Original Item: Only One Available. A flotilla is usually composed of a homogeneous group of the same class of warship, such as frigates, destroyers, torpedo boats, submarines, gunboats, or minesweepers. Groups of larger warships are usually called squadrons, but similar units of non-capital ships may be called squadrons in some instances, and flotillas in others. Formations including more than one capital ship, e.g. men-of-war, battleships, and aircraft carriers, typically alongside smaller ships and support craft, are typically called fleets, each portion led by a capital ship being a squadron or task force (see reference below).

A flotilla is usually commanded by a rear admiral, a commodore or a captain, depending on the importance of the command (a vice admiral would normally command a squadron). A flotilla is often divided into two or more divisions, each of which might be commanded by the most senior commander, nearly always a lieutenant at the very least. A flotilla is often, but not necessarily, a permanent formation.

In modern navies, flotillas have tended to become administrative units containing several squadrons. As warships have grown larger, the term squadron has gradually replaced the term flotilla for formations of destroyers, frigates and submarines in many navies.

A naval flotilla has no direct equivalent on land, but is, perhaps, the rough equivalent in tactical value of a brigade or regiment.

All but 8 of the U-boat flotillas displayed an emblem. Many of the boats attached to those flotillas then used that same emblem. The most widely used Flotilla emblems seem to have been those of the 7th, 9th, 10th and 11th flotillas.

Many of the most famous emblems are most notably the Snorting Bull (7th) and the Laughing Sawfish (9th).

These images would have been seen on the conning towers as well as on the sides of the crew’s caps. They would have smaller badges made to be displayed while in uniform, a sense of pride for the U-Boat in which they served on. Many of these badges were either done by hand or “professionally” like this example.

This Flotilla badge unfortunately remains unidentified, as 10 of the 33 flotilla insignia are still unknown, but is very similar to the 12th and 14th Flotilla. The badge features a 6-pointed star with a globe in the center with gridlines present. At the top of the globe is an Alligator half wrapped around it. Much of the original silver color is present, but there are areas of finish loss which has been replaced by minor surface rust.

This is a lovely example that comes ready to be identified, researched and displayed!