Within each flag rank, seniority ran red, white, then blue. Admirals ranked above vice-admirals, who ranked above rear-admirals. In the fleet organization described here, the white squadron formed the van, the red squadron the centre, and the blue squadron the rear. The senior admiral commanded the centre. The explanation dates Admiral of the Fleet to 1688 and the formal Admiral of the Red rank to 1805, while noting earlier use of the red designation for the fleet's senior admiral. Yellow admirals belonged to a different arrangement for officers removed from seagoing employment.
Notable Point · 1:17:16-1:19:09
Red, white, and blue squadrons in Royal Navy command
The coloured-squadron system combined a hierarchy of flag officers with the fleet's division into van, centre, and rear.