Red Thrust: Attack on the Central Front, Soviet Tactics and Capabilities in the 1990s

GLOSSARY

ACRV: Armored command and reconnaissance vehicle, like the Soviet 1V12 armored vehicles.

AGS-17: Soviet 30mm automatic grenade launcher. Also called Plamya (flame), it is the size of a heavy machine gun, but has a short, stubby barrel. It is comparable to the American Mk.19 40mm grenade launcher.

AHR: Attack Helicopter Regiment.

Akatsiya: Soviet name for the 2S3 152mm self-propelled howitzer. Means "acacia" in Russian. The Soviets codename their artillery systems with the names of flowers or plants.

AKS-74: New standard Soviet assault rifle. The earlier AK-47 and AKM used 7.62mm ammunition; the AK-74 series uses 5.45mm ammunition, which allows the rifleman to carry more rounds.

AMRAAM: Advanced medium range air-to-air missile, AIM-120A. A successor to the older American AIM-7 Sparrow.

Anona: Soviet name for the 2S9 120mm self-propelled, airmobile mortar/howitzer. Means "anemone" in Russian.

APFSDS: Armor-piercing, fin-stabilized, discarding sabot. Acronym for tank ammunition using a kinetic energy penetrator. The round penetrates thick armor by speed and mass (kinetic energy) rather than high-explosive pressure (chemical energy). Also called "hard core" rounds by the Soviets, or "sabot" rounds by American tankers.

Army: Soviet term for a military formation consisting of several divisions and their supporting units. Comparable to a NATO corps. A NATO army is comparable to a Soviet front.

ATGM: Antitank guided missile. The Russians use their own acronym, PTURS.

BMD: Russian acronym for airlanding fighting vehicle, a tracked, armored troop-carrying vehicle used by Soviet paratrooper forces. The BMD-1 is armed with the same turret as the BMP-1, while the BMD-2 is a turretless troop carrier and command vehicle. The BMD-1 resembles a miniature BMP-1 and carries fewer troops.

BMP: Russian acronym for infantry fighting vehicle, a tracked annored infantry vehicle with turret-mounted weapon and side firing ports. The BMP-1 is armed with a 73 mm low-pressure gun; the BMP-2 is armed with a 30mm automatic cannon.

Border Guards: Paramilitary branch of the Soviet KGB security forces used to patrol Soviet frontiers as well as perform basic security and customs duty at airports and harbors.

BRM: Russian acronym for armored reconnaissance vehicle. This lightly armored scout vehicle is based on the same chassis as the BMP-1, but has a larger two-man turret, better sighting devices, and carries a smaller crew. The BRM-1 has a "Tall Mike" surveillance radar on a telescoping mount, fitted on the turret rear. BRM-2 uses a revised turret with a 30mm gun, like the BMP-2.

BTR: Russian acronym for annored transporter. This wheeled, armored infantry vehicle is a less expensive counterpart to the tracked BMP. Three types of BTR are commonly in service in the Soviet army — the BTR-60, BTR-70, and BTR-80. They are all similar in appearance and armament, and the main change through the series has been evolutionary improvement in the engine and hull design.

Bundeswehr: The West German Army.

Chobham armor: A type of tank armor developed by a British research establishment in Chobham, hence its name. It consists of spaced layers of steel and non-metallic armors, although the exact composition is still classified. It has been used, in both its original or improved form, on current NATO tanks like the American M1 Abrams, German Leopard II, and British Challenger.

DOSAAF: Russian acronym for Volunteer Society for Cooperation with the Army, Air Force, and Fleet. Soviet government organization responsible for pro-military indoctrination and training amongst Soviet youth.

DPICM: Dual-purpose improved conventional munitions. A type of American artillery shell containing small submunitions that can be used against annored or unarmored targets, hence dual-purpose. This aeronym usually refers to an advanced version of the ICM first introduced in the late 1980s.

DShB: Russian acronym for Air Assault Force, a branch of the Soviet Army specializing in airmobile operations.

Durandal: Type of runway cratering munition developed by Matra in France, but employed by several NATO air forces including the U.S. Air Force. The Durandal contains a rocket motor which propels it at high speed against concrete runways. The warhead has a time-delay mechanism so that it explodes seconds after impact, making a deep crater which is more difficult to repair.

