U.S. Navy Signal Flags

Even in these days of radio and satellite communications, the U.S. Navy uses the international alphabet flags, numeral pennants, numeral flags, and special flags and pennants for visual signaling. These signal flags are used to communicate while maintaining radio silence. Navy Signalmen transmit messages by hoisting a flag or a series of flags on a halyard. Each side of the ship has halyards and a "flag bag", containing a full set of signal flags. Signals unique to the Navy are used when communicating with other U.S. Navy or allied forces. When communicating with all other vessels, the International Code of Signals is used. The code/answer pennant precedes all signals in international code.

Flag Name Phonetic Pronunciation Navy Meaning International Meaning

Alfa AL-fah I have a diver down; keep well clear at slow speed.

Bravo BRAH-voh I am taking in, discharging, or carrying dangerous cargo.

Charlie CHAR-lee "Yes" or "affirmative".

Delta DELL-tah I am maneuvering with difficulty; keep clear.

Echo ECK-oh I am directing my course to starboard.

Foxtrot FOKS-trot I am disabled; communicate with me.
On aircraft carriers: Flight Operations underway

Golf GOLF I require a pilot.

Hotel hoh-TELL I have a pilot on board.

India IN-dee-ah Coming alongside. I am directing my course to port.

Juliet JEW-lee-ett I am on fire and have dangerous cargo; keep clear.

Kilo KEY-loh I wish to communicate with you.

Lima LEE-mah You should stop your vessel immediately.

Mike MIKE My vessel is stopped; making no way.

November no-VEM-bur No or negative.

Oscar OSS-kur Man overboard.

Papa pah-PAH All personnel return to ship; proceeding to sea (Inport).

Quebec kay-BECK Boat recall; all boats return to ship. Ship meets health regs; request clearance into port.

Romeo ROH-me-oh Preparing to replenish (At sea). Ready duty ship (Inport). None.

Sierra see-AIR-ah Conducting flag hoist drill. Moving astern.

Tango TANG-go Do not pass ahead of me. Keep clear; engaged in trawling.

Uniform YOU-nee-form You are running into danger.

Victor VIK-tah I require assistance.

Whiskey WISS-kee I require medical assistance.

Xray ECKS-ray Stop carrying out your intentions and watch for my signals.

Yankee YANG-kee Ship has visual communications duty. I am dragging anchor.

Zulu ZOO-loo I require a tug.

Code/Answer Code or Answer Flag that follows is from the International Code of Signals. Message is understood. Also, numeric decimal point.

First substitute First sub Absence of flag officer or unit commander (Inport). Substitute for the first flag in this hoist.

Second substitute Second sub Absence of chief of staff (Inport). Substitute for the second flag in this hoist.

Third substitute Third sub Absence of commanding officer (Inport). Substitute for the third flag in this hoist.

Fourth substitute Fourth sub Absence of civil or military official whose flag is flying on this ship. Substitute for the fourth flag in this hoist.

One WUN Numeral one. None.

Two TOO Numeral two. None.

Three TREE Numeral three. None.

Four FOW-er Numeral four. None.

Five FIFE Numeral five. None.

Six SICKS Numeral six. None.

Seven SEV-en Numeral seven. None.

Eight AIT Numeral eight. None.

Nine NIN-er Numeral nine. None.

Zero ZEE-roh Numeral zero. None.

Pennant one PEN-ant WUN Pennant one. Numeral one.

Pennant two PEN-ant TOO Pennant two. Numeral two.

Pennant three PEN-ant TREE Pennant three. Numeral three.

Pennant four PEN-ant FOW-er Pennant four. Numeral four.

Pennant five PEN-ant FIFE Pennant five. Numeral five.

Pennant six PEN-ant SICKS Pennant six. Numeral six.

Pennant seven PEN-ant SEV-en Pennant seven. Numeral seven.

