There are many more flags and pennants that have
special meanings. You will have to know the meaning of
some of these. They are called general signals, and those
not previously discussed are shown in figure 4-27.
When flag officers of the Navy (admiral, vice
admiral, rear admiral [upper half], rear admiral [lower
half]) assume command of a fleet or a unit of a fleet,
their personal flag (fig. 4-28) is hoisted and kept flying
until they turn over their command to their successor. If
the officer is absent from command for a period
exceeding 72 hours, the flag is hauled down until the
officer returns.
A f l a g o ffi c e r ’s f l a g i s n ev e r d i s p l a y e d
simultaneously from more than one ship. It is flown at
the main-truck of the ship the officer is aboard.
Normally, no personal flag or pennant is shown at the
same masthead with the national ensign. When a double
display is required, the personal flag or pennant should
be flown at the foretruck and the national ensign flown
at the main-truck. When a single masted flagship is
dressed or full-dressed, however, the personal flag or
pennant is hoisted at the starboard yardarm. During a
gun salute, the ensign is displayed at the main-truck.
Any personal flag is lowered clear of the ensign.
FLAG DISPLAYS IN BOATS
The ensign is flown from the stern of naval boats.
The ensign should never be so large that it hangs in the
water when the boat is afloat. When the ensign becomes
soiled, it should be changed for a clean ensign. Our flag
should be flown from boats during the following times:
When under way during daylight in a foreign
port
When ships are required to be dressed or
full-dressed
When going alongside a foreign vessel
When an officer or official is embarked on an
official occasion
W h e n a f l a g o r g e n e r a l o ffi c e r, a u n i t
commander, a commanding officer, or a chief of
staff, in uniform, is embarked in a boat of the
command or in one assigned for personal use
At other times when prescribed by the senior
officer present
When an officer in command (or chief of staff)
entitled to a personal flag or pennant is embarked in a
boat on an official occasion, the appropriate flag or
pennant is flown at the bow. (If not entitled to a personal
flag or pennant, a commission pennant is displayed.) On
other than official occasions, a miniature personal flag
or pennant is displayed near the coxswain’s station.
4-29
Student Notes:
ALFA
MIKE
YANKEE
OSCAR
PAPA
QUEBEC
ZERO
CODE
SIGNAL
MEANING
Figure 4-27.—General signals.
