Dictionary of Military Terms

A1 Echelon / e wɒn eʃəlɒn/ noun combat supplies

A2 Echelon / e tu eʃəlɒn/ noun rations, spares, clothing, etc.

A-4 / e fɔ / noun an American-de- signed multirole attack aircraft, designed to operate from an aircraft carrier. Also called Skyhawk (NOTE: The plural is A-4s / e fɔ z/.)

A-6 / e s ks/ noun an American-de- signed ground-attack aircraft, designed to operate from an aircraft carrier. Also

called Intruder (NOTE: The plural is A- 6s / e s ks z/.)

A-7 / e sevən/ noun an American-de- signed ground-attack aircraft. Also

called Corsair (NOTE: The plural is A- 7s / e sevənz/.)

A-10 / e ten/ noun an American-de- signed ground-attack aircraft. Also called Thunderbolt, Warthog, Tank-

buster (NOTE: The plural is A-10s / etenz/.)

A-40 / e fɔ ti/ noun a Soviet-de- signed airborne early warning and control (AEW & C) aircraft with a large disc-like antenna (radome) mounted on the fuselage (NOTE: known to NATO as

Mainstay)

AA abbreviation anti-aircraft

AAA abbreviation anti-aircraft artillery

AAAV / e e e vi / noun an Ameri- can-designed amphibious infantry fighting vehicle (IFV), which is designed to disembark from a landing ship at a considerable distance from the shore and is capable of travelling on water at high speed. Full form advanced amphibious assault vehicle

AAC abbreviation Army Air Corps

AAM abbreviation air-to-air missile

AAR / e e ɑ / noun US the debriefing held at the conclusion of an exercise, in which the participants discuss their performance with the umpires. Full form after action review

Aardvark / ɑ dvɑ k/ noun an unofficial name for the American-designed F- 111 fighter bomber

AAV-7A1 / e e vi sevən e w n/ noun an American-designed amphibious tractor. Full form amphibious assault vehicle seven. Also called

Landing Vehicle Tracked Personnel (LVTP)

AAW abbreviation anti-air warfare

AAWS abbreviation anti-air warfare system

AB abbreviation able rating abandon /ə b ndən/ verb 1. to leave a vehicle or ship (usually for reasons of safety) The captain gave the order to abandon ship. 2. to leave behind We had to abandon large quantities of ammunition during the retreat. 3. to terminate an enterprise before it has been completed Poor visibility forced us to abandon the remainder of patrol. abort

abandoned /ə b ndənd/ adjective deserted We found the enemy trenches abandoned.

abatis / bət s, ə b t s/ noun an obstacle constructed by felling trees to block a likely approach The road was blocked by an abatis.

Abbot / bət/ noun a British 105mm self-propelled howitzer (SPH)

ABCCC / e bi si si si / noun US a command team operating from a C-130 aircraft, in order to coordinate close air

support. Full form airborne command, control and communications

abeam /ə bi m/ adverb at right angles to the length of a ship or aircraft The torpedo missed because we weren’t properly abeam of the target.

able rating / e b(ə)l re t ŋ/ noun the lowest non-commissioned rank in the navy (equivalent of an experienced or well-qualified private soldier in the army). Also called able seaman. Abbr

AB (NOTE: The ranks of ordinary rating and junior rating were abolished in April 1999)

ablutions /ə blu ʃ(ə)nz/ plural noun a room or building containing washing facilities and toilets The ablutions were in a filthy state.

aboard /ə bɔ d/ adverb on or onto a boat or ship or aircraft or vehicle He is already aboard. Come aboard. Also called on board

abode /ə bəυd/ noun a home

abort /ə bɔ t/ verb to stop an enterprise before it has been completed We were forced to abort the mission. abandon

abortive /ə bɔ t v/ adjective unsuccessful The enemy launched several abortive attacks.

about /ə baυt/ adverb the opposite direction to that which you are now facingabout turn! turn around and face the opposite direction (drill command)

Abrams / e brəmz/ noun an American 1980s-era main battle tank abreast /ə brest/ adverb side by side and facing the same direction The infantry advanced in line abreast. The tanks halted abreast of each other.

abseil / bse l/ verb to descend, using a rope We had to abseil down the cliff.

rappel

absent / bsənt/ adjective away from a military unit (usually without permission) He’s been absent for three days.

