Signalman 1 & C - Historic Naval Ships Association

completed. At the end of start and stop signals the lightis blinked several times. Night signals are repeated asnecessary. The formations used are illustrated in figure12-17. Assault boat coxswains should know all ofthese signals and formations. Those signalsconcerning starting, stopping, breakdown, towing,and so on, might also prove useful to any coxswain inthe event of an emergency.The naval beach party is landed early in theassault. When they reach the beach, they proceed withtheir duties of marking channels and hazards tonavigation, establishing communications, improvingbeaches, and so forth.After a boat unloads on orders from the beachparty, it retracts past the surf line and proceeds to adesignated flank of the boat lane. Keeping clear of theboat lane, it proceeds to seaward and reports to thecontrol vessel for further orders.GENERAL UNLOADING PHASEDuring the general unloading phase, loaded boatsdo not maintain a formation on the trip to the beach,although several of them may be required to move asa unit. On the way to the beach they must stop fororders at the PCS and the BGC's boat.The type of cargo in a boat is indicated by the colorof special flags flown. Red denotes bulk cargo, whichneeds manpower for unloading; yellow shows the loadis such that a prime mover is required; blue denotesself-propelled cargo; and a red burgee shows the boatis a bowser (fuel) boat. A green flag shows a boatbelongs to a floating dump, and a numeral flag may beflown under it to indicate the type of cargo carried.SUMMARYIn this chapter, you have learned the generalconcept of an amphibious operation and the differentFigure 12-17.—Boat formations.ships, boats, and landing craft involved. You havelearned about standard flags and markers, controlareas, and debarkations. You also have learned totransmit grid position both by radio and visually andthe procedures for dispatching waves to the LODduring daylight and nighttime. You have learned theduties of the different personnel associated with anamphibious landing. Although this chapter has a lot ofinformation to learn about amphibious landings, yourbest source of information is NWP 22-3.12-32