Communicating the Military Way
Phonetic Alphabet: It is used widely in military communications. The phonetic alphabet, a system set up in which each letter of the alphabet has a word equivalent to avoid mistaking letters that sound alike, such as B (Bravo) and C (Charlie) or M (Mike) and N (November).
Morse Code: The letters of the alphabet in Morse code are represented by dots and dashes in the chart below. Radio operators usually substitute the expressions "dits" and "dahs," which resemble the tones of the telegraphic hand key. The groups of dits and dahs representing each letter must be made as one unit, with a clear break between each dit and each dah, and a much more distinct break between the letters. A dit is one-third the length of a dah.
Signal Flags: It is very rare that words would be completely spelled out in Navy flaghoist signaling due to the length and number of flags required; not to mention the time it would take to handle all the hoists. To make the process easier and more practical, the signal book was produced. The signal book defines the flags to be used to communicate various messages. One of the most common examples would be the two flags B and Z placed together forming "BZ" or "Bravo Zulu" which means good job.
International Alphabet Signal Flag and Morse Code Chart
| International Code of Signals – Phonetic Military Alphabet | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Letter | Phonetic NATO Military Alphabet |
Morse Code | Signal Flag |
| A | Alfa | • — Di dah |
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| B | Bravo | — • • • Dah di di dit |
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| C | Charlie | — • — • Dah di dah dit |
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| D | Delta | — • • Dah di dit |
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| E | Echo | • dit |
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| F | Foxtrot | • • — • Di di dah dit |
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| G | Golf | — — • Dah dah dit |
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| H | Hotel | • • • • Di di di dit |
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| I | India | • • Di dit |
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| J | Juliett | • — — — Di dah dah dah |
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| K | Kilo | — • — Dah di dah |
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| L | Lima | • — • • Di dah di dit |
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| M | Mike | — — Dah dah |
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| N | November | — • Dah dit |
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| O | Oscar | — — — Dah dah dah |
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| P | Papa | • — — • Di dah dah dit |
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| Q | Quebec | — — • — Dah dah di dah |
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| R | Romeo | • — • Di dah dit |
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| S | Sierra | • • • Di di dit |
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| T | Tango | — Dah |
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| U | Uniform | • • — Di di dah |
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| V | Victor | • • • — di di di dah |
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| W | Whiskey | • — — Di dah dah |
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| X | X-ray | — • • — Dah di di dah |
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| Y | Yankee | — • — — Dah di dah dah |
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| Z | Zulu | — — • • Dah dah di dit |
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