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VISUAL COMMUNICATIONS

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VISUAL COMMS METHODS

** SEMAPHORE

** FLAGHOIST

** FLASHING LIGHT

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SEMAPHORE

* Quickest method, but difficult to read

* Signalman uses flags or lighted wands

* Position of flags/wands indicates

letter or symbol of message

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SEMAPHORE

* Faster than flashing light

* More secure than flashing light

* Very short range

* Day or nighttime use

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FLASHING LIGHT EQUIPMENT

* Directional searchlight

* Multipurpose light

* Omnidirectional signal lights/yardarm blinkers

Regular or infrared lights

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FLASHING LIGHT

Infrared signal lights must be read with infrared viewers called:

NANCY GEAR

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FLASHING LIGHT

• Directional (searchlight) is for day or nighttime use

• Non-directional (yardarm blinkers) are for nighttime use only

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FLAG HOIST

** Bridge watch officers MUST be able to read flaghoist signals

** Involves use of multi-colored flags and pennants

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FLAG HOIST

• Rapid

• Accurate

• Allows for a more uniform execution of maneuver

• May only be used in daylight

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FLAGHOIST TERMINOLOGY

Flagbag - a metal box containing a set of flags and pennants

Halyard - a line running from the flagbag to the yardarm

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FLAGHOIST TERMINOLOGY

Retriever - line attached to a halyard in order to recover it if necessary

Hoist - A signal consisting of one or more flags/pennants on a single halyard

Display - A complete signal; can be on one or more hoists

Bend on - to hook a flag/pennant onto a halyard

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FLAGHOIST TERMINOLOGY

Point of hoist - highest point on halyard to which the signal is raised

At the dip Closed up Hauled down

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Flaghoists are read as follows:

Bow aspect

Stbd Port Starboard to Port

Outboard to inboard

Top to bottom

** Maximum of five flags per hoist

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TACKLINESA length of line, equal in length

to a flag/pennant

Used in visual displays just as "tacks" are used in R/T signals

Tacklines do not count toward the five flag max per halyard

Tacks are understood, as necessary, between adjacent

hoists

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SUBSTITUTE PENNANTS

The four sub pennants are used to repeat a flag in the same hoist

First sub repeats the first flag on the hoist, second sub repeats the second flag, etc.

1st Sub 2nd Sub

3rd Sub 4th Sub

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A sub pennant can stand for another sub pennant.

Turn

Port

One

3rd sub = 3rd flag in hoist = One

4th sub = 4th flag in hoist = 3rd sub = One

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ANSWERING, ACKNOWLEDGING, AND EXECUTING

Originator sends signal

Addressee answers by repeating each hoist at the dip

When signal is understood, addressee closes it up

Originator executes signal

by hauling it down

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VISUAL RESPONSIBILITY

In a line formation: OTC sends signal

Intermediate ships hold their displays at the dip

Ship farthest from the OTC closes up the signal when it's understood

Intermediate ships close up their displays

When all ships have acknowledged, OTC executes by hauling down the

signal

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VISUAL CALL SIGNS

Dp9p9p3USS Kidd

(DDG-993)

Dp9p6p3USS Spruance

(DD-963)

Dp5p1Dp5

USS Arleigh Burke

Shortened version

(DDG-51)

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INTERNATIONAL CALL SIGNS

Call signs assigned to all radio stations

- First letter indicates nationality of the station

U. S. Navy call signs begin with "N"USN ships are required to hoist their call

sign when in inland waters

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GOVERNING PENNANTSThese pennants are used to change the

meaning of a signal

Interrogative Negative

Preparative ("Prep")

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turn

port

tree

eight

eight

To question a signal that is not understood:

- hoist the signal at the dip

- hoist INT closed up on the next halyard

Interrogative

turn

port

tree

eight

eight

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PREP - tells addressee toprepare for an evolution

NEGAT - cancels all or part of a signal

Signal Cancels entire signal

Cancels part of signal

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Single Pennants and Flags

Flags and pennants have special meanings when flown singly

CO's absentee Guide Transferring fuel or ammo

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A flag/pennant flying in a superior positiongoverns the flags on adjacent hoists

Signals from Pub 102 will begin with the Code pennant.

Pub 102 uses numberpennants NOTnumber flags!

"Code Hotel Tango"

"NEGAT Turn Port Niner"

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VISUAL MESSAGE BLANK

HEADING

INFO:

TO:

FROM: DATE RELEASED BY

SYSTEM PRECEDENCE

CALL UP

OPERATOR SUPERVISOR

TOR/TOD VISUAL NR

FLAG C OF S CAPT OOD COMM CEN DTG

Name:_____________

BT

UNCLASS CONREP REQ 3 DOZEN

COOKIES FOR TOMORROW’S CONREP. BT

USS DOC

USS SWOS

COMDESRON THREE

FL R

OODTODAY

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VISUAL COMMUNICATIONS