diff --git a/resources/atlases/unit-atlas.png b/resources/atlases/unit-atlas.png
index ceb8edcb0..93df24b32 100644
Binary files a/resources/atlases/unit-atlas.png and b/resources/atlases/unit-atlas.png differ
diff --git a/src/client/render/gl/passes/UnitPass.ts b/src/client/render/gl/passes/UnitPass.ts
index 4476ac5a7..bc96c1e9b 100644
--- a/src/client/render/gl/passes/UnitPass.ts
+++ b/src/client/render/gl/passes/UnitPass.ts
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ const HYDROGEN_BOMB_COL = UNIT_ORDER.indexOf(UT_HYDROGEN_BOMB);
  * Per-instance data (16 bytes):
  *   float x, y, ownerID   — 12 bytes (3 floats)
  *   uint8 atlasIdx         —  1 byte  (atlas column 0–11)
- *   uint8 flags            —  1 byte  (0 = normal, 1 = flicker, 2 = angry)
+ *   uint8 flags            —  1 byte  (0 = normal, 1 = flicker, 2 = angry, 3 = trade-friendly, 4 = retreating)
  *   2 bytes padding        — aligns to 4-byte boundary
  */
 const FLOATS_PER_INSTANCE = 4;
@@ -104,6 +104,7 @@ const FLAG_NORMAL = 0;
 const FLAG_FLICKER = 1;
 const FLAG_ANGRY = 2;
 const FLAG_TRADE_FRIENDLY = 3;
+const FLAG_RETREATING = 4;
 
 /** Atlas column indices for train sub-types (resolved from trainType + loaded) */
 const TRAIN_ENGINE_COL = UNIT_ORDER.indexOf("TrainEngine");
@@ -395,6 +396,8 @@ export class UnitPass {
 
       if (atlasIdx === undefined) continue;
 
+      const isRetreatingWarship =
+        unit.unitType === UT_WARSHIP && unit.retreating;
       const isAngryWarship =
         unit.unitType === UT_WARSHIP && unit.targetUnitId !== null;
       const isFlicker = FLICKER_TYPES.has(unit.unitType);
@@ -416,13 +419,16 @@ export class UnitPass {
         }
       }
 
-      const flags = isTradeFriendly
-        ? FLAG_TRADE_FRIENDLY
-        : isAngryWarship
-          ? FLAG_ANGRY
-          : isFlicker
-            ? FLAG_FLICKER
-            : FLAG_NORMAL;
+      let flags = FLAG_NORMAL;
+      if (isTradeFriendly) {
+        flags = FLAG_TRADE_FRIENDLY;
+      } else if (isRetreatingWarship) {
+        flags = FLAG_RETREATING;
+      } else if (isAngryWarship) {
+        flags = FLAG_ANGRY;
+      } else if (isFlicker) {
+        flags = FLAG_FLICKER;
+      }
       const isMissile = MISSILE_TYPES.has(unit.unitType);
 
       const x = unit.pos % this.mapW;
diff --git a/src/client/render/gl/shaders/unit/unit.frag.glsl b/src/client/render/gl/shaders/unit/unit.frag.glsl
index a04627b2d..03d70ec3b 100644
--- a/src/client/render/gl/shaders/unit/unit.frag.glsl
+++ b/src/client/render/gl/shaders/unit/unit.frag.glsl
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ out vec4 fragColor;
 const float FLAG_FLICKER        = 1.0;
 const float FLAG_ANGRY          = 2.0;
 const float FLAG_TRADE_FRIENDLY = 3.0;
+const float FLAG_RETREATING     = 4.0;
 
 // Ally color for trade-friendly override (yellow — matches affiliation.ts ALLY)
 const vec3 ALLY_COLOR = vec3(1.0, 1.0, 0.0);
@@ -83,10 +84,15 @@ void main() {
   // Flag states (uint8 passed as float via vertex attribute):
   //   0 = normal
   //   1 = flicker (nukes/warheads — cycling hot colors)
-  //   2 = angry (warships attacking — solid red territory band)
+  //   2 = angry (warships attacking — outer ring (180 band) solid red)
+  //   4 = retreating (warships fleeing to port — blinking black center)
+  float retreatBlink = 0.0;
   if (abs(vFlags - FLAG_ANGRY) < 0.1) {
-    // Angry: solid red territory band
+    // Angry: the outer ring (180) and center (100) go red via territoryColor
     territoryColor = uAngryColor;
+  } else if (abs(vFlags - FLAG_RETREATING) < 0.1) {
+    // Retreating: slowly blink the center (100 band) black so the ship reads as fleeing
+    retreatBlink = step(0.5, fract(uTick * 0.07));
   } else if (abs(vFlags - FLAG_FLICKER) < 0.1) {
     // Flicker: cycle through hot colors, offset by position hash
     float phase = fract(uTick * uFlickerSpeed + vHash);
@@ -95,19 +101,24 @@ void main() {
     borderColor = FLICKER_COLORS[(idx + 2) % 4];
   }
 
-  // Three-band gray replacement:
+  // Four-band gray replacement:
   //   180/255 ~ 0.706 -> territory color (light band)
-  //   130/255 ~ 0.510 -> spawn/mid color (interpolated)
+  //   130/255 ~ 0.510 -> spawn/mid color (interpolated; used by missiles)
+  //   100/255 ~ 0.392 -> center accent (warship center — tracks ring, blinks black)
   //   70/255  ~ 0.275 -> border color (dark band)
   vec3 spawnColor = mix(territoryColor, borderColor, 0.5);
+  vec3 centerColor = mix(territoryColor, vec3(0.0), retreatBlink);
 
   vec3 color;
   if (gray > 0.6) {
     // Light band (180) -> territory color
     color = territoryColor;
-  } else if (gray > 0.4) {
+  } else if (gray > 0.45) {
     // Mid band (130) -> spawn color
     color = spawnColor;
+  } else if (gray > 0.34) {
+    // Center accent band (100) -> center color
+    color = centerColor;
   } else {
     // Dark band (70) -> border color
     color = borderColor;
diff --git a/src/client/view/UnitView.ts b/src/client/view/UnitView.ts
index 46b2c24b0..2fc81132a 100644
--- a/src/client/view/UnitView.ts
+++ b/src/client/view/UnitView.ts
@@ -53,7 +53,9 @@ function unitStateFromUpdate(u: UnitUpdate): UnitState {
     lastPos: u.lastPos,
     isActive: u.isActive,
     reachedTarget: u.reachedTarget,
-    retreating: u.transportShipState?.isRetreating ?? false,
+    retreating:
+      (u.transportShipState?.isRetreating ?? false) ||
+      u.warshipState?.state === "retreating",
     targetable: u.targetable,
     markedForDeletion: u.markedForDeletion,
     health: u.health ?? null,
@@ -79,7 +81,9 @@ function applyUpdateInPlace(target: UnitState, u: UnitUpdate): void {
   target.lastPos = u.lastPos;
   target.isActive = u.isActive;
   target.reachedTarget = u.reachedTarget;
-  target.retreating = u.transportShipState?.isRetreating ?? false;
+  target.retreating =
+    (u.transportShipState?.isRetreating ?? false) ||
+    u.warshipState?.state === "retreating";
   target.targetable = u.targetable;
   target.markedForDeletion = u.markedForDeletion;
   target.health = u.health ?? null;