Marines Boot Camp – Meet the Drill Instructors (Part 1)

USS Cascade (AD-16)

USS Cascade (AD-16), the only ship of its class, was a destroyer tender in the United States Navy.

Originally designed as a passenger-freighter, the Cascade was launched on 6 June 1942 by Western Pipe and Steel Company in San Francisco, California. The ship was sponsored by Mrs. Charles W. Crosse, wife of Rear Admiral Charles W. Crosse, USN. It was turned over to the Matson Navigation Company of San Francisco, California, for outfitting in October 1942. The Cascade was commissioned on 12 March 1943, Captain S. B. Ogden in command.

Military dogs once left behind to die-are now honored and retired

Dogs,Cats, and crap I talk about

Once upon a time military dogs fought valiantly side by side with their fellow soldiers…often putting their own life at risk…it was what they did loyally and faithfully.  And how were they repaid? During the Vietnam War, over 4,000 military dogs were used and said to have saved over 10,000 servicemen.  In one particular case a military dog by the name of Nemo was procured by the Air Force for sentry dog training. While under attack Nemo alerted his handler of enemy forces and charged into the jungle. Nemo was shot in his right eye, his handler was also shot in the shoulder and fell to the ground. Nemo refused to give up and crawled to his fallen comrade and proceeded to cover his handler’s body with his own.  Both were finally rescued and Nemo was fortunate enough to have been brought back to the states.  In 1973 after the fall of…

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Glossary Established US Military Terms of military abbreviations

Established US Military Terms

List of acronyms and initials related to military subjects such as modern armour, artillery, infantry, and weapons.

A

• AA – anti-aircraft
• AAA – anti-aircraft artillery “Triple A”
• AAAV – Advanced Amphibious Assault Vehicle
• AAD – Armoured amphibious dozer
• AAG – Anti-aircraft gun
• AAK – Appliqué armor kit (US)
• AAN – Army after next
• AAPC – Advanced Armoured Personnel Carrier (Turkey)
• AARADCOM – Army Armament Research and Development Command
• AAR – After Action Review
• AAV – Amphibious assault vehicle
• AAV – Assault Amphibious Vehicle
• AB – Air Burst
• ABC – Atomic, biological, chemical (replaced by chemical, biological, radiological (CBR), and Nuclear, biological, chemical (NBC))
• ABC – Automatic brightness control
• AB(C) – Aviation battalion (combat)
• ABIT – advanced built-in test
• ABM – air bursting munition
• ABM – anti-ballistic missile
• ABMS – air bursting ammunition system
• ABRO – Army Base Repair Organisation
• ABS – Aww-Busting System
• ABS – anti-skid braking system
• ABSV – Armoured Battlegroup Support Vehicle
• A/C – aircraft commander
• AC – alternating current
• ACA – ammunition container assembly
• ACAVP – Advanced Composite Armoured Vehicle Platform (UK)
• ACCE – Abrams/Crusader Common Engine
• ACCV – Armored Cavalry Cannon Vehicle (US)
• ACE – Armored Combat Earthmover (US)
• ACH – Advanced Combat Helmet (MICH TC-2000 Combat Helmet)
• ACLOSAutomatic Command to Line of Sight
• ACOG – Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight
• ACP – Automatic Colt Pistol
• ACR – Advanced Combat Rifle
• ACR – Armored cavalry regiment
• ACRV – Armoured command and reconnaissance vehicle
• ACS – Artillery communications system
• ACU – Army combat uniform
• ACV – Aardvark Cleaning Vehicle (US)
• ACV – Armoured combat vehicle
• ACVT – Armored Combat Vehicle Technology Program (US)
• ADA – air defense artillery
• ADAM – Area Denial Artillery Munition
• ADAMS – Air Defense Advanced Mobile System (US)
• ADATS – Air Defence Anti-Tank System
• ADC-A – Assistant Division Commander – Fire and Maneuver
• ADC-B – Assistant Division Commander – Combat Support
• ADEA – Army Development and Employment Agency
• ADI – Australian Defence Industries
• AE – action express
• AEF – Allied expeditionary force
• AESA – Active electronically scanned array
• AEV – Armoured engineer vehicle
• AF – Air force
• AFA/ARA – Aerial field artillery/aerial rocket artillery (US, Vietnam war era attack helicopter batteries employing 2.75 in. FFAR)
• AFARV – Armored, Forward Area, Re-arm Vehicle (US)
• AFAS – advanced Field Artillery System
• AFC – Australian Flying Corps
• AFCS – automatic fire-control systems
• AFD – automatic feeding device
• AFSC – air force specialty code
• AFSV – armoured fire support vehicle
• AFV – Armored Family of Vehicles (US)
• AFV – Armoured fighting vehicle
• AGC – automatic gain control
• AGF – Army ground forces
• AGL – above ground level
• AGL – automatic grenade launcher
• AGLS – automatic gun laying system
• AGS – armored gun system (US)
• AGV – assault gun vehicle
• AGVT – Advanced Ground Vehicle Technology
• Ah – Ampere hour
• AHC – Attack Helicopter Company (USA)
• AICS – Accuracy International Chassis System
• AICW – Advanced Individual Combat Weapon
• AIF – Australian Imperial Force (Australia, WWI)
• AIFS – Advanced Indirect Fire System
• AIFV – Armoured infantry fighting vehicle
• AIPS – Advanced Integrated Propulsion System (US)
• ALAAVS – Advanced Light Armored/Amphibious Vehicle System (US)
• ALC – Advanced Land Combat (US)
• ALICE – All-purpose lightweight individual carrying equipment
• ALS – Advanced laying system
• ALSV – Armoured logistics support vehicle
• ALT – Armoured launching turret
• AMC – United States Army Materiel Command
• AMC – Advanced Mortar Carrier (Turkey)
• AMCCOM – Armament Munitions and Chemical Command
• AMDS – Anti-Missile Discarding Sabot
• AMF – Amphibische Mehrzweck-Fahrzeuge (multipurpose amphibious vehicle)
• AML – Automitrailleuse Légère (light armoured car)
• AMLCD – Active-matrix liquid crystal display
• AMOS – Advanced mortar system
• AMR – Anti-materiel rifle
• AMR – Automitrailleuse de Reconnaissance
• AMRWS – Advanced multi-role weapon station
• AMS – Armoured mortar system
• AMS-H – Advanced Missile System – Heavy
• AMX – Atelier de Construction d’Issy-les-Moulineaux
• ANAD – Anniston Army Depot
• ANZAC – Australia and New Zealand Army Corps
• ANZUS – Australia New Zealand United States Treaty
• AO – Area of operations
• AOI – Arab Organisation for Industrialisation
• AOS – Add-on stabilisation
• AP – Anti-personnel
• AP – Armour-piercing
• APAM – Anti-personnel, anti-matériel
• APBC – Armour-piercing ballistic cap
• APC – Armoured personnel carrier
• APC – Armour-piercing capped
• APCBC – Armour-piercing capped ballistic cap
• APC-T – Armour-piercing capped – tracer
• APCT-BF – Armour-piercing capped tracer – base fuze
• APCNR – Armour-piercing composite non-rigid
• APCR – Armour-piercing composite rigid
• APCRBC – Armour-piercing composite rigid ballistic cap
• APDS – Armour-piercing discarding sabot
• APDS-T – Armour-piercing discarding sabot – tracer
• APE – Amphibisches Pionier-Erkundungsfahrzeug (amphibious front-line reconnaissance vehicle)
• APEP – Armour-Piercing Enhancement Programme
• APERS – Anti-personnel
• APERS-T – Anti-personnel tracer
• APFIDS – Armour-piercing fragmentation incendiary discarding sabot
• APFSDS-T – Armour-piercing fin-stabilised discarding sabot – tracer
• ‘APFSDS(P) Armour-piercing fin-stabilised discarding sabot (practice)
• APFSDSDU – Armour piercing fin-stabilised discarding sabot, depleted uranium
• APG – Aberdeen Proving Grounds
• APGM – Autonomous precision-guided munition
• APHC – Armour-piercing hard core
• APHE – Armour-piercing high explosive
• API – Armour-piercing incendiary
• APIT – Armour-piercing incendiary tracer
• APM – Anti-personnel mine
• APS – Advanced propulsion system
• APS – Artillery pointing system
• APSA – Armour piercing secondary effect
• APSE – Armour-piercing secondary effect
• APSE-T – Armour-piercing secondary effect – tracer
• APT – Armour-piercing tracer
• APTE – Abrams Power Train Evolution (US)
• APU – Auxiliary power unit
• APV – Armoured patrol vehicle
• AR – Assault rifle
• AR/AAV – Armored Reconnaissance/Airborne Assault Vehicle (US)
• ARD – Anti-reflective device
• ARDEC – Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center
• ARDNOT – Automatic day/night optical tracker
• ARE – Atelier de Construction Roanne
• ARETS – Armour Remote Target System
• ARFORGEN – Army force generation
• ARMAD – Armoured and Mechanised Unit Air Defence
• ARMSCOR – Armament Manufacturing Corporation (South Africa)
• ARMVAL – Anti-armor vehicle evaluation (US)
• ARP – Anti-radiation projectile
• ARP – Armoured repair plates
• ARRADCOM – Armament Research and Development Command
• ARRV – Armoured repair and recovery vehicle
• ARSV – Armored Reconnaissance Scout Vehicle (US)
• ART – Armoured Recon Transport
• ARV – Armoured recovery vehicle or Armed Robotic Vehicle (XM1219)
• ASAAdvanced security agency
• ASAP – As soon as possible
• ASARC – Army Systems Acquisition Review Council
• ASCOD – Austrian Spanish Co-operative Development
• ASM – Armored Systems Modernisation (US)
• ASP – Automatic, self-powered
• ASTROS – Artillery Saturation Rocket System (Brazil)
• ASV – Armored Security Vehicle (US)
• ASV – Ammunition supply vehicle
• AT – Anti-tank
• AT – Ape tape
• ATACS – Advanced tank cannon system (US)
• ATAS – Automatic target acquisition system
• ATCAS – Advanced towed cannon system
• ATD – Advanced technology demonstration
• ATD – Advanced technology demonstrator (US)
• ATD – Automatic target detection
• ATDT – Automatic target detection and tracking
• ATDU – Armoured Trials and Development Unit (UK)
• ATFCS – Automated Targeting and Fire Control System
• ATG – Anti-tank gun
• ATGL – Anti-tank grenade launcher
• ATGM – Anti-tank guided missile
• ATGW – Anti-tank guided weapon
• ATK – Alliant Techsystems
• ATLAS – Advanced technology light artillery system
• ATLV – Artillery target location vehicle
• ATM – Anti-tank mine
• ATR – – EDS Automotive test rig – Electric drive system
• ATS – Atelier de Construction de Tarbes
• ATTC – All Terrain Tracked Carrier
• ATTS – Air Transportable Towed System
• ATV – All-terrain vehicle
• ATV – Armoured TOW vehicle (Turkey)
• AUG – Armee Universal Gewehr
• AVGP – Armoured Vehicle General Purpose (Canada)
• AVH – Armoured Vehicle Heavy
• AVL – Armoured Vehicle Light
• AVLB – Armoured vehicle-launched bridge
• AVM – Armoured Vehicle Medium
• AVR – Armoured vehicle reconnaissance
• AVRE – Armoured Vehicle Royal Engineers (UK)
• AVT – Advanced Vehicle Technologies (US)
• AWE – Advanced Warfighting Experiment
• AWOL – Absent without official leave

