Which term is used to indicate the general quarters state on a ship?

• A. Zebra
• B. X-ray
• C. RPE
• D. Yoke

Answer: (A)

General quarters is the ship’s battle-stations state, where all hands are at their combat and damage-control posts. To signal this rapidly, a concise code word is used, and the term Zebra is the one designated to indicate that state. When Zebra is called, crews muster to their battle stations, compartments are secured as needed, and damage-control teams spring into action with firefighting, flooding control, and casualty response readiness. The other terms refer to different, non-general-quarters conditions and wouldn’t prompt the same immediate battle-station actions.