SIGNAL FLAGS HARLAN R. DICKSON Division

U. S. Naval Sea Cadet CorpsCOMPASS :: Flags and Pennants Serve various Functions –Identify Nations –Identify Governments –Identify Rank –Identify Ownership –Convey Messages –Used as Decorations –DRESS SHIP

U. S. Naval Sea Cadet CorpsCOMPASS :: U.S. Navy Uses International Alphabet Flags Numeral Pennants Code/Answer Pennants Numeral Flags Special Flags Pennants Four Substitutes or Repeaters

U. S. Naval Sea Cadet CorpsCOMPASS :: Alphabet Flags Uses the phonetic name of the letter it represents. A – Alpha B – Bravo C – Charlie D – Delta Etc…

U. S. Naval Sea Cadet CorpsCOMPASS :: Numeral Flags Take the name of the numeral they represent. –1 – One –2 – Two –3 – Three –4 – Four –5 – Five –Etc…

U. S. Naval Sea Cadet CorpsCOMPASS :: Numeral Pennants Used only in call signals

U. S. Naval Sea Cadet CorpsCOMPASS :: Special Flags and Pennants Used to indicate tactical maneuvers –To direct changes in speed –To direct changes in position –To direct changes in formation –To direct changes in course Indicate the identity of the unit Specialized purposes

U. S. Naval Sea Cadet CorpsCOMPASS :: Importance of Learning Signal Flags Used in the Naval Service They are frequently seen displayed aboard Navy ships or stations This form of communication is centuries old and is widely used in the Navy today Your personal safety may depend on recognizing a particular signal flag

U. S. Naval Sea Cadet CorpsCOMPASS :: Emergency Warning Flags I have a diver down Keep well clear at slow speed

U. S. Naval Sea Cadet CorpsCOMPASS :: Emergency Warning Flags I am taking in dangerous materials I am discharging dangerous materials I am carrying dangerous materials

U. S. Naval Sea Cadet CorpsCOMPASS :: Emergency Warning Flags This ship has medical guard duty

U. S. Naval Sea Cadet CorpsCOMPASS :: Emergency Warning Flag This ship has dental guard duty

U. S. Naval Sea Cadet CorpsCOMPASS :: Emergency Warning Flags I am in distress

U. S. Naval Sea Cadet CorpsCOMPASS :: Emergency Warning Flags Man Overboard

U. S. Naval Sea Cadet CorpsCOMPASS :: Emergency Warning Flags Breakdown This vessel is having engine or steering difficulty

U. S. Naval Sea Cadet CorpsCOMPASS :: Administrative Flags The ship has a harbor pilot on board

U. S. Naval Sea Cadet CorpsCOMPASS :: Administrative Flag Preparing to come alongside in port Preparing to come alongside at anchor

U. S. Naval Sea Cadet CorpsCOMPASS :: Administrative Flag I have a semaphore message to transmit

U. S. Naval Sea Cadet CorpsCOMPASS :: Administrative Flag General Recall –All personnel return to the ship

U. S. Naval Sea Cadet CorpsCOMPASS :: Administrative Flag Boat Recall –All boats return to the ship

U. S. Naval Sea Cadet CorpsCOMPASS :: Administrative Flag Flown by ships having ready duty while in port Flown by ships preparing to replenish while at sea

U. S. Naval Sea Cadet CorpsCOMPASS :: Administrative Flag Holding flag hoist drill

U. S. Naval Sea Cadet CorpsCOMPASS :: Administrative Flag This ship has visual communications duty

U. S. Naval Sea Cadet CorpsCOMPASS :: Administrative Flag Indicates the absence of the flag officer whose personal flag or pennant is flying on the ship Indicates the absence of the unit commander whose personal flag or pennant is flying on the ship

U. S. Naval Sea Cadet CorpsCOMPASS :: Administrative Flag Indicates the absence of the chief of staff

U. S. Naval Sea Cadet CorpsCOMPASS :: Administrative Flag Indicates the absence of the captain. IF captain’s absence is greater than 72 hours – then this flag is used to indicate the absence of the executive officer (XO)

