Signalman 1 & C - Historic Naval Ships Association

When conditions, such as travel through narrowwaters, make a commodore's control of the convoyimpracticable, the convoy must be ordered to proceedindependently. The masters will then know theyshould no longer look for guidance.Although the commodore is responsible for thesafe conduct and information of the convoy,MASTERS, INDIVIDUALLY, ARE AT ALL TIMESRESPONSIBLE FOR THE SAFE NAVIGATIONAND HANDLING OF THEIR SHIPS.The commodore will issue maneuvering orders toships in convoy. The OTC may request thecommodore to order a maneuver, and the transmissionbe overheard. Care must be exercised by merchantships to ensure that only those orders addressed tothem are obeyed. Orders from the OTC to thecommodore are not intended for the ships in convoyuntil relayed by the commodore and addressed to shipsin the convoy.VICE COMMODOREThe vice commodore, if assigned, will sail in aship other than that in which the convoy commodoresails. His/her duties are to assist the commodore andto assume the duties of convoy commodore should theconvoy commodore's ship become incapacitated. Ifthe convoy splits, he/she may take charge ascommodore of a section.REAR COMMODOREThe rear commodore, if assigned, assists thecommodore and vice commodore in their tasks andacts for them in their absences. If the convoy splits,he/she may take charge of a section.SPECIAL CONVOY FLAGSLEARNING OBJECTIVES: List and definespecial flags flown in convoy formations.The majority of flags used in convoycommunications will be familiar to signalmen becauseof their normal use in international and Alliedcommunications.COMMODORE’S FLAGA large XRAY flag is flown by the commodore'sship while the convoy is forming up or reforming orwhenever the commodore wishes to make the shipreadily identifiable. It is flown on similar occasions bythe vice or rear commodore's ship when such officerhas assumed command of the convoy or is actingindependently of the commodore when in charge ofsome of the convoy.CONVOY FLAGThe NCSO at the port of departure of a convoywill assign a distinguishing flag to be flown by allships and escorts in a particular convoy. It only haslocal and temporary significance to assist in mutualrecognition.GUIDE FLAGThe commodore's ship normally acts as the guideship of the convoy, but he or she may have anothership to take over as guide. A ship ordered to take overas guide will immediately hoist her largest merchantensign and keep it flying as long as she remains guide.CONVOY FORMATIONLEARNING OBJECTIVES: Explain theprocedures for the forming of ships in a convoyformation.The arrangement of ships in a convoy is termedconvoy formation. While convoys have traditionallybeen formed in columns in line ahead on a broad front,higher speeds and different types of merchant ships,and the modern vehicles, weapons, and sensors ofopposing forces may require convoys to be of any sizeor shape in order to get the best protection possible.CONVOY GRID SYSTEMA formation grid is shown in figure 7-1; the gridallows almost total variation of ship stations within aconvoy. The formation grid also allows for thesituation where it is considered that several small butinterrelated convoys are required.Escorts may or may not be stationed on the samegrid system. Convoy station designators are used asconvoy internal call signs (see fig. 7-1).The convoy will be formulated by the OCA, OTC,commodore, NCSO, and the Sailing Order Folderissued to each ship before sailing. Once at sea, the7-4