Des Moines (CA 134) - Naval Cruise Book

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I l i 1 l Signal flags up. FRONT ROW: G. W. Hughes, SA G. L. Hughes, SA: K. W. Strat: tard, SA: D. L. Clayton, SA: C U. Voshall, SA: R. E. Delesder- nier, SA. . . . SECOND ROW: .I R. Adams, SN: R. .I. Williams, QM2: A. G. Chinchar, YNT1: H L. Touchstone, QM1: C. T. Kess- ing Ens L G Cou le QM1 T: , .: . . g , tl D. G. Wilfgen, QMHTJ: V. C Rasmussen, QM3: J. E. Parr QM3 .... THIRD ROW: .I. .I Doran, QMZKTJ: C. P. Zacharos SA: G. R. Wournell, QM3: B. C Robbins, QM3: H. L. Miller QMS3: L. P. Church, SN: S. E Higginbotham, QMS2fTJ: E. R Lynch, QM3: R. Michaud, SA. I o CS , HEN MEN first started going down to the sea in ships a system by which one could communicate with the other was needed. Therefore visual communi- cations Were developed. From the days of the sailing ships of yesteryear to the present day task fleets, the grandfather of all types of seafaring communications, visual communications, has remained the most re- liable means of communication. The present day visual communications are handled by experts called signalmen. These signalmen, consist- ing of petty officers and seamen, are formed into Watch standing sections and placed, for administrative pur- poses, in the HCS,' Division. The CS Division, headed by the Signal Officer, is a vital element of the Opera- tions Department. The Signal Officer is responsible to the Communications Officer who in turn is responsible to the Operations Officer. The signalman's primary responsibility is all visual communications including flag hoist, flashing light, semaphore, panels, and pyrotechnics. Flag hoist is the fastest means of relaying visual communications of a tactical nature. Anyone who has been to sea or stood on shore Watching a man-of-war running up the bright- ly colored flags has Watched that part of visual com- munications called flag hoist. Each flag or group of flags are called hoist and each hoist has a separate and distinct pre-arranged meaning. A

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11- r 5 1 l E 'C 1 K! re 5 F 11 ,V ,, L ff- I nl' 'f Yeomen in executive office. A Print shop. 7- - 'wid ' 'Y ' ' 5 Photo lub. Chopluin's yeomen in crew's lounge

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Div' ion Flashing light is more adaptable for messages of an administrative nature and certain tacticalsmessages. One man is employed to send or to receive, and one man to record each Word as received. Flashing light is sent in lnternational Morse Code by means of a 12 inch signal searchlight, a 24 inch signal searchlight, or yardarm blinkers. s Semaphore is the least used of all means of visual communications because it is not adaptable to use over long distances. In the present day Navy, semaphore has taken a back seat and is used mostly for adminis- trative messages in port. Panels and pyrotechnics are reserved for use in emergencies. Panels are useful for identification during time of War. Pyrotechnics have several varied uses. The most common and Widely known use of pyrotech- nies are those used with man overboard to indicate the status of recovery. The signalmen through the years have acquired many nicknames. One which has Weathered all gales is 6'Flags. The signalmen of the DES MOINES, like any other signal gang, have as their center the ujoe potfi Any ship could do Without a rudder as easily as it could do Without a aj oe pot on the signal bridge. The men of the HCSQ, Division are always ready to handle all problems concerned with visual communica- tions for administration, tactics, or emergency with efficiency and interest. 32 Hauling down a signal. Sending by semaphore Lookout for signaling ships. Making up a Hag.