International maritime signal flags
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The system of international maritime signal flags is a way of representing individual letters of the alphabet in signals to or from ships. It is a component of the International Code of Signals. [1]
There are various methods that the flags can be used as signals:
- each flag spells out a letter of an alphabetic message.
- individual flags have specific and standard meanings; for example, diving support vessels raise the "A flag" indicating their inability to move from their current location because they have a diver underwater.
- one or more flags form a code word whose meaning can be looked up in a code book held by both parties. An example is the Popham numeric code used at the Battle of Trafalgar.
- in yacht racing and dinghy racing, flags have other meanings; for example, the P flag is used as the "preparatory" flag to indicate an imminent start, and the S flag means "shortened course".
Letters
| A | Alpha |
| I have a diver down; keep well clear at slow speed |
| B | Bravo |
| I am taking in, or discharging, or carrying dangerous goods. (Originally used by the Royal Navy specifically for military explosives.) |
| C | Charlie |
| |
| D | Delta |
| Keep clear of me; I am maneuvering with difficulty. |
| E | Echo |
| I am altering my course to starboard. |
| F | Foxtrot |
| I am disabled; communicate with me. |
| G | Golf |
| I require a pilot. When made by fishing vessels operating in proximity on the fishing grounds it means: "I am hauling nets". |
| H | Hotel |
| I have a pilot on board. |
| I | India |
| I am altering my course to port. |
| J | Juliet |
| I am on fire and have dangerous cargo on board: keep well clear of me, for I am leaking dangerous cargo. |
| K | Kilo |
| I wish to communicate with you. |
| L | Lima |
| You should stop your vessel instantly. |
| M | Mike |
| My vessel is stopped and making no way through the water. |
| N | November |
| |
| O
| Oscar |
| Man overboard (often attached to the man overboard pole on boats). |
| P | Papa |
| The Blue Peter.
In harbor — All persons should report on board as the vessel is about to proceed to sea. At sea — It may be used by fishing vessels to mean: "My nets have come fast upon an obstruction". It may also be used as a sound to mean: "I require a pilot". |
| Q | Quebec |
| My vessel is healthy and I request free pratique. |
| R | Romeo |
| The way is off my ship; you may feel your way past me. |
| S | Sierra |
| I am operating astern propulsion. |
| T | Tango |
| Keep clear of me; I am engaged in pair trawling. |
| U | Uniform |
| You are going into danger. |
| V | Victor |
| I require assistance. |
| W | Whiskey |
| I require medical assistance. |
| X | X-ray |
| Stop carrying out your intentions and watch for my signals. |
| Y | Yankee |
| I am dragging my anchor. |
| Z | Zulu |
| I require a tug. When made by fishing vessels operating in close proximity on the fishing grounds it means: "I am shooting nets". |
Numbers
| Type of flag | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| NATO flags |
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| Pennants |
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Other flags
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| Prompt | First substitute | Second substitute | Third substitute | Fourth substitute |
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| Code/answer | Preparation | Question | Negation | Designation |
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| Alter course | Turn | Screen | Speed | Station |
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| Port | Starboard | Formation | Division | Squadron |
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| Group | Subdivision | Emergency | ||
See also
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
[Special]
- [The flags and their meanings]
- [Freeware to aid memorizing the flags] from [The Navy Patuxent Sailing Club]
- [Flags Fantastic - Nautical flags (A - Z & Pennant)]
- [La flag-alfabeto] - signal flags used for the Esperanto language. Description: the flags for the esperanto letters with diacritical marks have the lighter color in the normal flag replaced with light green, which is not used in any normal flag.
- [International Marine Signal Flags]
- [Signalman manual]
- [Nautical Flags Alphabet]
- [brief history of naval signals]
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