Pennant eight PEN-ant AIT Pennant eight. Numeral eight

Pennant Nine PEN-ant NIN-er Pennant nine. Numeral nine

Pennant zero PEN-ant ZEE-roh Pennant zero. Numeral zero

Name	Phonetic Pronunciation	Navy Meaning	International Meaning
Alfa	AL-fah	I have a diver down; keep well clear at slow speed.
Bravo	BRAH-voh	I am taking in, discharging, or carrying dangerous cargo.
Charlie	CHAR-lee	"Yes" or "affirmative".
Delta	DELL-tah	I am maneuvering with difficulty; keep clear.
Echo	ECK-oh	I am directing my course to starboard.
Foxtrot	FOKS-trot	I am disabled; communicate with me. On aircraft carriers: Flight Operations underway
Golf	GOLF	I require a pilot.
Hotel	hoh-TELL	I have a pilot on board.
India	IN-dee-ah	Coming alongside.	I am directing my course to port.
Juliet	JEW-lee-ett	I am on fire and have dangerous cargo; keep clear.
Kilo	KEY-loh	I wish to communicate with you.
Lima	LEE-mah	You should stop your vessel immediately.
Mike	MIKE	My vessel is stopped; making no way.
November	no-VEM-bur	No or negative.
Oscar	OSS-kur	Man overboard.
Papa	pah-PAH	All personnel return to ship; proceeding to sea (Inport).
Quebec	kay-BECK	Boat recall; all boats return to ship.	Ship meets health regs; request clearance into port.
Romeo	ROH-me-oh	Preparing to replenish (At sea). Ready duty ship (Inport).	None.
Sierra	see-AIR-ah	Conducting flag hoist drill.	Moving astern.
Tango	TANG-go	Do not pass ahead of me.	Keep clear; engaged in trawling.
Uniform	YOU-nee-form	You are running into danger.
Victor	VIK-tah	I require assistance.
Whiskey	WISS-kee	I require medical assistance.
Xray	ECKS-ray	Stop carrying out your intentions and watch for my signals.
Yankee	YANG-kee	Ship has visual communications duty.	I am dragging anchor.
Zulu	ZOO-loo	I require a tug.
Code/Answer	Code or Answer	Flag that follows is from the International Code of Signals.	Message is understood. Also, numeric decimal point.
First substitute	First sub	Absence of flag officer or unit commander (Inport).	Substitute for the first flag in this hoist.
Second substitute	Second sub	Absence of chief of staff (Inport).	Substitute for the second flag in this hoist.
Third substitute	Third sub	Absence of commanding officer (Inport).	Substitute for the third flag in this hoist.
Fourth substitute	Fourth sub	Absence of civil or military official whose flag is flying on this ship.	Substitute for the fourth flag in this hoist.
One	WUN	Numeral one.	None.
Two	TOO	Numeral two.	None.
Three	TREE	Numeral three.	None.
Four	FOW-er	Numeral four.	None.
Five	FIFE	Numeral five.	None.
Six	SICKS	Numeral six.	None.
Seven	SEV-en	Numeral seven.	None.
Eight	AIT	Numeral eight.	None.
Nine	NIN-er	Numeral nine.	None.
Zero	ZEE-roh	Numeral zero.	None.
Pennant one	PEN-ant WUN	Pennant one.	Numeral one.
Pennant two	PEN-ant TOO	Pennant two.	Numeral two.
Pennant three	PEN-ant TREE	Pennant three.	Numeral three.
Pennant four	PEN-ant FOW-er	Pennant four.	Numeral four.
Pennant five	PEN-ant FIFE	Pennant five.	Numeral five.
Pennant six	PEN-ant SICKS	Pennant six.	Numeral six.
Pennant seven	PEN-ant SEV-en	Pennant seven.	Numeral seven.
Pennant eight	PEN-ant AIT	Pennant eight.	Numeral eight
Pennant Nine	PEN-ant NIN-er	Pennant nine.	Numeral nine
Pennant zero	PEN-ant ZEE-roh	Pennant zero.	Numeral zero

Semaphore Flag Signalling System

The Semaphore flag signaling system is an alphabet signalling system based on the waving of a pair of hand-held flags in a particular pattern.

The flags are usually square, red and yellow, divided diagonaly with the red portion in the upper hoist.

The flags are held, arms extended, in various positions representing each of the letters of the alphabet. The pattern resembles a clock face divided into eight positions: up, down, out, high, low, for each of the left and right hands (LH and RH) six letters require the hand to be brought across the body so that both flags are on the same side.

Flag positions in Semaphore

One way to visualize the semaphore alphabet is in terms of circles:

first circle: A, B, C, D, E, F, G;
second circle: H, I, K, L, M, N (omitting J);
third circle: O, P, Q, R, S;
fourth circle: T, U, Y and 'annul';
fifth circle: 'numeric', J (or 'alphabetic'), V;
sixth circle: W, X;
seventh circle: Z

In ther first circle, the letters A to C are made with the right arm, and E to G with the left, and D with either as convenient. In the second circle, the right arm is kept still at the letter A position and the left arm makes the movements; similarly in the remaining circles, the right arm remains fixed while the left arm moves. The arms are kept straight when changing from one position to another.

For another flag communication system, see the international maritime signal flags.