ECM: Electronic countermeasures. Electronic systems designed to defeat enemy electronic sensors like radars and radar-based missile guidance systems.

ERA: Explosive reactive armor. A type of added-on armor consisting of small boxes of steel-encased plastic explosive. When hit by a shapedcharge warhead (as on antitank missiles), the explosive detonates, pushing the steel casing into the path of the warhead's explosive jet, thus preventing the warhead from penetrating the main armor of the tank. ERA has been in use on Soviet tanks since the mid-1980s.

FASCAM: Family of artillery scatterable mines. This includes the RAAM (remote antiarmor mines), used against tanks, and ADAM (area denial antipersonnel mines), used against troops. Each artillery shell contains several small mines; the projectile opens up in the air, scattering the mines to the ground below.

FLIR: Forward looking infrared. Also called thermal imagers, these electro-optical sensors can see in the dark by sensing the temperature (infrared) difference between tanks, soldiers, or military equipment, and the cooler natural background. They are used as surveillance sights on many different NATO weapon systems including tanks, attack helicopters, and antitank missile launchers. They are not commonly used on Soviet systems, except for a more simplified thermal pointer system used on some Soviet fighters like the MiG-29.

FROG-7: Free Rocket Over Ground-7. The NATO reporting name for the Soviet ballistic artillery rocket the Russians call Luna-M. It is used by divisional or army artillery units to deliver tactical nuclear or chemical warheads.

Front: Soviet military formation consisting of several armies. Comparable to a NATO army. Several fronts make up a theatre of operations.

Fulcrum: NATO reporting name for the MiG-29 jet fighter.

GAU: Russian acronym for Main Artillery Directorate. The command element of the Soviet artillery force, now called the GRAU (Main Missile and Artillery Directorate).

GCI: Ground-controlled intercept; a system of directing fighter airplanes using ground-based radars and command centers.

Gepard: A West German armored antiaircraft vehicle consisting of twin, radar-directed 35mm automatic cannon on a Leopard 1 tank chassis.

GITB: Guards Independent Tank Battalion.

Gorbach: Russian for "hunchback," also nickname for Mi-24 helicopter.

Grad: Soviet name for the BM-21 122mm multiple rocket launchers; the Russian word for "hail." The basic BM-21 is a 40-tube rocket launcher on a Ural 375 truck. The BM-21V is an air-portable version on a GAZ66B truck.

Great Patriotic War: Soviet term for the war between the Soviet Union and Germany, 1941-45; used to distinguish the Soviet fighting from the rest of World War H.

GRU: Russian acronym for Main Intelligence Command, the Soviet military intelligence service, comparable to the American DIA (Defense Intelligence Agency).

GSFG: Group of Soviet Forces, Germany. The Soviet term for their forces in East Germany.

GSP: Russian acronym for mechanized tracked ferry. Consists of a pair of tracked, amphibious vehicles with special pontoons, which can be joined together to form a self-propelled ferry to carry tanks or other heavy equipment across rivers.

GTR: Guards Tank Regiment.

Guards: Russian honorific added to unit designation, such as 11th Guards Tank Division. The Guards title was awarded to units during World War II and the Afghanistan War for exemplary service and has been retained by many units since then.

HEAT: High explosive antitank. Acronym for explosive warheads used to penetrate tank armor. The high explosive is shaped over a metal cone, leading to other names for this type of warhead such as "shaped charge" or "hollow charge."

Hind: NATO reporting name for the Soviet Mil Mi-24 attack helicopter.

Hip: NATO reporting name for the Soviet Mil Mi-8/Mi-17 transport helicopter.

Hokum: NATO reporting name for the Soviet Kamov attack helicopter.

Hoplite: NATO reporting name for the Warsaw Pact Mi-2 utility helicopter.

HOT: A Franco-German heavy antitank missile similar in performance to the American BGM-71 TOW. The HOT is usually carried by special antitank helicopters or special tank-hunting vehicles. It uses a wireguidance system.

Hot Brick: Nickname for a type of electronic countermeasures system fitted to aircraft or helicopters which is used to prevent infrared guided missiles from homing in on the thermal emissions of the aircraft.

