Semaphore Training

1
Semaphore Training

• USNSCC
• Designed by Cadet J. Peterson
• Harlan R. Dickson Division
• Manchester, New Hampshire

2
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.

3
The Semaphore Flag
The flags are usually square, red and white,
divided diagonally with the red portion in the
upper hoist.
4
Semaphore Flag Positions

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

5
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)
6
Alphabetic Sign

• Alphabetic Sign must be given before a message
  starts
• Alphabetic Sign is
• LH Out
• RH Up

7
Alpha

• The sign for alpha is
• LH Down
• RH Low

8
Bravo

• The sign for bravo is
• LH Down
• RH Out

9
Charlie

• The sign for charlie is
• LH Down
• RH High

10
Delta

• The sign for delta is
• LH Down
• RH Up

11
Echo

• The sign for echo is
• LH High
• RH Down

12
Foxtrot

• The sign for foxtrot is
• LH Out
• RH Down

13
Golf

• The sign for golf is
• LH Low
• RH Down

14
Hotel

• The sign for hotel is
• LH Low
• RH Down

15
India

• The sign for india is
• LH Across Low
• RH Out

16
Juliet

• The sign for juliet is
• LH Out
• RH Up
• (also the alphabetic sign)

17
Kilo

• The sign for kilo is
• LH Up
• RH Low

18
Lima

• The sign for lima is
• LH High
• RH Low

19
Mike

• The sign for mike is
• LH Out
• RH Low

20
November

• The sign for november is
• LH Low
• RH Low

21
Oscar

• The sign for oscar is
• LH Across High
• RH Out

22
Papa

• The sign for papa is
• LH Up
• RH Out

23
Quebec

• The sign for quebec is
• LH High
• RH Out

24
Romeo

• The sign for romeo is
• LH Out
• RH Out

25
Sierra

• The sign for sierra is
• LH Low
• RH Out

26
Tango

• The sign for tango is
• LH Up
• RH High

27
Uniform

• The sign for uniform is
• LH High
• RH High

28
Victor

• The sign for victor is
• LH Low
• RH UP

29
Whiskey

• The sign whiskey is
• LH Out
• RH Across High

30
Xray

• The sign for xray is
• LH Low
• RH Across High

31
Yankee

• The sign for yankee is
• LH Out
• RH High

32
Zulu

• The sign for zulu is
• LH Out
• RH Across Low

33
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

34
Numerical Signal

• The numerical signal must be sent before any
  number signals can be sent.
• The numerical sign is
• LH High
• RH Up

35
Numeral One

• The sign for the numeral one is
• LH Down
• RH Low

36
Numeral Two

• The sign for the numeral two is
• LH Down
• RH Out

37
Numeral Three

• The sign for the numeral three is
• LH Down
• RH High

38
Numeral Four

• The sign for the numeral four is
• LH Down
• RH Up

39
Numeral Five

• The sign for the numeral five is
• LH High
• RH Down

40
Numeral Six

• The sign for the numeral six is
• LH Out
• RH Down

41
Numeral Seven

• The sign for the numeral seven is
• LH Low
• RH Down

42
Numeral Eight

• The sign for the numeral eight is
• LH Across Low
• RH Out

43
Numeral Nine

• The sign for the numeral nine is
• LH Across Low
• RH Up

44
Numeral Zero

• The sign for the numeral zero is
• LH Up
• RH Low

45
Annul

• If you need to cancel a message completely you
  must send this signal.
• LH Low
• RH High