ALFA: Divers or underwater demolition
SIERRA: SIERRA is flown while a ship is
holding signal drill.
personnel are down. If a numeral group follows
ALFA, the numbers indicate in hundreds of
YANKEE: In port, YANKEE is flown by the
yards the radius within which the personnel are
ship with the visual communications duty.
working.
EIGHT flag: The EIGHT flag is used when a
BRAVO: The BRAVO flag is hoisted whenever
boat is being directed by a ship during man
vessels are transferring fuel or explosives.
overboard. The EIGHT flag hoisted alone means
During gunnery practice, it is flown on the
steer straight away from the ship. The EIGHT
appropriate side. It is also required in a boat (in
flag hoisted with the port or starboard flag means
the bow or where best seen) transporting fuel or
steer to the left (or right). The EIGHT flag
explosives. While BRAVO flies, the smoking
hoisted with SCREEN (BLACK PENNANT)
lamp is out.
means steer straight to the ship.
INDIA: In port, INDIA at the dip on an
FIVE flag: The FIVE flag is the breakdown flag
approaching ship indicates that it is preparing to
and is usually carried at the foretruck and made
come alongside. When the flag is hauled close
up ready to break. Every sailor should be able to
up, it is ready to come alongside. INDIA is
recognize and know the meaning of the FIVE
displayed on the side that the evolution is to take
flag and the OSCAR. Both flags are always
place. The receiving ship also flies INDIA on the
carried ready to break.
appropriate side, at the dip to show it is making
You will need practice if you are to remember the
preparations, and close up to show it is ready to
flags and pennants. Probably the best time to practice
receive the approaching vessel. When the first
reading hoists is during slack periods while standing
line is secured, INDIA is hauled down on both
watches. During these periods, there usually will be a
ships. At sea, ROMEO serves as this signal.
Signalman nearby who can check you. You will soon
JULIETT: Your ship's call followed by
become quite proficient at reading flags and will learn
the meanings of many maneuvering and other signals.
JULIETT displayed on another ship indicates
that the other ship has a semaphore message for
UNITED STATES STORM-WARNING
your ship. JULIETT followed by DESIG
SIGNALS
indicates a priority message. The hoist remains
flying during transmission and is hauled down
The combinations of flags and pennants shown in
when the message has been sent.
figure 6-12 are hoisted at the National Weather Service
and other shore stations in the United States to indicate
MIKE: The ship having medical guard duty flies
existing or predicted unfavorable winds. The meanings
MIKE.
of the various displays are as follows:
OSCAR: OSCAR indicates man overboard and
Small-craft warning: One red pennant displayed
is made up ready to break.
by day or a red light over a white light at night
PAPA: PAPA calls all personnel attached to that
indicates that winds up to 38 miles an hour (33
ship to return to the ship.
knots) and/or sea conditions dangerous to small-
craft operations are forecast for the area.
QUEBEC: QUEBEC is the boat recall. When
flying alone, it orders all boats to return
Gale warning: Two red pennants displayed by
immediately. QUEBEC plus one or more
day or a white light above a red light at night
numeral pennants recalls the boat addressed.
indicates that winds ranging from 39 to 54 miles
an hour (34 to 47 knots) are forecast for the area.
ROMEO: In port, ROMEO is flown by the ship
having the ready duty. At sea, it is flown by ships
Storm warning: A single red flag with a black
preparing for and ready for replenishing. It is
square center displayed by day or two red lights
hauled down when the fast messenger is in hand
at night indicates that winds 55 miles an hour (48
(alongside method) or when the hose is in hand
knots) or above are forecast for the area. If the
(astern method).
winds are associated with a tropical cyclone
6-12
