this post was submitted on 25 Mar 2024
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ArtefactPorn

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Artefact - an object made or given shape by man, such as a tool or a work of art, especially an object of archaeological interest.

For images of the heritage, art, relics and other remains of mankind.

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[–] [email protected] 11 points 7 months ago (1 children)

So was it a massive ship or is this like 1800s Truck Nutz for insecure Frenchmen?

[–] [email protected] 16 points 7 months ago (2 children)

The masts on these ships were over a hundred feet tall, so from the top you could see for about 12 miles. To communicate their intentions at that distance they needed really huge flags, especially because they might be hull-down - their hull is hidden over the horizon but not the masts - which would mean recognizing the ship was hard.

[–] Poiar 13 points 7 months ago (1 children)

For everybody else that wanna understand:

Over 30 m tall.

See for about 19 km.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Normally I would have done the conversion but I was feeling especially imperial

[–] [email protected] 4 points 7 months ago

Well you didnt go fully into American measuring. The mast was 4 trees tall, and you could see the flag from over 5 corn fields away.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 7 months ago (1 children)

I think this flag is a war ensign, flown from the stern of the ship rather than a mast top.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 7 months ago

Of course, but what I wanted to get across was that from the masthead you could see 12 miles, so you'd need a big flag to be discernible from that distance, even if it's flown from the stern.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 7 months ago

That flag size is really generous!

[–] [email protected] 4 points 7 months ago (1 children)
[–] clay_pidgin 3 points 7 months ago

Heart of oak are our ships, heart of oak are our men;

We always are ready, steady, boys, steady!

We'll fight and we'll conquer again and again.[

[–] [email protected] 4 points 7 months ago

Is this a flag or a sail.

[–] CareHare 2 points 7 months ago

My first thought was: black, yellow and red? This is where the Belgian flag drew inspiration. Bollocks of course.