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 US Signal corps distress signals		  New Topic  Topic Locked
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Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts
Initially Posted - 10/19/2011 :  09:14:14  Show Profile  Visit Prospector's Homepage
So i was tooling through the local surplus store the other day and they had crates of these sitting out. I thought they were maybe a good thing to have on hand for canoeing/sailing/backwoods camping/hiking/etc.

The signal is a 3ft by 6 foot (maybe??) tarp that is fluorescent pink on one side and blaze orange on the other.

Anyone have one on hand? Is it worth its weight for the activities listed above?? I forget the prices on them, but they were pretty cheap.
"Iris"
1984 FK/SR #4040
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aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts
Response Posted - 10/20/2011 :  05:39:15  Show Profile  Visit aeckhart's Homepage
Hmmmmm, the emergency flag I have is orange with black ball. I believe this is the standard marine emergendy flag. It came with my flare kit. The tarp you describe is much larger and would be seen better in an emergency but you would have to add a black ball in the center.
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Stinkpotter
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Djibouti
9076 Posts
Response Posted - 10/20/2011 :  06:44:35  Show Profile
The Signal Corps (Army) version might be intended more for spotting in an airborne search, while the USCG version is for showing to other vessels on the water... (?) For an airplane at a couple thousand feet, you want to spread out something big and bright--period. For a passing boat on the water, you want something that won't be mistaken for a cocktail flag or whatever.
Edited by - Stinkpotter on 10/20/2011 06:50:12
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dlucier
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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts
Response Posted - 10/20/2011 :  06:47:08  Show Profile
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KeziCat
1st Mate

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USA
28 Posts
Response Posted - 10/20/2011 :  21:11:11  Show Profile
I think they are called VS-17 Panels. IMSMC I remember learning to use them for marking helicopter landing areas. There were three rectangle shaped panels in each kit and they could be arranged in different patterns to indicated various signals. I've also seen them attached to certain types of ground equipment to identify particular items/vehicles from the air.
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Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts
Response Posted - 10/21/2011 :  05:53:49  Show Profile  Visit Prospector's Homepage
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by KeziCat</i>
<br />I think they are called VS-17 Panels. IMSMC I remember learning to use them for marking helicopter landing areas. There were three rectangle shaped panels in each kit and they could be arranged in different patterns to indicated various signals. I've also seen them attached to certain types of ground equipment to identify particular items/vehicles from the air.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Thansk KeziCat - very useful info. These had teh outside corner squares coloured army green to prevent UV degradation when folded up. In any case, it sounds like they aren't of much use, but might be a fun toy. In the bin next to them were 5-packs of croquet mallet handles. I grabbed one of them for paint roller handles. At 50 cents its hard to go wrong.
Edited by - Prospector on 10/21/2011 05:55:12
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Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.