CIPHERNAUT
csen
Cipher catalogue
GraphicDifficulty: Medium

Flag semaphore

Two flags, eight arm positions. Each pair of positions is one letter - the signaller shows it, you read it.

Try it

27 characters

Result · Flag semaphore

45-90 135-0 0-135 90-90 135-0 180-135 / 90-45 135-0 45-90 45-90 0-45 45-0 135-0 / 90-0 225-90 90-90 / 180-135 315-90 135-0 / 0-135 135-45 135-135 0-90

How it works

  1. 1The signaller holds a flag in each hand. Each arm can point in one of eight directions, 45 degrees apart.
  2. 2Every pair of positions is one letter. A is the left arm straight down and the right arm slanting down and out, B is the right arm straight out sideways.
  3. 3The pictures show the signaller as you see them when you stand facing them, so the signaller's left arm appears on the right of the picture.
  4. 4For numbers, send the "numerals" sign first, then A-I mean 1-9 and K means 0. Go back to letters with the sign for J.

Example

HELLO

Did you know

A forerunner of semaphore is Claude Chappe's optical telegraph from 1792: towers with movable arms passing messages from hill to hill. Handheld flag semaphore came in the 19th century and was widely used at sea, where you could not shout across the water or post a letter. Scouts still learn it today and navies still use it.

Try to decode

This message is encrypted with Flag semaphore using the default settings:

Hint

The first letter is F: one arm out sideways, the other straight down.

Show solution

FIND THE TREASURE

More ciphers in this category