Had occasion to verify the meaning of "Bravo Zulu", and discovered
that the signal does *not* date back to WWII, at least according to
the following source. Some interesting comments about the evolution of
the phonetic alphabet are included:


(This is from Wikipedia)

Bravo Zulu is a naval signal, conveyed by flaghoist or voice radio,
meaning "well done"; it has also passed into the spoken and written
vocabulary. It can be combined with the "negative" signal, spoken or
written NEGAT, to say "NEGAT Bravo Zulu", or "not well done".

There are some myths and legends attached to this signal. The one most
frequently heard has Admiral "Bull" Halsey sending it to ships of Task
Force 38 during World War II. He could not have done this, since the
signal did not exist at that time.

"Bravo Zulu" actually comes from the Allied Naval Signal Book (ATP1
Vol 2 series), an international naval signal code adopted after the
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was created in 1949. Until
then, each navy had used its own signal code and operational manuals.
World War II experience had shown that it was difficult, or even
impossible, for ships of different navies to operate together unless
they could readily communicate, and ACP 175 was designed to remedy
this.

In the U.S. Navy signal code, used before ACP 175, "well done" was
signaled as TVG, or "Tare Victor George" in the U.S. phonetic alphabet
of that time. ACP 175 was organized in the general manner of other
signal books, that is, starting with 1-flag signals, then 2-flag and
so on. The 2-flag signals were organized by general subject, starting
with AA, AB, AC, ... AZ, BA, BB, BC, ... BZ, and so on. The B- signals
were called "Administrative" signals, and dealt with miscellaneous
matters of administration and housekeeping. The last signal on the
"Administrative" page was BZ, standing for "well done".

At that time BZ was not rendered as "Bravo Zulu", but in each navy's
particular phonetic alphabet. In the U.S. Navy, BZ was spoken as
"Baker Zebra". In the meanwhile, the International Civil Aviation
Organization (ICAO) had adopted English as the international air
traffic control language. They developed a phonetic alphabet for
international aviation use, designed to be as "pronounceable" as
possible by flyers and traffic controllers speaking many different
languages. This was the "Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta..." alphabet
used today. The Navy adopted this ICAO alphabet in March 1956. It was
then that "Baker Zebra" finally became "Bravo Zulu".

On 1 Feb 2007 19:46:52 -0800, "Chuck Gould"
wrote:

Had occasion to verify the meaning of "Bravo Zulu", and discovered
that the signal does *not* date back to WWII, at least according to
the following source. Some interesting comments about the evolution of
the phonetic alphabet are included:


(This is from Wikipedia)

Bravo Zulu is a naval signal, conveyed by flaghoist or voice radio,
meaning "well done"; it has also passed into the spoken and written
vocabulary. It can be combined with the "negative" signal, spoken or
written NEGAT, to say "NEGAT Bravo Zulu", or "not well done".

There are some myths and legends attached to this signal. The one most
frequently heard has Admiral "Bull" Halsey sending it to ships of Task
Force 38 during World War II. He could not have done this, since the
signal did not exist at that time.

"Bravo Zulu" actually comes from the Allied Naval Signal Book (ATP1
Vol 2 series), an international naval signal code adopted after the
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was created in 1949. Until
then, each navy had used its own signal code and operational manuals.
World War II experience had shown that it was difficult, or even
impossible, for ships of different navies to operate together unless
they could readily communicate, and ACP 175 was designed to remedy
this.

In the U.S. Navy signal code, used before ACP 175, "well done" was
signaled as TVG, or "Tare Victor George" in the U.S. phonetic alphabet
of that time. ACP 175 was organized in the general manner of other
signal books, that is, starting with 1-flag signals, then 2-flag and
so on. The 2-flag signals were organized by general subject, starting
with AA, AB, AC, ... AZ, BA, BB, BC, ... BZ, and so on. The B- signals
were called "Administrative" signals, and dealt with miscellaneous
matters of administration and housekeeping. The last signal on the
"Administrative" page was BZ, standing for "well done".

