. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
you have here. The definition of the word
will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
List of terms, acronyms, information, related to modern armour, artillery, infantry, weapons, and related military subject matter.
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
- AAV Amphibious Assault Vehicle
- AB Air Burst
- ABC Atomic, Biological, Chemical (replaced by hemical, biological, radiological (CBR), and Nuclear, Biological, Chemical (NBC))
- ABC Automatic Brightness Control
- AB(C) Aviation Battalion
- ABIT Advanced Built-In Test
- ABM Air Bursting Munition
- ABM Anti-ballistic missile
- ABMS Air Bursting Munition 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
- AEV armoured engineer vehicle
- AF air force
- AFA/ARA Aerial Field Artillery/Aerial Rocket Artillery (USA, 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
- 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
- ASAAdvanced Security Agency
- 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 missile, 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 Steyr AUG, Armee Universal Gewehr
- AVF Armoured Fighting Vehicle
- 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 desertion, Absent Without Official Leave
B
C
- C3I Command, Control, Communications, and Intelligence
- CAB Combat Aviation Battalion
- CAD computer-assisted design
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- DAS Deep Air Support
- DAS Defensive Aid System/Suite
- DASP Demountable Artillery Surveillance Pod
- 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)
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- EMG externally mounted gun
- EMP electromagnetic pulse
- ENGESA Engesa Engenheiros Especializados (Brazil)
- 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 Elecronic 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 Arear 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 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 (weaponry)
- 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
- 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
- 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 Infra-Red 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 Defence 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
- 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 Korea People's Army
L
- LAAG light anti-aircraft gun
- LAAM Light Anti-Aircraft Missile
- LAAW Light Anti-Tank Assault Weapon
- 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
- 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
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
- MALOS Miniature Laser Optical Sight
- MALS Marine Air Logistics Squadron
- MAMBA Mobile Artillery Monitoring Battlefield Radar
- 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)
- 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)
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- NRF NATO Response Force
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
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
- 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 (weapon)
- 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)
- 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 Turet Attitude Sensor
- TBAT TOW/Bushmaster Armored Turret (US)
- TC Tank Commander
- TCO Tactical Combat Operations
- 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
- TGS Tank Gun Sight
- TGSM terminally guided submunition
- TGTS tank gunnery training simulator
- TI thermal imaging/imager
- 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
- 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
- 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
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 Electonic 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)
- 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
Y
- YMRS Yugoslav multiple rocket system
Z
References
Terms
This is a list of established military terms which have been in use for at least 50 years. Technology has changed so not all of them are in current use, or they may have been superseded by more modern ones. However they are still in current use in articles about previous military periods. Some of them like camouflet have been adapted to describe modern versions of old techniques.
Organisational
Judicial
[1]
Safe-guard, in military affairs, a protection granted by a prince or
general, for some of the enemy's lands, houses, persons, &c. to preserve them from being insulted or plundered.[2]
- safe-guards were individual soldiers or detachments placed to prevent places (often farms full of tasty crops and livestock) from being plundered. Forcing a safe-guard was the crime of overpowering a safe-guard. Safe-guards were often individual soldiers assigned to watch over an entire farm, so it only took a few marauders to "force" him.
- forcing a safeguard (current) - Forcing a safeguard. "Forcing a safeguard" means to perform an act or acts in violation of the protection of the safeguard.[1]
Administrative
Technological
Template:Empty section
Land
- no man's land is land that is not occupied or more specifically land that is under dispute between countries or areas that will not occupy it because of fear or uncertainty.
Arms and services
- artillery includes any engine used for the discharge of large projectiles in war. In military terminology, a unit of artillery is
- An artillery battery is an organized group of artillery pieces.
- Also see below Artillery
Doctrinal
These terms are used for talking about how armed forces are used.
Many of the terms below can be applied to combat in other environments although most often used in reference to land warfare.
- Ambush To make a surprise attack on an enemy that passes a concealed position.
- Barrage (artillery) is a line or barrier of exploding artillery shells, created by the co-ordinated targeting of a large number of guns firing continuously.
- Blockade - a ring of naval vessels surrounding a specific port or even an entire nation. The goal is to halt the importation of goods which could help the blockaded nation's war effort.
