DIVISION, in sea affairs, a select number of ships in a fleet or squadron of men of war, distinguished by a particular flag or pendant, and usually commanded by a general officer. A squadron is commonly ranged into three divisions, the commanding officer of which is always stationed in the centre.
When a fleet consists of 60 sail of the line, that is, of ships having at least 60 cannon each, the admiral divides it into three squadrons, each of which has its divisions and commanding officers. Each squadron has its proper colours, according to the rank of the admiral who commands it, and every division its proper mast. Thus the white flag denotes the first division of France; the white and blue the second; and the third is characterized by the blue. In Britain, the first admiral, or the admiral of the fleet, displays the union flag at the main-top-mast head; next follows the white flag with St George's cross; and afterwards the blue.
The private ships carry pendants of the same colour with their respective squadrons at the mast of their particular divisions; so that the last ship in the division of the blue squadron carries a blue pendant at her mizen-top-mast head.