At that time BZ was not rendered as "Bravo Zulu", but in each navy's
particular phonetic alphabet. In the U.S. Navy, BZ was spoken as
"Baker Zebra". In the meanwhile, the International Civil Aviation
Organization (ICAO) had adopted English as the international air
traffic control language. They developed a phonetic alphabet for
international aviation use, designed to be as "pronounceable" as
possible by flyers and traffic controllers speaking many different
languages. This was the "Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta..." alphabet
used today. The Navy adopted this ICAO alphabet in March 1956. It was
then that "Baker Zebra" finally became "Bravo Zulu".

The hyper-critics are probably going to accuse you of trying to sell signal
flags, but I found that very interesting. Thanks!
--
***** Have a super day! *****

John H

Chuck Gould wrote:

...

The Navy adopted this ICAO alphabet in March 1956. It was
then that "Baker Zebra" finally became "Bravo Zulu".

As a former US Navy Signalman who served with NATO, I say BZ to you for
this interesting and, I might add, accurate post.

--
Stan

On Feb 1, 9:46 pm, "Chuck Gould" wrote:
Had occasion to verify the meaning of "Bravo Zulu", and discovered
that the signal does *not* date back to WWII, at least according to
the following source. Some interesting comments about the evolution of
the phonetic alphabet are included:

Sometimes, Wikipedia actually has it right.

It amazes me that people still manage to mangle the phonetic alphabet.
Listen to some of the emergency responders around here, you really
begin to wonder about their backgrounds.

One in particular uses Heroin instead of Hotel. :)

Come to think of it, how many people actually know the phonetic
alphabet - probably not many.

wrote in message
oups.com...
On Feb 1, 9:46 pm, "Chuck Gould" wrote:
Had occasion to verify the meaning of "Bravo Zulu", and discovered
that the signal does *not* date back to WWII, at least according to
the following source. Some interesting comments about the evolution of
the phonetic alphabet are included:

Sometimes, Wikipedia actually has it right.

It amazes me that people still manage to mangle the phonetic alphabet.
Listen to some of the emergency responders around here, you really
begin to wonder about their backgrounds.

One in particular uses Heroin instead of Hotel. :)

Come to think of it, how many people actually know the phonetic
alphabet - probably not many.


Without looking 'em up ....

Alpha
Bravo
Charlie
Delta
Echo
Foxtrot
Golf
Hotel
India
Juliett
K???? (can't remember) Kilo?
Lima
Mike
November
Oscar
Papa
Quebec
Romeo
Sierra
Tango
Uniform
Victor
Whiskey
Xray
Yankee
Zulu

Eisboch (with and "Echo")

Eisboch wrote:
wrote in message
oups.com...
On Feb 1, 9:46 pm, "Chuck Gould" wrote:
Had occasion to verify the meaning of "Bravo Zulu", and discovered
that the signal does *not* date back to WWII, at least according to
the following source. Some interesting comments about the evolution of
the phonetic alphabet are included:
Sometimes, Wikipedia actually has it right.

It amazes me that people still manage to mangle the phonetic alphabet.
Listen to some of the emergency responders around here, you really
begin to wonder about their backgrounds.

One in particular uses Heroin instead of Hotel. :)

Come to think of it, how many people actually know the phonetic
alphabet - probably not many.


Without looking 'em up ....

Alpha
Bravo
Charlie
Delta
Echo
Foxtrot
Golf
Hotel
India
Juliett
K???? (can't remember) Kilo?
Lima
Mike
November
Oscar
Papa
Quebec
Romeo
Sierra
Tango
Uniform
Victor
Whiskey
Xray
Yankee
Zulu

Eisboch (with and "Echo")



BZ

On Fri, 2 Feb 2007 08:29:08 -0500, "Eisboch" wrote:


wrote in message
roups.com...
On Feb 1, 9:46 pm, "Chuck Gould" wrote:
Had occasion to verify the meaning of "Bravo Zulu", and discovered
that the signal does *not* date back to WWII, at least according to
the following source. Some interesting comments about the evolution of
the phonetic alphabet are included:

Sometimes, Wikipedia actually has it right.

