NAUTICAL FLAGS & PENNANTS
For almost 2 centuries the International Maritime Signal Flag System has been used by mariners to send messages between two ships or ship and shore and are still in use today. Strung end to end and hung bow to stern from the rigging they are primarily used to dress vessels for ceremonials and other festive occasions. Also referred to as signaling flags, they are a set of flags of different colors, shapes and markings which used singly or in combination have different meanings. Signal flags consist of a set of 26 different square flags each representing a particular letter of the alphabet plus 10 pendants representing the numbers 0 to 9. With these 36 nautical signal flags, any message can be spelled out for all to see. In addition there is one answering pennant and three substituters or repeaters.
Nautical Flags - Alphabet & Numbers & Meanings with Morse Code
Nautical Flags - Weather Warning Flag Signals
Nautical Flags - 2 Flag Signals
Nautical Flags - Alphabet & Numbers
| Flag | Name | International Nautical Meaning | Morse | |
| A |  | Alpha AL-fah | Diver Down Keep Well Clear at Slow Speed | .- |
| B |  | Bravo BRAH-voh | I Am Taking In, Discharging or Carrying Dangerous Cargo | -... |
| C |  | Charlie CHAR-lee | "Yes" or "Affirmative" | -.-. |
| D |  | Delta DELL-tah | I Am Maneuvering With Difficulty; Keep Clear | -.. |
| E |  | Echo ECK-oh | I am Altering Course To Starboard | . |
| F |  | Foxtrot FOKS-trot | I am Disabled; Communicate With Me Aircraft Carriers - Flight Operations Are Underway | ..-. |
| G |  | Golf | I Require A Pilot | --. |
| H |  | Hotel hoh-TELL | I Have A Pilot On Board | .... |
| I |  | India IN-dee-ah | Altering Course To Port Coming Along Side (Navy) | .. |
| J |  | Juliette | I Am On Fire Have Dangerous Cargo Keep Clear | .--- |
| K |  | Kilo KEY-loh | I Desire To Communicate With You | -.- |
| L |  | Lima LEE-mah | Stop Instantly | .-.. |
| M |  | Mike | My Vessel Is Stopped; Making No Way | -- |
| N |  | November no-VEM-bur | "No" or "Negative" | -. |
| O |  | Oscar OSS-kur | Man Overboard | --- |
| P |  | Papa pah-PAH | About To Sail | .--. |
| Q |  | Quebec kay-BECK | Ship Meets Health Regs Request Clearance Into Port Boat Recall; All boats Return to Ship (Navy) | --.- |
| R |  | Romeo ROH-me-oh | .-. | |
| S |  | Sierra | Engines Going Astern Conducting Flag Hoist Drill (Navy) | ... |
| T |  | Tango TANG-go | Keep Clear; Engaged in Trawling Do Not Pass Ahead of Me (Navy) | - |
| U |  | Uniform YOU-nee-form | You Are Running Into Danger | ..- |
| V |  | Victor VIK-tor | I Require Assistance | ...- |
| W |  | Whiskey WISS-kee | I Require Medical Assistance | .-- |
| X |  | X Ray ECKS-ray | Stop Carrying Out Your Intentions & Watch For My Signals | -..- |
| Y |  | Yankee YANK-kee | I am Dragging Anchor Ship Has Visual Communications Duty (Navy) | -.-- |
| Z |  | Zulu Z00-loo | I Require A Tug | --.. |
| No | Navy | Number | International | Morse |
| 1 |  | One |  | .---- |
| 2 |  | Two |  | ..--- |
| 3 |  | Three |  | ...-- |
| 4 |  | Four |  | ....- |
| 5 |  | Five |  | ..... |
| 6 |  | Six |  | -.... |
| 7 |  | Seven |  | --... |
| 8 |  | Eight |  | ---.. |
| 9 |  | Nine |  | ----. |
| 0 |  | Zero |  | ----- |
| AP |  | Code & | End of Message Answering Pennant | .-.-. |
| 1st |  | 1st Sub | 1st Repeat/Substitute | |
| 2nd |  | 2nd Sub | 2nd Repeat/Substitute | |
| 3rd |  | 3rd Sub | 3rd Repeat/Substitute |
Nautical Flags - Weather Warning Flag Signals (Ist Flag Above the Second)
| Flag | Description | knots/hr | km/hr | Statute mph/hr | Nautical mph | |
 | Small Craft Warning | 20 - 33 kn | 37 - 62 km/h | 23 - 28 mph | 20 - 33 Nm/h | |
| Gale Warning | 34 - 47 kn | 63 - 87 km/h | 39 - 54 mph | 34 - 47 Nm/h | |
 | Storm Warning | 48 - 63 kn | 88 - 117 km/h | 55 - 72 mph | 48 - 63 Nm/h | |
| | | Hurricane Warning | 64 kn + | 118 km/h + | 73 mph + | 64 + Nm/h |
Two Letter Signals (1st Flag Above the Second)
| AC | | | I Am Abandoning My Vessel |
| AN | | | I Need a Doctor |
| BR | | | I Require A Helicopter |
| CD | | | I Require Immediate Assistance |
| DV | | | I Am Drifting |
| EF | | | SOS/Mayday Has Been Cancelled |
| FA | | | Will You Give Me My Position |
| GW | | | Man Overboard Please Take Action To Pick Him Up |
| JL | | | You Are Running A Risk Of Going Aground |
| LO | | | I Am Not In My Correct Position |
| NC | | | I Am in Distress and Require Immediate Assistance |
| PD | | | Your Navigation Lights Are Not Visible |
| PP | | | Keep Well Clear of Me |
| RU | | | Keep Clear of Me I Am Maneuvering With Difficulty |
| SO | | | You Should Stop Your Vessel |
| UM | | | The Harbor Is Closed To Traffic |
| UP | | | Permission to Enter Harbor Is Urgently Requested. I Have An Emergency |
| QD | | | I Am Going Ahead |
| QT | | | I am Going Astern |
| | | I Require Health Clearance | |
| QU | | | Anchoring Is Prohibited |
| QX | | | I Request Permission To Anchor |
| YU | | | I Am Going To Communicate With Your Station By Means of the |
| ZL | | | Your Signal Has Been Received But Not Understood |
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