U. S. Naval Sea Cadet CorpsCOMPASS :: Administrative Flag Admiral Fleet Admiral

U. S. Naval Sea Cadet CorpsCOMPASS :: Administrative Flag Vice Admiral Rear Admiral

U. S. Naval Sea Cadet CorpsCOMPASS :: Administrative Flag Commodore

U. S. Naval Sea Cadet CorpsCOMPASS :: Alphabetic Flags A Alpha B Bravo

U. S. Naval Sea Cadet CorpsCOMPASS :: Alphabetic Flags C Charlie D Delta

U. S. Naval Sea Cadet CorpsCOMPASS :: Alphabetic Flags E Echo F Foxtrot

U. S. Naval Sea Cadet CorpsCOMPASS :: Alphabetic Flags G Golf H Hotel

U. S. Naval Sea Cadet CorpsCOMPASS :: Alphabetic Flags I India J Juliett

U. S. Naval Sea Cadet CorpsCOMPASS :: Alphabetic Flags K Kilo L Lima

U. S. Naval Sea Cadet CorpsCOMPASS :: Alphabetic Flags M Mike N November

U. S. Naval Sea Cadet CorpsCOMPASS :: Alphabetic Flags O Oscar P Papa

U. S. Naval Sea Cadet CorpsCOMPASS :: Alphabetic Flags Q Quebec R Romeo

U. S. Naval Sea Cadet CorpsCOMPASS :: Alphabetic Flags S Sierra T Tango

U. S. Naval Sea Cadet CorpsCOMPASS :: Alphabetic Flags U Uniform V Victor

U. S. Naval Sea Cadet CorpsCOMPASS :: Alphabetic Flags W Whiskey X X-Ray

U. S. Naval Sea Cadet CorpsCOMPASS :: Alphabetic Flags Y Yankee Z Zulu

U. S. Naval Sea Cadet CorpsCOMPASS :: Numeral Flags 1 One 2 Two

U. S. Naval Sea Cadet CorpsCOMPASS :: Numeral Flags 3 Three 4 Four

U. S. Naval Sea Cadet CorpsCOMPASS :: Numeral Flags 5 Five 6 Six

U. S. Naval Sea Cadet CorpsCOMPASS :: Numeral Flags 7 Seven 8 Eight

U. S. Naval Sea Cadet CorpsCOMPASS :: Alphabetic Flags 9 Nine 0 Zero

U. S. Naval Sea Cadet CorpsCOMPASS :: Numeric Pennants P1 Pennant One P2 Pennant Two

U. S. Naval Sea Cadet CorpsCOMPASS :: Numeric Pennants P3 Pennant Three P4 Pennant Four

U. S. Naval Sea Cadet CorpsCOMPASS :: Numeric Pennants P5 Pennant Five P6 Pennant Six

U. S. Naval Sea Cadet CorpsCOMPASS :: Numeric Pennants P7 Pennant Seven P8 Pennant Eight

U. S. Naval Sea Cadet CorpsCOMPASS :: Numeric Pennant P9 Pennant Nine P0 Pennant Zero

U. S. Naval Sea Cadet CorpsCOMPASS :: Substitute Pennants First Substitute First SUB 1st

U. S. Naval Sea Cadet CorpsCOMPASS :: Substitute Pennants Second Substitute Second SUB 2nd

U. S. Naval Sea Cadet CorpsCOMPASS :: Substitute Pennants Third Substitute Third SUB 3rd

U. S. Naval Sea Cadet CorpsCOMPASS :: Substitute Pennants Fourth Substitute Fourth SUB 4th

U. S. Naval Sea Cadet CorpsCOMPASS :: Pennants and Flags Code or Answer Code or ANS

U. S. Naval Sea Cadet CorpsCOMPASS :: Pennants and Flags Screen

U. S. Naval Sea Cadet CorpsCOMPASS :: Pennants and Flags Corpen

U. S. Naval Sea Cadet CorpsCOMPASS :: Pennants and Flags Designation Desig DESIG

U. S. Naval Sea Cadet CorpsCOMPASS :: Pennants and Flags Division Div DIV

U. S. Naval Sea Cadet CorpsCOMPASS :: Pennants and Flags Emergency EMERG

U. S. Naval Sea Cadet CorpsCOMPASS :: Pennants and Flags Formation FORM

U. S. Naval Sea Cadet CorpsCOMPASS :: Pennants and Flags Interrogative INT

U. S. Naval Sea Cadet CorpsCOMPASS :: Pennants and Flags Negative Negat NEGAT

U. S. Naval Sea Cadet CorpsCOMPASS :: Pennants and Flags Preparative Prep PREP

U. S. Naval Sea Cadet CorpsCOMPASS :: Pennants and Flags Port PORT

U. S. Naval Sea Cadet CorpsCOMPASS :: Pennants and Flags Speed SPEED

U. S. Naval Sea Cadet CorpsCOMPASS :: Pennants and Flags Squadron Squad SQUAD

U. S. Naval Sea Cadet CorpsCOMPASS :: Pennants and Flags Starboard STBD

U. S. Naval Sea Cadet CorpsCOMPASS :: Pennants and Flags Station STATION

U. S. Naval Sea Cadet CorpsCOMPASS :: Pennants and Flags Subdivision Subdiv SUBDIV

U. S. Naval Sea Cadet CorpsCOMPASS :: Pennants and Flags Turn TURN

U. S. Naval Sea Cadet CorpsCOMPASS :: Pennants and Flags Tack Line Tack -

U. S. Naval Sea Cadet CorpsCOMPASS :: Pennants and Flags Flotilla Flot FLOT