B

• BAe – British Aerospace
• BAR – M1918 Browning Automatic Rifle
• BARV – Beach Armoured Recovery Vehicle
• BASE – British Aerospace Systems and Equipment
• BATES – Battlefield Artillery Target Engagement System
• BAT – Biometrics Automated Toolset
• BB – Base bleed
• BBSP – Blowback shifted pulse
• BC – Battery commander
• BCC – battery control centre
• BCP – Battery command post
• BCT – Brigade combat team (US)
• BCT – Basic combat training
• BCV – Battle command vehicle
• BD – base detonating
• BDA – Browning double action or bomb damage assessment
• BDM – Bunker demolition munition
• BDU – Battle dress uniform
• BE – Base ejection
• BFA – Blank-firing adaptor or blank-firing attachment
• BFV – Bradley Fighting Vehicle
• BGT – Brigade combat team
• bhp – Brake horsepower
• BIFF – Battlefield identification friend or foe
• BILL – Bofors, infantry, light and lethal
• BITE – Built-in test equipment
• BL – Blank
• BL-T – Black tracer
• BLITS – Beta lighted infantry telescope system
• BLT – Battalion landing team
• BLR – Blindado Ligero de Ruedas
• BMF – Belgian Mechanical Fabrication
• BMNT – Begin morning nautical twilight
• BMP – Pronounced “bimp”. A Former Warsaw Pact IFV
• BMR – Blindado Medio de Ruedas
• BMS – Battalion mortar system
• BMS – Battlefield management system
• BNCC (USAF) – Base network control center
• BNS – Bill night sight
• BOCV – Battery operations centre vehicle
• BOG-Dwell – Boots on the ground – dwell (down time)
• BOL – Bearing-only launch
• BOLTS – Bolt-on loading tray system
• BOSS – Ballistic optimizing shooting system
• BPS – Battery power source
• BSP – Bright source protection
• BSSG – Brigade service support group
• BST – Basic skills trainer
• BT – Boat tail
• BT – Bullet trap
• BTA – Best technical approach
• BTU – Bullet trap universal
• BUA – BILL under armour or built-up area
• BW – Bacteriological warfare
• BX – Bionix AFV

C

• C3I – Command, control, communications, and intelligence
• CAB – Combat aviation battalion
• CAD – Computer-assisted design
• CAG – Commander of the Air Group
• CAL – Canadian Arsenals Limited
• CAP – Civil air patrol (USAF civilian auxiliary)
• CAP – Combat air patrol
• CAP – Combustible augmented plasma
• CARRV – Challenger armoured repair and recovery vehicle
• CAS – Close air support
• CASEVAC – Casualty evacuation
• CAT/FCS – Command adjusted trajectory/fire-control system (US)
• CAT/LCV – Combined arms team/lightweight combat vehicle (US)
• CATT – Combined arms tactical trainer (UK)
• CATT-B – Component Advanced Technology TestBed (US)
• CAV – Composite armored vehicle (US)
• CAWS – Cannon Artillery Weapons Systems (US)
• CAX – Combined arms exercise
• CBR – Chemical, biological, radiological
• CBRN – Chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear
• CCC – Combustible cartridge case
• CCD – Charge-coupled device
• CCO – Close combat optic
• CCP – Computer control panel
• CCR – Crown copyright reserved
• CCTV – Closed-circuit television
• CCU – Central control unit
• CCV – Close combat vehicle
• CCV – Command and control vehicle (US)
• CCV-L – Close combat vehicle – light
• cd – candela
• CDA – Combat defensive action
• CDM – Coastal defence missile
• CDU – Command display unit
• CDU – Computer display unit
• CE – Chemical energy
• C/E – Crew/enlisted (enlisted aircrew member)
• CECOM – Communications-electronics command
• CEFO – Combat equipment fighting order (webbing contents)
• CENTCOM – Central command
• CENTO – Central Treaty Organisation or Baghdad Pact
• CEOI – Communications electronics operating instruction
• CEP – Circular error of probability
• CEPP – Controlled effect police projectile
• CET – Combat engineer tractor
• CEU – Computer electronics unit
• CEV – Combat engineer vehicle
• CF – Canadian Forces
• CF – Controlled fragmentation
• CFE – Conventional forces Europe
• CFV – Cavalry fighting vehicle (US)
• CG – Commanding general
• CGS – Crew gunnery simulator
• CHA – Cast homogeneous armour
• CHARM – Challenger chieftain armament
• CHIP – Challenger improvement programme
• CIFV – Composite infantry fighting vehicle
• CILAS – Compagnie Industrielle des Lasers
• CIS – Chartered Industries of Singapore
• CIS – Commonwealth of Independent States
• CITV – Commander’s independent thermal viewer (US)
• CIWS – Close-in weapons system
• CLAMS – Clear lane marking system (US)
• CLASS – Computerised Laser Sight System
• CLAWS – Close combat light armor weapon system (US)
• CLGP – Cannon-launched guided projectile (US)
• CLOS – Command to line of sight
• CLU – Command launch unit
• CM – Colour-marking or “continue mission”
• CMS – Common missile system
• CMS – Compact modular sight
• CMT – Cadmium–mercury telluride
• CMV – Combat mobility vehicle (US)
• CNVD – Clip-on night vision device
• COB – Close of business
• CO – Commanding officer
• COG – Course over ground
• Comp – B Composition B
• COMVAT – Combat vehicles armament technology (US)
• COMZ – Communications zone
• COP – Combat out post
• COS – Chief of section
• COSCOM – Corps support command (US Army)
• CofS – Chief of staff
• COTAC – Conduite de Tir Automatique pour Char (tank automatic fire)
• COTS – Commercial-off-the-shelf
• COV – Counter obstacle vehicle (US)
• CP – Concrete-piercing
• CPR – Common practice round
• CPS – Cardinal points specification (UK)
• CPV – Command post vehicle
• CQB – Close quarters battle
• CQBW – Close-quarters battle weapon
• CR – Capability requirement
• CRISAT – Collaborative research into small arms technology
• CRM – Composite risk management (US)
• CROWS – Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station
• CRR – Carro de Reconhecimento Sobre Rodas (reconnaissance tracking scout car)
• CRT – Cathode ray tube
• CRU – Cable reel unit
• CS – Communications subsystem
• CS – Confined space
• CS (USAF) – Communications squadron
• CSB – Combat support boat
• CSF – Combined service forces
• CSI – computer-synthesised image
• CSS – Computer sighting system
• CSSD – Combat service support detachment
• CTA – Case telescoped ammunition
• CTD – Concept technology demonstrator
• CTI – Central tyre inflation
• CTIS – Central tyre inflation system
• CTO – Central Treaty Organisation or Baghdad Pact
• CTR – Close Target Recce
• CTRA – Carro de Transporte Sobre Rodas Anfibo (amphibious tracking scout car)
• CTT – Challenger training tank
• CV90 – Combat Vehicle 90
• CVAST – Combat vehicle armament system technology (US)
• CVR(T) – Combat vehicle reconnaissance (tracked) (UK)
• CVR(W) – Combat vehicle reconnaissance (wheeled) (UK)
• CVRDE – Combat vehicle research and development establishment (India)
• CVT – Controlled variable time
• CVTTS – Combat vehicle targeting system
• CW – Chemical warfare
• CWR – Continuous wave radar
• CWS – Cupola weapon station

D

• DA – double action
• DAHA – dual-axis head assembly
• DAO – double action only
• DARCOM – US Army Matériel Development and Readiness Command
• DAREOD – damaged airfield reconnaissance explosive ordnance disposal
• DARPA – Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (US)
• DAS – deep air support
• DAS – defensive aid system/suite
• DASP – demountable artillery surveillance pod
• DBMS – dead bodies make sense
• DC – direct current
• DCA – défense contre avions (anti-aircraft)
• DCCT – dismounted close combat trainer
• DD – Detroit diesel
• DDA – Detroit Diesel Allison
• DDS – Department of Defense Support
• DDU – digital display unit
• DECA – digital electronic control assembly
• DEFA – direction des études et fabrications d’armement
• DERA – Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (UK)
• DESO – Defence Export Sales Organisation (UK)
• DFAC – Dining Facility (US)
• DFCS – digital fire-control system
• DFSV – direct fire support vehicle
• DFV – desert fighting vehicle
• DHSS – data handling subsystem
• DIA – Defense Intelligence Agency (US)
• DICON – Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria
• DIP – driver instrument panel
• DISA – Defense Information Systems Agency
• DISCOM – division support command
• DIVARTY – division artillery
• DMC – digital magnetic compass
• DMR – dedicated marksman rifle
• DMU – distance measurement unit
• DNRS – day/night range sight
• DoD – Department of Defense (US)
• DOIM (US Army) – Directorate of Information Management
• DOP – Department of Productivity
• DP – demonstration purpose
• DP – dual purpose
• DPA – Defence Procurement Agency (UK)
• DPICM – dual-purpose improved conventional munition (US)
• DPTR – diopter
• DRA – Defence Research Agency (UK)
• DROPS – demountable rack offloading and pick-up system
• DS/T – practice discarding sabot/tracer
• DSACS – direct support armored cannon system (US)
• DSETS – direct support electrical test system
• DSO – Defence Sales Organisation
• DSRV – Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (US)
• DSWS – Division Support Weapon System
• DTAT – Direction Technique des Armements Terrestres
• DTT – driver training tank
• DU – depleted uranium
• DV – demining vehicle
• DVE – driver’s vision enhancer
• DWFK – deep water fording kit

E

• EAAK – Enhanced Appliqué Armor Kit (US)
• EAOS – Enhanced Artillery Observation System
• EBG – Engin Blindé Génie (armoured combat vehicle)
• EBR – Engin Blindé de Reconnaissance (armoured reconnaissance vehicle)
• EBRC – Engine Blindé à roues de Contact
• EC – Enhanced Carbine
• ECM – Electronic countermeasures
• ECOS – Enhanced Combat Optical Sight
• ECS – Environmental Control Subsystem
• ECV – Enhanced Capacity Vehicle
• EDD – Explosive Detonation Disruption
• EDS – Electric Drive System
• EFAB – Etablissement d’Etudes et de Fabrications d’Armement de Bourges
• EFC – equivalent full charge
• EFCR – equivalent full charge rounds
• EFM – Explosives Factory Maribyrnong
• EFP – Expanded Feasibility Phase
• EFP – Explosively Formed Penetrator
• EFV – Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle (New name for AAAV)
• EFVS – Electronic Fighting Vehicle System (US)
• EG – External Gun
• EGLM – Enhanced Grenade Launcher Module
• EI – Engineering and Installation
• EIS – Engineering and Installation Squadron
• EI SIT – Engineering and Installation Site Implementation Team
• ELB – Extended Life Barrel
• ELKE – Elevated Kinetic Energy Weapon (US)
• ELS – Electromagnetic Launcher System
• ELSAP – Elektronische Schiessanlage für Panzer (electronic fire system for tanks)
• EM – electromagnetic
• EMC – Executive Management Committee
• EMD – Engineering and Manufacturing Development
• EMDG – Euromissile Dynamics Group
• EMEW – Electromagnetically-Augmented High Explosive Warhead
• EMG – externally mounted gun
• EMP – electromagnetic pulse
• EMPG – Electromagnetic Pulse Grenade
• ENGESA – Engesa Engenheiros Especializados (Brazil)
• EOC – Essential Operational Capability
• EOD – explosive ordnance disposal
• EOR – Explosive Ordnance Reconnaissance
• EOTS – Electro-Optical Tracking System
• EPC – electronic plane conversion
• EPC – Engin Principal de Combat (future main battle tank)
• EPG – Enhanced Performance Grenade
• EPG – European Production Group
• EPG – European Programme Group
• EPS – Electrical Power Subsystem
• EPU – Electronics Processing Unit
• ER – enhanced radiation
• ER – extended range
• ERA – explosive reactive armour
• ERA – extended range ammunition
• ERC – Engin de Reconnaissance Canon
• ERFB – extended range full-bore
• ERFB-BB – extended range full-bore – base bleed
• ERGFCDS – Extended Range Gunnery Fire-Control Demonstration System
• ERGP – extended range guided projectile
• ERMIS – Extended Range Modification Integration System
• ERP – Extended Range Projectile
• ERSC – extended range subcalibre
• ERV – emergency rescue vehicle
• ERV – Engineer Reconnaissance Vehicle
• ES – Extreme Spread
• ESAF – Electronic Safety and Arm Function
• ESD – Electronique Serge Dassault
• ESLDE – Eyesafe Laser Daylight Elbow
• ESPAWS – Enhanced Self-Propelled Artillery Weapon System (US)
• ESRS – electro-slag refined steel
• ETA – Estimated Time of Arrival
• ETC – ElectroThermal Cannon
• ETD – Estimated Time of Departure
• ETM – Electronic Technical Manuals
• ETS – Elevated TOW System
• ETS – Engineer Tank System
• EW – electronic warfare
• EWK – Eisenwerke Kaiserslautern Gцppner
• EWS – external weapon station

