Cross of Naval Merit facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Cross of Naval Merit
Template of the Cross Naval Merit Decorations
Presented by	Spain

The Cross of Naval Merit (Spanish: Cruces del Mérito Naval) is a Spanish military award for gallantry or merit in war or peace. Awarded to members of the Spanish Naval Forces, Guardia Civil or civilians.

Insignia and Ribbons

The decoration has the form of a Greek cross with the arms enameled red in the Red Decoration category and white in the remaining categories. The Blue Decoration and Yellow Decoration badges have additional narrow bars in blue or yellow across the lower and lateral arms. The upper arm is surmounted by a Spanish royal crown and has a tablet to engrave the date of bestowal. The round central shield of the obverse bears the coat of arms of Castile, León, Aragon, Navarre and Granada (until 2003 only alternate coats of arms of Castile and León); in the middle there is a blue oval shield (escutcheon) of the House of Bourbon-Anjou. On the reverse there are letters "MM" (Mérito Militar) on red background. The cross is worn on a ribbon on the left side of chest. Each subsequent award is denoted by a bar with the date of bestowal on the ribbon.

The Grand Cross has the same form as the cross described above but is worn on a sash over the right shoulder.

The star added to the class of Grand Cross is gilt, eight-pointed, with the cross superimposed on it; currently between the arms of the cross there are alternate towers (Castile) and lions (León).

Grand Cross - Red Decoration	Grand Cross - Blue Decoration	Grand Cross - Yellow Decoration	Grand Cross - White Decoration
Cross - Red Decoration	Cross - Blue Decoration	Cross - Yellow Decoration	Cross- White Decoration

See also

In Spanish: Cruces del Mérito Naval para niños

• Cross of Military Merit (Spain)
• Cross of Aeronautical Merit (Spain)