At present, there are 40 kinds of flags commonly used, including 26 kinds of letter flags, 26 kinds of digital flags 10, 3 kinds of substitute flags and 26 kinds of answer flags 1 0. They are composed of four colors: red, yellow, white and black. There are four kinds at the beginning: dovetail, rectangle, pointed and triangle. In addition, some countries have special flags such as the chairman's flag and the president's flag, while others have no special leader's flag, but the national flag is hung on the front mast.

First of all, hang all the flags.

There are strict rules on the time and order of hanging flags. Generally, the time when the national flag is hung is to greet the party and state leaders, the government and the army, foreign heads of state, major festivals, visits by foreign warships, before the visiting formation leaves the dock, when it arrives at the port of the visited country, when it is parked abroad, and so on. The full flag is hung between two mast transverse trusses and connected to the flagpoles at the bow and stern of the ship respectively. Two mastheads are hung with a national flag, and a navy flag is hung on the flagpoles at the bow and stern.

Second, the generation of Manchu flag.

30 minutes before the visiting formation leaves the dock, in order to leave the dock conveniently, it is generally necessary to lower the whole flag, hang the whole flag instead, and then lower it after leaving the port. Daiman Banner is to hang the national flag 1 on two masts and the navy flag on the front and rear masts. It is stipulated that when the flag is full, if it rains or windy, it is not necessary to hang the flag full.

Third, the semaphore of sea replenishment.

After a period of sailing, visiting ships need to be replenished with oil and water, which are divided into horizontal and vertical. No matter which replenishment method, a signal flag should be hung to indicate various orders and replenishment actions in the replenishment process.

In order to stimulate the enthusiasm of visiting officers and soldiers, visiting ships crossing the territorial sea line and equator usually organize an oath ceremony and fly the national flag instead of the full flag. On behalf of full-flag sailing, the national flag is hung on two masts, and the navy flag is not hung on the flagpoles at the bow and stern.

Fourth, flag language.

Flags are also a way of communication at sea. Suitable for daytime, close range and good sight distance. When the distance is close at night, optical communication is generally used. The hand flag is a small square flag with a wooden stick at the root. Hand flag communication requires the use of two flags. The signalman held the flag in both hands and stood in a higher and more conspicuous position on the ship's side. Different letters and symbols are expressed by the different positions of the flag relative to the body. For example, the left hand is raised vertically, and the right hand is extended in parallel to indicate "P". The right hand is raised vertically and the left hand is extended in parallel, indicating "J". Hands sticking out in parallel means "R". Raise your hands vertically to indicate sound insulation. Several pinyin letters make up a word, and several words make up a meaning. The hand flag can also point out the direction for the ship (ship) to put down.

Flags before and after leaving foreign docks

Before the visiting warship formation enters the territorial sea line of the visited country, the visited country will generally send warships to meet it. When entering the territorial sea line, according to the agreement between the two parties, the national flag of the visiting country will be hoisted. The national flag of the visited country is hung on the starboard side of the main mast of the visited country, and the national flag of the visited country is hung on the port side of the main mast. When docking, the "H" flag rises to the top, indicating "start docking". When the first cable was brought, the "H" sign was lowered. The H-shaped flag is a square flag, half white and half red. It means: "I have stopped." When you bring the first cable, you start hanging flags and navy flags at the bow and stern. If the warship of the visiting country hangs a welcome flag, the visiting country should hang a thank-you flag group to express its gratitude. When leaving the dock, it is the same as when the visiting country leaves the dock. During a foreign visit, generally speaking, a grand flag-raising ceremony will be arranged every day. Raise the national flags of both sides at the same time.