AWOL

absent without leave / bsənt wðaυt li v/ adjective full form of AWOL

AB triple C / e bi tr p(ə)l si / noun same as ABCCC

AC / e si / abbreviation aircraftman noun a type of blood agent. Full form hydrogen cyanide. Also called HCN

A/C abbreviation aircraft

AC-130 / e si w n θ$ t / noun a ground-attack variant of the Hercules C-130 transport aircraft

COMMENT: Despite its age and oldfashioned appearance, the AC-130 possesses an enormous amount of firepower and earned itself a fearsome reputation during the Gulf War of 1991. Its slow speed makes it vulnerable to surface-to-air missiles, so it is most effective at night. AC-130 aircraft are often referred to as gunships.

ACC / e si si / noun US the department of the US forces with overall responsibility for the use of all combat aircraft of the US Air Force. Full form

Air Combat Command

COMMENT: Air Combat Command is an amalgamation of the former Strategic Air Command (SAC) which was responsible for heavy longrange bombers and ICBMs and the former Tactical Air Command (TAC) which was responsible for fighters and attack aircraft. Inter-con- tinental ballistic missiles are now the responsibility of Strategic Command (STRATCOM).

access / kses/ noun 1. a way of approaching or entering Access to the building is at the rear. 2. an opportunity to look at or use I need access to the company records. verb to activate a programme or open a file on a computer

I cannot access the database. (NOTE: As a noun, access is often used without the definite or indefinite article.) accessible /ək ses b(ə)l/ adjective 1. approachable The castle is only accessible in good weather. 2. readily available That information is not accessible at the moment.

accident / ks d(ə)nt/ noun 1. physical harm or damage as a result of an error in judgement, defective equipment or bad luck There has been an accident on the grenade range. 2. an event which occurs by chance or without apparent cause He was there purely by accident.

accidental / ks dent(ə)l/ adjective happening by chance or as a result of an error in judgement or defective equipment There will be an official enquiry over the accidental shooting of Sgt Jones.

accidental discharge

/ ks dent(ə)l d stʃɑ d%/ noun same as negligent discharge

accidentally / ks dent(ə)li/ adverb by accident He shot the woman accidentally.

acclimatization /ə kla mətaze ʃ(ə)n/, acclimatisation noun the process of becoming acclimatized acclimatize /ə kla məta z/, acclimatise verb 1. to allow someone to become accustomed to new conditions (especially climate) We will need at least ten days to acclimatize the troops to the heat. 2. to become accustomed to new conditions The men will need at least ten days to acclimatize. accommodate /ə kɒməde t/ verb to provide shelter We were accommodated in a factory.

accommodation /ə kɒmə de ʃ(ə)n/ noun 1. a place to live The officer inspected the soldiers’ accommodation.

2. an act of providing shelter You are responsible for the accommodation of refugees.

accomplice /ə k mpl s/ noun someone who helps another person to carry out an illegal act The gunman had an accomplice.

accomplish /ə k mpl ʃ/ verb to complete a task successfully accoutrements /ə ku trəmənts/ plural noun a soldier’s equipment, not including clothing or weapons accusation / kju ze ʃ(ə)n/ noun an act of saying that a person has carried out an illegal act He has made an accusation of sabotage against you.

accuse /ə kju z/ verb to say that a person has carried out an illegal act

He was accused of war crimes.

ACE abbreviation 1. Allied Command Europe 2. armoured combat earthmover

acetate / s te t/ noun clear plastic sheeting, used for map overlays

achieve /ə tʃi v/ verb to complete a task successfully We have achieved our mission. to achieve a solution to have a target in the sights of a guided weapon, with the guidance system activated He achieved a solution on the leading plane. lock-on achievement /ə tʃi vmənt/ noun a successful completion of a task It was a great military achievement.

acknowledge /ək nɒl d%/ verb 1. to confirm that a piece of information has been received and understood 2. to recognize that something is true

acknowledgement /əknɒl d%mənt/ noun 1. confirmation that

a piece of information has been received and understood 2. recognition that something is true

ACLANT abbreviation Allied Command Atlantic

ACMI / e si em a , km / noun a computerized data system, which is used during air-to-air combat exercises to provide exercise controllers with information concerning an individual aircraft’s speed, altitude, heading, etc.

Each aircraft was fitted with an ACMI pod. Full form air combat manoeuvring and instrumentation

ACP abbreviation ammunition control point

acquire /ə kwa ə/ verb 1. to obtain something Where did you acquire that food? 2. to have a target in the sights of a weapon He acquired the tank with his thermal imaging sight. 3. to select and lock onto a target using a weaponguidance system This missile can acquire a target automatically.

acquired immunodeficiency syndrome /ə kwa əd mjυnəυdf ʃ(ə)nsi s ndrəυm/ noun full form of

AIDS

acquisition / kw z ʃ(ə)n/ noun an act of acquiring He is responsible for the acquisition of food from local sources.

acquisition logistics / kwz ʃ(ə)n lə d% st ks/ noun the logistics