I have no idea where that came from...

The Flag as used as a Nautical Flag represents the letter "Z". Flown by itself it means; "I need a tug"

When the "Z" is preceded by number flags, the first two represent hours, followed by minutes. In that case the "Z" represents Zulu Time.

Zulu - is part of the NATO phonetic alphabet... which assigns code words to the letters of the English alphabet (Alpha for A, Bravo for B, etc). - so that critical combinations of letters/numbers can be pronounced and understood by thoes transmitting/recriving voice messages via radio/phone.

The most commonly used sign for "Infinity" is the Lemniscate of Bernoulli.

The Latin word "lemniscus" means pendant ribbon. This name was first used in 1694 by Jacob Bernoulli (1654-1705) to describe a planar curve, which is now named after him. (see image below)

FWIW,

Carl B.

The "Z" Flag was also used as the unofficial naval ensign for Japan from 1905-1945

Z - Zero ?

The "Z" Flag was also used as the unofficial naval ensign for Japan from 1905-1945

Hi Jason:

I've read that in accounts related to Mr. K and the Z Car - - - - however, I've never been able to find any mention of an "Unofficial" ensign used by the Japanese Navy in any historical account. Their official ensign was the Rising Sun 1894 to 1945.

FWIW,

Carl B.

Hi Jason:

I've read that in accounts related to Mr. K and the Z Car - - - - however, I've never been able to find any mention of an "Unofficial" ensign used by the Japanese Navy in any historical account. Their official ensign was the Rising Sun 1894 to 1945.

FWIW,

Carl B.

I have no proof or link at this time that would provide any info. However, I do recall reading something about the "Z" flag that Jason mentioned. Hmm.

During the battle of Tsushima Straight (Sea of Japan Naval Battle, Russo Japanese War 1904-1905), the Japanese fleet under Admiral Heihachiro Togo destroyed two-thirds of the Russian fleet. As the battle began, aboard the flagship Mikasa, Admiral Togo ordered the hoisting of the Z flag:

“The Empire’s fate depends on the result of this battle. Let every man do his utmost duty”.

It was the largest naval engagement of the pre-dreadnought battleship era. Historian Edmund Morris calls it the greatest naval battle since Trafalgar.

The Z ensign is a common symbol in Japanese culture. As I posted previously, the Z is a symbol for the concept meaning ultimate.

So it would mean something like the ultimate fairlady

..... As the battle began, aboard the flagship Mikasa, Admiral Togo ordered the hoisting of the Z flag:

“The Empire’s fate depends on the result of this battle. Let every man do his utmost duty”........

From: http://tmg110.tripod.com/japan1.htm

"Admiral's Togo's signal passed into legend as the Japanese equivalent of Nelson's flag hoist at Trafalgar or John Paul Jones' defiant protest that "I have not yet begun to fight!" On the morning of December 7, 1941, Admiral Nagumo, commander of the Pearl Harbor strike force, hoisted the "Z" Flag aboard his flagship, the aircraft carrier Akagi—later sunk at the Battle of Midway."

So the Z Car represents the economic attack on the American Auto Industry??? Is that the hidden meaning?

The Z ensign is a common symbol in Japanese culture. As I posted previously, the Z is a symbol for the concept meaning ultimate.

Seriously:

Is Admiral Togo's use of the Z Ensign the root of the "common symbol" in Japanese culture, to which the cultural meaning "ultimate" has been assigned?

Would it be correct to say that it's the FLAG that is the symbol - - rather than the English letter "Z".

Does anyone know why Admiral Togo - selected the "Z Flag" to represent some then new message? Was that part of his training with the British Navy of the period?

Interesting bit of history - thanks for the lead Chris. Now I must know more...

FWIW,

Carl B.

Seriously, I feel smarter just reading Mr. Becks posts, I think my IQ has risen in the past 5 minutes.

Seriously, I feel smarter just reading Mr. Becks posts, I think my IQ has risen in the past 5 minutes.

Not Me! I found out I'm wearing a hat that says "I NEED A TUG"!:classic:

Hi Ron:

Sorry -- but that is just too funny... But now we'll all know that it is the navel signal flag for the letter Z, while we contiune to search for the rest of the story.

FWIW,

Carl B.

Hi Ron:

Sorry -- but that is just too funny... But now we'll all know that it is the navel signal flag for the letter Z, while we contiune to search for the rest of the story.

FWIW,

Carl B.

Sorry Carl, I'm an arse. I resisted the urge on Post #23 but the perfect straight man lead in got me.:stupid:

It seems that there are "Naval Signal Flags" used by the various military organizations around the world; and there are International Marine Signal Flags used by the Merchant Marine and public. The International Signal Flags were first published by the British Board of Trade in 1857 and various updates, changes have been made over the years. Likewise the various Navy uses by different countries have changed over the years.

OK - there is a battle at sea between the Russian Navy and the Japanese Navy in 1905.

Given Admiral Togo's training with the Royal Navy in the late 1800's - and the time period of the battle (1905), what we view today as the "Z" Flag was in Togo's time the Royal Navy's "C" Flag.{see first image below}

At that some period - the Russian Navy used the same signal flag to represent the NUMBER "0".

See: http://www.navy.ru/symbols/svod.htm

While both the Royal Navy and the Russian Navy used this blue/white signal flag for the letter "Z" circa 1905 (English Z, Cyrilic "3" or Z.)

See: Signal flag З http://www.crwflags.com/FOTW/FLAGS/xf~ru.html

Images below are from: the Handbook Of Signaling 1913 - Flags and Pendants Used In Naval Signalling. BR827- A Seaman's Pocketbook 1913.

Hummm....... I wonder if Admiral Togo drew a picture of the flag in his log to show what he actually used. If he wrote that he ran the letter Z up - then someone later, looking at the modern signal flags might have picked the wrong flag to display.(wrong being yellow, blue, red, black).

Blue/White Navel "Z" of the time, or Yellow, Blue, Red, Black Navel "C" of the time????

Of course, it is possible that for some unknown reason - Admiral Togo might have switched to the international Merchant Marine signal flags... but I doubt a Navy Admiral would do that going into a battle...

the search goes on..

FWIW,

Carl B.