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87:(ICS) for general maritime use. Most navies now use the flags of the ICS for 26 letters A through Z, sometimes augmenting them with additional flags for other national characters. But they retain additional flags for naval usage (such as related to maneuvering or status), and use their own codes. E.g., in the ICS the single flag Mike means the vessel is stopped; in the U. S. Navy it means the duty medical officer is on board.
1017:
413:
406:
854:
827:
638:
584:
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993:
883:
598:
591:
483:
476:
1005:
958:
833:
722:
544:
469:
770:
999:
812:
530:
516:
462:
1011:
937:
918:
895:
624:
537:
231:
224:
217:
189:
848:
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912:
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866:
789:
776:
755:
707:
570:
523:
203:
196:
168:
976:
964:
930:
924:
860:
210:
182:
175:
71:
system using numeral flags to signal a number; the number, not the mast from which the flags flew, indicated the message. Other admirals tried various systems; it was not until 1799 that the
Admiralty issued a standardized signal code system for the entire Royal Navy. This was limited to only the
62:
Several wars with the Dutch in the 17th century prompted the
English to issue instructions for the conduct of particular fleets, such as (in 1673) the Duke of York's "Instructions for the better Ordering of His Majesties Fleet in Sayling". Signals were primitive and rather ad hoc ("As soon as the
662:
Despite the NATO sharing the same alphabetic flags as the
International Code of Signals, the meanings are not shared between the codes. Furthermore, the NATO code uses a number of special flags which alter the meaning of the hoist. All below signals have been taken from a 2003 unclassified NATO
105:". It also communicates to all local parties, including personnel in the vicinity, or in passing small boats that do not have radios. Similarly, a radio message to the effect "this is the admiral, follow me" could lead to disaster if anyone mistook which ship the admiral is on.
72:
signals listed in the Signal-Book. In 1800 Captain Sir Home Popham devised a means of extending this: signals made with a special "Telegraph" flag refererred to a separate dictionary of numbered words and phrases. A similar system was devised by
53:
Flags have long been used to identify a ship's owner or nationality, or the commander of a squadron. But the use of flags for signalling messages long remained primitive, as indicated by the 1530 instruction that when the
Admiral
50:
as engaging in coordinated maneuvers which would have required some kind of communication; there is no record of how such communication was done but flags would have been the most likely method.
97:. Even now it is often the preferred method of signalling messages of local significance. A radio message that " is fueling, everyone stand clear" is incomplete without information as to
101:
the ship is; it is also distracting for many remote parties that are not affected, and congests the radio channel. Flying the Bravo flag is complete information: "danger, stand clear of
58:
doth shote of a pece of
Ordnance, and set up his Banner of Council on Starrborde bottocke of his Shippe, everie shipps capten shall with spede go aborde the Admyrall to know his will.
63:
Admiral shall loose his fore-top and fire a gun..."), and generally a one-way communication system, as only flagships carried a complete set of flags. In 1790
1057:
1187:
80:
42:
Naval flag signalling undoubtedly developed in antiquity in order to coordinate naval action of multiple vessels. In the
1305:
1300:
1259:
1078:
238:
84:
1083:
315:
64:
1088:
1274:
988:
otherwise appropriate, ex. "AA" indicates signals concerning aircraft and anti-aircraft operations.
1254:
1189:
A Code of
Signals for the Use of Vessels Employed in the Merchant Service, by Captain Marryat, R.N.
1063:
31:
1284:
1033:
be indicated. (Here, a substitute flag is used in the number group. Furthermore, the "negative"
1315:
161:
986:(The "MW" prefix indicates this signal concerns mine warfare, similar prefixes are used where
1320:
1221:
1150:
MTP 1(D), Volume II - Multinational
Maritime Tactical Signal and Maneuvering Book, March 2003
1310:
90:
27:
8:
715:
Divers or friendly explosive ordnance disposal personnel down. A numeral group following
820:
All boats belonging to this ship or boat(s) addressed return to this ship immediately.
1264:
43:
784:
I wish to communicate with you. (ICS meaning indicated by using the Code pennant)
1269:
1223:
MTP 1(D), Volume II - Multinational
Maritime Tactical Signal and Maneuvering Book
797:
Radiation Hazard
Warning: Do not approach within ____ yards of this unit or unit
435:
384:
377:
370:
363:
356:
349:
342:
335:
328:
321:
73:
717:
indicates the radius in hundreds of yards inside which personnel are operating.
1068:
1052:
945:
Dispose of refuse when clear of harbor. (Flag 3 is used as a complement to the
735:: I am ready to operate fixed-wing aircraft when wind conditions are suitable.
23:
398:
These flags indicate a repeat of the first, second, etc., flag in that hoist.
1294:
843:("Emergency" indicates the signal is to be acted upon as soon as understood)
1249:
947:
meaning of the other flags and is thus separated from them by a tackline)
1287:
manual used to train U.S. Navy signalmen; detailed coverage of procedure.
1073:
740:: My flight operations have been delayed temporarily (about 10 minutes).
94:
34:
by merchant or other non-naval vessels or flags used for identification.
1279:
1047:
47:
16:
Flag signalling, such as semaphore or flaghoist, used by various navies
1130:
Wilson, Timothy (1986), Flags at Sea, Her
Majesty's Stationery Office.
1121:, p.77, quoting from W. G. Perrin, "British flags" (Cambridge, 1922).
46:(431 – 401 BCE) squadrons of Athenian galleys were described by
93:
was the only way ships could signal prior to the advent of radio and
307:
300:
293:
265:
984:
Mines in area are dangerous to divers. No diving is to take place.
419:
279:
272:
244:
76:
in 1817 "for the use of vessels employed in the merchant service".
630:
489:
426:
286:
258:
251:
1016:
412:
405:
905:
What is the enemy's speed? ("Interrogative" denotes a question)
853:
826:
637:
583:
576:
992:
882:
597:
590:
482:
475:
1004:
957:
832:
721:
543:
468:
998:
811:
769:
529:
515:
461:
1010:
936:
917:
894:
623:
536:
230:
223:
216:
188:
969:
951:
911:
888:
865:
847:
788:
775:
754:
706:
569:
522:
202:
195:
167:
1275:
Signal flags of the Imperial Japanese Navy (World War II).
975:
963:
929:
923:
859:
209:
181:
174:
799:
indicated without obtaining positive clearance to do so.
1260:
Historic Modes of Naval Communication (Captain Howeth)
83:
and various competitors have been supplanted by the
763:Personnel are working aloft and/or over the side.
750:: I have completed operating fixed-wing aircraft.
841:You are on collision course with me. Keep clear.
22:covers various forms of flag signalling, such as
1292:
1058:England expects that every man will do his duty
1164:
1035:pennant changes the meaning to the negative.)
1031:been recovered. Ships to whom they belong may
674:
1177:Piloting, Seamanship, and Small Boat Handling
30:, used by various navies; distinguished from
1265:Flag Signalling at Sea (Captain Barrie Kent)
667:
452:
1144:
878:Turn together by 150 degrees to starboard
1168:(various ed.), U. S. Naval Institute
668:
1185:
1139:
657:
1293:
1209:
1198:
1118:
1106:
745:: I am operating fixed-wing aircraft.
1250:Royal Navy Signal Flags and Pendants
1027:All torpedoes (or ____ number) have
730:FLIGHT OPERATIONS (Flag hoist only)
1186:Marryat, Captain Frederick (1847),
1174:
13:
14:
1332:
1243:
1214:, Her Majesty's Stationery Office
1015:
1009:
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997:
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194:
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173:
166:
108:
1270:NATO flags (Flags of the World)
67:issued a new signal book for a
1133:
1124:
1112:
1100:
393:
1:
1079:International Code of Signals
85:International Code of Signals
1084:Russian Navy Code of Signals
7:
1255:Sea Flags (Joseph McMillan)
1041:
738:Dipped after being close up
113:
10:
1337:
1156:
1089:Japanese Navy Signal Flags
123:
37:
1280:Russian signalling flags.
453:Naval maneuvering signals
450:
120:
1210:Wilson, Timothy (1986),
1094:
1064:Maritime flag signalling
32:maritime flag signalling
1306:Military communications
1301:Emergency communication
1166:The Bluejackets' Manual
1060:(a famous flag signal).
551:Course Pennant (CORPEN)
60:
1201:The Peloponnesian War
56:
20:Naval flag signalling
670:Sample NATO messages
658:Sample flag meanings
648:Subdivision (SUBDIV)
509:Designation (DESIG)
1285:Signalman 3 & 2
1229:, NATO, March 2003
1203:(various ed.)
