Vega's Call Sign
 By Tom Daley

During the time we were all on VEGA, her 4-letter callsign was NQSJ.  I happened across a listing of callsigns which I sent to some of you, and indeed... the old call has been reassigned.
 
NQSJ is now the callsign of USS GRAPPLE ARS-53  (deep sea recovery vessel).  She's the one who found pieces of a couple of airliner disasters, AND discovered the USS MONITOR... the original ironclad.
 
I guess if it had to go to another ship - at least NQSJ is still earning it's keep.
 
----------- here are some variations for you old RM's & SM's:-------------
 
Dah Dit - Dah Dah Dit Dah - Dit Dit Dit - Dit Dah Dah Dah   morse code for NQSJ
 
Of course, her voice call was "Thunderbolt Mike"
 
Flag hoist was:  Nan  Queen  Sugar  Jig                  (old phonetics)
                       November  Quebec  Sierra  Joliet     (new phonetics)
 
(N) Blue & White checkered flag (16 squares)
(Q) Solid Yellow
(S) White w/blue square in middle
(J) Blue w/white horizontal bar (middle third)
 
SEMAPHORE FLAG SIGNAL:
 
(N) Both flags (arms) 45 degrees up from full vertical down
(Q) left flag 45 degrees up from full horizontal / right flag straight out from body
(S) left flag 45 degrees down from full horizontal / right flag straight out from body
(J) left flag straight out from body / right flag straight up
 
 
Obviously, I have too much time on my hands, tonight.
 
Later
 
Tom Dailey
 

 

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