number flag indicator assigned to it. This flag may be left flying in a superior position when successive signals from the same table are being used. Participants then may keep their books open to one table instead of searching through the book each time a signal is hoisted. This practice permits greater speed in signaling. Supplementary tables are used primarily to expand the meaning of certain basic groups; they may be used with any governing or basic group as appropriate. When an item from the supplementary table is used by itself, it must be preceded by the basic group BV. CONSTRUCTING FLAGHOIST SIGNALS Words are seldom spelled out in Navy flaghoist signaling because of the length and number of hoists required and the time required to handle the hoists. The signal book provides chapter and basic groups and suffixes. A chapter group is a two-letter group allocated to a particular chapter and the main vocabulary from which all signals in that chapter are derived. Example: CM—communication A basic group is a signal consisting of the chapter group followed by one or more figures. Example: CM1 Suffixes are provided so that the basic meaning can be varied. When a suffix is used, it must follow the last figure of the group, separated by a tack. The tack may be omitted if no ambiguity will arise. Example: CMl—1, CMl—l—l Signals from ATP 1, volume II may he supple- mented or modified by the use of the following: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Governing pennants Governing groups Call signs, sequence numbers, and unit indicators Description signals Plain text Operating signals International Code of Signals Tables Governing Pennants Three governing pennants—PREPARATIVE, INTERROGATIVE, and NEGATIVE—are available to impart a different sense to a signal. When hoisted with signals, their meanings are as follows: PREP—Prepare to INT—Questions or inquiries NEGAT—Cease, do not; or to give a negative sense to an otherwise affirmative (informatory) statement. In the following examples, EXl means “Commence run”: PREP EXl—Prepare to commence run. INT EXl—Are you commencing run? NEGAT EXl—Do not commence run. A governing pennant governs all signal groups when separated from those groups by TACK or when hoisted alone on an adjacent halyard. If the pennant is to govern only one of several signal groups, it must immediately precede the group governed. The other groups must be separated from the governed group by TACK. Governing Groups Governing groups are two-letter signals used in much the same fashion as governing pennants. The governing group followed by a tack, precedes the signal and governs that signal only. The governing group may be used alone when no ambiguity will result. The following list contains the governing groups: BA BB BC BD BE BF BG BH BI BJ BK BL BM BT BU BV BX BZ Action is being carried out (or I am) Action completed (or I have) I recommend Report time you will be ready (to ) Report when ready (to ) Am ready (to )(at ) My present intention is to Request permission to Action is not being carried out (or I am not) If you desire When you desire When ready Enemy/opponent is or I am being For use see ATP 1, volume II (articles 164e and 164g) Unable to Take action or information as indicated from appropriate supplementary table (ATP 1, volume II, chapter 33) Indicates end of series of groups governed by governing groups Well done 5-8