Where did SOS came from, and what do the letter stand for?

Answer 1

SOS is the commonly used description for the International Morse code distress signal (· · · - - - · · ·). This distress signal was first adopted by the German government in radio regulations effective April 1, 1905, and became the worldwide standard when it was included in the second International Radiotelegraphic Convention, which was signed on November 3, 1906, and became effective on July 1, 1908.

From the beginning, the SOS distress signal has actually consisted of a continuous sequence of three-dots/three-dashes/three-dots, all run together without letter spacing. In International Morse Code, three dots form the letter S, and three dashes make the letter O, so "SOS" became an easy way to remember the correct order of the dots and dashes. In modern terminology, SOS is a "procedural signal" or "prosign", and the formal way to show that there are no internal spaces when it is sent is to write it with a bar above the letters, i.e. SOS.

In popular usage, SOS became associated with phrases such as "Save Our Ship," "Save Our Souls," "Survivors On Ship," "Save Our Sailors" "Stop Other Signals" and "Send Out Sailors". However, these phrases were a later development, most likely used to help remember the correct letters—something known as a backronym.

Answer 2

In 1903, shortly after the sinking of the ocean liner Titanic, owned by White Star Lines, the world's seagoing nations agreed upon a new, simpler, and easier to understand radio signal that meant a vessel was in distress. At that time, messages from ships at sea were sent by radio in morse code, and the sounds for the letters "s" and "o" are among the easiest to understand. The letters don't stand for any word or combination of words, they simply announce that the sender of the signal s o s is in trouble and in need of assistance.
SOS was never sent alone. A radio operator aboard ship would send three successive sos signals, followed by his ship's location, and repeat this message continually for a given number of minutes. He would pause to listen for a return signal acknowledging his announcement of his vessel's emergency situation. If there was no return signal, he'd resume sending SOS and his ship's location. This would continue until either the vessel was lost or assistance arrived.
SOS is part of a larger series of pre-determined and internationally-accepted and understood morse code signals called "the Q code". Other signals in the Q code and their meanings include QRM = am I being interfered with? QTH + my location is... QRZ = who is calling me (on the radio) 73 = goodbye or good night 88 = hugs and kisses (usually between husband and wife who're both radio operators) and QRT = I am shutting down this station and going off the air.
These signals are still used today by ham radio operators - individuals who've passed a comprehensive written examination and who have been awarded a license to operate a radio station in the Amateur Service. There are three license levels being issued currently, down from six. The three are Technician, General and Extra Class. The Technician test no longer requires that an applicant pass a morse code test, while the other two do require that one be able to send and recieve morse code at five words a minute.
Ham radio is both a hobby and a public service - following the horrible damage done by Hurricane Katrina, hundreds of thousands of people in the striken area had no means of communication outside of ham radio - this went on for weeks in some areas. Y'might look up more information if you're interested. Go to www.arrl.org and you'll find the web page of the national organization for ham radio - the American Radio Relay League.

Answer 3

'Tom S' has got mostly correct. 'anoldmick' well RMS Titanic sank at 02.20 on the morning of 15th April 1912. One of the first SOS messages in merchant navy history was sent by the ships radio operators,Jack Phillips and Harold Bride from the sinking Titanic.

Yes, I know everyone hates a smart a*se !.

Answer 4

SOS
=
Save Our Ship
It was from a ship wreck
Save Our Souls
Survivors on Ship
Sailors On Ship

Answer 5

Save our Saucepans (really!!!!not joking!!!!)
Save our Souls

Answer 6

SOS: save our souls

Answer 7

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SOS
Link to the answer