Semaphore Training HARLAN R. DICKSON DIVISION. U. S. Naval Sea Cadet CorpsCOMPASS :: What is Semaphore? Semaphore is a method

Semaphore Training

HARLAN R. DICKSON DIVISION

U. S. Naval Sea Cadet CorpsCOMPASS :: http://compass.seacadets.org/

What is Semaphore?

• Semaphore is a method of visual signaling. It is most commonly done by the use of flags but can also be done with lights. Before the invention of the telegraph, signaling from high towers was used to transmit messages between distant points. In the Navy it is used to signal between ships by sailors manipulating flags to indicate the different letters of the alphabet.


The Semaphore Flag

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


Semaphore Flag Positions

• Signaling with Semaphore Flags resembles a clock face divided into 8 sections


Semaphore Flag Positions (continued)

Right Hand Up is at position 12 (RH up)Right Hand High is between position 1 and 2 (RH high)Right Hand Out is position 3 (RH Out)Right Hand Low is between position 3 and 4 (RH low)Right Hand Down is position 6 (RH Down)Left Hand Up is at position 12 (LH up)Left Hand High is between position 10 and 11 (LH high)Left Hand Out is position 9 (LH Out)Left Hand Low is between position 7 and 8 (LH low)Left Hand Down is position 6 (LH Down)


Alphabetic Sign

• Alphabetic Sign must be given before a message starts

• Alphabetic Sign is LH Out RH Up


Alpha

• The sign for alpha is

LH Down RH Low


Bravo

• The sign for bravo is

LH Down RH Out


Charlie

• The sign for charlie is

LH Down RH High


Delta

• The sign for delta is

LH Down RH Up


Echo

• The sign for echo is

LH High RH Down


Foxtrot

• The sign for foxtrot is

LH Out RH Down


Golf

• The sign for golf is LH Low RH Down


Hotel

• The sign for hotel is

LH Low RH Down


India

• The sign for india is

LH Across Low RH Out


Juliet

• The sign for juliet is

LH Out RH Up

(also the alphabetic sign)


Kilo

• The sign for kilo is

LH Up RH Low


Lima

• The sign for lima is

LH High RH Low


Mike

• The sign for mike is

LH Out RH Low


November

• The sign for november is

LH Low RH Low


Oscar

• The sign for oscar is

LH Across High RH Out


Papa

• The sign for papa is

LH Up RH Out


Quebec

• The sign for quebec is

LH High RH Out


Romeo

• The sign for romeo is

LH Out RH Out


Sierra

• The sign for sierra is

LH Low RH Out


Tango

• The sign for tango is

LH Up RH High


Uniform

• The sign for uniform is

LH High RH High


Victor

• The sign for victor is

LH Low RH UP


Whiskey

• The sign whiskey is

LH Out RH Across High


Xray

• The sign for xray is

LH LowRH Across High


Yankee

• The sign for yankee is

LH OutRH High


Zulu

• The sign for zulu is

LH OutRH Across Low


Error

• If you make an error while sending a message you must send this signal before repeating the sign you intended to send.

RH Raised and Lowered

LH Raised and Lowered Together


Numerical Signal

• The numerical signal must be sent before any number signals can be sent.

• The numerical sign is

LH HighRH Up


Numeral One

• The sign for the numeral one is

LH DownRH Low


Numeral Two

• The sign for the numeral two is

LH DownRH Out


Numeral Three

• The sign for the numeral three is

LH DownRH High


Numeral Four

• The sign for the numeral four is

LH Down RH Up


Numeral Five

• The sign for the numeral five is

LH High RH Down


Numeral Six

• The sign for the numeral six is

LH Out RH Down


Numeral Seven

• The sign for the numeral seven is

LH Low RH Down


Numeral Eight

• The sign for the numeral eight is

LH Across Low RH Out


Numeral Nine

• The sign for the numeral nine is

LH Across Low RH Up


Numeral Zero

• The sign for the numeral zero is

LH Up RH Low


Annul

• If you need to cancel a message completely you must send this signal.

LH Low RH High

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Semaphore Training HARLAN R. DICKSON DIVISION. U. S. Naval Sea Cadet CorpsCOMPASS :: What is Semaphore? Semaphore is a method