QUIZ

1. What is the best way to learn the International Morse Code?

2. What alphabetical flags are semaphore flags similar to?

3. How many basic sight patterns are there in the International Morse Code?

4. What are the standard sizes of semaphore flags?

5. How are the beginning and the end of numerals indicated in semaphore?

6. What is NANCY?

7. Under average conditions, what is the maximum range of NANCY? 8. What are the three demands of all naval communications?

9. What is the advantage of using semaphore rather than flashing light in clear daylight for signaling a message?

10. Before a large searchlight is used, especially on small ships, what should be done?

11. When cleaning optical equipment, what should the lens be cleaned with?

12. Which of the following is NOT a principal type of visual signaling used today?

a. Flashing light.

b. NANCY.

c. Flaghoist.

d. Semaphore.

13. International Morse Code is standard for all naval communications transmitted by

a. radiotelegraph.

b. radio.

c. semaphore.

d. flaghoist.

14. A 12-inch Navy signal searchlight is designed, according to specifications, to send

a. 8 words a minute.
b. 10 words a minute.

c. 12 words a minute.

d. 15 words a minute.

15. Semaphore procedure is similar to that used for

a. flaghoist.

b. radio.

c. flashing light.

d. telephone.

6. All of the letters of the alphabet have opposites except a. L.

b. D.
c. R.

d. all of the above.

7. The reflector of a 12-inch searchlight should be cleaned

9. Binoculars are usually how strong in magnifying power in com

CHAPTER

FLAGHOIST SIGNALING

RAPID AND ACCURATE

3

Flaghoist signaling provides a rapid and accurate system of handling tactical and informational signals of reasonable length during daylight between ships in proximity. In general, a flaghoist signal ensures a more uniform execution of a maneuver than does any other system.

For signaling by flaghoist, the Navy uses the international alphabet flags and numeral pennants and, in addition, a set of numeral flags and special meaning flags and pennants. Each flag and pennant has a name. Each alphabet flag has the name of the letter which it represents, and a numeral flag takes the name of the numeral it represents.

PARTS OF A FLAG

Figure 3-1 shows the various flag types and their parts. The FLY is the length of the flag as measured from the staff to the outside edge.

The HOIST is the vertical width of the flag when flying free. The TABLING is the double thickness of bunting-taped, bound, and stitched-which is at the hoist of a flag.

The TAIL LINE is a short length of halyard attached to the lower part of the tabling and carrying the snap hook. It serves as a spacer, separating the flags of a hoist for clearness in reading signals. (The tail line is not illustrated in figure 3-1.)

The ring is attached to the top of the tabling and snaps into the tail line of the preceding flag or hook of the halyard. The tackline is a 6-foot length of braided signal halyard

with a ring at one end and a snap at the other. Uses of the tackline will be discussed later in this chapter.

HOW TO READ FLAGHOISTS

The flags of a hoist are always read from the top down. When a signal is too long to fit on one halyard—when, in other words, it requires more flags than can be made into a single hoist—the signal must be continued on another halyard. When a signal is broken into two or more hoists, it must be divided at points where there can be a natural space without affecting the meaning of the signal.

A complete signal-whether on one hoist or on two or more adjacent hoists flying at the same time—is called a DISPLAY. When displays of more than one hoist are being raised, the separate hoists are run up one by one in the correct order. Don't try to run them up at the same instant. As a general rule, if a signal is too long to be

shown completely on THREE halyards, it's better to make two or more displays out of the signal. If this is done the HEADING must be hoisted on a separate halyard and kept flying until the last hoist of the text is hauled down.

When two or more hoists are flying, they are read from outboard in, or from forward aft. Figure 3-2 shows how to read a three-hoist signal-from the top down and from outboard in.

Flags may also be hoisted at the TRIATIC STAY, a line extending from the foremast aft to a stack or another mast. Such signals are read from forward aft. A triatic stay hoist is illustrated in ;figure 3-3, which also shows hoists at two positions on a yardarm.

When signals are hoisted at yardarms of different heights, those at the higher yardarm are read first.

A hoist is DIPPED OR AT THE DIP-when it is hoisted three-fourths of the way up toward the point of hoist. The point of hoist is the block attached to the yardarm. The halyard travels through this block when you raise or lower the hoist.

A hoist is CLOSE-UP when its top is touching the point of