with other civil stations unless it is known that the station concerned is familiar with this series. QOA-QQZ:  Reserved  for  the  maritime  service. QRA-QUZ:   Allocated   to   the   International Telecommunications Union (ITU). All civil stations should have a copy of this series. Therefore, this series may be used with all civil stations unless the station concerned indicates it is unfamiliar with the series. QVA-QZZ: Not allocated. ZAA-ZXZ:  Allocated  to  the  Allied  military;  held by all military stations. ZYA-ZZZ:  Reserved  for  temporary  or  permanent assignment of meanings on an intra-military basis by any nation, service, or command authorized use of ACP 131. Use of Operating Signals Operating signals either answer a question, give an order, or give advice. Example: Order: ZJL—hoist the following signals. Info:   ZJI   NKZO—Call   sign   of   ship   in company is NKZO. In Allied military stations, a question or request can  be  implied  by  preceding  the  signal  with  the prosign INT. Example:    INT  QRU—Have  you  anything  for  me? INT ZJI—What are the call signs of ships in company with you? In reply to a question, an affirmative or a negative sense can usually be implied by using just the basic operating signal. Example: The reply to INT  ZOE would be ZOE. If  desired  though,  the  operating  signal  ZUE (affirmative) or ZUG (negative) may be used alone or in conjunction with the signal. Example:    The reply to INT ZOE may be ZUG or ZUG ZOE. In non-Allied military or civil stations, a question can be implied by use of the prosign IMI following the signal. Example: QAR 10 IMI—May I stop listening on the watch frequency for 10 minutes? In reply to a question in the affirmative or negative sense,  the  letter  C  (affirmative) or  N  (negative)  is  used. Example: The reply to QAR 10 IMI would be QAR 10C. Call signs normally will follow the Q or Z signals; however, they also may precede the operating signal for separation or clarity. Q  and  Z  signals  with  numbered  alternate  meanings will be followed, without spacing, by the appropriate number to indicate the meaning intended. Example: ZJH1 means: Your light is unreadable, not  trained  correctly. Time groups used with Q or Z signals always will be followed, without spacing, by a zone suffix. Any nation, service, or command may prohibit or restrict the military use, within its area of jurisdiction, of   any   operating   signal.   However,   when   such operating signals are received from other users, they must be recognized and acted upon. A knowledge of operating signals is a must for all Signalmen. Section J of ACP 131 contains visual operating signals. Study this section to become more efficient in your job. VISUAL RELAY RESPONSIBILITY In  visual  communication,  relaying  is  accom- plished automatically when the call-up is made using collective call signs. A message should be relayed concurrent  with  its  reception,  when  possible,  to  cut down   the   time   delay   between   the   end   of   the originator's transmission and its delivery to the final addressee. Chain of Visual Responsibility The general rule for determining the responsibility for any situation is that each addressee is responsible for delivery of the message to addressees beyond themselves in the general direction away from the originator. No rule set forth here, or prescribed by responsible  commanders,  is  to  be  interpreted  as restricting the initiative of any ship in relaying a message to an addressee who does not respond when called.  It  is  the  duty  of  any  ship  to  expedite  the transmission of a message by relaying when it is evident that she is in a better position to effect the necessary relay than the ship specifically responsible. When a maneuver alters the position of units and ships  relative  to  the  officer  in  tactical  command (OTC), the responsibility for relaying the signals does not alter until completion of the maneuver by all ships. 4-2