Many of us have met the SOS text in movies. People who are in distress and asking for help, instead of using long sentences like help or help, simply write SOS where everyone can see it, and strangely, everyone understands what it means. Even if we don’t know the details, we all understand that the SOS text is a help signal as soon as we see it. So what does SOS stand for?
SOS is actually the international Morse code emergency signal. It was approved in an international conference in the 20th century and accepted as a common call for help all over the world. If you think that these letters, which have no meaning side by side, are only an abbreviation, you are wrong because the only purpose of this signal is to make it look unique. Let’s take a closer look at what SOS means and see its historical story.
What does SOS mean?
SOS is the international Morse code emergency signal. It is written as three dots, three dashes, three dots (···—···) in Morse code. It is a common call for help all over the world, especially for seafarers. It can be written in Morse code, in writing or with light. All letters are written consecutively, without spaces, unlike the general Morse code.
What does SOS stand for?
The two most common phrases believed to stand for SOS signal are:
- Save Our Ship
- Save Our Souls – Save Our Souls
So what does SOS stand for? Unfortunately not both. Because SOS is not an abbreviation, it is written without a period and a space between letters. SOS is a signal uniquely typed in Morse code only. Since it is not an abbreviation for anything, the SOS signal, which is not an abbreviation, is just an emergency signal consisting of three letters side by side.
SOS date:
Let’s go back to the past, when telegraph was the fastest way of communication. Morse code consisting of dots and lines was used when communicating by telegraph. So it was quite difficult to write what you wanted. For this reason, short signals were used, especially for important topics, along with short and clear texts. Emergencies were the most important times for signaling.
Although the telegraph system was an accepted form of communication all over the world, there was no common signal set for the emergency. For example, the British used CQD, the US Navy NC, the Italians SSSDD signals. It was possible to communicate with these signals in the country’s own waters, but in international waters, it was not possible for everyone to understand these signals.
In 1906, the International Convention on Radiotelegraphy convened in Berlin, the capital of Germany, and it was decided to create a joint emergency signal. According to the resolution adopted on November 3, 1906 and entered into force on July 1, 1908, the international emergency signal would now be SOS, written in Morse code (···—···). However, this decision was not implemented immediately. If
had sent an SOS signal, the fate of the passengers of the Titanic might have changed:
The RMS Titanic, still considered one of the world’s greatest maritime disasters, was a British ship. When it hit the iceberg and began to sink on April 15, 1912, the ship’s telegraph operators sent out a mixture of CQD and SOS signals, both out of habit and nervousness.
They wrote it, don’t say it somehow. Such signals are vital in shipping, and the slightest confusion can cost hours. Of course, it is possible to talk about many different reasons, but it is thought that aid to the Titanic came late due to the international emergency signal not being sent. After the Titanic disaster, the SOS signal has become used by everyone with an indisputable acceptance.
SOS-like signals:
- SOS AAA reports air strike.
- SOS QQQ reports an unknown attack.
- SOS RRR reports a surface attack.
- SOS FAQ reports a submarine attack.
How to make SOS call?
SOS signal has been accepted as the international emergency signal because it is the most easily shared code and is unique. Unlike Morse code in general, it is shared consecutively and without spaces. Three dots for S … three dashes for O — and three dots for S again.
It is possible to write the SOS signal directly anywhere with the letters S, O, S side by side without spaces and without a period between them. You can also share the SOS signal with the help of light. For example, you have a flashlight. When you flash it three times in a row, three times in a row, and three times in a short flash, the person who sees this light will understand that it is an emergency signal, no matter where you are in the world.
Why was the SOS emergency signal?
In Morse code, each letter corresponds to dots, dashes and spaces. Since there is no time limit in ordinary radio communication, you can send signals as you wish. But when it comes to an emergency, you should send the most understandable, short and unique signal. Here, the SOS call has been chosen because it has all the features and is not easily confused with another message.
Let’s put Morse code aside and imagine that you are on a deserted island or on a mountain top. Your goal is to have planes and ships passing by from afar, seeing you from all angles. The letters of the SOS call are seen the same from anywhere, from any angle, allowing everyone to understand this emergency signal without leaving any question marks. It reads the same way when viewed backwards.
Is SOS still in use?
As we all know, communication systems have developed so much that there is no need for SOS calls or Morse code. In fact, since 2007, radio operators are not even required to know Morse code. It continues to be used only in the naval forces of countries. But even for them Morse code or SOS is not their primary emergency signal. You can still use the SOS call if you get stuck somewhere.
We talked about the history of SOS by answering the questions “What does SOS, which is an international emergency signal, mean, and what is SOS?” Although it may seem interesting when we consider today’s communication systems, it is possible to say that the SOS call was truly life-saving for its time.
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