SIGNALS OF THE IJA TANK FORCE



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In IJA, not all tanks were equipped with a radio and the several kinds of signal were used for the communication among tanks. Following is the signals of the IJA tank force which are shown on the IJA manual of the tank unit drill.

Message

Flag Signal

Hand Signal

Lamp Signal

Start engine

Draw a circle by hand in the front of body

Stop engine

Raise a hand highly and bend a hand some times

Follow a commander

Commander flag

Hoist a flag straightly

Raise a hand highly

White lamp

Turn on and off

Prepare for action, or Action at night

Swing a flag right and left

Swing a lamp right and left

No need to follow a commander

Swing a flag up and down

Rally

Swing a flag right/left and up/down

Draw a circle by lamp

Advance

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Hoist a flag straightly

Raise a hand highly and show the direction of advance by hand. Repeat this gesture some times.

Turn on and off

Extend

Swing a flag right and left

Stop

Swing a flag up and down

Raise a hand and put down a hand

Swing a lamp up and down

Wind

Swing a flag right/left and up/down

Locate more inward

Lower-level commander flag

Hoist a flag straightly

Locate more outward

Swing a flag right and left

Locate more forward

Swing a flag up and down

Locate more backward

Swing a flag right/left and up/down

Draw up in column

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Hoist a flag straightly

Blue lamp

Turn on and off

Draw up in line

Swing a flag right and left

Swing a lamp right and left

Draw up in side-by-side column

Swing a flag up and down

Swing a lamp up and down

Draw up in overlapped column

Swing a flag right/left and up/down

Draw a circle by lamp

Out of order

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Hoist a flag straightly

Red lamp

Turn on and off

Gas alarm

Swing a flag right and left

Swing a lamp right and left

Airplane alarm

Swing a flag up and down

Swing a lamp up and down

Request for contact

Swing a flag right/left and up/down

Draw a circle by lamp

Commander Flags

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Campany
Commander

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1st Platoon
Leader

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2nd Platoon
Leader

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3rd Platoon
Leader

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4th Platoon
Leader

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1st Tank
Commander

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2nd Tank
Commander

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3rd Tank
Commander

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4th Tank
Commander