1179:(various ed.)
1175:Chapman, Charles,
651:Emergency (EMERG)
563:Station (STATION)
500:Preparatory (PREP)
446:Fourth substitute
1039:
1038:
655:
654:
617:Squadron (SQUAD)
497:Code/answer (ANS)
440:Second substitute
391:
390:
65:Admiral Lord Howe
44:Peloponnesian War
1328:
1237:
1236:
1234:
1228:
1215:
1204:
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835:
829:
814:
791:
778:
772:
757:
724:
709:
666:
665:
640:
633:
626:
611:Formation (FORM)
608:Starboard (STBD)
600:
593:
586:
579:
572:
546:
539:
532:
525:
518:
506:Negation (NEGAT)
492:
485:
478:
471:
464:
443:Third substitute
429:
422:
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408:
401:
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387:
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373:
366:
359:
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331:
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1192:(10th ed.)
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1134:
1129:
1125:
1117:
1113:
1105:
1101:
1097:
1044:
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1023:
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1008:
1002:
996:
987:
985:
973:
967:
961:
955:
946:
934:
933:
927:
921:
915:
901:
892:
886:
874:
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863:
857:
851:
842:
830:
805:
803:
800:
798:
773:
746:
741:
736:
731:
716:
660:
557:Screen (SCREEN)
455:
396:
116:
111:
81:Code of Signals
74:Captain Marryat
40:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1334:
1324:
1323:
1318:
1313:
1308:
1303:
1289:
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1244:External links
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1096:
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1081:
1076:
1071:
1066:
1061:
1055:
1053:Bunting tosser
1050:
1043:
1040:
1037:
1036:
1025:
1020:
989:
982:
979:
948:
943:
940:
907:
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903:
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659:
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627:
619:
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614:Division (DIV)
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609:
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601:
594:
587:
580:
573:
565:
564:
561:
558:
555:
552:
548:
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511:
510:
507:
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503:Question (INT)
501:
498:
494:
493:
486:
479:
472:
465:
457:
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454:
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107:
95:blinking light
39:
36:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1333:
1322:
1319:
1317:
1316:Naval warfare
1314:
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1302:
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828:
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807:
796:
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790:
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766:
762:
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752:
749:
744:
739:
734:
729:
726:
723:
719:
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603:
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588:
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581:
578:
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560:Speed (SPEED)
559:
556:
553:
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541:
538:
534:
531:
527:
524:
520:
517:
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361:
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351:
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109:Flag examples
106:
104:
100:
96:
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88:
86:
82:
77:
75:
70:
66:
59:
55:
51:
49:
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35:
33:
29:
25:
21:
1321:Signal flags
1231:, retrieved
1222:
1212:Flags at Sea
1211:
1200:
1199:Thucydides,
1188:
1176:
1165:
1146:
1140:Marryat 1847
1135:
1126:
1114:
1102:
1028:
801:
747:
742:
737:
732:
669:
661:
645:Group (FLOT)
397:
102:
98:
89:
78:
68:
61:
57:
52:
41:
19:
18:
1311:Naval flags
1119:Wilson 1986
1074:Signal lamp
748:Hauled-down
694:Flag Hoist
685:Flag Hoist
676:Flag Hoist
605:Port (PORT)
554:Turn (TURN)
394:Substitutes
1295:Categories
1107:Thucydides
1048:Bravo Zulu
873:STARBOARD
663:codebook.
436:substitute
79:Marryat's
48:Thucydides
1069:Semaphore
806:3. 3,000
91:Flaghoist
28:flaghoist
24:semaphore
1042:See also
902:E SPEED
838:EMERG C
743:Close up
700:Meaning
691:Meaning
682:Meaning
124:Numeral
114:Numerals
69:numerary
1233:25 June
1157:Sources
981:MW 106
942:AD26—3
804:2. 500
802:1. 200
781:CODE K
316:Russian
121:Source
38:History
1022:NEGAT
733:At dip
434:First
1227:(PDF)
1095:Notes
1024:SU33
871:TURN
697:Code
688:Code
679:Code
99:where
1235:2017
900:INT
162:NATO
103:here
1029:not
875:15
239:ICS
26:or
1297::
817:Q
794:L
760:K
727:F
712:A
156:9
153:8
150:7
147:6
144:5
141:4
138:3
135:2
132:1
129:0
1109:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
