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HMS Defender flags


magman2

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There was (back in the 80s at least) a whole series of flag signals agreed between NATO and the Warsaw Pact for ships to communicate their intentions to each other so as to avoid a repeat of the ARK ROYAL incident in 1970 when she collided with a Kotlin class destroyer.   I certainly recall using them in 1984 when shadowing Frunze (Kirov hull 2) from the South Western Approaches up to North Cape.  I assume that they are still in use today but unfortunately I don't have the decode and I can't find it in the public domain through I can't for one minute imagine why it wouldn't be; they were never classified and were based on the standard international code of signals

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The prevention of Incidents at Sea (INCSEA) signals can be found in the Enclosure to OPNAV Instruction 5711.96C, online at https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwieze2Dy8bxAhWNYsAKHdwYDpMQFnoECAQQAw&url=https%3A%2F%2Ffas.org%2Firp%2Fdoddir%2Fnavy%2Fopnavinst%2F5711_96c.pdf&usg=AOvVaw3khGg_gQ-92-hXrftOOS-1.  The flags flown by Defender aren't too clear from the photo - the first and second are Romeo Tango, but I can't make out the remainder of the hoist - the RT series (Romeo Tango [numeral]) are signals indicating manouevering intentions.

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