At the beginning of the 19th century, a special way was invented in France to transfer information from a ship to land, the so-called semaphore alphabet. Several beams were lifted on the mast and letters and then words were folded by moving them. "Semaphore" in Greek means "sign bearing." For almost two centuries, this system of signs has been actively used around the world. Later it was replaced by radio communications and Morse code. Today, flag communications are practically not used in the fleet.
Semaphore alphabet in Russia
In Russia, the appearance of the semaphore alphabet is associated with the name of Vice Admiral Stepan Osipovich Makarov. At the end of the 19th century, he developed a system for transmitting Russian letters using flags. The Russian semaphore alphabet consists of twenty-nine alphabetic characters, to which, if necessary, three auxiliary characters can be added. All numbers and punctuation are spelled, as it does not have a separate designation for numbers or signs.
Each letter or service mark is an established hand position with flags. Sometimes, if there are no flags, the signals are transmitted using a cap. It is believed that a sailor, well trained in the alphabet of flags, can clearly reproduce 60-80 letters or characters per minute. In the evening or at night, flags of bright and light colors, such as yellow or white, are used. In the daytime - black or red. At present, training in semaphore alphabet is carried out only at special courses. After all, the flags were replaced by spotlights with Morse code and radio communications.
Semaphore alphabet abroad
In the 17th century in England, pictures were used to transmit information from a distance. Semaphore alphabet in its present form was created in France only after two centuries. The flag system used abroad is a bit similar to the Russian one. She also uses flags to indicate the letters that make up words and sentences. But there are some differences between them. The first is that the flags are not used monochromatic, as is usual in Russia, but colored, with a different combination of colors and symbols. Each such flag is a single letter. That is, you can hang up the flags in a certain order, making up words and sentences from them. Based on the Latin alphabet. Another difference is that the Western semaphore alphabet has special notation for numbers. In this case, a method of transmitting information and two flags is allowed.
Systematization of flag language
Due to the fact that the method of transmitting information using the semaphore was recognized as very successful, there was a need to streamline all signals. In the XIX century, the number of ships increased, many countries acquired their own fleet, so there was a need to create a single marine language for communication at a distance. In 1857, the Signal Code was developed, where international flags, their colors and meaning were indicated. It included eighteen main flags, constantly used in the Navy. Initially, four maritime powers took part in the development of this code: the United States, Canada, France and Britain. In 1901, all states with a military and merchant fleet approved this document for use. It is believed that from this moment on, the marine semaphore alphabet was officially adopted and registered as a single communication system.
In 1931, the Signal Code undergoes small changes. Due to the fact that radio communications and searchlights were increasingly used to transmit information using Morse code, some of the flags were removed, and for the rest they changed the value. In 1969, the flag signals were translated not only into the Latin alphabet, but also into the Cyrillic alphabet. The system has become truly international and understandable for sailors almost anywhere in the world.
Flags and their meaning
At present, the International Code of Signals consists of three blocks. The first includes twenty-six flags, which designate exclusively letters. The basis is, of course, the Latin alphabet. The second contains ten flags to indicate numbers from zero to nine. In the last block there are three replacement flags. They are used in exceptional cases: if the ship has only one set of flags and there is no possibility to hang out, for example, repeating letters in a word. Substitutes come to the rescue.
After the collapse of the Soviet Union , the flag system in Russia and the CIS countries remained almost unchanged.
The use of semaphore alphabet today
With the advent of radio communications and electricity, the flag signal system has gradually lost its relevance and is currently practically not used. But in almost every country, in the event of a critical situation, a ship has a sailor who can transmit information using flags. Also semaphore alphabet is actively used in parades and during demonstrations. Now it is more a tribute to tradition than a means of communication from a distance.