The alphabet of flags in the fleet. Maritime flags and their meanings. Yellow flag on the ship

essential and essential integral part the Navy's combat command and control system is communications. The state and functioning of the communication system, its capabilities largely determine the efficiency of fleet management, the timeliness of combat missions.

- Semaphore flags are the simplest and most reliable means of visual communication and signaling, used at short distances during daylight hours. Signal production by semaphore flags consists in the transmission (reception) of conventional signs of the semaphore alphabet, in which one of the letters of the alphabet or a conventional official sign is assigned to each specific position or movement of the hands with flags. By successive transmission of such conventional signs, separated by small intervals of time, it is possible to convey ("write") any word by letter. Semaphore flags are primarily used to send open messages, but can also be used to send signals. The Russian semaphore alphabet was developed in 1895 by Vice Admiral Stepan Osipovich Makarov. The sailors studied it with enthusiasm and chatted with pleasure with their friends on neighboring ships, often holding white caps instead of flags. The communication range with semaphore flags is up to 2.5 miles.

- SIGNAL FLAGS are used in the fleet to send messages between ships. Each letter of the alphabet and each number has its own specific flag. This method for spelling words or phrases is very inconvenient, as it requires a large number of flags and time. Flag signaling is carried out by other, more convenient way, which consists in the fact that individual flags and various combinations of them (flag combinations) are assigned the meaning of individual words or entire phrases and concepts. These individual words, phrases, concepts and their corresponding combinations of flags (flag combinations) are summarized in special books - codes of signals. Analyze signals from the bottom up. During the Tsushima battle, the flagship battleship "Prince Suvorov" held a red flag "1" on the halyards, which means "To hit on the head", surrounded by Japanese ships, the battleship "Emperor Nicholas I" raised the signal "XGE" which means "Surrender". Signal flags are almost always used for signaling and, when necessary, for cleartext transmission. In good visibility conditions, the communication range is 4-5 miles.

- LIGHT COMMUNICATION is used in the dark. Morse code is used to send messages. The essence of such signal production is the transmission by means of light signaling devices (semaphore, lantern, searchlight) of conventional signs consisting of various combinations of short (dot) and long (dash) flashes of light (flashes). In particular, a searchlight can transmit signals over considerable distances, pointing upwards and towards the cloud. So, for example, during a severe storm on December 7, 1904, the Malaya transport lagged behind the 2nd Pacific squadron, at night Aurora and Oslyabya kept in touch with it, directing searchlight beams from below over the clouds. With this method, you can negotiate for 60 miles. Light means are widely used both for the transmission of open messages and for the transmission of signals.

- WIRELESS TELEGRAPH (Radio) - a means for transmitting (exchanging) text information by radio. The letters of the alphabet are represented by a combination of dots and dashes (Morse code). In 1900, a special order was issued by Vice Admiral P.P. Tyrtov, in which a decision was made to introduce a wireless telegraph on combat ships as the main means of communication. The advantage of radio is the high communication range (in 1901 - 100 miles, in 1904 - 1000 miles).

The order in which flags are signaled.

International Code of Signals.
The International Code of Signals (ICC) is intended mainly for communication with foreign ships and vessels in an environment caused by the need to ensure the safety of navigation and protection human life at sea, especially in cases where language communication difficulties arise. The code allows signal production by all means of communication, including radiotelephone and radiotelegraph. It is built on the principle that each signal has a complete semantic meaning. In some cases, digital additions are used to expand the value of the main signal. As a general rule, only one flag signal should be raised at a time. Each signal or group of signals must remain raised until a response is received on the receiving ship.

