Atlantic Star



The Atlantic Star was awarded to commemorate the Battle of the Atlantic to crew of the Royal Navy and the Royal Merchant Navy for operational services afloat for 6 months in the Atlantic, Home waters and Russian convoys or 2 months for air crew in this areas between 3 September 1939 and 8 May 1945 or 2 september 1945 for operational services in the Pacific.



The Atlantic Star may not be awarded unless the 1939-1945 STAR has been qualified for by 180 days operational service afloat or by 2 months service for airborne service and therefore, the total requirement for the Atlantic Star is 12 months afloat or 4 months for airborne service.



Though this award was normally granted to the Royal Navy and the Royal Merchant Navy, many Army and Royal Air Force personnel could qualify for this award. For example, soldiers were frequently used to man the guns of armed merchant ships, but to qualify for this award a soldier must go to sea for the same time and in the same areas as the service with which he served.



Those who also qualified for the France & Germany Star and the Aircrew Europe Star could wear a clasp on the ribbon of the first star earned.



The Atlantic Star is a six pointed star with the Royal Cipher ?GRI VI? surmounted by a crown with the inscription ?THE ATLANTIC STAR?. The reverse is plain and blank and the award is issued unnamed.



The ribbon is 1.25 inches wide with three equal stripes of dark blue, white and green and respresents the colours of the Atlantic Ocean.