Tool to decrypt/encrypt with the international maritime/navy signal flags/code automatically to communicate with ships.
Navy Signals Code - dCode
Tag(s) : Communication System, Symbol Substitution
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Navy Signals Code
Navy Signal Flags Decoder
Navy Flags Encoder
Answers to Questions (FAQ)
What is the Nautical Signals Flags alphabet? (Definition)
The International Code of Maritime Signals is a visual communication system used in maritime navigation to transmit messages at a distance between ships or between a ship and the coast. It is made up of a set of flags (pavilions/semaphores) each having a meaning.
How to encrypt using Navy Signals cipher?
The International Maritime Signal Code can be used as a mono-alphabetic substitution cipher, each nautical flag represents a letter of the alphabet or a number from 0 to 9.
| A | .png) | B | .png) | C | .png) | D | .png) | E | .png) | F | .png) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | .png) | H | .png) | I | .png) | J | .png) | K | .png) | L | .png) |
| M | .png) | N | .png) | O | .png) | P | .png) | Q | .png) | R | .png) |
| S | .png) | T | .png) | U | .png) | V | .png) | W | .png) | X | .png) |
| Y | .png) | Z | .png) | ||||||||
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Example: 'FLAG' is coded
The digits have a different shaped flag:
| 0 | .png) | 1 | .png) | 2 | .png) | 3 | .png) | 4 | .png) |
| 5 | .png) | 6 | .png) | 7 | .png) | 8 | .png) | 9 | .png) |
Each ship/boat only carries one set of flags, so if a letter is repeated, it cannot be coded. To deal with this eventuality, there are 4 substitution/repetition flags.
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repeat the first flag
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repeat the second flag
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repeat the third flag
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repeats the fourth flag (not used in the official version of the International code)
Example: SOS is translated
How to decrypt Maritime Signals cipher?
How to recognize Maritime Flag ciphertext?
The ciphered message is made of flags (squared) in basic colors: blue, white, yellow, red, black (no green and no compound colors) offering a large contrast.
Flags used in the navy, do not necessarily mean a distress signal, they can handle a radio problem and help ship navigation.
All references to the navy, naval forces (Royal Navy, US Navy etc.) and boats, lighthouses or distress situation (use of flare, buoy, whistle) in general are clues.
What are the variants of the Maritime alphabet?
NATO uses 10 other flags (square format) to encode digits.
| 0 | .png) | 1 | .png) | 2 | .png) | 3 | .png) | 4 | .png) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | .png) | 6 | .png) | 7 | .png) | 8 | .png) | 9 | .png) |
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Why using Maritime Signals Flags?
The International Maritime Signals Flags system is used to facilitate communication between ships, especially when they are at a distance or when they cannot use radio or other electronic means of communication. It is used to transmit messages such as warnings, requests for help, navigation instructions, etc.
Source code
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Cite as source (bibliography):
Navy Signals Code on dCode.fr [online website], retrieved on 2024-07-27,
- Navy Signal Flags Decoder
- Navy Flags Encoder
- What is the Nautical Signals Flags alphabet? (Definition)
- How to encrypt using Navy Signals cipher?
- How to decrypt Maritime Signals cipher?
- How to recognize Maritime Flag ciphertext?
- What are the variants of the Maritime alphabet?
- Why using Maritime Signals Flags?
- What is the reference book for Maritime Signals?
