Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ

Wars and ConflictsΒ  permalink

Who invented the Royal Navy Signal flags?

• Message 1.Β 

  Posted by motheaten (U2328562) on Thursday, 27th October 2005

  As we remember Nelson's famous signal before Trafalgar, I'd like to know morwe about the history of the signal flag system and some of the other less famous signals.
  I know that Nelson's Signal Lieutenant, John Pasco, used Sir Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Popham's system adopted by the Royal Navy in 1800. This was an improvement on the earlier system, developed by Admiral Lord Howe and in use since 1790.
  I believe there were earlier systems, because the story of an engagement in the North Sea during the War of American Independence includes a reference to the exchange of signals as the American Privateer was challenged.
  Earlier, in May 1755 during a battle in Minorca, the British commanders failed to understand Admiral John Byng's signals and so lost the battle.
  Does anyone have detailed information about how Naval vessels signalled before 1790?

  Link to this forum: Who invented the Royal Navy Signal flags?

  Report message1

• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by arnaldalmaric (U1756653) on Sunday, 30th October 2005

  motheaten, will respond tomorrow, just need to post this as a reminder.
  
  AA.

  Link to this forum: Who invented the Royal Navy Signal flags?

  Report message2

• Message 3

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by nuneatonguitarplayer (U2327933) on Tuesday, 1st November 2005

  The semaphore line was a signalling system invented by the Chappe brothers in France. It is different from the naval semaphore system that uses hand-held flags, which was invented later.
  
  Claude Chappe began development when he and his four brothers lost their livelihoods because of the French Revolution. They determined by experiment that it was easier to see the angle of a rod than determine the presence of a panel. Their system was composed of black movable wooden arms, the position of which indicated alphabetic letters. The Chappe system was controlled by only two handles, and was mechanically simple, and reasonably rugged. Night operation with lamps on the arms was unsuccessful.
  
  Britain developed a series of semaphore towers which allowed rapid communications between London and the naval dockyards at Portsmouth.
  
  This was the period in which the naval semaphore system was invented. This system uses hand-held flags. It is still accepted for emergency communication in daylight.
  
  For more information you can go to
  
  29
  
  Thanks
  

  Link to this forum: Who invented the Royal Navy Signal flags?

  Report message3

• Message 4

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by The Researcher Strikes Back (U2183402) on Thursday, 3rd November 2005

  Read
  for information which might help. As we remember Nelson's famous signal before Trafalgar, I'd like to know morwe about the history of the signal flag system and some of the other less famous signals.
  I know that Nelson's Signal Lieutenant, John Pasco, used Sir Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Popham's system adopted by the Royal Navy in 1800. This was an improvement on the earlier system, developed by Admiral Lord Howe and in use since 1790.
  I believe there were earlier systems, because the story of an engagement in the North Sea during the War of American Independence includes a reference to the exchange of signals as the American Privateer was challenged.
  Earlier, in May 1755 during a battle in Minorca, the British commanders failed to understand Admiral John Byng's signals and so lost the battle.
  Does anyone have detailed information about how Naval vessels signalled before 1790?Β 

  Link to this forum: Who invented the Royal Navy Signal flags?

  Report message4

Back to top