NOTE
“Aye” is not used as an answer to a question;
instead, “Affirmative,” “Negative,” or other
appropriate reply is given.
When a message is received, it must be repeated
back word for word. An example would be “Catapult
center deck, primary; raise the starboard jet blast
deflector.” The response would be “Primary, catapult
center deck; raise the starboard jet blast deflector, aye.”
The catapult center deck operator would then wait for a
few seconds for the primary operator to confirm that the
order was understood. The catapult center deck operator
would then raise the jet blast deflector.
Communications on the sound-powered phone
system is phrased in the declarative (statement) instead
of the interrogative (question). For example, the
questions “What is the status of the jet blast deflector?”
or “When will the jet blast deflector be repaired?”
would be rephrased to “Report the status of the jet blast
deflector” and “Report the estimated repair time of the
jet blast deflector.”
Slang expressions or locally devised codes should
not be used. The use of abbreviations should be avoided.
Some abbreviations may be easily misunderstood, such
as SSTG, SSDG, and SFMG.
When a subordinate station requests permission to
carry out an action, do not say, “Permission granted.”
Another station might think you are giving it permission
to carry out some other action. Respond to a request
with a direct order. For example, when permission is
requested to change phone talkers, the proper response,
if approved, would be “Change phone talkers.”
If you “belay an order,” immediately order what
action is needed. For example, when the throttleman is
given an order to “Close the throttle” and that order is
belayed, then you tell the throttleman what you want
him or her to do, such as “Return throttle to original
position” or “Open throttle to __________.”
Never receipt for a message unless you are sure you
understand it. If you do not understand, tell the sender,
“Say again.” If the message is long and you need only a
part of it to be repeated back, you can say, “Say again all
after ...” or “Say again all before ...”
When you are leaving the circuit for any reason, you
must obtain permission from the controlling station.
You may be leaving the circuit to change headphones
because of a faulty set, to be relieved by someone else,
or to secure. In any case, when leaving the circuit,
request permission.
When a circuit is in use and a station has a more
important message to transmit (to report a fire, for
example), the talker says, “Silence on the line.”
Whenever you hear that command, you must
immediately stop talking so that the message can be
transmitted.
EXAMPLES OF TELEPHONE TALKER
PROCEDURES
The following examples of sound-powered
telephone transmissions are representative of the types
of messages sent over the phones. Study them until you
are sure you have the procedures correct; only practice
can make you into a reliable talker.
Circuit Test
To find out if telephone stations are manned and
ready, the talker at control says, “All stations, control;
phone check.”
Each talker then acknowledges in assigned order.
On a gun circuit it would go like this:
Each station responds in order, but does not wait
more than a few seconds for the station immediately
preceding to acknowledge. If you are on gun 3, and
gun 2 does not respond in a few seconds, you
acknowledge and let gun 2 come in at the end. A
circuit test is not complete until every person has
answered and faults in equipment have been
checked
Sending
In sending a message, first call the station you want,
and then identify your own station; finally, state the
message:
“Foc’sle, bridge; prepare to anchor in fife minutes.”
“Fantail, bridge; slack off stern line.”
4-7
Student Notes:
