Editing Pennant number (section)

===Flotilla bands===

====1925–1939====
From 1925, [[flotilla leader]]s were issued with but did not paint on pendant numbers. Instead, a broad band {{convert|4|ft|m}} deep was painted round their fore-funnel. Divisional leaders wore a pendant number and had a narrower {{convert|2|ft|m}} deep band on the fore-funnel, painted {{convert|3|ft|m}} from the top. The [[Mediterranean Fleet]] wore black leader bands and the [[British Atlantic Fleet|Atlantic]] – later [[Home Fleet]] wore white bands. The flotillas wore combinations of bands on their after funnel to identify them. From 1925 the following bands were worn;
* 1st Destroyer Flotilla — one black band
* 2nd Destroyer Flotilla — two black bands (one red from 1935)
* 3rd Destroyer Flotilla — three black bands
* 4th Destroyer Flotilla — no bands
* 5th Destroyer Flotilla — one white band
* 6th Destroyer Flotilla — two white bands
* 8th Destroyer Flotilla (from 1935) — one black and one white band

====Second World War====
When single funnelled destroyers entered the fleet with the [[J, K and N class destroyer|J class]] in 1939 and with an expansion in the number of flotillas, the system was changed accordingly. Single funnelled ships wore a {{convert|3|ft|m}} deep band as a flotilla leader. As a divisional leader they had a {{convert|2|ft|m}} wide vertical band the same colour as, and extending {{convert|6|ft|m}} below, the upper flotilla band. Leaders bands were white for Home Fleet, red for Mediterranean Fleet, and the system of flotilla bands changed to;
* 1st Destroyer Flotilla (Mediterranean) — 1 red, [[G and H-class destroyer|G class]]
* 2nd Destroyer Flotilla (Mediterranean) — 2 red, [[G and H-class destroyer|H class]]
* 3rd Destroyer Flotilla (Mediterranean) — 3 red bands, then none, [[I-class destroyer|I class]]
* 4th Destroyer Flotilla (Mediterranean) — none, [[Tribal-class destroyer (1936)|Tribal class]]
* 5th Destroyer Flotilla (Mediterranean) — none, [[J-, K- and N-class destroyer|K class]]
* 6th Destroyer Flotilla (Home) — 1 white, Tribal class
* 7th Destroyer Flotilla (Home) — 2 white, [[J-, K- and N-class destroyer|J class]]
* [[8th Destroyer Flotilla]] (Home) — 3 white, [[E and F-class destroyer|F class]]
* 9th Destroyer Flotilla (Home) — 1 black & 2 white, [[V and W-class destroyer|V and W class]]
* 10th Destroyer Flotilla (Home) — none, V & W class
* 11th Destroyer Flotilla ([[Western Approaches Command|Western Approaches]]) — 1 black over 2 red, V and W class
* 12th Destroyer Flotilla ([[Rosyth]]) — 1 white over 1 red, [[E and F-class destroyer|E class]]
* 13th Destroyer Flotilla ([[Gibraltar]]) — 1 white over 2 red, V and W class
* 14th Destroyer Flotilla (Home) — 1 red over 1 black, V and W class
* 15th Destroyer Flotilla (Rosyth) — 1 red over 2 black, V and W class
* 16th Destroyer Flotilla ([[HMNB Portsmouth|Portsmouth]]) — 1 red over 1 white, V and W class
* 17th Destroyer Flotilla ([[Western Approaches Command|Western Approaches]]) (from 1940) — 1 red over 2 white, [[Town-class destroyer|Town class]]
* 18th Destroyer Flotilla ([[English Channel|Channel]]) — 1 white & 1 black, [[A-class destroyer (1929)|A class]]
* 19th Destroyer Flotilla ([[Dover]])— 1 white over 2 black, [[B-class destroyer|B class]]
* 20th Destroyer Flotilla (Portsmouth) — 2 white over 1 black, [[C and D-class destroyer|C class]]
* 21st Destroyer Flotilla (China Station) — 2 white over 1 red, [[C and D-class destroyer|D class]]

Flotilla bands were used throughout the war although war-losses, operational requirements, and new construction broke up the homogeneity of the destroyer flotillas. Vessels were deployed as and when they were needed or available, and were often incorporated into mixed "escort groups" containing a range of vessel types such as [[sloop-of-war|sloops]], [[corvette]]s, [[frigate]]s and [[escort carrier]]s. A few of the escort groups adopted funnel bands; others (like the B7 escort group) wore letters on their funnels.

====Post-war====
Post-war Flotillas were no longer identified by bands, but by large [[cast metal]] numbers bolted to the funnels. Flotilla leaders continued to display a large band at the top of the funnel and half leaders would carry a thin black band around the funnel.