Nautical Alphabet

Alphabets come in many varying forms depending on the way you are transmitting the information.

When using radion transmissions you will use the phonetic alphabet, which you will find on ths page.

You will also be shown the numerous flags that you will need to know.

All of these things will be shown on this page in visual form.

They are for revision purposes.

There are printable downloads available at the end of each section, for you to print or save to your desktop.

These will aid your revision for the Self Test Area.

The phonetic alphabet should be used for radio transmissions in plan language or in code.

If you need to spell out a word you should say "I spell" after pronouncing the work and then spell it using the phonetic alphabet.

Double digits should be transmitted digit by digit.

Letter	Value	Letter	Value	Letter	Value	Letter	Value	Number	Value
A	Alpha	H	Hotel	O	Oscar	V	Victor	1	wun
B	Bravo	I	India	P	Papa	W	Whiskey	2	too
C	Charlie	J	Juliet	Q	Quebec	X	X-ray	3	tree
D	Delta	K	Kilo	R	Romeo	Y	Yankee	4	fow er
E	Echo	L	Lima	S	Sierra	Z	Zulu	5	fife
F	Foxtrot	M	Mike	T	Tango			6	six
G	Golf	N	November	U	Uniform			7	seven

Flag	Descriptions	Flag	Descriptions
A (Alpha)	diver below (when stationary); I am undergoing a speed trial	B (Bravo)	I am taking on or discharging explosives
C (Charlie)	Affirmative	D (Delta)	keep clear of me, I am maneuvering with difficulty
E (Echo)	I am altering my course to starboard	F (Foxtrot)	I am disabled, communicate with me
G (Golf)	I require a pilot	H (Hotel)	I have a pilot on board
I (India)	I am altering my course to port	J (Juliet)	I am going to send a message by semaphore
K (Kilo)	you should stop your vessel instantly	L (Lima)	you should stop, I have something important to communicate
M (Mike)	I have a doctor on board	N (November)	no (negative)
O (Oscar)	man overboard	P (Papa)	all aboard, vessel is about to proceed sea. (at sea) your lights are out or burning badly
Q (Quebec)	my vessel is healthy and I request free practique	R (Romeo)	the way is off my ship. You may feel you way past me
S (Sierra)	my engines are going full speed astern	T (Tango)	do not pass ahead of me
U (Uniform)	you are standing into danger	V (Victor)	require assistance, (not in distress)
W (Whiskey)	I require medical assistance	X (X-ray)	stop carrying out your intentions and watch for my signals
Y (Yankee)	I am carrying mail / Dragging Anchor	Z (Zulu)	to be used to address or call shore stations
Repeater 1	The first repeater repeats the upper flag or pennant of a hoist.	Repeater 2	the second repeater repeats the second flag or pennant
Repeater 3	the third repeater repeats the third flag or pennant and so on...