| Chatham: | ||
| Britannia | Ld High Admiral | The Standard |
| Sr George Rook | ||
| Soveraigne | Adml of ye White | Union Flagg |
| Marqs of Carmarthen | ||
| Prince George | Rear Adml to Ld Adml. | Redd flagg |
| Sr Davd Mitchell | ||
| Boyne | Vice Adml of ye White | Union fflagg |
| Sr Clo. Shovell | ||
| Queen | Adml of ye Blue | Blue Flagg |
| Portsmouth: | ||
| Royl William | Mr Aylmer | |
| Vice Adml to ye Ld Adm | Redd fflagg | |
| Victory | Sr Jno. Munden | |
| Rr Adml of ye White | Union Flagg | |
| St George | Sr Staffd Fairborne | |
| Rear Adml of ye Blue | Blue Flagg |
The Vice Adml of the Blue vacant by Mr. Benbow being in the West Indies.
The Lord High Adml and the Flagg Ships of his squadron to have Redd Ensignes and Pendants as usual to ye Private Ships.
The Admiral of the White to have Ensignes with the usual Cross in the Canton, with this distinction; that a third part of the said Ensignes for himself and the Flaggs and private Ships of his Squadron are to be White in the middle of the Flye:—and this to be in the whole length of the Ensigne.
The Admrll of the Blue and the Flagg Ships of his Squadron to wear blue Flaggs and Blue Ensignes and Pendants to the private ships with the usual Cross in the Canton of each as hath been usually worne by ships of the Blue Squadron.
But as for the Pendants to the Private Ships of each Squadron, and the Flaggs to wear in the Boats by the fflagg Officers, particular directions will be suddenly given therein[277].
The white admirals' flag was to be replaced by the Union, and the white ensign by a red one with a broad white horizontal stripe through it. The reason for some such change is obvious when we recollect that at this date the French flag was white. Six weeks later were given the further directions that had been promised "suddenly." After cancelling the order for the standard, as already related[278], Pembroke instructs the Navy Board:
And whereas it may be necessary to distinguish the Vice and Rear Admll of each squadron by some particular mark in the fflaggs which they carry in the heads of their Boats, I do hereby desire and direct you to cause the distinctions exprest in ye papers herewith sent you to be made in the Flaggs which the respective Vice and Rear Admlls shall be furnished with for the Boats as aforesaid: as also that what Pendents there shall now or for the future be wanting for the Fleet, be made somewhat broader than they now are, and shorter according to the draught in one of the said papers, that so the inconveniencys that attend the present Lengths of them by entangling in the Rigging or otherwise may be prevented[277].
This was accompanied by a diagram showing the following boat flags.
| Vice Admiral of the Red | Plain red flag[279] |
| Rear Admiral of the Red | Red flag with a white ball in hoist |
| Vice Admiral of the White | Union flag with a white ball in hoist |
| Rear Admiral of the White | Union flag with two white balls |
| placed diagonally | |
| Vice Admiral of the Blue | Blue flag with a white ball in hoist |
| Rear Admiral of the Blue | Blue flag with two white balls |
| placed diagonally[280] |