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M.

260. "Mike" (—)

(1) Call for mine vessels.

(2) Hoisted at the main truck by ships, and in the bow by boats carrying mail.

(3) Over one or two numeral flags indicates a month (M 1, January; M 2, February; etc.)

(4) Over three or four numeral flags indicates the month and day of the month, the two last flags representing the day of the month. Thus, M 304, March 4.

(5) Under the emergency pennant means "Mine sighted to starboard."

(6) Over the emergency pennant means "Mine sighted to port.' (7) Flown from the port main yardarm by ships having the medical guard except when the medical guard ship also has the regular guard duty, in which case it is not flown.

N.

261. "Negative" (-.) Written "Negat."

(1) Under a call in answer to a signal it means "No" or "Not granted.' (2) Over a signal it gives a negative sense to that signal, which, if the sig

nal has been made previously, is the same as annulling it. (3) Over a call it exempts that ship or unit.

(4) As a separate hoist it annuls all signals then hoisted on that yardarm, or if no signals are hoisted it annuls the last signal made. (5) Over four numerals (time of origin), or over four numerals (office reference number and date group) and accompanied by a second hoist of four numerals (time of origin), it means "Your not received." dispatch referenced

(6) Under four numerals (time of origin) or under four numerals (office reference and date group) and accompanied by a second Referring to your hoist of four numerals (time of origin), -, no, or not granted." dispatch referenced

it means

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(2) Over a signal it indicates that the carrying out of the purport of the

signal is left to the discretion of the officers concerned.

(3) Under a signal it indicates moment of execution of the signal is left to the discretion of the officers concerned.

(4) Over numerals it means "Officer whose signal number is as indicated." For this purpose the January Navy Register of each year is used from July 1 of that year till June 30 of the following year. (5) Under four numerals (time of origin) or under four numerals (office reference number and date group) and accompanied by a second hoist of four numerals (time of origin) it means "Referring to your dispatch referenced act at discretion."

P.

263. "Preparatory" (..) Written "Prep."

(1) Over a signal it means "Be prepared to execute this signal when ordered to do so or at time indicated."

(2) Over three numeral flags (000 to 359), it means train on compass bearing indicated."

"All turrets

(3) Hoisted at 6.55 a. m. and hauled down at 7 a. m. as a time and uniform signal when there is no change in the uniform.

(4) Hoisted five minutes before colors and hauled down at 8 a. m.

(5) Over one or two numeral flags prescribes the size of colors to be hoisted.

(2) Call of naval district vessels.

Used in connection with delayed execution of signals as explained in the Signal Manual.

274. The 10 numeral flags are used in their numeral sense, in signals, with the alphabet flags and pennants and maneuvering pennants.

5-FLAG.

275. (1) The 5-flag, broken at the foretruck, when under way means "Breakdown or "Not under control." The equivalen

night signal for "Breakdown" or "Not under control" is two red lights arranged vertically.

(2) Broken at the foretruck and lowered to the dip it means "Man overboard." When so used in thick weather a gun is fired at the same time. The equivalent night signal for "Man overboard" is the flashing of the two red lights mentioned above and the firing of a gun.

6-FLAG.

276. (1) The 6-flag hoisted alone is the "General recall" for all boats away from the ship. Its night equivalent as "General recall” is six long flashes.

(2) Over numeral pennants it recalls the boat indicated.

(3) Over "Negative" over numeral pennants it recalls all boats except that indicated.

(4) Under "Negative" and over numeral pennants it directs the boat indicated not to return until recalled.

ZERO FLAG.

277. (1) Under way.-Zero flag at the foretruck indicates the fleet guide. When so hoisted and lowered to the dip, it indicates the guide is temporarily out of position or in the case of certain cruising formations that the guide is maneuvering to lose distance.

Under a ship's call directs that ship to take fleet guide. Answered by hoisting the zero flag. A ship's call over "Negative" over zero flag directs that ship to cease being fleet guide. Answered by hauling down the zero flag.

(2) At anchor.-Flown at the fore from sunrise to sunset by ships having guard duty, except flagships or ship of senior officer present. Flown in the bow of small boats performing guard boat duty. (Boats carrying mail fly the mail flag and not the "Guard" flag.) Under a ship's call means "Take guard duty." Answered by hoisting the zero flag. A ship's call over "Negative" over_zero flag means "Cease guard duty." Answered by hauling down zero flag.

Under the "Force commander's call" signifies "Send a guard boat from each force to ship making the signal." Force flagship's answer by repeating the hoist.

Under the call of a unit, calls all guard boats of that unit to the ship making the signal. Guard ships answer by dipping the guard flag.