F

• FAAD – Forward Area Air Defense
• FAAR – Forward Area Alerting Radar (US)
• FAARP – Forward Area Arming & Refueling Point
• FAASV – Field Artillery Ammunition Support Vehicle (US)
• FAC – Forward Air Control(er)
• FAC-A – Forward Air Control(er)-Airborne
• FACE – Field Artillery Computer Equipment
• FAL – Fusil Automatique Légère
• FAPDS – Frangible Armour-Piercing Discarding Sabot
• FARP – Forward Area Refueling Point
• FARS – field artillery rocket system
• FARV-A – Future Armored Resupply Vehicle – Artillery (US)
• FAST – Forward Area Support Team
• FAV – Fast Attack Vehicle (US)
• FBI – Federal Bureau of Investigation
• FBRV – Future Beach Recovery Vehicle (UK)
• FCC – Fire Command Centre
• FCC – Fire-Control Computer
• FCCVS – Future Close-Combat Vehicle System (US)
• FCE – fire-control equipment
• FCLV – Future Command and Liaison Vehicle (UK)
• FCS – fire-control system/subsystem
• FCS – Future Combat System
• FCU – Fire Control Unit
• FDC – fire direction centre
• FDCV – fire direction centre vehicle
• FDSWS – Future Direct Support Weapon System
• FEBA – Forward Edge of the Battle Area
• FEP – Firepower Enhancement Programme
• FET – Future Engineer Tank
• FFAR – Folding Fin Aerial Rocket
• FFE – Fire for Effect
• FFSS – Future Fighting Soldier System
• FG – field gun
• FH – field howitzer
• FIBUA – Fighting In Built-Up Areas
• FID – Foreign Internal Defenses
• FIFV – Future Infantry Fighting Vehicle (US)
• FIRM – Floating Integrated Rail Mount
• FIS – Fuze Interface System
• FISH – Fighting In Someone’s House (UK) (Colloquial. Slang term for FIBUA)
• FIST – Future Integrated Soldier Technology (UK), Fire Support Team (US)
• FISTV – Fire Support Team Vehicle (US)
• FITOW – Further Improved TOW (US)
• FLEA – Frangible Low-Energy Ammunition (i.e. a fragmentation grenade or a low-yield IED)
• FLIR – forward-looking infra-red
• FLOT – forward line of own troops
• FLSW – Future Light Support Weapon
• FM – U.S. Army Field Manuals
• FM – Titanium tetrachloride (code designation)
• FMBS – Family of Muzzle Brake/Suppressors
• FMC – Food Machinery Corporation
• FMF – Fleet Marine Force
• FMJ – Full Metal Jacket
• FMJBT – Full Metal Jacket Boat Tail
• FMJLF – Full Metal Jacket Lead Free
• FMS – Foreign Military Sales
• FMTV – Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles
• FN – Fabrique Nationale (Manufacturer)
• FO – Forward Observer
• FOB – Forward Operating Base
• FOC – Full Operational Capability
• FOD – Foreign Object Damage (i.e., damage not caused by enemy fire. Includes bugs, dirt, etc.) (Aviation)
• FOG – Fibre Optic Gyro
• FOM – Fibre Optic Missile
• FOO – forward observation officer
• FORTIS – Forward Observation and Reconnaissance Thermal Imaging System
• FOTT – Follow On To TOW
• FOV – field of view
• FPA – Focal Plane Array
• FRAG – fragmentation
• FRAGO – FRAGmentary Order. (see OPORD)
• FRES – Future Rapid Effect System
• FROG – free rocket over ground
• FSCL – fire support coordination line
• FSCM – fire support coordination measure
• FSCV – fire support combat vehicle
• FSE – fire support element
• FSED – full-scale engineering development (US)
• FSSG – Force Service Support Group
• FST – Future Soviet Tank/Follow-on Soviet Tank
• FSV – fire support vehicle
• FSV – Future Scout Vehicle (US)
• FTA – Frangible Training Ammunition
• FTMA – Future Tank Main Armament
• FTS – Future Tank Study
• FTT – Field Tactical Trainer
• FUBAR – Fouled/Fucked Up Beyond All Reason/Recognition/Repair
• FUE – First Unit Equipped
• FUG – Felderitц Usу Gépkosci
• FV – fighting vehicle
• FV/GCE – fighting vehicle gun control equipment
• FVDD – Fighting Vehicle Development Division
• FVRDE – Fighting Vehicle Research and Development Establishment (UK)
• FVS – Fighting Vehicle System (US)
• FVSC – Fighting Vehicle Systems Carrier (US)
• FY – fiscal year

G

• g – gramme(s)
• G – gendarmerie
• GAMA – Gun Automatic Multiple Ammunition
• GAO – General Accounting Office
• GAP – Gun Aiming Post
• GBAD – Ground Based Air Defence
• GCE – gun control equipment
• GCT – Grande Cadence de Tir (high rate of fire)
• GCU – Gun Control Unit
• GCW – Gross Combat Weight
• GD – General Dynamics
• GDLS – General Dynamics Land Systems
• GDU – Gun Display Unit
• GFE – Government Furnished Equipment
• GH – gun-howitzer
• GIAT – Groupement Industriel des Armements Terrestres
• GL – Grenade Launcher
• GLATGM – Gun Launched Anti-Tank Guided Missile
• GLC – gun lay computer
• GLDNSM – Grenade Launcher Day-Night Sight Mount
• GLH-H – Ground-Launched Hellfire-Heavy (US)
• GLLD – Ground Laser Locator Designator (US)
• GLS – Gesellschaft für Logistischen Service
• GM, MVO – General Motors, Military Vehicle Operations
• GMC – General Motors Corporation
• GMG – Grenade Machine Gun
• GMLRS – Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System
• GMS – Gun Management System
• GOCO – government-owned, contractor-operated (US)
• GOP – General Out Post
• GP – General Purpose
• GP – guided projectile
• GPMG – General Purpose Machine Gun
• GPO – gun position officer
• GPS – Global Positioning System
• GPS – gunner’s primary sight
• GPSS – Gunner’s Primary Sight Subsystem
• GREM – Grenade Rifle Entry Munition
• GRU – Glavnoe Razvedyvatel’noe Upravlenie, meaning Main Intelligence Directorate
• GSR – General Staff Requirement (US)
• GSRS – General Support Rocket System
• GST – General Staff Target
• GST – Gesellschaft fьr System-Technik
• GTCS – Gun Test and Control System
• GTI – German Tank Improvement
• GVW – Gross Vehicle Weight
• GW – guided weapon

H

• h – hour(s)
• H&K – Heckler and Koch
• HAB – Heavy Assault Bridge (US)
• HAG – Heavy Artillery Gun
• HALO – High Altitude Low Opening, High Activity/Low Observable
• HAMS – Headquarters and Maintenance Squadron – Marine Aircraft Group (USMC)
• HAWK – Homing-All-the-Way-Killer (US)
• HB – heavy barrel
• HBAR – Heavy Barrel Assault Rifle
• HC – Hexachloroethane/zinc
• HC – high-capacity
• HC – Hollow Charge
• HCER – high-capacity extended range
• HCHE – high-capacity high-explosive
• HCT – HOT Compact Turret
• HDS – HOLOgraphic Diffraction Sight
• HE – high-explosive
• HE-APERS – high-explosive anti-personnel
• HE-FRAG – high-explosive fragmentation
• HE-FRAG-FS – high-explosive fragmentation – fin-stabilised
• HE-FS – high-explosive – fin-stabilised
• HE-S – high-explosive spotting
• HE-T – high-explosive tracer
• HE/PR – high-explosive practice
• HEAA – High-Explosive Anti-Armour
• HEAB – High-Explosive Air Burst
• HEAP – High-Explosive Armor-Piercing
• HEAP-T – high-explosive anti-personnel – tracer
• HEAT – high-explosive anti-tank
• HEAT-FS – high-explosive anti-tank fin-stabilised
• HEAT-MP – high-explosive anti-tank multipurpose
• HEAT-MP(P) – high-explosive anti-tank multipurpose (practice)
• HEAT-T – high-explosive anti-tank – tracer
• HEAT-T-HVY – high-explosive anti-tank – tracer – heavy
• HEAT-T-MP – high-explosive anti-tank – tracer – multipurpose
• HEAT-TP-T – high-explosive anti-tank – target practice – tracer
• HED-D – Hybrid Electric Drive – Demonstrator
• HEDP – high-explosive dual-purpose
• HEER – High-Explosive Extended Range (US)
• HEF – High-Explosive Fragmentation
• HEFT – High-Explosive Follow Through
• HEI – high-explosive incendiary
• HEIT – high-explosive incendiary tracer
• HEL – High-Energy Laser (US)
• HEL – Human Engineering Laboratory (US)
• HELP – Howitzer Extended Life Program (US)
• HEMAT – Heavy Expanded Mobility Ammunition Trailer (US)
• HEMP – High-Explosive Multi-Purpose
• HEMTT – Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck (US)
• HEP – high-explosive plastic
• HEP-T – high-explosive practice – tracer
• HEPD – high-explosive point detonating
• HERA – high-explosive rocket-assisted
• HESH – high-explosive squash head
• HESH-T – high-explosive squash head – tracer
• HET-PF – high-explosive tracer – percussion fuze
• HETF – High Explosive Time Fuzed
• HETS – Heavy Equipment Transport System
• HFCC – Howitzer Fire-Control Computer (US)
• HFHTB – Human Factors Howitzer TestBed (US)
• HFM – Heavy Force Modernisation (US)
• HIFV – Heavy Infantry Fighting Vehicle
• HIMAG – High-Mobility Agility Test Vehicle (US)
• HIMARS – High-Mobility Artillery Rocket System (US)
• HIP – Howitzer Improvement Program (US)
• HIRE – Hughes Infrared Equipment
• HITP – High-Ignition Temperature Propellant
• HIU – Heading Indicator Unit
• HMC – Howitzer Motor Carriage
• HMD – Helmet-Mounted Display
• HMG – Heavy Machine Gun
• HMH – Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron
• HMLC – High-Mobility Load Carrier
• HML/A – Marine Light/Attack Helicopter Squadron
• HMM – Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron
• HMMWV – High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle
• HMX – Marine Special Mission Helicopter Squadron
• HOE – Holographic Optical Element
• HOT – Haute subsonique Optiquement Téléguidé
• How – Howitzer
• HP – High Power; Hollow Point
• hp – Horsepower
• HPFP – High-Performance Fragmentation Projectile
• HPS – Helmet Pointing System (or Sight)
• HPT – high-pressure test
• HRU – Heading Reference Unit
• HS – Headquarters Squadron – Marine Wing Support Group (USMC)
• HSS – Hunter Sensor Suite
• HSTV(L) – High-Survivability Test Vehicle (Lightweight) (US)
• HTTB – High-Technology TestBed (US)
• HVAP – high-velocity armour-piercing
• HVAP-T – high-velocity armour-piercing tracer
• HVAPDS-T – high-velocity armour-piercing discarding sabot – tracer
• HVAPFSDS – high-velocity armour-piercing fin-stabilised discarding sabot
• HVCC – High Velocity Canister Cartridge
• HVM – Hypervelocity Missile
• HVSS – horizontal volute spring suspension
• HVSW – Hypervelocity Support Weapon
• HVTP-T – high-velocity target practice – tracer
• HWSTD – High Water Speed Technology Demonstrator
• HYPAK – Hydraulic Power Assist Kit

