FLAGS AND PENNANTS Learning Objective: When you finish this chapter, you will be able to— Recognize  the  function  and  use  of  flags  and pennants. Flags  and  pennants  serve  various  functions throughout the world. They have identified nations, governments, rank, and ownership and have conveyed messages for centuries. This section introduces flags and  pennants  that  identify  persons  and  ships  and transmit information and orders. On special occasions, flags are used as a decoration, such as “dress ship.” The  Navy  uses  the  international  alphabet  flags; numeral pennants and a code/answer pennant; a set of numeral flags, special flags, and pennants; and four substitutes, or repeaters. Each alphabet flag has the phonetic name of the letter it represents. A numeral flag takes the name of the numeral it represents; numeral pennants are used only in call signals. Special flags and pennants are used in tactical maneuvers to direct changes in speed, position, formation, and course; to indicate and identify units; and for specialized purposes. Flags and pennants are spoken and written as shown in figures 4-14 and 4-15. EMERGENCY AND ADMINISTRATIVE SIGNALS The  flags  and  pennants  (figs.  4-14  and  4-15) represent only a few of the thousands of signals that can be  transmitted  by  flag  hoist.  Since  they  may  be frequently  seen  displayed  aboard  Navy  ships  or stations,  it  would  be  to  your  advantage  to  learn  to identify them and understand their meaning. Your own personal safety may someday depend on recognizing a particular signal flag. Table 4-3 contains only those international signals most commonly used and having the same meaning as Navy signals. THE NATIONAL ENSIGN Our  national  ensign  (fig.  4-16)  must  always  be treated with the greatest respect. It should never touch the ground or the deck. It should always be folded, stowed, and displayed properly. Our flag represents freedom to the world today and forever. When not under way, commissioned ships display the ensign from the flagstaff at the stern and the union jack from the jack staff at the bow from 0800 to sunset. While under way, the ensign is normally flown from the gaff. In ships having more than one mast, the gaff is usually positioned on the aftermast. In ships equipped with two macks (combination masts and stacks), the location of the flag depends on which mast is configured to accept halyards or a gaff. When a U.S. naval ship enters a foreign port during darkness, at first light it briefly displays its colors on the gaff to make known its nationality. Other ships of war that  are  present  customarily  display  their  colors  in return. Our national ensign, along with the union jack, is referred to as colors. At commands ashore and on U.S. naval ships not under way, the ceremonial hoisting and lowering of the national flag at 0800 and sunset is known as morning and evening colors. When the national ensign is hoisted and lowered or half-masted for any occasion, the motions of the senior officer present are followed. This is done by flying the PREPARATIVE  pennant  (called    PREP)  5  minutes before morning and evening colors. Ceremonies for colors  begin  when  PREP  is  hauled  to  the  dip  (the halfway  point).  The  PREP  pennant  is  shown  in figure 4-17. If a band or recorded music is available for the colors ceremony, “Attention” is sounded, followed by the national anthem. At morning colors, the ensign is hoisted when the music begins. It is smartly hoisted to the top of the flagstaff. Remember, a furled (folded) ensign is never hoisted to the top of the flagstaff or gaff. At evening colors, lowering of the ensign also begins at the  start  of  the  music  and  is  so  regulated  as  to  be completely lowered at the last note of the music. “Carry On” is sounded at the completion of the music. The national flag is always hoisted smartly and lowered ceremoniously. If a band or music is not available for colors, “To the Colors” is played on a bugle at morning colors, and “Retreat” is played at evening colors. For ships having no band, music, or bugler, “Attention” and “Carry On” 4-21 Student Notes: