Flag signalling

Discussion in 'Weapons, Technology & Equipment' started by timuk, Dec 4, 2018.

  1. timuk

    timuk Well-Known Member

    Once again I'm off on a tangent.
    I know of the naval red/yellow flags which were used for semaphore signalling although I have read that these were used at sea but when ashore the flags were white/blue. But what were the RCS flags used for? Since the quote states that originally they were not intended to be used at the same time this would seem to preclude semaphore. If used singly what was the code? The only single flag code I can find is the Wig-wag used in the American Civil War.
    As an aside I have now discovered that the Ban the Bomb symbol is the semaphore codes for N and D superimposed. One lives and learns.

    Tim
     
  2. Richard Lewis

    Richard Lewis Member

    Morse signalling used one flag. Signal Training (All Arms) 1938 has some sections on the subject. Here’s a page from the book.

    Richard

    Morse flags.jpg
     
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  3. timuk

    timuk Well-Known Member

    Thanks Richard. First I've ever heard of Morse being sent by flag signal.

    Tim
     
  4. Quarterfinal

    Quarterfinal Well-Known Member

    And vice versa, sort of ....... These are aide memoires for some flags, arm signals and morse ... used and made by an East Riding of Yorkshire Yeomanry TA soldier in 1938:
    upload_2023-6-14_10-10-23.jpeg

    upload_2023-6-14_10-11-4.jpeg

    I can imagine the signal for Close Up above and Do Not Conform at the top needing fine judgement, particularly in the fug of war. See the enemy were still thought of as connected with blue.

    I thought the phraseology for TW below was very polite:
    upload_2023-6-14_10-15-17.jpeg

    having once heard: "Fucking hell, we're being shot at" being passed as a Situation Report. Not good practice and shades of frisson, but we all knew who it was, where they were and what was occurring.

    I rather like the alliterative cum onomatopoeic (?) prompts for learning Morse Code:
    upload_2023-6-14_10-28-38.jpeg

    I suppose Japan Black may have been more commonplace/familiar at the time.
     
    Last edited: Jun 14, 2023
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  5. Chris C

    Chris C Canadian

    I think some of the prewar wireless sets were more fit for Morse and less for actually talking.
     

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