I

• I – Incendiary
• IAFV – infantry armoured fighting vehicle
• IAI – Israel Aircraft Industries
• IAL – Infra-red Aiming Light
• IASD – Instant Ammunition Selection Device
• IBAS – Improved Bradley Acquisition System
• ICC – information co-ordination centre
• ICM – improved conventional munition
• ICM – BB improved conventional munition base bleed
• ICV – Infantry Combat Vehicle
• IDF – Israel Defense Forces
• IDW – Individual Defence Weapon
• IED – Improvised Explosive Device
• IEPG – Independent European Program Group
• IFCS – Improved/Integrated Fire-Control System
• IFF – Identification Friend or Foe
• IFV – infantry fighting vehicle
• IFVwCM – Infantry Fighting Vehicle with Integrated Countermeasures (US)
• IGLS – Individual Grenade Launcher System
• II – image intensification/intensifier
• IIR – Imaging Infra-Red
• ILL – illuminating
• ILMS – Improved Launcher Mechanical System
• ILS – Integrated Logistic Support
• IM – Insensitive Munition(s)
• IMMLC – Improved Medium Mobility Load Carrier
• IMU – Inertial Measurement Unit
• INSAS – Indian Small Arms System
• InSb – Indium-antimonide
• IOC – initial operational capability
• IOF – Indian Ordnance Factory
• IPB – Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield
• IPF – Initial Production Facility
• IPO – International Programme Office
• IPPD – Integrated Product Process Development
• IR – Infra-Red
• IRBM – Intermediate-range ballistic missile
• IRU – Inertial Reference Unit
• IS – internal security
• ISD – In Service Date
• ISGU – Integrated Sight and Guidance Unit
• ISR – Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance
• ISU – Integrated Sight Unit
• ISV – Internal Security Vehicle
• ITAS – Improved Target Acquisition System
• ITOW – Improved TOW
• ITPIAL – Infra-red Target Pointer/Illuminator/Aiming Laser
• ITT – Invitation To Tender
• ITV – Improved TOW Vehicle (US)
• IVPDL – Inter-Vehicle Positioning and Data Link (US)
• IW – Individual Weapon
• IWS – Improved Weapon System

J

• JBMoU – Joint Ballistic Memorandum of Understanding
• JDAM – Joint Direct Attack Munition
• JERRV – Joint Engineer Rapid Response Vehicle
• JGSDF – Japanese Ground Self-Defence Force
• JHP – Jacketed hollow point
• JLTA – Javelin Composite Launch Tube
• JMAC – Joint Medium-calibre Automatic Cannon
• JPO – Joint Project Office
• JSC – Joint Steering Committee
• JSCS – Joint Service Combat Shotgun
• JSDFA – Japanese Self-Defence Force Agency
• JSP – Jacketed Soft Point
• JSSAMP – Joint Services Small Arms Master Plan
• JSSAP – Joint Services Small Arms Programme

K

• KAAV – Korean Armoured Amphibious Vehicle
• KAC – Knight’s Armament Company
• KE – Kinetic energy
• KEC – Kaman Electromagnetics Corporation
• KEM – Kinetic Energy Missile (US)
• kg – kilogramme(s)
• KIA – Killed in Action
• KIFV – Korean Infantry Fighting Vehicle
• KPA – Korean People’s Army

L

• LAAG – light anti-aircraft gun
• LAAM – Light Anti-Aircraft Missile
• LAAW – Light Anti-Tank Assault Weapon
• LACA – Landing Craft Air Cushion
• LAD – light aid detachment
• LADS – light air defense system (US)
• LAG – Light Artillery Gun
• LALO – Low Altitude Low Opening
• LAM – Laser Aiming Module
• LAPES – Low-Altitude Parachute Extraction System
• LAR – Light Automatic Rifle
• LASER – Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation
• LASIP – Light Artillery System Improvement Plan
• LATS – Light Armoured Turret System
• LAU – Light Armoured Unit
• LAV – Light Armored Vehicle (US)
• LAV – Light Assault Vehicle (US)
• LAV-AD – Light Armored Vehicle – Air Defense
• LAW – light anti-tank weapon
• LB – Long Barrel
• LC – Laser Collimator
• LCD – Liquid crystal display
• LCS – Loader Control System
• LCU – Landing Craft Utility
• LCV – Light Contingency Vehicle (LCV) (US)
• LD – Low drag, Line of Departure
• LE – Law Enforcement
• LED – light emitting diode
• LEP – Life Extension Programme
• LEU – Launcher Erector Unit
• LF – ATGW Light Forces’ Anti-Tank Guided Weapon
• LF – Linked Feed
• LFHG – Lightweight Fragmentation Hand Grenade
• LFL – Light Fighter Lethality
• LIA – Linear Induction Accelerator
• LIMAWS – Lightweight Mobile Artillery Weapon System
• LION – Lightweight Infra-red Observation Night sight
• LIW – Lyttleton Engineering Works
• LKP – Loader Keyboard Panel
• LLAD – low-level air defence
• LLLTV – low light level television
• LLM – Launcher Loader Module
• LMAW – Light Multi-purpose Assault Weapon
• LMG – light machine gun
• LNS – Land Navigation System
• LNS – Laying and Navigation System
• L/O – Liaison Officer
• LOAL – Lock-On After Launch
• LOBL – Lock-On Before Launch
• LOC – Line Of Communication
• LOS – Line Of Sight
• LOSAT – Line Of Sight Anti-Tank
• LP – Liquid Propellant
• LP – Listening Post
• LPC – Launch Pod Container
• LPC – Launcher Pod Carrier
• LPG – Liquid Propellant Gun
• LPO – Leading Petty Officer
• LPT – Low-Profile Turret
• LPTS – Lightweight Protected Turret System
• LR – Long Rifle
• LR – Long-Range
• LRAR – Long Range Artillery Rocket
• LRASS – Long-Range Advanced Scout System
• LRAT – long-range anti-tank
• LRBB – long-range base bleed
• LRD – Long Range Deflagrator
• LRF – laser rangefinder
• LRF – Low Recoil Force
• LRHB – long-range hollow base
• LRIP – Low-Rate Initial Production
• LRM – Laser Rangefinder Module
• LRN – Lead Round Nose
• LRN – Low Recoil NORICUM
• LRRP – Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol
• LRSA – Long Range Sniper Ammunition
• LRSU – Long Range Surveillance Unit
• LRU – Launcher Replenishment Unit
• LRU – Line Replacement Unit
• LRU – Line-Replaceable Unit
• LSB – Landing Support Battalion
• LSS – Lightweight Shotgun System
• LSW – Light Support Weapon
• LTA – Launch Tube Assembly
• LTD – Laser Target Designator
• LTFCS – Laser Tank Fire-Control System
• LTP – Laser Target Pointer, Luminesant Training Projectile
• LUTE – Lightweight Uncooled Thermal Imager Equipment
• LVA – landing vehicle assault (US)
• LVS – Lightweight Video Sight
• LVT – Landing Vehicle Tracked (US)
• LVTC – Landing Vehicle Tracked Command (US)
• LVTE – Landing Vehicle Tracked Engineer (US)
• LVTH – Landing Vehicle Tracked Howitzer (US)
• LVTP – Landing Vehicle Tracked Personnel (US)
• LVTR – Landing Vehicle Tracked Recovery (US)
• LWC – Lead Wad Cutter
• LWIR – Long Wave Infrared
• LWL – LightWeight Launcher
• LWML – LightWeight Multiple Launcher
• LWMS – LightWeight Modular Sight
• LWS – laser warning system
• LWT – light weapon turret
• LZ – landing zone

M

• m – metre(s)
• m/s – metres per second
• MAB – Marine Amphibious Brigade
• MABS – Marine Air Base Squadron
• MAC – Medium Armored Car (US)
• MAC – Military Airlift Command
• MACS – Modular Artillery Charge System
• MACS – Marine Air Control Squadron
• MADLS – Mobile Air Defence Launching System
• MAF – Marine Amphibious Force
• MAG – Marine Aircraft Group
• MAGTEC – Marine Air/Ground Training & Education Command
• MAGTF – Marine Air/Ground Task Force
• MAHEM – Magnetohydrodynamic Explosive Munition
• MALOS – Miniature Laser Optical Sight
• MALS – Marine Air Logistics Squadron
• MAMBA – Mobile Artillery Monitoring Battlefield Radar
• MANPADS – Man Portable Air Defense System
• MAOV – Mobile Artillery Observation Vehicle
• MAP – Military Aid Programme
• MAPS – Modular Azimuth Position System
• MAR – Micro Assault Rifle
• MARDI – Mobile Advanced Robotics Defence Initiative (UK)
• MARDIV – Marine Division (US)
• MARS – Military Amateur Radio Station
• MARS – Mini Assault Rifle System
• MARS – Multi-purpose Aiming Reflex Sight
• MARS – Multiple Artillery Rocket System
• MASS – Marine Air Support Squadron
• MATCS – Marine Air Traffic Control Squadron
• MATSG – Marine Air Training Support Group
• MAU(SOC) – Marine Amphibious Unit (Special Operations Capable)
• MAV – maintenance assist vehicle
• MAVD – MLRS Aim Verification Device
• MAW – Marine Air Wing (US)
• MBA – main battle area
• MBB – Messerschmitt-Bцlkow-Blohm
• MBC – Mortar Ballistic Computer
• MBT – main battle tank
• MCLOS – Manual Command to Line Of Sight
• MCRV – Mechanised Combat Repair Vehicle
• MCS – Microclimate Conditioning System
• MCS – modular charge system
• MCSK – Mine Clearance System Kit (US)
• MCT – Medium Combat Tractor (US)
• MCT – Mercury Cadmium Telluride
• MCV – Mechanised Combat Vehicle
• MCWL – Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory
• MCWS – Minor Calibre Weapons Station (US)
• MDMP – Military Decision Making Process
• MDU – Map Display Unit
• MEB – Marine Expeditionary Brigade
• MEDEVAC – Medical Evacuation
• MEF – Marine Expeditionary Force
• MENS – Mission Element Need Statement (US)
• MEP – Modular Explosive Penetrator
• MEPSMilitary Entrance Processing Station
• METO – Middle East Treaty Organisation; CENTO or Baghdad Pact
• METL – Mission Essential Task List
• METT-TC – Mission, Enemy, Terrain and weather, Troops and support available—Time available, Civilians
• MEU(SOC) – Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable)
• MEV – medical evacuation vehicle (US)
• MEWS – Mobile Electronic Warfare System
• MEWSS – Mobile Electronic Warfare Support System
• MF – multifunction
• MFC – Mortar Fire Control(ler)
• MFCS – Multi-Fire Control System/Mortar Fore Control System
• MFCV – Missile Fire-Control Vehicle
• MFF – munition filling factory
• MG – machine gun
• MGB – Medium Girder Bridge
• MGL – Multiple Grenade Launcher
• MGS – Mobile Gun System
• MGTS – MultiGun Turret System
• MGU – Mid-course Guidance Unit
• MI – Military Intelligence
• MIA – Missing In Action
• MICOM – Missile Command (US)
• MICV – mechanised infantry combat vehicle
• MILAN – Missile d’Infantrie Léger Antichar (light infantry anti-tank missile)
• MILES – Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement System (US)
• MILSPEC – Military Specification
• MILSTAN – MILitary STANdard
• MILSTAR – MILitary Strategic and Tactical Relay (US)
• MIPS – Medium Integrated Propulsion System (US)
• MLA – Manufacturing Licence Agreement
• MLC – Military Load Class
• MLC – Modular Load Carrier
• MLF – Marine Logistics Force
• MLR – Marine Logistics Regiment
• MLI – Mid-Life Improvement
• MLO – Muzzle Loaded Ordnance
• MLRS – Multiple Launch Rocket System (US)
• mm – millimetre(s)
• MMBF – mean miles between failures
• MMG – Medium Machine Gun
• MMS – mast-mounted sight
• MMS – Modular Mounting System
• MNVD – Monocular Night Vision Device
• MoA – Memorandum of Agreement
• MOA – Minute Of Angle
• MoD – Ministry of Defence
• MODA – Ministry of Defence and Aviation
• MOLF – Modular Laser Fire Control (Germany)
• MOLLE – MOdular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment
• MOPP – Mission Oriented Protective Posture (US)
• MOS – Military Occupational Specialty (US)
• MoU – Memorandum of Understanding
• MOUT – Military Operations in Urban Terrain (urban warfare) (US)
• MP – Machine Pistol
• MPBAV – MultiPurpose Base Armoured Vehicle
• MPC – MultiPurpose Carrier (Netherlands)
• MPGS – Mobile Protected Gun System (US)
• MPI – Mean Point of Impact
• MPIM – MultiPurpose Individual Munition
• MPM – MultiPurpose Munition
• MPS – Maritime Prepositioning Ships (US)
• MPV – Multi-Purpose Vehicle
• MPWS – Mobile Protected Weapon System (US)
• MR – Medium Range
• MRAP – Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (Vehicle)
• MRAR – MultiRole Assault Round
• MRAV – MultiRole Armoured Vehicle
• MRBF – mean rounds before failure
• MRBS – mean rounds between stoppages
• MRE – Meal Ready to Eat
• MRS – multiple rocket system
• MRS – muzzle reference system
• MRSI – Multiple Round Simultaneous Impact
• MRV(R) – Mechanised Recovery Vehicle (Repair)
• MRVR – Mechanised Repair and Recovery Vehicle (US)
• MSSG – MAU/MEU Service Support Group (USMC)
• MSR – Missile Simulation Round
• MSR – Main Supply Route
• MSTAR – Man-portable Surveillance and Target Acquisition Radar
• MSV – Modular Support Vehicle
• MT – mechanical time
• MTB – Mobility TestBed
• MTBF – Mean Time Between Failure
• MTI – moving target indication
• MTL – Materials Technology Laboratory (US)
• MTR – Mobile Test Rig (US)
• MTSQ – mechanical time and super-quick
• MTSQ – Mechanical Time Semi-Quick
• MTU – Motoren- und Turbinen-Union
• MTVL – mobile tactical vehicle light
• MUGS – Multipurpose Universal Gunner Sight
• MULE – Modular Universal Laser Equipment (US)
• MUSS – Multifunctional Selfprotection System
• MV – muzzle velocity
• MVEE – Military Vehicles and Engineering Establishment (UK)
• MVRS – Muzzle Velocity Radar System
• MWCS – Marine Wing Communications Squadron
• MWHS – Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron
• MWS – Manned Weapon Station (US)
• MWS – Modular Weapon System
• MWSG – Marine Wing Support Group
• MWSS – Marine Wing Support Squadron

