Signalman 1 & C - Historic Naval Ships Association

Example:If a junior commanding officer requests permissionto proceed on duties assigned by signaling BHTACK the signal, his/her superior would reply C,signifying “Permission granted to proceed on dutiesassigned”When the governing group applies to two or moresignals following it, BX is inserted after the last of thesignals to which it is to apply.Call Signs, Sequence Numbers,and Unit IndicatorsCall signs, address groups, and sequence numbersmay be used in conjunction with groups from ATP 1,volume II to complete, amplify, or vary the meaningof the signal. Generally, call signs used to indicateships, units, or commanders referred to in the meaningof the signal, follow the entire signal. An exception isthose signals indicating bearing and distance from aunit, where the call sign appears within the signal.A unit indicator (GROUP/FLOT, SQUAD, DIV,SUBDIV) following a signal indicates the unitcarrying out the meaning of the signal.Description SignalsA description signal, used to supplement a signalgroup, normally describes own or enemy forces orconveys other information. A description signalconsists of DESIG, followed by numerals, letters, orgroups necessary to amplify the meaning of the signal.For example, a flaghoist reporting the sighting ofenemy forces might be supplemented by DESIG 2C,which would indicate the forces were composed oftwo light cruisers.Plain LanguageWhen appropriate, DESIG followed by lettersand/or numerals indicates that such a group is to beinterpreted literally. DESIG is to immediately precedethe group to be interpreted, and only that group. Whenmore than one group is to be governed, DESIGseparated by TACK will govern those groups.Exceptions are when a plain number must be used tocomplete the meaning of a signal or when used in themeaning of a signal.Words may be spelled out within the text of asignal to complete or modify the meaning. Forexample, to spell out the word yes, the hoist would beas follows:DESIG pennantYANKEE flagECHO flagSIERRA flagBecause spelling out words requires a number offlags, plain text is never used in flaghoist signals whenthe same information can be conveyed by code.Operating SignalsThe Q and Z communication operating signalscontained in ACP 131 may be used alone or tosupplement groups in ATP 1, volume II.International Code of SignalsSignals contained in International Code ofSignals, Pub 102, may be used alone or in conjunctionwith signal groups from ATP 1, volume II. Wheneverinternational groups are used alone in flaghoist,international procedure is to be used in answering.Whenever military use is made of International Codeof Signals, groups will be preceded by CODE whentransmitting by flaghoist, or by INTERCO by Morse,voice, or semaphore.When communicating with non-military ships orstation or non-Allied warships, refer to InternationalCode of Signals.TablesThe supplementary tables are located in chapter33 of ATP 1, volume II. These tables are primarilyintended to expand the meaning of certain basicgroups, but they can be used with any signal withinthe volume. When adding an item from thesupplementary tables to the basic group, the tableidentifying letter must follow the item number. Whena signal from the supplementary tables is used byitself, it will be preceded by the governing group BVexcept for the supplementary table X, where it may bepreceded by the second substitute. Numeral flags 1through 9 are not to be used with the supplementarytable.BASIC MANEUVERING FLAGSNavy signal flags and pennants include six thatpertain directly to maneuvering: CORPEN,FORMATION, SPEED, STATION, SCREEN, and5-9