Tactical Voice Radio Call Signs were used in inter-ship voice communications in place of the ship's name for security purposes. They were used at the tactical command level between ships, aircraft, spotters and other friendly units, normally at short range.

The Call Signs included in the Destroyer Archive were taken from the 1968 printing of publication JANAP 119(F) Section 6A. Included in the report were Voice Call Signs for all active and reserve US Navy and US Coast Guard vessels at the time of printing. Many thanks to Mike Smolinski who provided us with a copy of the JANAP report. Beginning in May 2011, Robert Taylor of NAVSEA provided us with Call Signs from destroyers that are decommissioned and were not included in the 1968 report. In November 2014 Aryeh Wetherhorn sent us 1945 call signs for ships which had none previously listed.

Over the career of the destroyers in this Archive these Call Signs were changed many times for a variety of reasons. The Tin Can Sailors website at page http://www.destroyers.org/CallSigns/callsign.html includes additional Call Signs from other years and hull types. If you have knowledge of Call Signs not included on Tin Can Sailors page, please let them know by using their Contact form at page http://www.destroyers.org/forms/message.htm.

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