N

• NATO – North Atlantic Treaty Organisation
• NBC – Nuclear, Biological, Chemical
• NBMR – NATO Basic Military Requirement
• NCIS – Naval Criminal Investigative Service (US)
• NCO – Non-Commissioned Officer (US, E-4 – E-9)
• NCOIC – Non-Commissioned Officer In Charge
• NDI – Non-Developmental Item
• NDU – Navigation Display Unit
• NFOV – Narrow Field Of View
• NG – New/Next Generation
• Ni/Cd – Nickel Cadmium
• NLAW – Next Light (weight) Anti-armour Weapon
• NLOS-C – Non-Line Of Sight-Cannon
• NLOS-M – Non-Line Of Sight-Mortar
• NOD(s) – Night Optical Device(s)
• NRF – NATO Response Force
• NS – Network Services
• NTC – National Training Center (USA)
• NUGP – nominal unit ground pressure
• NV – Night Vision
• NVD – Night Vision Device
• NVE – Night Vision Equipment
• NVESD – Night Vision and Electronic Sensors Directorate
• NVG – Night Vision Goggle
• NVS – Night Vision System
• NZDF – New Zealand Defence Force
• NZEF – New Zealand Expeditionary Force (in WWI & WWII)

O

• OBR – Optical Beam-Riding
• OCC – Obus à Charge Creusé (shaped-charge shell)
• OCOKA – Observation and fields of fire, Cover and concealment, Obstacles, Key terrain, and Avenues of Approach.
• OCSW – Objective Crew-Served Weapon
• OCU – Operational Centre Unit
• ODE – Ordnance Development and Engineering (Singapore)
• OEG – Occluded Eye Gunsight (a type of Collimator sight)
• OEO – optical and electro-optical
• OFSA – Objective Family of Small Arms
• OFSA – One Size Fits All
• OFW – Objective Force Warrior
• OHWS – Offensive Hand Weapon System
• OIC – Officer In Charge
• OICW – Objective Individual Combat Weapon
• OOTW – Operations Other Than War
• OP – Observation post
• OP – Operators Panel
• OPCON – OPerational CONtrol
• OPDW – Objective Personal Defense Weapon
• OPORD – OPerations Order
• OPSEC – OPerational SECurity
• OPV – Observation Post Vehicle
• OSW – Objective Sniper Weapon
• OSS (USAF) – Operational Support Squadron
• OSW (USAF) – Operational Support, Weather
• OT – operational test
• OTA – overflight top attack
• OTEA – Operational Test and Evaluation Agency (US)

P

• P – How pack howitzer
• P3I – Pre-Planned Product Improvements
• PAR – pulse acquisition radar
• PAT – power-assisted traverse
• PC – Personal Computer
• PCB – printed circuit board
• PCC – Police Compact Carbine
• PCI – Pre-combat inspection
• PD – Point Defense
• PD – point detonating
• PD – Point of Departure
• PDNA – Positioning Determining/Navigation Unit
• PDRR – Program Definition and Risk Reduction
• PDW – Personal Defence Weapon
• PE – MoD Procurement Executive (UK)
• PE – Peace Enforcement (US DoD)
• PEC – Printed Electronic Circuits
• PFD – proximity fuze disconnector
• PFHE – prefragmented high explosive
• PLF – protective line of fire
• PFPX – prefragmented proximity fuzed
• PGMM – Precision Guided Mortar Munition
• PH – Probability of Hit
• Pi – Probability of incapacitation
• PIAT – Projector, Infantry, Anti Tank
• PIBD – Point Initiating Base Detonated
• PID – Positive Identification
• PIE – pyrotechnically initiated explosive
• PIP – Product Improvement Programme
• PL – Phase Line
• PLA – People’s Liberation Army
• PLARS – Position Location And Reporting System (US)
• PLC – Programmable Logic Control
• PLO – Palestinian Liberation Army
• PLOS – Predicted Line Of Sight
• PLS – Palletised Load System (US)
• PM – porte mortier (mortar carrier)
• PM – Product Manager
• PMCS – Preventative Maintenance Checks and Services
• PMEE – U.S. Air Force abbreviation for Prime Mission Electronic Equipment
• PMO – Program Management Office (US)
• PMO – Provost Marshall’s Office
• PMOD – Platform Modifications
• PMS – Pedestal-Mounted Stinger
• PNU – Position Navigation Unit
• POA&M – Plan Of Action & Milestones
• POF – Pakistan Ordnance Factory
• POS – Postes Optiques de Surveillance
• POW – Prisoner(s) of War
• PPI – plan position indicator
• PPS – Precise Positioning Service
• PRAC – practice
• PRAC-T – practice tracer
• PRI – projector reticle image
• PRP – Personnel Reliability Program (screening and monitoring of individuals with access to “special” weapons)
• PSD – Propulsion System Demonstrator
• PSO – Peace Support Operations
• PSS – Primary Sight System
• PTO – power take-off
• PVP – Petit Véhicule Protégé
• PW – Prisoner of War
• PWI-SR(GR) – Panser Wagen Infanterie-Standaard (Groep)
• PWP – Plasticised White Phosphorus

Q

• QCB – Quick Change Barrel
• QE – Quadrant Elevation
• QRF – Quick Reaction Force

R

• RA – Royal Artillery
• RAAM – Rifle-launched Anti-Armour Munition
• RAAMS – Remote Anti-Armor Mine System (US)
• PABD – Pay Entry Base Date
• RAC – Royal Armoured Corps
• RADIRS – Rapid Deployment Multiple Rocket System (US)
• RAAF – Royal Australian Air Force
• RAE – Royal Aircraft Establishment, Royal Aircraft Establishment (Farnborough)
• RAE – Royal Australian Engineers, Australian Combat Engineers
• RAF – Royal Air Force
• RAM-D – reliability, availability, maintainability and durability
• RAN – Royal Australian Navy
• RAO – Rear Area Operations
• RAP – rocket-assisted projectile
• RAPI – Reactive Armour Protection
• RARDE – Royal Armament Research and Development Establishment (UK)
• RATAC – Radar de Tir pour L’Artillerie de Campagne (radar for field artillery fire)
• RATELO – Radio Telephone Operator
• RAW – Rifleman’s Assault Weapon
• RBL – Range and Bearing Launch
• RC/MAS – Reserve Component/Modified Armament System
• RCAAS – Remote-Controlled Anti-Armor System (US)
• RCAF – Royal Canadian Air Force
• RCC – ROLAND Coordination Center (US)
• RCDU – Remote-Controlled Defence Unit
• RCL – Recoilless rifle
• RCN – Royal Canadian Navy
• RCS – Radar Cross Section
• RCT – Regimental Combat Team
• RCT – Royal Corps of Transport
• RCV – Robotic Command Vehicle
• RDF – Rapid Deployment Forces
• RDF/LT – Rapid Deployment Force Light Tank (US)
• RDJTF – Rapid Deployment Joint Task Force (US)
• RDT&E – Research Development Test and Evaluation
• REME – Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
• RF – Rimfire
• RFA – Royal Field Artillery
• RFAS – Russian Federation and Associated States
• RFC – Royal Flying Corps
• RFI – request for information
• RFP – request for proposals
• RFPI – Rapid Force Projection Initiative
• RFQ – Request For Quotations
• RGGS – Rifle Grenade General Service
• RHA – rolled homogeneous armour
• RHA – Royal Horse Artillery
• RIN – the former Royal Indian Navy
• RIS – Rail Interface System
• RISE – Reliability Improved Selected Equipment
• RLC – Royal Logistic Corps
• RLEM – Rifle-Launched Entry Munition
• RLG – Ring Laser Gyro
• RLT – Regimental Landing Team
• RMG – ranging machine gun
• RN – Royal Navy
• RNZAF – Royal New Zealand Air Force
• RNZN – Royal New Zealand Navy
• RO – Royal Ordnance
• ROBAT – Robotic Counter-Obstacle Vehicle (US)
• RoC – Republic of China
• ROC – required operational characteristics
• ROE – Rules Of Engagement
• ROF – Royal Ordnance Factory (UK)
• ROF – Rate Of Fire
• RoK – Republic of Korea
• RoKMC – Republic of Korea Marine Corps
• RoKIT – Republic of Korea Indigenous Tank
• ROR – range only radar
• ROTA – Royal Ordnance Training Ammunition
• RP – Red phosphorus
• RP – rocket-propelled
• RPC – Rocket Pod Container
• RPG – Rocket-propelled grenade
• RPG – Ruchnoy Protivotankovy Granatomyot
• RPV – Remotely piloted vehicle
• RR – Recoilless rifle
• RRPR – Reduced Range Practice Rocket
• RRTR – Reduced Range Training Round
• RSAF – Royal Small Arms Factory (UK) (now closed)
• RSS – Rosette Scanning Seeker
• RTE – Rifle Team Equipment
• RTT – Roues Transporteur de Troupes
• RUC – Royal Ulster Constabulary
• RWS – Remote weapon system (or station)

