![]() Numbers also had to be clearly communicated, regardless of the quality of the communication connection and surrounding noise pollution. There is more to the army alphabet then simply code words for letters. Today, the NATO Alphabet is the most widely accepted and used. NATO Alphabet or NATO Spelling Alphabet.ITU Radiotelephonic / Phonetic Alphabet.International Radiotelephony Spelling Alphabet.The changes stem from the organization that either created, modified, or utilized the alphabet the most, and they are listed below. Since the creation of the spelling alphabet, it has undergone several name changes along with character changes. Eventually, code words were found and selected that resolved both of these issues. The other reason is because some of the previously used code words sounded similar to other code words that were being used. Modern Military Phonetic AlphabetĪs you have probably noticed, the code words have changed for certain letters over the years.įirst, some languages in various countries do not have the sounds needed to form the words so they can’t be transmitted clearly. This version is the most familiar version of the military alphabet since it is still in use today. In 1959, the ITU mandated the improved version be used by all military, civilian, and amateur radio operators. The modified version was initiated in 1956 by the ICAO. The ICAO created a recording of the new alphabet and sent it to all member states in 1955. Many reverted back to the original Able Baker alphabet due to these issues.įurther studies were conducted that lead to the changing of five words within the alphabet: C, M, N, X, and U. Some words were hard to understand under poor radio communications and some words were hard to differentiate, such as Delta and Extra. Problems with the above list were soon identified. The drafted version contained sounds the were common in Spanish, French, and English.Īfter further modifications were made by various approving agencies, a revised phonetic alphabet began being used in 1951. Realizing the need for a universal alphabet, the IATA (International Air Transport Association) created a draft alphabet and presented it to the ICAO in 1947. However, since many of the sounds were unique to the English language, a new version of the alphabet was developed in Latin America called the Ana Brazil alphabet. The Able Baker system continued to be used by ground and aircraft personnel for civil aviation purposes. Soon after in 1943, the British modified their phonetic alphabet to be nearly identical to that of the Americans’ Able Baker. These were the first two words for the first two letters of the alphabet, A and B, and it was utilized by all branches of the military. In 1941, in order to have a comprehensive way for communications between all military branches, the American alphabet eventually became known as Able Baker. The British started using the RAF alphabet while the American forces used the Joint Army/Navy Phonetic Alphabet. ICAO Phonetic Alphabetīefore both forces starting using the ICAO phonetic alphabet in 1956, the British and American military agencies had developed their own spelling alphabets. However, it remained in use by the IMO (International Maritime Organization) until 1965. The new and improved version was then adopted by the International Commission of Air Navigation and was used for civil aviation purposes until the beginning of WWII. Several changes were made to the original version of the spelling alphabet in 1932. This was called the ITU Radiotelephonic or Phonetic Alphabet, and it was adopted by the ITU in 1927. Long before the modern military alphabet was created, the ITU (International Telecommunication Union) had created the first spelling alphabet to be internationally recognized. In this post, we will discuss more regarding the military phonetic alphabet and its history, and we’ll delve into its components, purpose, and why the specific characters were chosen.īefore we go into greater detail, here’s a quick table to reference each letter and the corresponding code:Īlphabet Code Word A Alpha / Alfa B Bravo C Charlie D Delta E Echo F Foxtrot G Golf H Hotel I India J Juliet K Kilo L Lima M Mike N November O Oscar P Papa Q Quebec R Rome S Sierra T Tango U Uniform V Victor W Whiskey X Xray Y Yankee Z ZuluĪ History of the Military Alphabet: The ICAO Phonetic Alphabet But most people have no idea why it is used, how or why it was formed, or why it has become one of the most effective forms of tactical radio communication – not only in the U.S. We hear it being used in war and actions movies, video games, and even in comic books and novels. ![]() Most of us know, or at least have heard of the military alphabet in some way. The Modern Military Alphabet: Everything from Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, to Zulu
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |