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 |
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Start engine |
Draw a circle by hand in the front of body |
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Stop engine |
Raise a hand highly and bend a hand some times |
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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 |
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No need to follow a commander |
Swing a flag up and down |
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Rally |
Swing a flag right/left and up/down |
Draw a circle by lamp |
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Advance |
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 |
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Extend |
Swing a flag right and left |
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Stop |
Swing a flag up and down |
Raise a hand and put down a hand |
Swing a lamp up and down |
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Wind |
Swing a flag right/left and up/down |
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Locate more inward |
Lower-level commander flag |
Hoist a flag straightly |
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Locate more outward |
Swing a flag right and left |
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Locate more forward |
Swing a flag up and down |
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Locate more backward |
Swing a flag right/left and up/down |
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Draw up in column |
Hoist a flag straightly |
Blue lamp |
Turn on and off |
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Draw up in line |
Swing a flag right and left |
Swing a lamp right and left |
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Draw up in side-by-side column |
Swing a flag up and down |
Swing a lamp up and down |
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Draw up in overlapped column |
Swing a flag right/left and up/down |
Draw a circle by lamp |
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Out of order |
Hoist a flag straightly |
Red lamp |
Turn on and off |
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Gas alarm |
Swing a flag right and left |
Swing a lamp right and left |
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Airplane alarm |
Swing a flag up and down |
Swing a lamp up and down |
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Request for contact |
Swing a flag right/left and up/down |
Draw a circle by lamp |
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