S

• s – second(s)
• S&W – Smith & Wesson
• SABCA – Société Anonyme Belge de Constructions Aéronautiques
• SABR – Selectable Assault Battle Rifle
• SABS – Stabilizing Automatic Bomb Sight
• SAC – Small Arms Collimator
• SACLOS – Semi-Automatic Command to Line Of Sight
• SADA – Standard Advanced Dewar Assembly
• SADARM – Sense And Destroy Armor (US)
• SADF – South African Defence Force
• SAE – Society of Automotive Engineers
• SAF – Small Arms Fire
• SAFCS – Small Arms Fire Control System
• SAFIRE – Surface-to-Air Fire
• SAL – semi-active laser
• SAM – surface-to-air missile
• SAMM – Société d’Applications des Machines Motrices
• SANDF – South African National Defence Force
• SANG – Saudi Arabian National Guard
• SAP – Semi-Armour-Piercing
• SAPHEI – Semi-Armour-Piercing High Explosive Incendiary
• SAPI – semi-armour-piercing incendiary
• SAS-EAS – Sealed Authenticator System – Emergency Action Procedures (Nuclear Weapons Release Control)
• SASR – Special Application Sniper Rifle
• SAT – Small Arms Trainer
• SATCP – Systиme Anti-aérien à Trиs Courte Portée (very short-range anti-aircraft system)
• SAVA – Standard Army Vectronics Architecture
• SAW – Squad Automatic Weapon
• SAWS – Squad Automatic Weapon System
• SB – Short Barrel
• SCORE – Stratified Charge Omnivorous Rotary Engine
• SD – self-destruct(ion)
• SEAL – Sea/Air/Land
• SEALOCK – Search, Locate, and Communicate or Kill
• SEATO – Southeast Asia Treaty Organisation
• SEME – School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering
• SEN – shell extended range NORICUM
• SEP – Soldier Enhancement Programme
• SFCS – Simplified Fire-Control System
• SFIM – Société de Fabrication d’Instrument de Mesure
• SFIRR – solid fuel integral rocket/ramjet
• SFM – Sensor Fuzed Munitions
• SFMG – Sustained Fire Machine Gun
• SFSW – Special Forces Support Weapon
• SFW – Special Forces Weapon
• SGTS – Second-Generation Tank Sight
• SH/PRAC – squash head practice
• SHORAD – Short-Range Air Defence System
• shp – shaft horsepower
• SIC – Second in Command
• SICPS – Standard Integrated Command Post Systems
• SINCGARS – Single Channel Ground/Air Radio System
• SIP – System Improvement Plan/Programme
• SIPS – Small Integrated Propulsion System
• SJFN – Semi-Jacketed Flat Nose
• SJHP – Semi-Jacketed Hollow Point
• SKOT – Sredni Kolowy Opancerzny Transporter (armoured personnel carrier)
• SLAP – saboted light armor penetrator
• SLAW – Shoulder-Launched Assault Weapon
• SLEP – Service Life Extension Program (US)
• SLR – Self-Loading Rifle
• SLR – Super Low Recoil
• SLWAGL – Super Light Weight Automatic Grenade Launcher
• SM – smoke
• SMAW – Shoulder-launched Multi-purpose Assault Weapon
• SMG – sub-machine gun
• SMK – Smoke
• Smoke – BE smoke base ejection
• Smoke – WP smoke white phosphorus
• SMP – Surface Mine Plough
• SNAFU – Situation Normal, All Fouled Up
• SNCO – Staff Non-Commissioned Officer (USMC, E-6 – E-9)
• SNCOIC – Staff Non-Commissioned Officer In Charge (USMC)
• SOCOM – Special Operations Command
• SOF – Special Operations Force(s)
• SOG – Speed Over Ground
• SOP – Standing/Standard Operational Procedure(s)
• SP – Shore Patrol
• SP – self-propelled
• SP – Soft Point
• SPAAG – self-propelled anti-aircraft gun
• SPAAM – self-propelled anti-aircraft missile
• SPAG – self-propelled assault gun
• SPARK – solid propellant advanced ramjet kinetic energy missile
• SPAS – Special Purpose Automatic Shotgun
• SPATG – self-propelled anti-tank gun
• SPAW – self-propelled artillery weapon
• SPG – self-propelled gun
• SPH – self-propelled howitzer
• SPL – self-propelled launcher
• SPLL – Self-propelled Loader Launcher
• SPM – self-propelled mortar
• SPP – Special Purpose Pistol
• SPR – Special Purpose Rifle
• SPS – Standard Positioning Service
• SPSM – Sensorgezundete Panzerabwehr SubMunition
• SPW – Special Purpose Weapon
• SR – Short Rifle
• SR – Staff Requirement
• SRAW – Short Range Assault Weapon
• SRC – Space Research Corporation
• SRG – shell replenishment gear
• SRI – Short Range Insert
• SRTS – Short Range Thermal Sight
• SRU – Shop Replaceable Unit
• SRU – Slip Ring Unit
• SRV – Surrogate Research Vehicle (US)
• SSA – Special Spaced Armour
• SSG – Single Shot Gun
• SSK – Single Shot Kill
• SSW – Squad Support Weapon
• ST – Staff Target
• STA – shell transfer arm
• STAB – Steered Agile Beams
• STAFF – Small Target Activated Fire-and-Forget (US)
• STANAG – STANdardisation Agreement
• STARTLE – Surveillance and Target Acquisition Radar for Tank Location and Engagement (US)
• STE/ICE – Simplified Test Equipment/Internal Combustion Engine (US)
• STOVL – Short Take Off and Vertical Landing
• STUP – spinning tubular projectile
• SUB – SUBstitute
• SUC – Square Ultra Compact
• SUIT – Sight Unit Infantry Trilux
• SUSAT – Sight Unit Small Arms Trilux
• SWARM – Stabilised Weapon and Reconnaissance Mount
• SWAT – Special Weapons And Tactics
• SWC – Semi WadCutter
• SWS – Sniper Weapon System

T

• T – Tracer
• TACBE – Tacbe
• TACMS – Army Tactical Missile System (US)
• TACOM – Tank-automotive and Armaments Command (US)
• TAD – Temporary Additional Duty (Naval Services term)Temporary Duty
• TADDS – Target Alert Display Data Set (US)
• TADS – Target Acquisition and Designation System (US)
• TAM – Tanque Argentino Mediano
• TAS – Target Acquisition Subsystem
• TAS – tracking adjunct system
• TAS – Turret Attitude Sensor
• TBAT – TOW/Bushmaster Armored Turret (US)
• TC – Tank Commander, also Truck Commander (US Army)
• TCO – Tactical Combat Operations
• TCTO – Time-Compliance Technical Order
• TCU – tactical control unit
• TD – Tank Destroyer
• TDCS – Tank Driver Command System
• TDD – Target Detection Device
• TDR – Target Data Receiver
• TDY – Temporary Duty
• TE – Tangent Elevation
• TEL – Transporter-Erector-Launcher
• TELAR – Transporter-Erector-Launcher And Radar
• TES – Tactical Environment Simulation
• TES – target engagement system
• TGMTS – Tank Gunnery Missile Tracking System
• TGP – Terminally Guided Projectile
• TGP – Targeting pod
• TGS – Tank Gun Sight
• TGSM – terminally guided submunition
• TGTS – tank gunnery training simulator
• TI – thermal imaging/imager
• TIC – Troops In Contact
• TICM – thermal imaging common modules
• TIIPS – Thermal Imaging and Integrated Position System
• TIM – Thermal Imaging Module
• TIPU – Thermal Image Processing Units
• TIRE – Tank Infra-Red Elbow
• TIS – thermal imaging system
• TLC – Transport Launching Container
• TLD – Top Level Demonstrations
• TLE – Treaty Limited Equipment
• TLP – Troop Leading Procedures (US)
• TLR – Tank Laser Rangefinder
• TLS – Tank Laser Sight
• TM&LS – Textron Marine & Land Systems
• TMBC – Turret Management Ballistic Computer
• TMP – Tactical Machine Pistol
• TMS – Turret Modernisation System
• TMUAS – Turreted Mortar Under Armor System (US)
• TNT – Trinitrotoluene
• TO – Technical Order
• TOE – table of organisation and equipment
• TOGS – Thermal Observation and Gunnery System (UK)
• TOP – Total Obscuring Power
• TOPAS – Transporter Obrneny Pasovy
• TOTE – Tracker, Optical Thermally Enhanced
• TOW – Tube-launched, Optically tracked, Wire command link guided (US)
• TP – Target Practice
• TP-FL – target practice flash
• TP-S – or TPS Target Practice-Spotting/Signature
• TP-SM – target practice – smoke
• TP-SP – target practice – spotting
• TP-T – target practice – tracer
• TPCM – Target Practice Colour-Marking
• TPDS – Target Practice Discarding Sabot
• TPFSDS-T – target practice fin-stabilised discarding sabot – tracer
• TPTF – Target Practice Time Fuzed
• TR – Triple Rail
• TRACER – Tactical Reconnaissance Armoured Combat Equipment Requirement (UK)
• TRACKSTAR – Tracked Search and Target Acquisition Radar System (US)
• TRADOC – Training and Doctrine Command (US)
• TSFCS – Tank Simplified Fire-Control System
• TSQ – time and super-quick
• TSR – Tavor Sporting Rifle
• TT – transport de troupes (troop transporter)
• TTB – Tank TestBed (US)
• TTD – Transformation Technology Demonstrator
• TTG – Time To Go
• TTS – Tank Thermal Sight
• TU – Terminal Unit
• TU – Traversing Unit
• TUA – TOW Under Armor (US)
• TUR – Tiefflieger-Ьberwachungs-Radar (low-level surveillance radar)
• TV – Television
• TWD – Thermal Warning Device
• TWMP – Track Width Mine Plough
• TWS – Thermal Weapon Sight
• TYDP – Ten Year Defence Programme (Australia)

U

• UAV – Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
• UBLE – Universal Bridge Launching Equipment
• UCVP – Universal Combat Vehicle Platform
• UDR – Ulster Defence Regiment
• UET – Universal Engineer Tractor (US)
• UGV – Unmanned Ground Vehicle
• ULC – Unit Load Container
• UMA – Universal Mounting Adapter
• UMP – Universal Machine Pistol
• USA – United States of America/United States Army
• USAADS – U.S. Army Air Defense School
• USAARMS – U.S. Army Armor School
• USAAVNS – U.S. Army Aviation School
• USAAF – United States Army Air Forces
• USAF – United States Air Force
• USCG – United States Coast Guard
• USMC – United States Marine Corps
• USN – United States Navy
• USP – Universal Self-loading Pistol
• UTL – Universal Tactical Light
• UTM – Universal Transverse Mercator
• UTS – Universal Turret System
• UV – Ultraviolet
• UW – Urban Warfare

