Colonial wireless alphabet

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The Colonial wireless alphabet[1] is a means of communicating letters via words, thus permitting clarity when communicating spellings over wireless. This is similar to the NATO phonetic alphabet used for radio communications.

The following is a list of words used in the CWA. At present, only nine have been canonically identified.

Letter Word Pronunciation
A Alpha [2] [3] [4] [ˈæl.fə]
B Bravo [2] [5] [ˈbɹɑ.voʊ]
C Constellation [2] [5] [6] [ˌcɑn.stə.ˈleɪ.ʃən]
D Delta [5] [ˈdɛl.tə]
E Echo [4] [ˈɛ.koʊ]
N Nebula [5] [6] [ˈnɛb.ju.lə]
S Sierra [3] [si.ˈɛɹˌɹə]
T Tango [7] [tăng'gō]
X X-ray [8] [ɛks.'ɹeɪ]

Notes

  • In the NATO phonetic alphabet, "Alpha" is spelled "Alfa", in consideration of Spanish orthography. Depending on how literally one interprets certain scenes, Spanish (or a language represented by Spanish) may be spoken in the twelve colonies. Our use of the traditional English spelling here is somewhat arbitrary.
  • "Wilco" is not a CWA letter code. It means "will comply", matching its real usage.
  • While the Colonial wireless alphabet has some terms in common with the NATO phonetic alphabet, there are a few used by NATO which are unlikely to be used by Colonial forces. Specifically, India and Quebec (as they are locations on Earth), Romeo and Juliet (Shakespeare lived and wrote on Earth), and Yankee and Zulu (as they refer to specific peoples of Earth).

References

  1. This is a Battlestar Wiki descriptive term.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Kara Thrace: Three assault teams, Alpha, Bravo, Constellation. (Bastille Day)
  3. 3.0 3.1 Lee Adama: Sierra Alpha, we got a new bogey. (Scattered)
  4. 4.0 4.1 William Adama: Order batteries alpha through echo to switch to salvo fire. (Resurrection Ship, Part II)
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Freighter Pilot #1: Carrier constellation, jump complete on station, point deacon. Initiate search pattern delta.
    Freighter Pilot #2: Ore flight bravo, delta, wilco.
    Freighter Pilot #3: Ore flight nebula, delta initiated. (The Hand of God)
  6. 6.0 6.1 Galen Tyrol: If the commander will take a closer look at the tail numbering... Nebula Seven Two Four Two Constellation. (Miniseries)
  7. Grayshirt: Tango 1, Tango 1, Tango 1, weapons close 2-4-1 (Final Cut)
  8. Saul Tigh: Cally's in a group heading for map coordinates X-ray Seven (Exodus, Part I)