suggested that these ships fly the British White Ensign, defaced with an emblem representing the dominion.[4] Royal Assent was granted to the new flag by Queen Elizabeth II on 7 November 1966, and its creation was formally announced by Prime Minister Holt on 23 December 1966.[1][11] However, the frigate HMAS Stuart was the first to use the ensign, when the ship's company unofficially flew the flag on 25 December 1966 as part of shipboard Christmas Day celebrations while deployed to the Far East Strategic Reserve.
Naval ensignBritish White EnsignSouthern CrossCommonwealth StarFederation StarensignRoyal Australian Navywhite ensignVietnam WarAustralian national flagAustralia's FederationColonial naviesBlue EnsigndefacedBritish dominionsBritish AdmiraltyHMAS AnzacKorean WarkangarooAustralia's participationSamuel BensonDon ChippMinister for the NavyHarold HoltFirst Naval MemberAustralian Commonwealth Naval BoardAlan McNicollSt George's CrossUnion flagcantonFlags Act 1953Royal AssentQueen Elizabeth IIBoonarooHMAS StuartFar East Strategic ReserveHMAS SydneyHMAS Vendettalower hoistcommissionedmuseum vesselsHMAS VampireHMAS OnslowYoung EndeavourAustralian Navy CadetsFrame, TomAustralian Defence ForceChief of NavyDeputy Chief of NavyCommander Australian FleetWarrant Officer of the NavyRoyal Australian Naval ReserveMaritime Border CommandRoyal Australian Navy School of Underwater MedicineFleet CommandFleet Air Arm723 Squadron725 Squadron808 Squadron816 SquadronSubmarine ServicePatrol Boat ForcesMine Warfare ForcesClearance Diving BranchAustralian Hydrographic ServiceLaser Airborne Depth Sounder FlightNavy HeadquartersRoyal Australian Naval CollegeCurrent fleetAnzac-class frigateAdelaide-class frigateCollins-class submarineCanberra-class landing helicopter dockBay-class landing shipArmidale-class patrol boatHuon-class minehunterHMAS SiriusLeeuwin-class survey vesselPaluma-class motor launchCape-class patrol boatAll shipsAircraftNaval procurement programmeCraft of Opportunity ProgramInstallationsFleet Base EastFleet Base West (HMAS Stirling)HMAS AlbatrossHMAS CairnsHMAS CerberusHMAS CoonawarraHMAS CreswellHMAS HarmanHMAS KuttabulHMAS MoretonHMAS PenguinHMAS WaterhenHMAS WatsonAdmiral of the FleetOperation Sovereign BordersOperation ResoluteHistoryAustralia StationColonial navies of AustraliaJervois-Scratchley reportsWorld War IWorld War IIMalayan EmergencyIndonesia–Malaysia confrontationOperation Navy Help DarwinInternational Force East TimorGulf WarIraq WarAfghanistan WarMiddle East deploymentsBattle honours of the Royal Australian NavyList of Royal Australian Navy lossesRoyal Australian Navy MemorialRoyal Australian Navy Heritage CentreAustralian White EnsignNavy NewsRoyal Australian Navy Helicopter Flight VietnamNaval Stores, Kangaroo PointEsther Williams TrophyNavy League of AustraliaAdmiral