Navy Directing, Descriptive and Visual Direction Signals

Navy Directing, Descriptive and Visual Direction Signals

A list of radio signals and codes with their meaning in English.

Two printed pages

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PART I – DIRECTING SIGNALS

[a] R/T Code Word. [b] Meaning. [c] W/T or V/S Code.

[a] Bandit [b] Enemy aircraft (number may be signalled). [c] BT.
[a] Large Bandit [b] Large number of enemy aircraft [c] LN – BT.
[a] Bogey [b] Unidentified aircraft [c] BG.
[a] Friendly [b] Aircraft is/are friendly [c] FY.
[a] Zebra [b] Directing Ship (for purpose of signalling bearing and distance, i.e., 250 Zebra 50) [c] ZB.
[a] Zebra (indicating) [b] Am identifying myself as Directing Ship by making puffs of smoke. [c] ZB ZB ZB.
[a] Vector [b] Alter course to (or am steering) magnetic course indicated. [c] VC. . . .
[a] Vector Port. . [b] Alter course to magnetic course indicated, [italics] turning to port. [/italics] [c] VC – PO. . . .
[a] Vector Starboard. . [b] Alter course to magnetic course indicated, [italics] turning to starboard. [/italics] [c] VC – ST. . . .
[a] Bandit Flying. . [b] Enemy's course is. . . . [c] EN. . . .
[a] Orbit. . . . [b] Patrol (circling) where you are or in position indicated. [c] OR. . . .
[a] Orbit Overhead [b] Patrol (circling) overhead [c] OR – OV.
[a] Orbit (Figure of Eight) [b] Patrol (Figure of Eight) where you are or in position indicated. [c] OR – F.8
[a] Orbit Port [b] Circle to port [c] OP.
[a] Orbit Starboard [b] Circle to starboard. [c] OS.
[a] Angels. . . . [b] Fly (am flying) at. . . . thousands of feet. [c] AG. . . .
[a] Bandit Angels. . . . [b] Enemy's height is. . . . [c] BT AG. . . .
[a] Gate [b] Fly (am flying) at maximum full speed [italics] (not to be maintained for more than 5 minutes). [/italics] [c] GA.
[a] Buster [b] Fly (am flying) at normal full speed [c] BU.
[a] Liner [b] Fly (am flying) at economical cruising speed. [c] LI.
[a] Saunter [b] Fly as slowly as possible without losing height. [c] SA.
[a] Tally Ho [b] Enemy in sight (used by fighter) [c] TL.
[a] Whoo-op [b] Enemy shot down [c] WO.
[a] Resume (Resuming) [b] Resume (am resuming patrol) (c) RM.
[a] Pancake [b] Prepare to land on [c] PK.
[a] Pancake Vector. . . . [b] Return on course [c] PK – VO. . . .
[a] See You [b] Fleet in sight [c] CU.
[a] Touch [b] In touch on homing beacon [c] TH.
[a] Bandit Ahead. . . . [b] Enemy ahead (distance in miles may be added). [c] BT – AD. . . .
[a] Bandit Port. . . . [b] Enemy to port (distance in miles may be added). [c] BT – PO. . . .
[a] Bandit Starboard. . . . [b] Enemy to starboard (distance in miles may be added). [c] BT – ST. . . .
[a] Bandit Astern. . . . [b] Enemy astern (distance in miles may be added). [c] BT – AT. . . .
[a] Popeye [b] In cloud [c] PY.
[a] Quilt [b] Above cloud [c]QL.
[a] Mattress [b] Below cloud [c] MT.
[a] Scramble [b] Take off (normally for use of fighter catapult ships only). [c] SC.
[a] Lights [b] Identify yourself now [c] LT.

If desired, any order may be preceded by "Prepare" (PP). In this case, action is not taken till Executive is made by R/T "Now" or by W/T and V/S 5-second long.

[page break]

PART II. – DESCRIPTIVE SIGNALS

[a] R/T Code Word. [b] Meaning. [c] W/T or V/S Code.

[a] Pancake Guns [b] – Returning, ammunition expended [c] –PK – GN.
[a] Pancake Juice [b] – Returning, short of fuel [c] – PK – JU.
[a} Pancake Hurt [b] – Returning, damaged (or wounded) [c] – PK – HU.
[a] Bombers [b] – High level bombers [c] – BS.
[a] Fishes [b] – Torpedo aircraft [c] – FS.
[a] Hawks [b] – Dive bombers [c] – HS.
[a] Rats [b] – Fighters [c] – RS.
[a] Shad [b] – Shadower [c] – SD.
[a] Base [b] – Carrier [c] – AS.
[a] Salvos [b] – Am about to open fire (magnetic bearing may be indicated). Keep clear. [c] – SV.
[a] Request [b] {From fighter – What is my position relative to you?}
[a] Position [b] {From ship – What if your position relative to ship?} [c] RQ – PN.
[a] Position. . . . [b] {From Fighter – My position is. . . . From ship – Your position is} [c] PN.
[a] Clara [b] R.D.F. screen is clear [c] CA.

PART III. – NORMALLY USED ONLY FOR VISUAL DIRECTION. (PARTS l AND II CAN ALSO BE USED IN VISUAL DIRECTION.) A FEW GROUPS FROM PART I AND PART II ARE INCLUDED BELOW FOR READY REFERENCE

[a] R/T Code Word. [b] Meaning. [c] W/T or V/S Code.

[a] Smoke [b] Am about to make continuous smoke and point ship in direction of enemy aircraft. [c] SK.
[a] Burst [b] Am about to fire HA. shells to burst at estimated height and in direction of enemy aircraft. [c] UR.
[a] Left [b] Steer more to left (aircraft normally alters 30 degrees). [c] LF (repeated 4 times if made by V/S).
[a] Right [b] Steer more to right (aircraft normally alters 30 degrees). [c] RT (repeated 4 times if made by V/S).
[a] Close [b] Keep near directing ship. Sight me more frequently. [c] CL.
[a] . . . .o'clock [b] Aircraft in "clock code" sector (See Clock Code.) [c] Q. . . .
[a] Towards [b] Aircraft is flying towards F.D.S. [c] TO.
[a] Away [b] Aircraft is flying away from F.D.S. [c] AW.
[a] Distant. . . . [b] Aircraft is about. . . . miles distant from F.D.S. [c] D. . . .
[a] Zebra Indicating [b] Am identifying myself as directing ship by making puffs of smoke. [c] ZBZBZB
[a] Orbit. . . . [b] Patrol (circling where you are or in position indicated. [c] OR.
[a] Orbit Overhead [b] Patrol (circling) overhead. [c] OR – OV.
[a] Orbit (Figure of Eight) [b] Patrol (Figure of Eight) where you are or in position indicated. [c] OR – F8.
[a] Bandit/Bogey Angels. . . . [b] Height of enemy/unidentified aircraft is. . . . [c] BT – AG. BG – AG.
[a] Resume (Resuming) [b] Resume (am resuming) patrol [c] RM.