It amazes me that people still manage to mangle the phonetic alphabet.
Listen to some of the emergency responders around here, you really
begin to wonder about their backgrounds.

One in particular uses Heroin instead of Hotel. :)

Come to think of it, how many people actually know the phonetic
alphabet - probably not many.


Without looking 'em up ....

Alpha
Bravo
Charlie
Delta
Echo
Foxtrot
Golf
Hotel
India
Juliett
K???? (can't remember) Kilo?
Lima
Mike
November
Oscar
Papa
Quebec
Romeo
Sierra
Tango
Uniform
Victor
Whiskey
Xray
Yankee
Zulu

Eisboch (with and "Echo")


Good job, but that's the military one. What's the police phonetic alphabet?
http://www.police-scanner.info/gloss...c_alphabet.htm

--
***** Have a super day! *****

John H

Good job, but that's the military one. What's the police phonetic
alphabet?

"Drop it and spread 'em"

Eisboch

On Fri, 2 Feb 2007 08:29:08 -0500, "Eisboch" wrote:

Without looking 'em up ....

Alpha
Bravo
Charlie
Delta

That's about right as I remember it for the "new" international
standard created in the mid to late 50s if I remember correctly.

There was an older WW II era standard that went something like this:

Adam
Baker
Charlie
David
Edward
Frank
..
..
Zebra

On Feb 2, 4:11�am, JLH wrote:
On 1 Feb 2007 19:46:52 -0800, "Chuck Gould"
wrote:





Had occasion to verify the meaning of "Bravo Zulu", and discovered
that the signal does **not* date back to WWII, at least according to
the following source. Some interesting comments about the evolution of
the phonetic alphabet are included:

(This is from Wikipedia)

Bravo Zulu is a naval signal, conveyed by flaghoist or voice radio,
meaning "well done"; it has also passed into the spoken and written
vocabulary. It can be combined with the "negative" signal, spoken or
written NEGAT, to say "NEGAT Bravo Zulu", or "not well done".

There are some myths and legends attached to this signal. The one most
frequently heard has Admiral "Bull" Halsey sending it to ships of Task
Force 38 during World War II. He could not have done this, since the
signal did not exist at that time.

"Bravo Zulu" actually comes from the Allied Naval Signal Book (ATP1
Vol 2 series), an international naval signal code adopted after the
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was created in 1949. Until
then, each navy had used its own signal code and operational manuals.
World War II experience had shown that it was difficult, or even
impossible, for ships of different navies to operate together unless
they could readily communicate, and ACP 175 was designed to remedy
this.

In the U.S. Navy signal code, used before ACP 175, "well done" was
signaled as TVG, or "Tare Victor George" in the U.S. phonetic alphabet
of that time. ACP 175 was organized in the general manner of other
signal books, that is, starting with 1-flag signals, then 2-flag and
so on. The 2-flag signals were organized by general subject, starting
with AA, AB, AC, ... AZ, BA, BB, BC, ... BZ, and so on. The B- signals
were called "Administrative" signals, and dealt with miscellaneous
matters of administration and housekeeping. The last signal on the
"Administrative" page was BZ, standing for "well done".

At that time BZ was not rendered as "Bravo Zulu", but in each navy's
particular phonetic alphabet. In the U.S. Navy, BZ was spoken as
"Baker Zebra". In the meanwhile, the International Civil Aviation
Organization (ICAO) had adopted English as the international air
traffic control language. They developed a phonetic alphabet for
international aviation use, designed to be as "pronounceable" as
possible by flyers and traffic controllers speaking many different
languages. This was the "Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta..." alphabet
used today. The Navy adopted this ICAO alphabet in March 1956. It was
then that "Baker Zebra" finally became "Bravo Zulu".

The hyper-critics are probably going to accuse you of trying to sell signal
flags, but I found that very interesting. Thanks!
--
***** Have a super day! *****

* * * * * John H- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Shh! John, you'll spoil it for me. This week I earn $15,000 for
mentioning "signal flags" in rec.boats, plus a $500 bonus for every
hit on the thread. Pretty good gig, don't you think? :-)