in chapter 5, the OSCAR should always be made up
for the break). When a person is lost over the side at
night, the peacetime procedure is to display two
flashing red lights arranged vertically. These two red
lights, visible 2 miles all around the horizon, are the
not-under-command lights. They are pulsated 50 to 60
times a minute by means of a crank on the light panel
in the pilothouse.
In addition to the two red lights, the ship losing
the person sounds, either by day or night, at least six
short blasts on the ship's whistle and/or fires one white
star.
Another surface ship emergency is emergency
breakaway, which is covered later in this chapter.
SIGNALMAN AS A MEMBER OF THE
BOATCREW
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: List and explain
the duties of the boatcrew Signalman, including
day and night movements, the use of the Mk
135 pyrotechnic signaling kit, and safety
precautions for using the pyrotechnic kit.
One of the most important single billets you can
fill in your naval career is that of boat Signalman. You
will be on your own; you won't have any other
Signalmen on whom to rely. The success of a
particular mission depends on your ability to send and
receive communications, both by visual means and by
voice radio. Your ability to recognize and interpret
signals will have a direct bearing on the success of that
mission.
The normal boatcrew allowance does not include
a Signalman; however, there will be one assigned
whenever the boat is used for distress or emergency
purposes.
The emergencies that arise at sea that require a
boat Signalman are many. So that you will not be
found wanting in one of these emergencies, you must
be familiar with all phases of visual communications
and proper voice radio procedures.
DIRECTING THE BOAT BY
VISUAL SIGNALS
Most boat signals are made by pyrotechnics
(signal flares fired by the Mk 135 signal kit),
multipurpose lights, semaphore, and flaghoist.
Vari-Color Illumination Signal Kit
The Vari-color Illumination kit (fig. 8-4) or Mk
135 is a small, lightweight unit used primarily for
distress signaling. A complete kit consists of a
projector and a plastic bandoleer containing three red
signals, two white signals, and two green signals. An
instruction sheet is included with each kit. Other
combinations of signals and projectors are also
available. When fired from the projector into the air,
the flare burns for a minumum of 4.5 seconds at a
altitude of no less than 250 feet. The signal in these
kits produces a single red, green, or white star.
Operation
To operate the Mk 135, first cock the firing pin of
the projector by moving the trigger screw to the
bottom of the vertical slot and slipping it to the right
so that it catches at the top of the safety slot. Bend the
protective tab away from a signal in the bandoleer to
allow removal of the signal flare. Signalmen must be
familiar with the arrangement of colors in the
bandoleer in the case of night operations to prevent
firing of the incorrect color signal. A good practice
would be to arrange the signals in the bandoleer with
the green signals to starboard (right), the red to port
(left), and the white in the middle.
In the event of a man overboard, a downed aircraft,
or other cases where personnel are to be rescued, a
Signalman is assigned to the boat. In a small boat, the
range of visibility is very limited, because of the low
height of eye. For this reason, other personnel are
assigned to stations high in the ship to keep the person
in sight. The ship can then direct the lifeboat to the
vicinity of the person in the water by means of
flaghoist, semaphore, flashing light, pyrotechnics, or
voice radio. It is your job to receive these directions
and pass them on to the boat officer and coxswain.
CAUTION
The projector must not be loaded until
immediately before firing. If after loading a
signal it is not used, it must be removed and
returned to the bandoleer.
After locating the correct color signal, mate the
projector with the signal. Hold the projector over the
head with the arm fully extended. The projector should
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