Ship call.
The call signs of the called vessel should be raised at the same time as the signal on a separate line.
If the callsigns are not raised, then this means that the signal is addressed to all ships located within the visual range of the signals. If it is not possible to establish the call sign of the vessel to which you want to signal, then you should first raise the signal VF - "You must raise your call sign" or CS - "What is the name or call sign of your ship?". At the same time, the transmitting vessel raises its call sign.
response to signals.
All vessels to which signals are addressed or which are indicated in the signals, as soon as they see them, must raise the "Response Pennant" to half, and immediately after parsing the signal - to the place; The "response pennant" should be lowered to half-mast as soon as the transmitting station lowers the signal, and again raised to its place after parsing the next signal.
End of signal exchange.
After lowering the last flag signal, the transmitting vessel shall separately raise
"Answer pennant", indicating that this signal is the last one. The receiving vessel should respond to this in the same way as to all other flag signals.
Actions if the signal is not clear.
If the receiving vessel cannot distinguish the signal transmitted for it, then it shall keep the "Reply Pennant" raised to half. If the signal is recognizable but its meaning is not understood, then the receiving vessel may raise the signal: ZQ - "Your signal appears to be encoded incorrectly. You should check and repeat the entire signal" or ZL - "Your signal was received but not understood."

Use of replacement pennants.
The use of replacement pennants allows the same letter flag or digital pennant to be repeated one or more times in the same group if the ship has a single set of flags. The first replacement pennant always repeats the highest signal flag of the first signal combination; the second substitute always repeats the second one, and the third substitute always repeats the signal flag third from the top. A replacement pennant may never be used more than once in the same group. The "replying pennant" when used as a decimal sign shall not be taken into account in determining which substitute is to be used.
Spelling transmission.
The names of ships or geographical features in the text of the signal flag should be spelled Latin alphabet. With non-military vessels, the military can exchange messages using the International Code of Signals. In this case, the ship raises the red and white pennant of the International Code of Signals.

Vault signals, with the exception of those indicating the action of the ship, are transmitted by flag
signaling in the following order:
- The flagship transmits signals over the connection without call signs of the addressee and sender;
these signals are rehearsed by the flags of all ships of the formation;
- The flagship sends signals to the address of one ship or several ships only with the call signs of the addressee (s); these signals are rehearsed by the flags of the ships located at the shortest distance between the sender and the addressee;
- Ships connecting signals to the address of one ship (including the flagship) or
several ships are transmitted with the call signs of the addressee and sender; these signals
ships that are at the shortest distance between the sender and the addressee rehearse with flags;
- The ships of the formation transmit signals, which are a report to the flagship and at the same time an alert to the ships of the formation, transmit only with their call signs; these signals are rehearsed by the flags of all ships of the connection.

Signal rehearsal.
The signal is rehearsed with flags in the following sequence:
- the ship-sender raises the signal to the place;
- ships rehearsing a signal raise it to half;
- the destination ship raises the signal to the place; following this, the ships rehearsing the signal,
lift it up as well.
The signal is sent down by all ships, following the actions of the flagship.
The order of transmission of signals showing the actions of the ship.
Signals showing the actions of the ship are transmitted without the call sign of the sender and are not
are rehearsing.

Raising and lowering the coloring flags.
At the solemn rise Naval ensign Russia's topmast flags and flags of coloring are raised. Topmast flags are hoisted on the topmasts of all masts; at the same time, the flags of officials raised on them should be located below the topmast flags. The coloring of ships with flags is carried out between the masts of the masts and from the latter to the posts of the ship. Triangular flags are hoisted from the stem to the fore mast clod, rectangular flags are raised between the masts clots, triangular and rectangular with pigtails from the masts, mainmast or mizzen mast to the sternpost.

When coloring are not used:
- State flag
- flags of auxiliary vessels and ships of the border troops;
- guis;
- flags and braid pennants of officials, pennant;
- foreign national, military, trade flags and flags of officials;
- flags of the signal set, having the same design with foreign national
flags; these flags currently include flags: B, K, N, R, X, C, E
Executive, 3, 4, 7, 9.
A set of flags to be raised during coloring should be made in such a way that the raised flags or their individual signals do not form any phrases or words with their letter values. Coloring flags are raised on halyards specially prepared for this purpose.

