Carrier Ops

[joojoo]

Hello to everyone

 

I would like to ask what "Signal Charlie" is/means during carrier recovery.

 

Thanx

[kengou]

I believe is means deck is clear to begin landing operations?

[Speedbrake]

Charlie means "yes" or "affirmative". It comes from the old days of flag signals.

 

 

A typical landing operation begins with a "Signal Charlie". The carrier would turn to a heading that would provide about a 10-degree crosswind from the port which would put the wind direction closer to being head-on for the landing deck angle which is 12-degrees off (port of) the carrier heading.

[Lex Talionis]

The phrase "your signal is Charlie " simply means, you are cleared to recover on the boat.

 

 

Where it comes from is a much more interesting story....

 

During WW2 aircraft would circle overhead the ship waiting to recover similar to how we stack today Often to keep radio silance, the pilots would not transmit while circling and would be instructed to simply wait untill they could see the ship turn into the wind before approaching the initial. When the ship turned, the wake would carve a "C" in the ocean. It was easier to see the "Charlie" in the ocean at altitude then the actual ship.

 

EDIT: ah, my Buddy Speedbrake beat me to it. His explanation is the more technical answer. :)

Edited September 19, 2019 by Lex Talionis

[Gierasimov]

Is 12 or 9?

 

Charlie means "yes" or "affirmative". It comes from the old days of flag signals.

 

 

A typical landing operation begins with a "Signal Charlie". The carrier would turn to a heading that would provide about a 10-degree crosswind from the port which would put the wind direction closer to being head-on for the landing deck angle which is 12-degrees off (port of) the carrier heading.

Hi Speedbrake,

 

Sources online and DCS Stennis measure 9 degrees left of ship's heading for the angle, is this the same angle you are talking about? What is that 12?

 

Thanks!