V

• V – Volt(s)
• VAB – Véhicule de l’Avant Blindé (front armoured car)
• VAB – Vickers Armoured Bridgelayer
• VADS – Vulcan Air Defense System (US)
• VAE – Vehiculo Armado Exploracion
• VAK – Vehicle Adaptor Kit
• VAPE – Vehiculo Apoyo y Exploracion
• VARRV – Vickers Armoured Repair and Recovery Vehicle
• VARV – Vickers Armoured Recovery Vehicle
• VBC – Véhicule Blindé de Combat (armoured combat vehicle)
• VBCI – Véhicule Blindé de Combat d’Infanterie
• VBL – Véhicule Blindé Léger (light armoured vehicle)
• VBM – Véhicules Blindés Modulaires
• VC – Vehicle Commander
• VCA – Véhicule Chenillé d’Accompagnement (tracked support vehicle)
• VCC – Veicolo Corazzato de Combattimento
• VCG – Véhicule de Combat du Genie (armoured engineer vehicle)
• VCI – Véhicule de Combat d’Infanterie; Vehiculo combate infanteria (infantry combat vehicle)
• VCP – Vehicle Check Point
• VCR – variable compression ratio
• VCR – Véhicule de Combat à Roues (wheeled combat vehicle)
• VCR/AT – Véhicule de Combat à Roues/Atelier Technique (salvage)
• VCR/IS – Véhicule de Combat à Roues/Intervention Sanitaire (stretchers)
• VCR/PC – Véhicule de Combat à Roues/Poste de Commandement (HQ)
• VCR/TH – Véhicule de Combat à Roues/Tourelle HOT (turret with four HOT ATGW)
• VCR/TT – Véhicule de Combat à Roues/Transport de Troupes (troop carrier)
• VCTIS – Vehicle Command and Tactical Information System
• VCTM – Vehiculo de Combate Transporte de Mortero (armoured mortar carrier)
• VCTP – Vehiculo de Combate Transporte de Personal (armoured personnel carrier)
• VDA – Véhicule de Défense Anti-aérienne (anti-aircraft defence vehicle)
• VDAA – Véhicule d’Auto-Défense Anti-aérienne
• VDC – Voltage Direct Current
• VDM – viscous damped mount
• VDSL – Vickers Defence Systems Ltd
• VDU – visual display unit
• VEC – Vehiculo de Exploraciòn de Caballerie
• VEDES – Vehicle Exhaust Dust Ejection System (US)
• VERDI – Vehicle Electronics Research Defence Initiative (UK)
• VHIS – visual hit indicator system
• VIB – Véhicule d’Intervention du Base
• VIDS – Vehicle Integrated Defence System
• VINACS – Vehicle Integrated Navigation and Command System
• VIRSS – Visual and InfraRed Smoke Screening System
• VITS – Video Image Tracking Systems
• VLAP – Velocity-enhanced Long-range Artillery Projectile
• VLC – Véhicule Léger de Combat (light armoured car)
• VLI – Visible Light Illuminator
• VLSMS – Vehicle-Launched Scatterable Mine System
• VMA – Marine Light Attack Squadron
• VMA(AW) – Marine All-Weather Attack Squadron
• VMBT – Vickers Main Battle Tank
• VMF – Marine Fighter Squadron
• VMFA – Marine Fighter Attack Squadron
• VMFA(AW) – Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron
• VMGR – Marine Aerial Refueler/Transport Squadron
• VMFP – Marine Aerial Reconnaissance Squadron
• VMR – Marine Transport Squadron
• VMAQ – Marine Electronic Warfare Attack Squadron
• VMS – Vehicle Motion Sensor
• VNAS – Vehicle Navigation Air System
• VRL – Véhicule Reconnaissance Léger (light reconnaissance vehicle)
• VSEL – Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering Ltd
• VT – variable time (fuse)
• VTOL – Vertical Take-Off and Landing aircraft
• VTP – véhicule transport de personnel (personnel carrier)
• VTT – véhicule transport de troupe (troop transporter)
• VVSS – vertical volute spring suspension
• VXB – Véhicule Blindé à Vocations Multiples (multipurpose armoured car)

W

• WAAC – Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps and individual members of; obsolete
• WAC – Women’s Army Corps and individual members of; obsolete
• WAF – Women (in the) Air Force and individual members of; obsolete
• WAM – Wide Area Mines (US)
• WAMI – Wide Area Motion Imagery (US)
• WAPC – Wheeled Armoured Personnel Carrier (Canada)
• WASAD – Wide Angle Surveillance and Automatic Detection Device
• WAV – Wide Angle Viewing
• WAVES – Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service (USN); obsolete
• WES – Wing Engineer Squadron (USMC)
• WFOV – Wide Field Of View
• WFSV – Wheeled Fire Support Vehicle (Canada)
• WHA – Weapons Head Assembly
• WHSA – Weapons Head Support Assembly
• WLR – Weapon Locating Radar
• WM – Woman/Women Marine(s)
• WMD – Weapon(s) of Mass Destruction
• WMRV – Wheeled Maintenance and Recovery Vehicle (Canada)
• WP – white phosphorus
• WP-T – white phosphorus – tracer
• WSM – Winchester Short Magnum
• WTS – Wing Transportation Squadron (USMC)

X

• XO – Executive Officer

Y

• YMRS – Yugoslav multiple rocket system

Z

North Korea says it will cut key military hotline – Pacific – Stripes

North Korea says it will cut key military hotline – Pacific – Stripes

Source: Stars and Strips

By HYUNG-JIN KIM

The Associated Press at Stars and Stripes

Published: March 27, 2013

North Korea says it will cut key military hotline – Pacific – Stripes.

SEOUL, South Korea – North Korea said Wednesday that it had cut off a key military hotline with South Korea that allows cross border travel to a jointly run industrial complex in the North, a move that ratchets up already high tension and possibly jeopardizes the last major symbol of inter-Korean cooperation.

North Korea recently cut a Red Cross hotline with South Korean and another with the U.S.-led U.N. command at the border between the Koreas, but there’s still a hotline linking aviation authorities in the North and South.

North Korea’s chief delegate to inter-Korean military made the announcement Wednesday in a statement sent to his South Korean counterpart. The hotline is important because the Koreas use it to communicate as hundreds of workers travel back and forth to the Kaesong industrial complex.

South Korean officials say more than 900 South Korean workers were in Kaesong on Wednesday. There was no immediate word about how cutting the communications link would affect their travel back to South Korea.

North Korea, angry over routine U.S.-South Korean drills and recent U.N. sanctions punishing it for its Feb. 12 nuclear test, has unleashed a torrent of threats recently, including vows to launch a nuclear strike against the United States. It has also repeated its nearly two-decade-old threat to reduce Seoul to a “sea of fire.”

Despite the rhetoric, outside weapons analysts have seen no proof that North Korea has mastered the technology needed to build a warhead small enough to mount on a missile.

Still, the cutting of the hotline could be more significant if it affects travel by the workers at Kaesong.

Kaesong is operated in North Korea with South Korean money and know-how and a mostly North Korean workforce. It provides a badly needed flow of hard currency to a country where many face food shortages.

The complex is the only remaining operational symbol of joint inter-Korean cooperation.

In March 2009, North Korea cut off the military hotline with South Korea and kept 80 South Korean workers stranded in Kaesong for a day. The cross-border travel resumed after North Korean authorities approved it through a South Korean office in Kaesong. The military hotline remained cut off for more than a week and was reconnected following the end of annual South Korean-U.S. military drills.

John Browning

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Browning

John Browning
John Mose Browning The 1911, 100 years old

Source More Images of different styles at Little Gun Info

John Moses Browning (January 23, 1855^[1] – November 26, 1926), born in Ogden, Utah, was an American firearms designer who developed many varieties of military and civilian firearms, cartridges, and gun mechanisms, many of which are still in use around the world. He is arguably the most important figure in the development of modern automatic and semi-automatic firearms and is credited with 128 gun patents.^[2] He made his first firearm at age 13 in his father’s gun shop, and was awarded his first patent on October 7, 1879 at the age of 24.^[3]

Browning influenced nearly all categories of firearms design. He invented or made significant improvements to single-shot, lever-action, and slide-action, rifles and shotguns. His most significant contributions were arguably in the area of autoloading firearms. He developed the first autoloading pistols that were both reliable and compact by inventing the telescoping bolt, integrating the bolt and barrel shroud into what is known as the pistol slide. Browning’s telescoping bolt design is now found on nearly every modern semi-automatic pistol, as well as several modern fully automatic weapons. He also developed the first gas-operated machine gun, the Colt-Browning Model 1895—a system that surpassed mechanical recoil operation to become the standard for most high-power self-loading firearm designs worldwide. Browning would also make significant contributions to automatic cannon development.

Browning’s most successful designs include the M1911 pistol, the Browning Hi Power pistol, the Browning .50 caliber machine gun, the Browning Automatic Rifle, and the Browning Auto-5, a ground-breaking semi-automatic shotgun. These arms are nearly identical today to those assembled by Browning, with only minor changes in detail and cosmetics. Even today, John Browning’s guns are still some of the most copied guns in the world.

John M. Browning and Winchester Repeating Arms Company

Production examples of the Model 1885 Single Shot Rifle caught the attention of the Winchester Repeating Arms Company, who dispatched a representative to evaluate the competition. Winchester bought the design for eight thousand dollars and moved production to their Connecticut factory. From 1883, Browning worked in partnership with Winchester and designed a series of rifles and shotguns, most notably the Winchester Model 1887 and Model 1897 shotguns, the falling block single shot Model 1885, and the lever-action Model 1886, Model 1892, Model 1894 and Model 1895 rifles, most of which are still in production today in some form; over seven million Model 1894s have been produced, more than any other centerfire sporting rifle.^[4]

Winchester manufactured several popular small arms designed by John M. Browning. For decades in the late 19th Century-early 20th Century, Browning designs and Winchester firearms were synonymous and the collaboration was highly successful. This came to an end when Browning proposed a new semi-automatic shotgun design, a prototype finished in 1898, to Winchester management, which ultimately became the Browning Auto-5 shotgun. As was the custom of the time, Browning’s earlier designs had been licensed exclusively to Winchester (and other manufacturers) for a single fee payment. With this new product, Browning introduced in his negotiations a continuous royalty fee based upon unit sales, rather than a single front-end fee payment. If the new shotgun became highly successful, Browning stood to make substantially more fee income over the prior license fee arrangements. Winchester management was displeased with the bold change in their relationship, and rejected Browning’s offer. Remington Arms was also approached, however the president of Remington died of a heart attack as Browning waited to offer them the gun. This forced Browning to look overseas to produce the shotgun.

Having recently successfully negotiated firearm licenses with Fabrique Nationale de Herstal of Belgium (FN), Browning took the new shotgun design to FN; the offer was accepted and FN manufactured the new shotgun, honoring its inventor, as the Browning Auto-5. The Browning Auto-5 was continuously manufactured as a highly popular shotgun throughout the 20th century. In response, Winchester shifted reliance on John Browning designs when it adopted a hammerless shotgun design of Thomas Crossley Johnson for the new Winchester Model 12, which was based upon design features of the earlier Browning-designed Winchester Model 1897 shotgun. This shift marked the end of an era of Winchester-Browning collaboration.

Shiloh National Military Park

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Shiloh National Military Park preserves the American Civil War Shiloh and Corinth battlefields. The main section of the park is in the unincorporated town of Shiloh, about nine miles (14 km) south of Savannah, Tennessee, with an additional area located in the city of Corinth, Mississippi, 23 miles (37 km) southwest of Shiloh. The Battle of Shiloh began a six-month struggle for the key railroad junction at Corinth. Afterward, Union forces marched from Pittsburg Landing to take Corinth in a May siege, then withstood an October Confederate counter-attack.

Shiloh battlefield

The Battle of Shiloh was one of the first major battles in the Western Theater of the American Civil War. The two-day battle, April 6 and April 7, 1862, involved about 65,000 Union troops under Ulysses S. Grant and Don Carlos Buell and 44,000 Confederates under Albert Sidney Johnston (killed in the battle) and P.G.T. Beauregard. The battle resulted in nearly 24,000 killed, wounded, and missing. The two days of fighting did not end in a decisive tactical victory for either side —the Union held the battlefield but failed to pursue the withdrawing Confederate forces. However, it was a decisive strategic defeat for the Confederate forces that had massed to oppose Grant’s and Buell’s invasion through Tennessee. The battlefield is named after Shiloh Methodist Church, a small log church near Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee.