Original entry and comments on

• 1st additional- a red rectangle with a white border on a blue background;
• 2nd additional- red oblique stripes on a yellow background;
• 3rd additional- according to the drawing, it repeats the guis of the Russian fleet, has a white border;
• 4th additional- a four-part white-black-red-yellow triangular flag;
• - repeated the guis of the USSR Navy (in Russian Empire used, of course, the imperial guis. In the table of 1901, he is assigned the meaning "I'm going by special order. I'm cutting through the line. The court of a special commission");
• - a black flag with a red triangle with a white border;
• - a white triangular flag with a black horizontal stripe;
• - a flag of yellow and blue vertical stripes. Actually, the "telegraph flag" is already in the tables of 1901 and 1911, but there it is a blue cloth with 4 horizontal white stripes; This flag meant that the row of signal flags following it transmitted the phrase "by telegraph", i.e. one flag corresponds to one letter. If the "telegraph" flag was hoisted with some signal at the same time, but on a separate halyard, this meant that the entire signal must be read letter by letter. In the "Signalman's Handbook" N.S. Serebryany and B.B. Zhdanov (1983) said that the "telegraph" flag was also the first replacement flag.
• - a blue flag with a white rectangle in the center (already in the table of 1901); The flag is used to indicate that the ship is using Boat Signal Book signals. He, along with another flag, is the call sign of the boat. In the "Signalman's Handbook" N.S. Serebryany and B.B. Zhdanov (1983) states that the "boat" flag is also the second replacement flag.
• - a white flag with a blue rectangle in the center; In the "Signalman's Handbook" N.S. Serebryany and B.B. Zhdanov (1983) states that the "air" flag is also the third replacement flag.
• - a white flag with a red triangle on top;
• - a white flag with a black triangle below;
• - a white flag with a black diamond;
• - a flag divided by an oblique cross into red and white triangles;
• - a flag of yellow, blue and yellow horizontal stripes; In the Russian Empire (data from 1911), the interrogative flag was different - a long blue pennant with a white circle at the luff. The interrogative flag is raised at the same time as the signal, but on a separate file, used to give the signal an interrogative form
• - red trapezoidal pennant with a white circle;
  the return flag is hoisted by the ship to half, if the signal intended for it is seen. When the signal is deciphered, the response flag is raised "to the place." If the destination ship receives several signals from different ships, then it raises a response pennant together with the call signs of the ships that sent the signals. The return flag raised by the ship transmitting the signal also indicates that the signal has ended. A separately raised single flag indicates the end of the connection.
• - a flag divided vertically into white and red halves;

  In the fleet of the Russian Empire, the signal flags also included the so-called. "pilot flag"- national tricolor flag with a white border. Used to call a pilot.
  Flag - "Yes"- yellow-blue pennant (available in the table of 1911);
  Flag - "No"- rectangular white cloth with black vertical stripe(available in the table of 1911);
  "compass flag"- a long yellow pennant with two blue triangles (available in the table of 1911);
  "Duty Flag"- green triangular flag (available in the table of 1911);
  "Cancellation Flag"- a long pennant of white and black halves (available in the table of 1911);
  "Prayer Flag"- a white flag with two braids and a yellow Orthodox cross (available in the table of 1911).

  Boat signals

  
  

  Signals were used to negotiate warships with their boats, warships among themselves, pre-conscription training boats, Osoaviakhim ships (when they existed), and later DOSAAF ships. "Boat signal book"(first a 1939 book, then a new edition of ShSK-70). Signals according to the Boat Signal Book were made in accordance with the Rules for the Signal Production of the PNS No. 2-39, later - in accordance with the Rules for Visual Communication and Signaling of the Navy (PZS-69). To show that negotiations are being conducted according to the Boat Signal Book, a boat flag is raised on one of the ship's bows. This flag is not flown on boats, since they can only give signals according to the "Boat Signal Book". The boat flag hoisted on a ship can also mean:
  - together with one letter flag raised above the boat flag on one halyard - the call sign of the boat. A lifeboat's call sign raised on a ship indicates a request for a lifeboat to approach the side on which the call sign is raised. If the boat belongs to another ship, then along with its call sign, the call sign of this ship also rises.
  - before the signal with flags, without call signs - "the signal is for all boats".

