Sailors serving in destroyer HMS Manchester can spell – despite the signal flags which spelled out N-A-M-C.

Visitors to the ship in Portsmouth may have thought crew had got their flags mixed up when they hoisted the flag pennants, as he normal signal would be M-A-N-C.

In fact the communications team were just signalling the fact that they were the first of 37 ships to receive a new message handling system which should make life easier in dealing with the flurry of signals arriving and departing daily.

The Naval Afloat Messaging Coherency (NAMC) computer system has been trialled in its earlier form in two Type 23 frigates, two RFAs and HMS Ocean.

The improved kit fitted to Manchester offers its users a Windows-friendly environment, assistance with drafting signals and some powerful features to help administration and management, running on six terminals instead of three previously used in Type 42 destroyers.

ADS Defence Ltd are the prime contractors for NAMC, with BAE supplying the MPS 2000 software.

Manchester has been pretty active in the past year, returning from Atlantic Patrol Tasking (North) at Christmas, and taking part in Exercise Joint Winter, other training exercises for Principal Warfare Officers and submarine commanders, a High Seas Firing and Joint Maritime Course.