The Official diagrams depict the battleship HMS Barfleur which was scrapped in 1910.

The top diagram is from the Admiralty Fleet Signal Book 1898 and the lower one from the Admiralty Flotilla Signal Book 1908. No specific flags are designated to be used if the lines are longer than in the diagram. No flags are specified to start and end each line.

Notice the two diagrams are similar except that in the 1904/5 - 1918 diagram:

Main Down:
Union Flag removed and the flag nearest the stern is the yellow and black flag "F".

Fore to Main:
Union Flag removed and replaced with the Blue and White Pennant "

Unfortunately I could find very few photos that showed a clear view of the flags used between the Fore and Main masts. HMS Terrible was the longest line found and comprised 19 flags which were mostly unidentifiable.

A similar problem occurred with the Main-Down line. The longest lines I found were HMS Temeraire with 24 flags ( unclear ), and HMS King George V with a similar amount which were obscured by smoke from a saluting gun.

The green flags indicate unidentified flags

CCOMMENTSOMMENTS

It appears from photos that the Union Flags were replaced late 1904 early 1905.

Although a new pattern appears in the 1913 Flag Signal Book, photographs show that only the 1908 pattern was being worn up to the start of World War 1. ( HMS King George V was wearing the 1908 pattern during a visit to Kiel in July 1914 ).

There were some slight variations to the pattern in some photos possibly due to the unavailability of certain flags on those ships. I have not located information as to whether there was a change from the 1908 to the 1913 pattern during WW1.

SIZE

9' x 11'
7'6"x 9'
6' x 7'6"
3'9" x 5'
3'6 x 4'
2' x 2'6"