Code flags

Things change over the years.  When I enlisted in the USCG in 1977, we were instructed by Quartermasters that USN and USCG ships call sign hoists start with the November flag to identify them as US Naval vessels.    The reference manual listed elsewhere in this discussion bears that out, and it was published in 2004.  When I was on the Columbia River Lightship, we had one call sign - NNCR - for being on the Columbia Lightship Station; when we went off station, we flew NEWP  because we were Lightship WLV 604.

I need to speak in my own defense!

As a USNA midshipman in the '50's we had flag-hoist and blinker-light competitions twice a year. These were taken extremely seriously and were preceeded by weeks of drills. Prominent among the many things we were taught by the chiefs and first-class signalmen was that a hoist starting with the November flag meant "ship whose call sign is" or when displayed in convoy or when entering or leaving port "my call sign is". Now it may well be that if all USN vessels had call signs that began with 'N' the presence of the November flag at the beginning of a hoist was correctly interpreted as above by infterence. (The message form had a blank for "addressee" and one for "message text", and given the Navy's inertia in matters of this kind probably still does.)  But (my increasingly faulty) memory is that a N-C-P-T hoist would be interpreted as "Ship whose call sign is CPT". The absence of a November flag, on the other hand would identify the recipient(s) as "All ships".

The flags shown on the au site are the International Code. However Navies use their own system as well as, and in conjunction with, the International Code. There is also another small problem in that the I/C flags have changed along with the naval codes over the years since Maryott first started his system. As an example during WW1 the Royal Navy along with the Merchant Navy had what is known as the Union Jack Code. The Union Jack (actually the Pilot Jack, the Union Flag with a white border) was the first flag in a signal hoist followed by a series, usually three or four, of I/C flags gave a message different to the normal one for the I/C hoist.  I would assume the US Navy also had its own special flags and pennants also.

Dai

This link should help you with all the imformation you need related to signal flags.

 

http://www.anbg.gov.au/flags/signal-flags.html

Ed’s interpretation is correct.  Four letter call signs are assigned in blocks to various nations and services.  In addition to the Army/Navy/Coast Guard letters listed US commercial transmitters are given call signs beginning with K or W- while those you from the US will recognize this from radio/TV stations, this also applies to merchant ships.  The Jeremiah O’Brien, for example, has had the call sign KXCH since 1943.

Regards,

Chris Friedenbach
Crewmember, SS Jeremiah O’Brien

I understand what you are saying, but how does that relate to the description of International Call Signs presented in ACP113.

http://www.jcs.mil/j6/cceb/acps/ACP113AFCh3.pdf

In Section I,  for example, Canadian warships are assigned call signs beginning with CF through CK.  There is no N prefix flag saying that call sign CGAP which follows is for HMCS Halifax.

Section 1 of ACP113 says that NA through NZ are assigned to US Navy and Coast Guard ships or shore activities.   "A" prefixes are US Army vessels. 

My interpretation of the international call signs is that one [or two] prefix characters identify the country and that the remaining characters identify the individual unit.

The November flag is not part of the call sign. It means "Ship whose call sign is" follwed by the 3-letter call sign itself.

 

As has been stated every ship has a Pennant, or more correctly, Pendant Number. This number is used to call up a ship for an individual ship as opposed to a general call. However woe betide any captain who has his Number Hoisted!

Dai

Signal flags in color, with their individual meaning  - http://www.chinfo.navy.mil/navpalib/communications/flags/flags.html .

Depending on who you asked,  USCGC Vigorous, NQSP meant  "Not quite Semper Paratus" or "Never quit, Semper Paratus".  I was on the Vigorous from 1987-89.  My sea detail billet was on the foc'sle with the anchor detail.  We left New London, CT for a patrol and I looked up at the mast.  Instead of NQSP, we were flying NPAW.  I told the 1t Lt and passed the info to the bridge.  A few days defore we left on patrol, one of the Quarter Masters transferred off the cutter, his initials were PAW.  He prepped the call sign before he left, as a favor to the rest of the Quarter Masters.

When a ship enters or leaves port (daytime) , she flies her 4 letter code in signal flags.

On most ships, the crew makes up a slogan to go with the callsign-- On the USCGC Bibb, it was "No Liberty, Poor Morale".   On the Barque Eagle, it was "Never Refuse Cold Beer".

 

I think you will find what you need at www.navsource.com just find your ship through the text Navagation at this site. Click on your ship and you will get a Photo History, Color photo of ships patch and in some cases it's awards and a color photo of it's radio/signal flag call signs. Every Navy vessel had it's own 4 letter code..

Hope this helps.

The 2002 edition of The Bluejacket's Manual is currently in print.  I found it on the Barnes and Noble website ( www.bn.com ) a minute ago for $26.95.  Apparently that 2002 version marked the book's 100th annivesary.  Used book dealers have plenty of copies of earlier editions.

That price may seem a little steep for such a physically small book, but believe me it's worth it.  There's a ton of information between those covers.  The old editions are, if anything, even more fun. 

Dredging up a few oldies & goodies from the bottom of the list ...

therriman wrote:

The code flags used on Navy ships are not used for indentifing themselves but for ship to ship communation.

Au Contraire!

http://www.jcs.mil/j6/cceb/acps/ACP113AFCh3.pdf

Allied Communications Procedures 113 "Call Sign Handbook for Ships" lists the flag hoist identifiers for ships of most modern allied navies.   These flags allowed  for ships to be visually identified when approaching other ships or ports. ACP113 contains a set of cross references of ship name to code and code to ship name.

There is a database of WWII USN ship call signs on the shipcamouflage.com website

Thanks T. R. and Tim, this info helps. I did manage to find the day shapes for minesweeping. I should have been more clear about code flags as a ship ID, and I should have said "call letters" as spelled out by code flags. I have that common problem of the 2D, static photo view and can only see the November flag, followed by a Papa, with the remaining two partly obscured. If only the flags were slightly moving in the picture!!

If you can't find a Bluejackets Manual I could copy and Fax you the relevent info from mine. I could try to scan and e-mail (I'm a novice at that though). But if you want to try, OK by me. My e-mail is: therrima@gfn.org
Tim

Late thought. We did use signal flags on Holidays and other special occasions in port only (not underway). We would rig lines from the Bow to the Mast top (most accessable) to the stern (if more than one mast we would go from foremast to aftermast too). Then pull a row of flags across the line, in no special order (to avoid spelling anything). The end result was a "dressed ship". It looked stunning at night especially during Christmas holidays when we would also light the ship (like some people light houses). Most post would even award prizes for best in classes (large, med, small, best overall). That would be an interesting display. I may have to try it sometime.
Tim

The code flags used on Navy ships are not used for indentifing themselves but for ship to ship communation. Things like formation signaling, tactical orders, man overboard, diver in the water, breakdown, boat recall, explosive handling, captain onboard or absent,and litterly thousands of different combinations.

This is a daytime only means of comm (for obvious reasons). Yes I do have a Bluejackets Manual, the one issued to me in Navy boot camp 23 years ago. They are printed by the U S Naval Institute in Annapolis, Maryland. Good luck trying to find one. I'd say that T.R. has the best options for finding one (maybe you could find one on e-bay or something).

Good Luck, Tim

Try this, a Blue Jacket's Manual. This is a basic training document for sailors and contains descriptions of the flags in questions. It also contains info on pennants and manuvering balls(?). You'll see when you look. You should be able to find one in an Army Navy Store or at your local navy recruiter. Anchors aweigh.....T