- Booby trap
- Breach (military) in fortified lines or a battle line.
- Breakout (military): exploiting a breach in enemy lines so a large force (divsion or above) pass through
- Bridgehead and its varieties known as Beachhead and Airhead
- Charge (warfare): A large force heads directly to an enemy to engage in close quarters combat, with the hope of breaking the enemy line
- Column (formation)
- Counterattack
- Counter battery fire
- Coup de grâce a death blow intended to end the suffering of a wounded man; also applied to severly damaged ships (called scuttling when applied to friendly ships)
- Coup de Main, a swift pre-emptive strike.
- Decisive victory - an overwhelming victory for one side that often shifts the course of a conflict.
- Echelon formation a military formation in which members are arranged diagonally
- Defilade A unit or position is "defiladed" if it is protected from direct exposure to enemy fire. See also Hull-down
- Encirclement
- Enfilade A unit (or position) is "in enfilade" if enemy fire can be directed along the long axis of the unit. For instance, a trench is enfiladed if the enemy can fire down the length of the trench. Also, to place a unit in a position to enfilade, or the position so enfiladed.
- Extraction point
- Envelope
- Fabian strategy, avoiding pitched battles to wear down the enemy in a war of attrition
- File (formation) single column of soldiers
- Flank, to attack an enemy or an enemy unit from the side, or to maneuver to do so.
- Frontal assault
- Guerilla tactics attack the enemy, then retreat, hit-and-run
- Hors de combat, out of the fight, surrendered, wounded, and so on.
- Killing field
- Lodgement, an enclave made by increasing the size of a bridgehead
- Infantry square, Pike square, or Schiltron
- Infiltration
- Interdiction, to attack and interrupt enemy supply lines.
- Melee (also Mêlée)
- No quarter, or "Take no prisoners", or "no mercy", or "kill them all": all enemy troops are to be killed, even those who surrender. It is now a war crime to give such an order.
- Overwatch when one small unit can support another.
- Patrolling
- Parthian shot
- Pickets (or picquets), sentries or advance troops whose job is to warn of contact with the enemy. A soldier who has this job is on "picket duty".
- Pincer maneuver
- Pitched battle
- Phalanx
- Pocket
- Pyrrhic victory - Often a costly victory for one side that could eventually lead to defeat.
- Raiding
- Rank (formation) single line of soldiers
- Reconnaissance
- Retreat (military) - Withdrawal of troops from a battlefield to a better defensive position.
- Rout
- Sack The deliberate destruction and/or looting of a city usually after an assault.
- Salients The enemy's line facing a salient is referred to as a re-entrant.
- Scorched earth
- Scuttling The deliberate destruction of a ship to prevent its capture and use by an enemy. Commonly used as a coup de grâce, but has also been a protest (as after the First World War).
- Shield wall
- Shoot and scoot - type of fire and movement tactic used by artillery to avoid counter-battery fire. (This term is primarily used by American forces.)
- Siege, is a military blockade of a city or fortress with the intent of conquering by force or attrition, often accompanied by an assault.
- circumvallation, a line of fortifications, built by the attackers around the besieged fortification facing towards the enemy fort
- contravallation, a second line of fortifications behind the circumvallation facing away from the enemy fort to protect the besiegers from attacks by allies of the besieged.
- escalade, the act of scaling defensive walls or ramparts with the aid of ladders, and was a prominent feature of siege warfare in medieval times.
- Forlorn hope, most frequently used to refer to the first wave of soldiers attacking a breach in defences during a siege.
- Chevaux de frise, sword blades chained together to cut up people trying to charge into a breach in the walls.
- Investment, surrounding an enemy fort (or town) with armed forces to prevent entry or escape.
- parallel trenches
- Siege engines, specialised weapons used to overcome fortifications of a besieged fort or town; in modern times, the task has fallen to large artillery pieces.
- Siege train, specialised siege artillery accompanying an army for use in a siege.
- Siege tower, a wooden tower on wheels constructed to protect assailants and ladders while approaching the defensive walls of a fortification.
- Storm to move quickly and noisily like a storm
- Sortie, also "to sally". A sudden attack against a besieging enemy from within a besieged fort or town.
- Surrender at discretion means unconditional surrender instead of surrendering with terms.
