Template:USN flag

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This template is used to insert the appropriate jack for the United States Navy into infoboxes and other places where it's useful. The template was created because the US Navy Jack was, for most of its history, the blue field with stars from the Flag of the United States. As a result, whenever a new state was admitted, the ensign changed. The template's intent is to make getting the right jack easier.

To use the template, insert the following where you'd like the jack to appear:

  • {{USN flag|year|width in pixels}}

Both parameters are optional. If you do not include a year, the current jack will be displayed. If you do not include a width, the jack will be the right size for use in a ship infobox. The jack will have a 1-pixel white border around it to make it stand out clearly from the blue infobox. Here are some example uses:

  • {{USN flag}} gives the current jack in infobox size: United States Navy First Navy Jack
  • {{USN flag|1945}} gives the jack as used in 1945 in infobox size: United States Navy Jack
  • {{USN flag|1865|20}} gives the 1865 jack, 20 pixels wide: United States Navy Jack

There is no way to specify just a width. A year should almost always be specified. Only leave it off when the ship is in service right now. A width should usually not be specified. Only specify a width when the template is being used someplace other than an infobox.

Also, a nitpicky usage note. The template displays the flag used at the end of the specified year. For example, the US flag changed from 46 to 48 stars on July 4, 1912. If you use {{USN flag|1912}} in an article, it will display the 48 star flag. If you want a 46 star flag for a ship that only served in early 1912, use the previous year's flag, {{USN flag|1911}}.