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External Communications
Methods
There are several ways by which to communicate with other ships and
shore commands while at sea. One of the oldest is communicating by
flaghoist using signal flags. The newest methods incorporate the use of
satellite uplinks to transfer data. The objective of the material presented
in this section is to give you a basic knowledge of methods of
communicating. You will be referred to reference material for
instructions concerning each method.
The following table gives you a snapshot of different methods used to
communicate while at sea.
Method
Description
VHF Radio
The VHF radio commonly refer to as the bridge-to-
(Electronic)
bridge circuit is often used to exchange unclassified
information between ships. All vessels over 100
meters in length are required to be equipped with
VI-IF capability.
Radiotelephone
When conducting operations, the RT circuits are
(R/T)
probably the most frequently used method of
(Electronic)
communicating. Each ship involved is assigned a call
sign. There are normally at least two secure
frequencies assigned for any operation by the officer
in tactical command (OTC). One frequency is used
for encoded tactical signals, while the other is used
for secure plain voice communications.
Flaghoist
Tactical and information signals are communicated
(Visual)
using signal flags. The flags and pennants are divided
into two flag bags. The allied bag contains 68 flags
and pennants that are used to communicate with other
naval ships.
The international flag bag contains 40
flags and pennants that are used to communicate with
merchant ships.
Flaghoists are always read from the top outboard side
then down and inward. In other words, if three hoists
are closed up (at the top of the halyard) start at the
top outboard side and read down, then go to the top
of the next inner hoist and again read down, and so
on.
Signalmen make up and execute flaghoist messages or
signals as directed by the OOD.
11-19
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