- Skirmish
- Withdrawal (military), generally meaning pulling forces back while maintaining contact with the enemy.
Ordnance
These terms are used in identification of means of combat to inflict damage on the opponent.
Edged
Weapons that are used to inflict damage through cutting or stabbing.
Explosives
Explosives comprise ordnance that causes damage through release of force.
Incendiary
Incendiary ordnance causes damage through release of heat.
Vehicles
Engineering
- fortification
- barbed wire
- banquette or a fire step
- bastion
- bastion fortress (see below star fort and Trace italienne)
- berm
- blockhouse
- breastwork (fortification)
- bulwark
- bunker: A heavily fortified underground or partially underground facility. Used for defensive positions, they are also commonly used as command centers for high-level officers.
- Counterscarp, is the side of a ditch, in front of the wall of a fortress, furthest from the wall.
- Coupure
- Castle
- Citadel
- Dragon's teeth: Triangular obstacles that block the movement of tanks.
- Earthworks
- Fort
- Fortress
- Defensive fighting position a Rifle pit or Fox hole
- Glacis
- Hill fort (New Zealand Pa (Māori))
- Lunette (fortification), an outwork consisting of a salient angle with two flanks and an open gorge.
- Mine is a siege method used since antiquity against a walled city, fortress or castle where tunnels are dug to undermine the foundations of the walls. A counter mine is a tunnel dug by the defenders below an attackers mine with the intention of undermining the attackers mine before it undermines the walls.
- Outwork, a minor defence, built or established outside the principal fortification limits, detached or semidetached.
- Ravelin, a triangular fortification, detached outwork in front of the bastions.
- Redan is a V-shaped salient angle toward an expected attack. It can be made from earthworks or other material.
- Redoubt is a fort or fort system usually consisting of an enclosed defensive emplacement outside a larger fort, usually relying on earthworks, though others are constructed of stone or brick.
- Reduit is the strongest fortification which should provide protection during a persistent attack. A citadel, for example, is the reduit in classical fortifications.
- Sangar (fortification), a small temporary fortified position with a breastwork originally of stone, but now built of sandbags and similar materials.
- Sally port also "to sally" out and Sortie
- Sapping
- Scarp (fortification) fortress side of a ditch in front of a wall.
- Sconce (fortification), a small protective fortification, such as an earthwork often placed on a mound as a defensive work for artillery.
- Slighting is the deliberate destruction of a fortification without opposition from its builders or its last users.
- Star fort (see above Bastion fortressand below Trace italienne)
- Tenaille (archaic Tenalia), an advanced defensive-work, in front of the main defences of a fortress which takes its name from resemblance, real or imaginary, to the lip of a pair of pincers.
- tête-de-pont a temporary defensive work to defend a bridge, at the end of a bridge adjacent to an enemy.
- Trace italienne. Star-shaped fortresses surrounding towns and even cities (see above Star fort and Bastion fortress)
- Trench
Geographic
- Defile (geography) is a geographic term for a narrow pass or gorge between mountains. It has its origins as a military description of a pass through which troops can march only in a narrow column or with a narrow front.
- debouch, to emerge from a defile (or something similar) into open country (debouch can also be used to describe water that flows out of a defile into a wider place such as a lake) and so a fortification at the end of a defile is sometimes known as a debouch.
Naval
Arms and services
These terms are used for combat arms and supporting services of armed forces used in naval warfare.
Doctrinal
Describes terms used for talking about how naval armed forces are used.
Ordnance
Engineering
Air
Arms and services
These terms are used for combat arms and supporting services of armed forces used in air warfare.
Operational
- sortie used by air forces to indicate an aircraft mission count (flew seven sorties) or in the sense of a departure (the aircraft sortied).
Doctrinal
These terms are used for talking about how aviation armed forces are used.
Tactics
Ordnance
Aircraft
External links
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 http://usmilitary.about.com/library/milinfo/mcm/bl102.htm Article 102—Forcing a safeguard, Punitive Articles of the UCMJ
- ^ Captain Smith, George., An Universal Military Dictionary, or A copious explanation of the technical terms & c. used in the equipment, machinery movements and military operations of an army..., London, Printed for J. Millan, near Whitehall, 1779