Why are there so many national flags hanging on warships?

Many small flags hung on warships are not representative flags, but signal flags. The international flag system is a flag communication system between ships, which allows ships to express their intentions quickly and clearly. This system is a part of the international signal coding system. As early as the end of 18, signal flags, as an important means of communication for warships and merchant ships, were widely used in various countries.

The colors and styles of international signal flags are different. When in use, according to the provisions of international signal coding, a flag can be used alone or in groups of several flags. A group can be composed of several letter signs or several number signs or several letter signs and several number signs. The national flag can be hung on a flag rope or one or more sets of international signal flags, which is called "one hanging".

Extended data:

It is very particular to hang flags on warships. At present, there are 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 kinds of signal flags used for ships in the world, and 1 is the largest one. Each set has 46 flags, including 26 alphabetic flags, 10 digital flags, 4 directional flags, 3 generational flags, 1 administrative flags, 1 response flags and 1 international response flags. The 26-letter symbol is square and dovetail, the number symbol is triangle, and the response symbol is trapezoid.

Another point that needs to be emphasized is that when the national flag is full, it is not allowed to fly a signal flag with the same style as the national flag of the visiting country, nor can it fly a flag indicating combat, nuclear prevention and air raid prevention.

Baidu encyclopedia-international signal flag