Other Source:

Established in 1894 to preserve the scene of the first major battle in the Western theater of the Civil War, Shiloh is considered one of the best preserved battlefields in the Nation. Besides preserving the site of the bloody April 1862 battle in Tennessee, the park commemorates the subsequent siege, battle, and occupation of the key railroad junction at nearby Corinth, Mississippi.

Military Awards Of World War II

Military awards of World War II were presented by most of the combatants.

United States

Main article: Awards and decorations of the United States military

• Medal of Honor
• Navy Cross
• Distinguished Service Cross
• Distinguished Service Medal
• Legion of Merit
• Silver Star
• Bronze Star
• Purple Heart
• Distinguished Flying Cross
• Air Medal
• World War II Victory Medal
• Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
• European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
• American Campaign Medal

Soviet Union

• Hero of the Soviet Union
• Order of Lenin
• Order of Victory
• Order of the Red Banner
• Order of Suvorov
• Order of Kutuzov
• Order of Ushakov
• Order of Nakhimov
• Order of Glory
• Order of Alexander Nevsky
• Order of the Patriotic War
• Order of the Red Star
• Medal “For the Victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945”
• Medal “For the Victory over Japan”
• Medal “For the Defence of Leningrad”
• Medal “For the Defence of Odessa”
• Medal “For the Defence of Sevastopol”
• Medal “For the Defence of Stalingrad”
• Medal “For the Defence of Moscow”
• Medal “For the Defence of the Caucasus”
• Medal “For the Defence of the Soviet Transarctic”
• Medal “For the Defence of Kiev”
• Medal “For the Capture of Berlin”
• Medal “For the Capture of Vienna”
• Medal “For the Capture of Königsberg”
• Medal “For the Capture of Budapest”
• Medal “For the Liberation of Prague”
• Medal “For the Liberation of Warsaw”
• Medal “For the Liberation of Belgrade”

In Soviet Union orders and medals were also awarded to cities and military divisions.

United Kingdom

• Victoria Cross
• George Cross
• Order of the Bath
• Order of the British Empire
• Distinguished Service Order
• Distinguished Service Cross
• Military Cross
• Distinguished Flying Cross
• Air Force Cross
• Distinguished Conduct Medal
• Conspicuous Gallantry Medal
• Distinguished Service Medal
• Military Medal
• Distinguished Flying Medal
• Air Force Medal
• Burma Gallantry Medal
• George Medal
• Mention in Despatches
• 1939-1945 Star
• Atlantic Star
• Air Crew Europe Star
• Africa Star
• Pacific Star
• Burma Star
• Italy Star
• France and Germany Star
• Defence Medal
• War Medal 1939–1945

France and Belgium

• Croix de guerre 1939–1945 (France)
• War Cross (Belgium)

Poland

• Virtuti Militari
• Order Krzyża Grunwaldu
• Krzyż Walecznych (Cross of the Valorous)
• Krzyż Partyzancki (Partisan Cross)
• Monte Cassino campaign cross

Yugoslavia

• Order of the National Hero (Orden narodnog heroja)
• Order of the National Liberation
• Order of Bravery (Yugoslavia)
• Order of the Partisan Star (Yugoslavia)
• Order of Brotherhood and Unity (Yugoslavia)
• The Medal of Bravery (Yugoslavia)

Axis Powers and Allies

Nazi Germany

Main article: Orders, decorations, and medals of Nazi Germany

• Iron Cross
• Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross
• German Cross

Romania

• Order of Michael the Brave
• Order of the Star of Romania
• Cruciada împotriva comunismului

Finland

• Order of the Cross of Liberty
  • Mannerheim cross (awarded 1941-1945)
• Order of the White Rose of Finland
• Order of the Lion of Finland

USA Military Challenge Coins

Challenge Coins

A challenge coin is a small coin or medallion (usually military), bearing an organization’s insignia or emblem and carried by the organization’s members. Traditionally, they are given to prove membership when challenged and to enhance morale. In addition, they are also collected by service members. In practice, challenge coins are normally presented by unit commanders in recognition of special achievement by a member of the unit. They are also exchanged in recognition of visits to an organization. ^[1]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Medal of Honor

Medal of Honor From Wikipedia

English: Picture of the medal of honor (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President in the name of Congress, and is conferred only upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through “conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States.”^[1] Due to the nature of its selection criteria, it is often awarded posthumously, with more than half of all awards since 1941 given to individuals who were deceased.^[5] As the award citation includes the phrase “in the name of Congress”, it is sometimes erroneously called the “Congressional Medal of Honor“. The official title, however, is simply the “Medal of Honor”.^[6][7]

Members of all branches of the armed forces are eligible to receive the medal, and there are three different versions (one for the Army, one for the Air Force, and one for the Navy, the Marine Corps, and the Coast Guard). The Medal of Honor is presented directly to the recipient (or for posthumous awards, to the next of kin) by the President of the United States on behalf of the US Congress, a procedure and ceremony intended to represent and recognize the gratitude not just of the American government, but of the American people as a whole. Due to its honored status, the medal is afforded special protection under U.S. law.^[8] 

English: Congressional Medal of Honor Navy/Marines (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Medal of Honor is one of only two military neck order awards issued by the United States, and is the only neck order that is awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces. The Commander’s Degree of the Legion of Merit is a neck order of the US, but it is only authorized for issue to foreign dignitaries.^{[9]  Read More http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medal_of_Honor}

US Air Force Medal Honor

66-50-D Italy Knight Grand Cross of the Military Order of Italy

The insignia of a Military Knight of Italy (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Accession: 66-50-D
Medal, Badge, Italy, Knight Grand Cross of the Military Order of Italy.

Medal awarded to FADM C. Nimitz

Collection of Curator Branch, Naval History and Heritage Command.

[Medal of Honor] (LOC) (Photo credit: The Library of Congress)

Vietnam War (1955 – 1975)

An alleged NLF activist, captured during an attack on an American outpost near the Cambodian border, is interrogated. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955[A 1] to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of South Vietnam, supported by the United States and other anti-communist countries.[26] The Viet Cong (also known as the National Liberation Front, or NLF), a lightly armed South Vietnamese communist-controlled common front, largely fought a guerrilla war against anti-communist forces in the region. The Vietnam People’s Army (North Vietnamese Army) engaged in a more conventional war, at times committing large units into battle. U.S. and South Vietnamese forces relied on air superiority and overwhelming firepower to conduct search and destroy operations, involving ground forces, artillery, and airstrikes. The U.S.

Government viewed involvement in the war as a way to prevent a communist takeover of South Vietnam as part of their wider strategy of containment. The North Vietnamese government and Viet Cong viewed the conflict as a colonial war, fought initially against France, backed by the U.S., and later against South Vietnam, which it regarded as a U.S. puppet state.[27] American military advisors arrived in what was then French Indochina beginning in 1950. U.S. involvement escalated in the early 1960s, with troop levels tripling in 1961 and tripling again in 1962.[28] U.S. combat units were deployed beginning in 1965. Operations spanned international borders, with Laos and Cambodia heavily bombed. American involvement in the war peaked in 1968, at the time of the Tet Offensive. After this, U.S. ground forces were gradually withdrawn as part of a policy known as Vietnamization. Despite the Paris Peace Accords, signed by all parties in January 1973, fighting continued.

Related articles

• Hundreds honour Vietnam War veterans (smh.com.au)

Hermann Göring speaking at a military gathering, 18 Jan 1936

Caption		Hermann Göring speaking at a military gathering, 18 Jan 1936
Source		German Federal Archive
Identification Code		Bild 183-S01000
More on…		Hermann Göring Main article Photos
Added By		C. Peter Chen
Licensing		According to the German Federal Archive (Bundesarchiv), as of 21 Jul 2010, photographs can be reproduced with if these preconditions are met: – quote the “Federal Archives” as source, – add the signature of the pictures and – of name of the originator, i.e. the photographer. … You also can use fotos from the Federal Archives for free on Wikimedia Commons http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Commons:Bundesarchiv

Normandy Campaign

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Battle of Normandy or Normandy Campaign includes the following:

• Operation Overlord– The Western Allied campaign in France from June 6 – August 25, 1944
• Operation Overlord^[11] was the code name for the Battle of Normandy, the operation that launched the invasion of German-occupied western Europe during World War II by Allied forces. The operation commenced on 6 June 1944 with the Normandy landings (Operation Neptune, commonly known as D-Day). A 12,000-plane airborne assault preceded an amphibious assault involving almost 7,000 vessels. Nearly 160,000 troops crossed the English Channel on 6 June; more than three million troops were in France by the end of August.^[12]Allied land forces that saw combat in Normandy on D-Day itself came from Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States. Free French Forces and Poland also participated in the battle after the assault phase, and there were also minor contingents from Belgium, Greece, the Netherlands, and Norway.^[13] Other Allied nations participated in the naval and air forces.

  Once the beachheads were secured, a three-week military buildup occurred on the beaches before Operation Cobra, the operation to break out from the Normandy beachhead, began. The battle for Normandy continued for more than two months, with campaigns to expand the foothold on France, and concluded with the closing of the Falaise pocket on 24 August, the Liberation of Paris on 25 August, and the German retreat across the Seine which was completed on 30 August 1944.^{[14][verification needed]}

• The Invasion of Normandy, or “Operation Neptune” – The initial part of Overlord, from June 6 – mid-July 1944

  • The Invasion of Normandy was a successful Allied operation of World War II. The term may also refer to:

    • Henry I of England’s invasion of Normandy culminating in the Battle of Tinchebray (1106)
    • The French and Breton Normandy campaigns of 1200–1204
  • The Normandy Landings on June 6, 1944
  • Operation Cobra, the breakout from Normandy, starting on July 25, 1944

The “Battle of Normandy” is the official term for the British and Canadian military campaign lasting from June 6 – September 1, 1944.

Senior officers aboard the USS Augusta during the Normandy Invasion. Second from the left is Lieutenant General Omar Bradley.

Battle Of Stalingrad (1942-1943)

The Battle of Stalingrad

The Battle of Stalingrad was a major and decisive battle of World War II in which Nazi Germany and its allies fought the Soviet Union for control of the city of Stalingrad (now Volgograd) in southwestern Russia. The battle took place between 23 August 1942 to 2 February 1943[6][7][8][9] and was marked by brutality and disregard for military and civilian casualties. It is among the bloodiest battles in the history of warfare, with the higher estimates of combined casualties amounting to nearly two million. The heavy losses inflicted on the German army made it a significant turning point in the whole war.[10] After the Battle of Stalingrad, German forces never recovered their earlier strength, and attained no further strategic victories in the East.[11]

The German offensive to capture Stalingrad commenced in late summer 1942, and was supported by intensive Luftwaffe bombing that reduced much of the city to rubble. The German offensive eventually became mired in building-to-building fighting; and despite controlling nearly all of the city at times, the Wehrmacht was unable to dislodge the last Soviet defenders clinging tenaciously to the west bank of the Volga River.

On 19 November 1942, the Red Army launched Operation Uranus, a two-pronged attack targeting the weak Romanian and Hungarian forces protecting the 6th Army’s flanks.[12] After heavy fighting, the weakly held Axis flanks collapsed and the 6th Army was cut off and surrounded inside Stalingrad. As the Russian winter set in, the 6th Army weakened rapidly from cold, starvation and ongoing Soviet attacks. Command ambiguity coupled with Adolf Hitler’s resolute belief in their will to fight further exacerbated the German predicament. Eventually, the failure of outside German forces to break the encirclement, coupled with the failure of resupplying by air, led to the final collapse. By the beginning of February 1943, Axis resistance in Stalingrad had ceased and the remaining elements of the 6th Army had either surrendered or been destroyed.[13]:p.932

English: Soviet offensive following the German failure to retake Stalingrad (Photo credit: Wikipedia)