number flag indicator assigned to it. This flag may be left flying in a superior position when successive signals   from   the   same   table   are   being   used. Participants  then  may  keep  their  books  open  to  one table instead of searching through the book each time a signal is hoisted. This practice permits greater speed in signaling. Supplementary   tables   are   used   primarily   to expand the meaning of certain basic groups; they may be  used  with  any  governing  or  basic  group  as appropriate.  When  an  item  from  the  supplementary table is used by itself, it must be preceded by the basic group  BV. CONSTRUCTING  FLAGHOIST  SIGNALS Words are seldom spelled out in Navy flaghoist signaling because of the length and number of hoists required and the time required to handle the hoists. The signal book provides chapter and basic groups and suffixes. A chapter group is a two-letter group allocated to a particular chapter and the main vocabulary from which all signals in that chapter are derived. Example:  CM—communication A basic group is a signal consisting of the chapter group followed by one or more figures. Example:  CM1 Suffixes are provided so that the basic meaning can be varied. When a suffix is used, it must follow the last figure of the group, separated by a tack. The tack may be omitted if no ambiguity will arise. Example:  CMl—1,  CMl—l—l Signals from ATP 1, volume II may he supple- mented or modified by the use of the following: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Governing pennants Governing   groups Call   signs,   sequence   numbers,   and   unit indicators Description signals Plain  text Operating   signals International Code of Signals Tables Governing Pennants Three  governing  pennants—PREPARATIVE, INTERROGATIVE,  and  NEGATIVE—are  available to impart a different sense to a signal. When hoisted with signals, their meanings are as follows: PREP—Prepare  to INT—Questions  or  inquiries NEGAT—Cease, do not; or to give a negative sense to   an   otherwise   affirmative   (informatory) statement. In   the   following   examples,   EXl   means “Commence run”: PREP EXl—Prepare to commence run. INT EXl—Are you commencing run? NEGAT  EXl—Do  not  commence  run. A governing pennant governs all signal groups when separated from those groups by TACK or when hoisted alone on an adjacent halyard. If the pennant is to govern only one of several signal groups, it must immediately precede the group governed. The other groups must be separated from the governed group by TACK. Governing  Groups Governing  groups  are  two-letter  signals  used  in much  the  same  fashion  as  governing  pennants.  The governing group followed by a tack, precedes the signal  and  governs  that  signal  only.  The  governing group may be used alone when no ambiguity will result.  The  following  list  contains  the  governing groups: BA BB BC BD BE BF BG BH BI BJ BK BL BM BT BU BV BX BZ Action is being carried out (or I am) Action completed (or I have) I  recommend Report time you will be ready (to ) Report when ready (to ) Am  ready  (to )(at ) My present intention is to Request permission to Action is not being carried out (or I am not) If you desire When  you  desire When  ready Enemy/opponent is or I am being For use see ATP 1, volume II (articles 164e and 164g) Unable to Take action or information as indicated from appropriate  supplementary  table  (ATP  1,  volume II,  chapter  33) Indicates end of series of groups governed by governing  groups Well done 5-8