UNCLASSIFIED ACP130 COMMUNICATIONS INSTRUCTIONS SIGNALLING PROCEDURES IN THE VISUAL MEDIUM ACP 130 MAY 1996 I UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED ACP130 FOREWORD 1. The Combined Communications-Electronics Board (CCEB) is comprised of the five member nations, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom and United States and is the Sponsoring Authority for all Allied Communications Publications (ACPs). ACPs are raised and issued under common agreement between the member nations. 2. ACP130, COMMON INSTRUCTIONS SIGNALLING PROCEDURE IN THE VISUAL MEDIUM, is an UNCLASSIFIED CCEB publication. 3. This publication contains Allied military information for official purposes only. 4. It is permitted to copy or make extracts from this publication. 5. This ACP is to be maintained and amended in accordance with the provisions of the current version of ACP198. UNCLASSIFIED II UNCLASSIFIED ACP130 THE COMBINED COMMUNICATION-ELECTRONICS BOARD LETTER OF PROMULGATION FOR ACP130 1. The purpose of this Combined Communication Electronics Board (CCEB) Letter of Promulgation is to implement ACP130 within the Armed Forces of the CCEB Nations. ACP130 COMMUNICATIONS INSTRUCTIONS SIGNALLING PROCEDURES IN THE VISUAL MEDIUM, is an UNCLASSIFIED publication developed for Allied use and, under the direction of the CCEB Principals. It is promulgated for guidance, information, and use by the Armed Forces and other users of military communications facilities. 2. ACP130 is effective on receipt for CCEB Nations and when by the NATO Military Committee (NAMILCOM) for NATO nations and Strategic Commands. EFFECTIVE STATUS Publication Effective for Date Authority ACP130 CCEB On Receipt LOP 3. All proposed amendments to the publication are to be forwarded to the national coordinating authorities of the CCEB or NAMILCOM. For the CCEB Principals N. CRAM Squadron Leader Permanent Secretary to CCEB UNCLASSIFIED III UNCLASSIFIED ACP130 RECORD OF MESSAGE CORRECTIONS Identification of Message Correction and Date Entered By whom entered date, time group DTG Correction 1/1 January 2000 MODUK 2/1 January 2000 MODUK 3/1 March 2002 CCEB - PS UNCLASSIFIED IV UNCLASSIFIED ACP130 TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1 SECTION I - GENERAL PARA SUBJECT PAGE Title Page ............................................................................................................... I Foreword................................................................................................................ II Letter of Promulgation ........................................................................................... III Record of Message Corrections ............................................................................. IV Table of Contents................................................................................................... V to XII 101 Purpose................................................................................................................... 1-1 102 Visual Operators .................................................................................................... 1-1 103 Basis....................................................................................................................... 1-2 104 Use ......................................................................................................................... 1-2 105 International Morse Code....................................................................................... 1-3 106 The Semaphore Characters..................................................................................... 1-4 107 Allied Naval Signal Flags and Pennants................................................................. 1-4 Fig I Semaphore Characters............................................................................................ 1-5 Fig II Alphabetical and Numeral Flags ............................................................................ 1-7 Fig II Numeral Pennants, Special Flags and Pennants, Substitutes.................................. 1-9 SECTION II - MESSAGE FORMS 108 General................................................................................................................... 1-11 109 Plaindress ............................................................................................................... 1-11 110 Abbreviated Plaindress........................................................................................... 1-11 111 Codress Message.................................................................................................... 1-11 112 Service Message..................................................................................................... 1-11 113 Abbreviated Service Message ................................................................................ 1-12 114 Classification of Service and Abbreviated Service Messages ................................ 1-12 SECTION Ill - SCHEMATIC DIAGRAM 115 General................................................................................................................... 1-12 116 Diagram.................................................................................................................. 1-13 117 Explanation ............................................................................................................ 1-15 V UNCLASSIFIED ORIGINAL UNCLASSIFIED ACP130 CHAPTER 2 VISUAL CALL SIGNS SECTION I - GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS 201 Definitions.............................................................................................................. 2-1 202 Nature of Visual Call Signs.................................................................................... 2-1 203 Uses of Visual Call Signs....................................................................................... 2-1 204 Restrictions on Use of Visual Call Signs................................................................ 2-1 205 Other Call Signs Which May be Used For Visual Communications...................... 2-2 206 Transmission of Visual Call Signs ......................................................................... 2-2 207 Flags and Pennants Used........................................................................................ 2-3 208 Construction of Message Headings........................................................................ 2-3 SECTION II - INDIVIDUAL SHIP CALLS 209 International Call Signs (Signal Letters.................................................................. 2-3 210 Visual Calls and Shortened Visual Calls................................................................ 2-4 SECTION III - MISCELLANEOUS ORGANIZATIONS AFLOAT 211 Unit Indicator Call Signs........................................................................................ 2-4 212 Numeral Pennant Call Signs................................................................................... 2-5 213 Convoy Visual Call Signs ...................................................................................... 2-7 214 Special Task Organization Call Signs (Flaghoist Only ......................................... 2-7 SECTION IV - SINGLE LETTER TYPE INDICATORS 215 Single Letter Type Indicators................................................................................. 2-8 216 Single Letter Type Indicators................................................................................. 2-8 SECTION V - SHORE SIGNAL STATIONS 217 Government Signal Stations................................................................................... 2-9 218 Shore Signal Stations (Commercial........................................................................ 2-9 219 Signal Stations (Military ........................................................................................ 2-9 SECTION VI - SHIPS' BOATS 220 Boat Call Assignments ........................................................................................... 2-10 UNCLASSIFIED VI UNCLASSIFIED ACP130 CHAPTER 3 OPERATING SIGNALS AND PROSIGNS SECTION I - GENERAL 301 Operating Signals................................................................................................... 3-1 302 Procedure Sign (Prosign......................................................................................... 3-1 303 List of Prosigns ...................................................................................................... 3-1 SECTION 11 - DESCRIPTION AND USE OF PROSIGNS 304 AA "Unknown Station" (flashing light only........................................................... 3-2 305 AA "All After......................................................................................................... 3-2 306 AB "All Before .................................................................................................... 3-2 307 AR "End of Transmission ...................................................................................... 3-2 308 AS "Wait................................................................................................................ 3-3 309 B "More to Follow ................................................................................................. 3-3 310 BT "Long Break.................................................................................................... 3-4 311 C "Correct .............................................................................................................. 3-4 312 D "Reduce Brilliancy or Use Smaller Light" (flashing light only ......................... 3-4 313 DE "From..............................................................................................................