International maritime signal flags

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The system of international maritime signal flags is a way of representing individual letters of the alphabet in signals to or from ships. It is a component of the International Code of Signals. <ref name="international">International Marine Signal Flags</ref>

There are various methods that the flags can be used as signals:

each flag spells out a letter of an alphabetic message.
individual flags have specific and standard meanings; for example, diving support vessels raise the "A flag" indicating their inability to move from their current location because they have a diver underwater.
one or more flags form a code word whose meaning can be looked up in a code book held by both parties. An example is the Popham numeric code used at the Battle of Trafalgar.
in yacht racing and dinghy racing, flags have other meanings; for example, the P flag is used as the "preparatory" flag to indicate an imminent start, and the S flag means "shortened course".

NATO uses an extra set of flags to communicate specific types of messages.

1 Letters
2 Numbers
3 Other flags
- 3.1 NATO signals
4 See also
5 References
6 External links

[edit] Letters

A	Alfa	Image:ICS Alfa.svg	I have a diver down; keep well clear at slow speed
B	Bravo	Image:ICS Bravo.svg	I am taking in, or discharging, or carrying dangerous goods. (Originally used by the Royal Navy specifically for military explosives.)
C	Charlie	Image:ICS Charlie.svg	Yes. ^[1]
D	Delta	Image:ICS Delta.svg	Keep clear of me; I am maneuvering with difficulty.
E	Echo	Image:ICS Echo.svg	I am altering my course to starboard.
F	Foxtrot	Image:ICS Foxtrot.svg	I am disabled; communicate with me.
G	Golf	Image:ICS Golf.svg	I require a pilot. When made by fishing vessels operating in close proximity on the fishing grounds it means: "I am hauling nets".
H	Hotel	Image:ICS Hotel.svg	I have a pilot on board.
I	India	Image:ICS India.svg	I am altering my course to port.
J	Juliet	Image:ICS Juliett.svg	I am on fire and have dangerous cargo on board: keep well clear of me, or I am leaking dangerous cargo.
K	Kilo	Image:ICS Kilo.svg	I wish to communicate with you.
L	Lima	Image:ICS Lima.svg	In harbor - The ship is under Quarantine. At sea - You should stop your vessel instantly.
M	Mike	Image:ICS Mike.svg	My vessel is stopped and making no way through the water.
N	November	Image:ICS November.svg	No. ^[2]
O	Oscar	Image:ICS Oscar.svg	Man overboard (often attached to the man overboard pole on boats).
P	Papa	Image:ICS Papa.svg	The Blue Peter. In harbor — All persons should report on board as the vessel is about to proceed to sea. At sea — It may be used by fishing vessels to mean: "My nets have come fast upon an obstruction".
Q	Quebec	Image:ICS Quebec.svg	My vessel is "healthy" and I request free pratique.
R	Romeo	Image:ICS Romeo.svg	No meaning in the flag code.
S	Sierra	Image:ICS Sierra.svg	I am operating astern propulsion.
T	Tango	Image:ICS Tango.svg	Keep clear of me; I am engaged in pair trawling.
U	Uniform	Image:ICS Uniform.svg	You are running into danger.
V	Victor	Image:ICS Victor.svg	I require assistance.
W	Whiskey	Image:ICS Whiskey.svg	I require medical assistance.
X	Xray	Image:ICS X-ray.svg	Stop carrying out your intentions and watch for my signals.
Y	Yankee	Image:ICS Yankee.svg	I am dragging my anchor.
Z	Zulu	Image:ICS Zulu.svg	I require a tug. When made by fishing vessels operating in close proximity on the fishing grounds it means: "I am shooting nets".

* ↑ N and C together (No and Yes) is used as a distress signal.

[edit] Numbers

Type of flag	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
NATO flags	Image:ICS Zero.svg	Image:ICS One.svg	Image:ICS Two.svg	Image:ICS Three.svg	Image:ICS Four.svg	Image:ICS Five.svg	Image:ICS Six.svg	Image:ICS Seven.svg	Image:ICS Eight.svg	Image:ICS Niner.svg
Pennants	Image:ICS Pennant Zero.svg	Image:ICS Pennant One.svg	Image:ICS Pennant Two.svg	Image:ICS Pennant Three.svg	Image:ICS Pennant Four.svg	Image:ICS Pennant Five.svg	Image:ICS Pennant Six.svg	Image:ICS Pennant Seven.svg	Image:ICS Pennant Eight.svg	Image:ICS Pennant Niner.svg

[edit] Other flags

Image:ICS Prompt.svg	Image:ICS Repeat One.svg	Image:ICS Repeat Two.svg	Image:ICS Repeat Three.svg	Image:ICS Repeat Four.svg
Prompt	First substitute	Second substitute	Third substitute	Fourth substitute
[edit] NATO signals
Image:ICS Answer.svg	Image:ICS Prepare.svg	Image:ICS Question.svg	Image:ICS Negative.svg	Image:ICS Designation.svg
Code/answer (ANS)	Preparation (PREP)	Question (INT)	Negation (NEGAT)	Designation (DESIG)
Image:ICS Corpen.svg	Image:ICS Turn.svg	Image:ICS Screen.svg	Image:ICS Speed.svg	Image:ICS Station.svg
Alter course (CORPEN)	Turn (TURN)	Screen (SCREEN)	Speed (SPEED)	Station (STATION)
Image:ICS Port.svg	Image:ICS Starboard.svg	Image:ICS Formation.svg	Image:ICS Division.svg	Image:ICS Squadron.svg
Port (PORT)	Starboard (STBD)	Formation (FORM)	Division (DIV)	Squadron (SQUAD)
Image:ICS Group.svg	Image:ICS Subdivision.svg	Image:ICS Emergency.svg
Group (FLOT)	Subdivision (SUBDIV)	Emergency (EMERG)