Means of Identification for Protected Medical Transports (International Committee of the Red Cross , 1994, 18 p.): 3. Radiocommunications

Means of Identification for Protected Medical Transports (International Committee of the Red Cross , 1994, 18 p.)

		(introduction...)
		1. Introduction
		2. Flags and signs painted on the hulls of ships
		3. Radiocommunications
		4. Radar identification
		5. Identification by submarines
		6. Other devices facilitating identification
		7. Improper use of technical means of identification
		8. Conclusion
		READ AND ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO READ THE INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF THE RED CROSS

3. Radiocommunications

During the Second World War medical transports at sea made wide use of radiocommunications to signal their identity and indicate their position and route. Today such means of identification for protected transports (hospital ships, rescue craft and medical aircraft) are even more effective.

When sailing through a dangerous area, e.g. where naval operations could take place, a hospital ship could send out a blind transmission on the appropriate frequency to provide identification, giving its call sign (which provides information on its nationality), its name, position, destination and route, in accordance with the International Telecommunication Union's Radio Regulations.¹¹For obvious reasons of security, no answer would be transmitted by ships involved in military operations.

¹¹Radio Regulations, Arts 40 and N40, International Telecommunication Union, Geneva.