Overview

This is a p5.js sketch that allows you to type letters and numbers and see the corresponding International Maritime Signal Flag.

Controls

• Keyboard:
  • SHIFT + P Will save the canvas as a PNG to your computer.
  • A - Z By themselves will show the flag for that letter.
  • 0 - 9 By themselves will show the flag for that number.
  • SHIFT + 0-9 Will show the NATO variant of the number.
  • CTRL + 1-4 Will show the Substitute flags, 1 -4, when you don’t have enough flags of one letter.
  • . Will show the CODE flag, also known as the ‘Answering Pennant’, used to start a response to request or as a decimal point.
  • CTRL + Two-Char code for special flags.
    • FL For Flotilla.
    • SQ For Squadron.
    • DI For Division.
    • SU For Subdivision.
    • PR For Preparative.
    • IN For Interrogative.
    • NE For Negative.
    • SC For Screen.
    • FO For Formation.
    • CO For Corpen (Course Pennant)
    • TU For Turn.
    • SB For Starboard.
    • PO For Port.
    • SP For Speed.
    • ST For Station.
    • EM For Emergency.
    • DE For Designation.

References

Multiple sources were used in determining proportions of the flags.

• Flag Shapes and Meanings:
  • Wikipedia: International maritime signal flags
  • mainharbors.com (circular dots on Pennants 1 and 2)
  • US Navy Signal Flags (elliptical dots on Pennants 1 and 2)
• Other:
  • Wikipedia: Int’l Code of Signals - Shows how combinations of flags can have specific meanings.
  • Wikipedia: Racing Rules - How these flags may be used in the context of Sailing races.
  • Semaphore Flag Signaling - How other signal flags are used with a signaler holding two of the same flags in their two arms in different patterns to convey the alphabet and other signals.
  • Special NATO flags - Includes details of secondary flags used by NATO in regards to maneuvering.
  • International Flags - Another visual reference.

Links:

• Live View
• Source on Github

Screenshots:

Screen captures

Cycling through A -> Z, CODE flag, 0-9 pennants, 0-9 NATO numerical, and finally substitute flags.