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Signal Flags |
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Although the flags of the International Code of Signals can be used to spell out words in full, their normal and more efficient mode of operations is in basic one, two, or three flag combinations, with complementary flags or pennants added to add precision to a message. One letter hoists are for urgent, important, or common transmissions: "I have a diver down" (A); "I am taking in, or discharging, or carrying dangerous goods" (B); "I require a pilot" (G); "Man overboard" (O); "The vessel is about to proceed to sea" (P); and so on. Two letter hoists are messages in the general code of signals. They have to do primarily with emergency situations or navigational matters. Three letter hoists, all starting with the letter "M" are from the medical code of signals and provide a surprisingly detailed system of communicating symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment for a wide variety of medical emergencies. Below are some sample signals from the ICS. Warships do not normally use the ICS as such to communicate with each other, but rather use their own navy's particular code employing the same set of flags. The United States Navy and allied navies use the NATO standard signal code contained in ATP-1, as well as supplements published for their own use. When using the ICS to communicate with merchant ships, warships hoist and keep flying the CODE/ANSWERING pennant of the ICS as the top flag in the hoist. Without this pennant the signal is based on the appropriate naval signal book and may mean something entirely different. For example, INDIA in the U.S. Navy means "I am coming alongside," while in the ICS it means "I am altering my course to port." Similarly, FOXTROT in the ICS means "I am disabled," but an aircraft carrier flying the same flag is saying "I am conducting flight operations."
Alfa |
Bravo |
Charlie |
Delta |
Echo |
Foxtrot |
Golf |
Hotel |
India |
Juliet |
Kilo |
Lima |
Mike |
November |
Oscar |
Papa |
Quebec |
Romeo |
Sierra |
Tango |
Uniform |
Victor |
Whiskey |
X-ray |
Yankee |
Zulu |
First Substitute |
Second Substitute |
Third Substitute |
Fourth Substitute |
Pennant 1 |
Pennant 2 |
Pennant 3 |
Pennant 4 |
Pennant 5 |
Pennant 6 |
Pennant 7 |
Pennant 8 |
Pennant 9 |
Pennant 0 |
One |
Two |
Three |
Four |
Five |
Six |
Seven |
Eight |
Nine |
Zero |
