semaphore training harlan r. dickson division. u. s. naval sea cadet corpscompass :: what is...

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.

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

The Semaphore Flag

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

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

Semaphore Flag Positions

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

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

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)

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

Alphabetic Sign

• Alphabetic Sign must be given before a message starts

• Alphabetic Sign is LH Out RH Up

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

Alpha

• The sign for alpha is

LH Down RH Low

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

Bravo

• The sign for bravo is

LH Down RH Out

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

Charlie

• The sign for charlie is

LH Down RH High

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

Delta

• The sign for delta is

LH Down RH Up

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

Echo

• The sign for echo is

LH High RH Down

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

Foxtrot

• The sign for foxtrot is

LH Out RH Down

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

Golf

• The sign for golf is LH Low RH Down

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

Hotel

• The sign for hotel is

LH Low RH Down

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

India

• The sign for india is

LH Across Low RH Out

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

Juliet

• The sign for juliet is

LH Out RH Up

(also the alphabetic sign)

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

Kilo

• The sign for kilo is

LH Up RH Low

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

Lima

• The sign for lima is

LH High RH Low

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

Mike

• The sign for mike is

LH Out RH Low

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

November

• The sign for november is

LH Low RH Low

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

Oscar

• The sign for oscar is

LH Across High RH Out

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

Papa

• The sign for papa is

LH Up RH Out

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

Quebec

• The sign for quebec is

LH High RH Out

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

Romeo

• The sign for romeo is

LH Out RH Out

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

Sierra

• The sign for sierra is

LH Low RH Out

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

Tango

• The sign for tango is

LH Up RH High

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

Uniform

• The sign for uniform is

LH High RH High

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

Victor

• The sign for victor is

LH Low RH UP

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

Whiskey

• The sign whiskey is

LH Out RH Across High

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

Xray

• The sign for xray is

LH LowRH Across High

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

Yankee

• The sign for yankee is

LH OutRH High

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

Zulu

• The sign for zulu is

LH OutRH Across Low

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

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

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

Numerical Signal

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

• The numerical sign is

LH HighRH Up

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

Numeral One

• The sign for the numeral one is

LH DownRH Low

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

Numeral Two

• The sign for the numeral two is

LH DownRH Out

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

Numeral Three

• The sign for the numeral three is

LH DownRH High

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

Numeral Four

• The sign for the numeral four is

LH Down RH Up

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

Numeral Five

• The sign for the numeral five is

LH High RH Down

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

Numeral Six

• The sign for the numeral six is

LH Out RH Down

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

Numeral Seven

• The sign for the numeral seven is

LH Low RH Down

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

Numeral Eight

• The sign for the numeral eight is

LH Across Low RH Out

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

Numeral Nine

• The sign for the numeral nine is

LH Across Low RH Up

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

Numeral Zero

• The sign for the numeral zero is

LH Up RH Low

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

Annul

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

LH Low RH High