Communicating the Military Way
Ever since humans first developed into its own species on planet Earth, whether they used body language, spoken sounds, or even drawings on the walls of caves, they have attempted to communicate with one another. Over time, peoples that resided on various parts of the planet developed different sounds which would mean different things, for example, in early Semitic, a pictograph representing a house would have the translation of "beth" when verbalized. For the English alphabet, the alphabet used by the United States and NATO militaries, a letter typically was developed by taking the first sound of the spoken word. In the case of "beth", the initial sound became the second letter of the alphabet we use today¹.
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 D (Delta) or F (Foxtrot) and S (Sierra).
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" for the dots and dashes which resemble the tones of the telegraphic hand key when "speaking" the code. 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 flag hoist 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. Separately, each signal flag has its own meaning, and for the Navy, those meanings are listed alongside each flag below.
Military Alphabet, Signal Flag and Morse Code Chart
| Navy Code of Signals – Phonetic Military Alphabet | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Letter | Phonetic Military Alphabet |
Morse Code | Signal Flags | Flag meaning (Navy) |
| A | Alfa | • — Di dah |
 |
Diver down; keep clear and maintain slow speed. |
| B | Bravo | — • • • Dah di di dit |
 |
Taking in, discharging or carrying dangerous cargo. |
| C | Charlie | — • — • Dah di dah dit |
 |
Affirmative. |
| D | Delta | — • • Dah di dit |
 |
Difficulty maneuvering; keep clear. |
| E | Echo | • dit |
 |
Directing course to starboard. |
| F | Foxtrot | • • — • Di di dah dit |
 |
Disabled; communication requested -- or flight operations are underway. |
| G | Golf | — — • Dah dah dit |
 |
Harbor pilot required. |
| H | Hotel | • • • • Di di di dit |
 |
Harbor pilot onboard. |
| I | India | • • Di dit |
 |
Coming alongside. |
| J | Juliett | • — — — Di dah dah dah |
 |
Dangerous cargo aboard and on fire; keep clear. |
| K | Kilo | — • — Dah di dah |
 |
Communication requested. |
| L | Lima | • — • • Di dah di dit |
 |
Advise, stop your vessel immediately. |
| M | Mike | — — Dah dah |
 |
Vessel is stopped. |
| N | November | — • Dah dit |
 |
Negative. |
| O | Oscar | — — — Dah dah dah |
 |
Man overboard. |
| P | Papa | • — — • Di dah dah dit |
 |
All personnel return to ship (in port). |
| Q | Quebec | — — • — Dah dah di dah |
 |
All boats return to ship. |
| R | Romeo | • — • Di dah dit |
 |
At sea: preparing to replenish. In Port: Ready duty ship. |
| S | Sierra | • • • Di di dit |
 |
Conducting flag hoisting drill. |
| T | Tango | — Dah |
 |
Do not pass ahead. |
| U | Uniform | • • — Di di dah |
 |
Beware, you are running into danger. |
| V | Victor | • • • — di di di dah |
 |
Assistance required. |
| W | Whiskey | • — — Di dah dah |
 |
Medical assistance required. |
| X | X-ray | — • • — Dah di di dah |
 |
Stop your intentions and watch for signals. |
| Y | Yankee | — • — — Dah di dah dah |
 |
Ship has communications duty (visual). |
| Z | Zulu | — — • • Dah dah di dit |
 |
Tug required. |