Signal flags are used to communicate messages,
at times because radio silence is required. Here are their names and meanings,
both International and/or specific to the Navy, as well as meanings when used in
a Sailing Regatta. There is also a signaling system
called Semaphore which uses the position of the
flags relative to a person to denote the letter.
| Flag |
Name &
Phonetic Pronunciation |
Meaning |
 |
Alfa
AL-fah
|
I have a diver down; keep well clear at slow speed. |
 |
Bravo
BRAH-voh
|
I am taking in, discharging, or carrying dangerous cargo. |
 |
Charlie
CHAR-lee
|
"Yes" or "affirmative".
Change of Course (Sailing Regatta)
|
 |
Delta
DELL-tah
|
I am maneuvering with difficulty; keep clear. |
 |
Echo
ECK-oh
|
I am directing my course to starboard. |
 |
Foxtrot
FOKS-trot
|
I am disabled; communicate with me.
On aircraft carriers: Flight Operations underway |
 |
Golf
GOLF
|
I require a pilot. |
 |
Hotel
hoh-TELL
|
I have a pilot on board. |
 |
India
IN-dee-ah
|
I am directing my course to port.
(International)
Coming alongside.
(Navy)
Round the Ends Starting Rule (Sailing
Regatta)
|
 |
Juliet
JEW-lee-ett
|
I am on fire and have dangerous cargo; keep clear. |
 |
Kilo
KEY-loh
|
I wish to communicate with you. |
 |
Lima
LEE-mah
|
You should stop your vessel immediately.
Come Within Hail or Follow Me (Sailing
Regatta)
|
 |
Mike
MIKE
|
My vessel is stopped; making no way.
Mark Missing (Sailing Regatta)
|
 |
November
no-VEM-bur
|
No or negative.
Abandonment and Re-sail (Sailing Regatta)
|
 |
Oscar
OSS-kur
|
Man overboard. |
 |
Papa
pah-PAH
|
All personnel return to ship; proceeding to sea (Inport). |
 |
Quebec
kay-BECK
|
Ship meets health
regs; request clearance into port. (International)
Boat recall; all boats return to ship.
(Navy)
|
 |
Romeo
ROH-me-oh
|
None.
(International)
Preparing to replenish (At sea). Ready duty ship
(In port). (Navy)
|
 |
Sierra
see-AIR-ah
|
Moving astern.
(International)
Conducting flag hoist drill.
(Navy)
Shorten Course (Sailing Regatta)
|
 |
Tango
TANG-go
|
Keep clear; engaged in trawling.
(International)
Do not pass ahead of me.
(Navy)
|
 |
Uniform
YOU-nee-form
|
You are running into danger. |
 |
Victor
VIK-tah
|
I require assistance. |
 |
Whiskey
WISS-kee
|
I require medical assistance. |
 |
Xray
ECKS-ray
|
Stop carrying out your intentions and watch for my signals.
Individual Recall (Sailing Regatta)
|
 |
Yankee
YANG-kee
|
I am dragging anchor.
(International)
Ship has visual communications duty.
(Navy)
Wear
Life Jackets (Sailing Regatta)
|
 |
Zulu
ZOO-loo
|
I require a tug.
20% Scoring
Penalty (Sailing Regatta)
|
 |
Code/Answer
Code or Answer
|
Message is understood. Also, numeric decimal point.
(International)
Flag that follows is from the International Code of Signals.
(Navy)
Postponement (Sailing Regatta)
|
 |
First substitute
First sub
|
Substitute for the first flag in this hoist.
(International)
Absence of flag officer or unit commander
(In port). (Navy)
General Recall (Sailing Regatta)
|
 |
Second substitute
Second sub
|
Substitute for the second flag in this hoist.
(International)
Absence of chief of staff
(In port). (Navy)
|
 |
Third substitute
Third sub
|
Substitute for the third flag in this hoist.
(International)
Absence of commanding officer
(In port). (Navy)
|
 |
One
WUN
|
None.
(International)
Numeral one. (Navy)
|
 |
Two
TOO
|
None.
(International)
Numeral two. (Navy)
|
 |
Three
TREE
|
None.
(International)
Numeral three. (Navy)
|
 |
Four
FOW-er
|
None.
(International)
Numeral four. (Navy)
|
 |
Five
FIFE
|
None.
(International)
Numeral five. (Navy)
|
 |
Six
SICKS
|
None.
(International)
Numeral six. (Navy)
|
 |
Seven
SEV-en
|
None.
(International)
Numeral seven. (Navy)
|
 |
Eight
ATE
|
None.
(International)
Numeral eight. (Navy)
|
 |
Nine
NIN-er
|
None.
(International)
Numeral nine. (Navy)
|
 |
Zero
ZEE-roh
|
None.
(International)
Numeral zero. (Navy)
|
 |
Pennant one
PEN-ant WUN
|
Numeral one.
(International)
Pennant one. (Navy)
|
 |
Pennant two
PEN-ant TOO
|
Numeral two.
(International)
Pennant two. (Navy)
|
 |
Pennant three
PEN-ant TREE
|
Numeral three.
(International)
Pennant three. (Navy)
|
 |
Pennant four
PEN-ant FOW-er
|
Numeral four.
(International)
Pennant four. (Navy)
Postponement (Sailing Regatta)
|
 |
Pennant five
PEN-ant FIFE
|
Numeral five.
(International)
Pennant five. (Navy)
|
 |
Pennant six
PEN-ant SICKS
|
Numeral six.
(International)
Pennant six. (Navy)
|
 |
Pennant seven
PEN-ant SEV-en
|
Numeral seven.
(International)
Pennant seven. (Navy)
|
 |
Pennant eight
PEN-ant ATE
|
Numeral eight
(International)
Pennant eight. (Navy)
|
 |
Pennant Nine
PEN-ant NIN-er
|
Numeral nine
(International)
Pennant nine. (Navy)
|
 |
Pennant zero
PEN-ant ZEE-roh
|
Numeral zero
(International)
Pennant zero. (Navy)
|
