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 8-12