Roundel

This is a page about the insignia/symbol. For other uses, see roundel (disambiguation).

The modern proportion RAF roundel

A roundel is a distinctive mostly round logo or marking, most commonly painted today on military aircraft to indicate which air force or navy they belong to. However, some companies also make use of roundels as part of their corporate branding, such as the famous roundels of BMW, ICI and the London Underground.

Heraldry

In heraldry, a roundel is a circular charge. Roundels are among the oldest charges used in coats of arms, dating from at least the twelfth century. Roundels in British heraldry have different names depending on their tincture (colour). Thus, while a roundel may be blazoned by its tincture, e.g. a roundel vert (literally "a roundel green"), it is more often described by a single word, in this case pomme (literally "apple", from the French word).

metals

colours

neutral

bezant

coin

plate

silver

hurt

berry

torteau

cake

pellet

gunshot

pomme

apple

golpe

wound

fountain

fountain

In French blazon a roundel of either metal (Or or argent) is a besant, and a roundel of any colour (dark tincture) is a torteau, with the tincture specified.

One special example of a named roundel is the fountain. This is depicted as a roundel barry wavy argent and azure. That is, it is not filled in a single tincture, but with alternating horizontal wavy bands of blue and silver (or white). Because the fountain consists equally of parts in a light and a dark tincture, its use is not limited by the rule of tincture as are the other roundels.

In their earliest uses, roundels were often strewn (semy) upon the field of a coat of arms, a design with as many names as there are tinctures. For example, a field semy of roundels argent could be called platy; a field semy of roundels sable could be called pellety. The precise number and placement of the roundels in such a case was usually left to the discretion of the artist.

Because of their long use and simple outline, the roundels are accorded status as a subordinary charge by most heraldic writers.

Use on military aircraft

Eurofighter Typhoon prototype on display at Dubai Air Show 1998. Note the multiple roundels for the air forces: (left to right) Spanish Ejército del Aire, Italian Aeronautica Militare, British Royal Air Force, and German Luftwaffe.

The first use of a roundel on military aircraft was during the First World War by the French Air Force. It consisted of a blue-white-red design mirroring the Flag of France and apparently a direct descendant of the cockade of France. The roundel was subsequently adopted by their allies, the British Royal Flying Corps, as their original painted Union Flags looked too much like the German cross. The British used the French colours in reverse, their national colours of red-white-blue. This design was subsequently adopted by British Imperial air forces with a maple leaf (RCAF), kangaroo (RAAF) and kiwi (RNZAF). Roundels were subsequently adopted by the air forces of other countries.

During the Second World War the red inner circle of RAF-based roundels on planes based in the Asia-Pacific was painted white or light blue, so they would not be confused for the red circle on Japanese planes.

A USAF A-10 Warthog with low visibility roundel on fuselage.

In recent decades, "low-visibility" roundels have been used, especially on active combat types. Low-visibility roundels usually have subdued low-contrast colors or stenciled outlines.

In pop culture

The roundel, especially the RAF's has been used by Mods and the Mod Revival. Some of Paul Weller's material involves the use of a roundel in psychedelic colours.

Examples of roundels

External links

*Roundels of the World
*Canadian Military Aircraft Roundels has a section on the history of roundels.
*History of the RAF roundel

Roundel: Encyclopedia BETA