  Below are the meanings of single flags according to the Boat Signal Book:
  A - "I do not agree, I do not destroy"
  B - “More move. row harder. Add sails. Get out of the drift."
  B - "The course leads to danger"
  G - Brandvahtenny
  D - Yes. Agree. I allow"
  E - "What happened?"
  AND -
  Z - “I have a reverse gear. Drifting me. Give back. Tap"
  AND -
  K - "I can not control"
  L - "Keep left"
  M - “Less move. It's easier to paddle. Lower the sails"
  H - “I have a cargo or have a combat reserve”
  ABOUT -
  P - "Keep right"
  R -
  S - "Stop the car. Sushi paddles. Get drifting."
  T - "keep it up"
  U -
  F - Cancellative
  X - "The end of the teaching or class"
  Ch - "Man overboard"
  W -
  SCH -
  Kommersant - "Flagship (commander) shows the course"
  Y -
  b -
  E -
  YU -
  I -
  Numbers - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
  0 - "Start of Boat Races"
  "Nord" - Rumb nord
  "Zuid" - Rumb Zuid
  "Ost" - Rumb ost
  "West" - Rumb West
  "Telegraph" - "I have an important assignment"
  “Reply pennant” - “I see clearly. Understood"
  “Boat” - “I am talking about the boat book. Race callsigns»

  The "Boat Signal Book" also lists and deciphers many signals from two flags (alphabetic or digital).

  Source - "BOAT SIGNAL BOOK OF THE NAVY OF THE UNION OF THE SSR", Ed. quartermaster 1st rank A. Clafton. State. naval publishing house of the NKVMF, Moscow, Leningrad, 1940

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Signal flags on the ship

signal flags- a set of flags of established sizes, shapes, patterns and colors, intended for visual communication between ships and ships with the shore.

The first signal flags appeared in the 9th century, but their meaning did not depend on the color or shape of the flag, but on its location on the ship.

In Russia, the first special signal flags appeared in 1696, and a set of domestic signals was created in 1710.

A signal flag or a combination of them is raised on topmasts or noks of yards and means a certain word or phrase. The decoding of these words or phrases occurs according to the names of the flags, which are given in the codes of signals. Thus, there was no single system and a variety of flags and standards were used.

Later, the International Code of Signals was created, which is intended for ships and merchant ships of all countries of the world. The flags of this set first appeared in 1857 and until 1887 constituted the System of code signals for the merchant fleet. But in 1901, the flags made up the International Code of Signals, which was accepted by all the maritime states of the world. In 1931, the code of signals was modified by an international commission and took on a modern look.

At the moment, the Navy of the Russian Federation uses several different codes - codes of naval signals and the Boat Signal Book. The set of naval signals has 59 different signal flags (32 alphabetic, 10 digital, 4 additional and 13 special), and the boat signal book - 54 flags. In addition, according to their shape, they are divided into rectangular (38 pieces), rectangular with pigtails (4 pieces), triangular (15 pieces) and pennant (2 pieces).

All flags are made of a special fabric - a flag, which is coated with a particularly resistant paint. Five different colors are used - red, yellow, blue, black and white.

There are five different sets of signal flags, which differ in size.

Dimensions of signal flags of various sets

Rolled signal flag

The first and second sets are used on large ships. Small and medium ships are equipped with the third and fourth sets, and the fifth set is used on boats and boats.

Signal flags are stored rolled up in special boxes on large ships and in canvas bags on small ships. Each flag is located in a separate cell. The flags are folded in a certain order and tightened with a loop, which allows the flag to unfold itself during the rise “to the place”. This allows signal flags to be raised when strong wind or from a very small signal bridge.