HUD: Heads up display. An advanced optical sight system fitted to new fighter aircraft which displays flight and targeting data on a small, transparent optical panel in front of the pilot.

IAHR: Independent Attack Helicopter Regiment.

ICM: Improved conventional munition. An artillery round containing several dozen small grenades (submunitions) that are scattered over a target rather than the traditional high-explosive filler. This type of round has been in service with the U.S. Army since the early 1970s with projectiles like the 155mm M483.

IFF: Identification friend or foe. An electronic interrogation system used to distinguish hostile aircraft from friendly aircraft through use of a coded electronic signal.

IFV: Infantry fighting vehicle. An armored vehicle used to transport infantry that also allows the infantry to fight from inside the vehicle, like the U.S. Army M2 Bradley.

Igla: Soviet codename for a man-portable antiaircraft missile called SA16 by NATO. Russian word means "needle."

INF: Intermediate nuclear forces; usually referring to nuclear delivery systems covered under the 1987 INF treaty.

IRM: Russian acronym for engineer reconnaissance vehicle, an armored vehicle, based on the BMP chassis, that is used by combat engineers to scout for suitable river crossings. It is fully amphibious or can be submerged to drive across river bottoms to test for their suitability for underwater tank crossings.

Kalashnikov: Name of the designer of the Soviet AK-47 and AK-74 assault rifles, Mikhail T. Kalashnikov. Sometimes used as a generic name for Soviet assault rifles.

Katyusha: Russian nickname for multiple rocket launchers. The name stems from a Russian song about "little Katy" that was popular in 1941 when this type of weapon was introduced.

KGB: Russian acronym for Committee for State Security, the Soviet security organization that combines the functions of the American FBI and CIA.

KHAD: Afghan acronym for Afghan secret police.

Khrom Nikel: Soviet codename for the IFF system called Odd Rods by NATO; in Russian it means "chrome nickel."

Komsomol: Russian acronym for a Communist party youth organization for teenagers too young to join the party.

Konkurs: Soviet codename for a heavy antitank missile called AT-5 Spandrel by NATO; Russian word for "contest."

Korshun: Soviet codename for the BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicle; in Russian it means "kite."

LuAZ-967: A small jeep-like amphibious vehicle used by the Soviets mainly as a light ambulance or airmobile transporter.

LZ: Landing zone.

Malyutka: Soviet codename for 9M113 antitank missile known also by its US/NATO designation, AT-3 Sagger; in Russian it means "little one."

Marder: West German infantry fighting vehicle, comparable to U.S. M2 Bradley or Soviet BMP. Armed with a 20mm automatic cannon, and sometimes with a Milan antitank missile.

Maskirovka: Russian term meaning deception or concealment.

Milan: A NATO medium antitank missile manufactured by France, Germany, and Britain; comparable to the Soviet AT-4 Spigot or American Dragon. The system can be carried by two soldiers and consists of a firing post and missile launch tube.

MLRS: Multiple launch rocket system M270. The American equivalent of the Soviet BM-22 Uragan artillery rocket system, also used by other NATO armies.

MRR: Motor Rifle Regiment; Soviet term for mechanized infantry regiment.

MTK: Soviet acronym for mine clearing system. This consists of a tracked, armored vehicle with a rocket launcher on the top. The rocket pulls an explosive line charge behind it when it is fired over a minefield, breaching the minefield by explosives.

Mujihadeen: Afghan insurgents, usually called dushmani by the Russians.

NCO: Non-commissioned officer; in most armies, a sergeant.

NKVD: Russian acronym for Peoples Commissariat of the Interior, forerunner of the KGB. Nyemtsi: Russian word for Germans; also means "dumb" in Russian, as in "unable to speak."

OGPU: Russian acronym for Units of the State Political Directorate, forerunner of the NKVD/KGB.

OMG: Operational Maneuver Group.

Panzerfaust: Generic term for German antitank rockets; literally means "armored fist." Panzergrenadier: German term for mechanized infantry.

Pechora: Soviet codename for S-125 air defense missile called SA-3 Goa in NATO; named after river in northern Russia.

PGM: Precision-guided munition.

PKM: Soviet 7.62mm squad light machine gun; armored vehicle version called PKT.

PKT: Soviet 7.62mm armored vehicle light machine gun; infantry version called PKM.

Plamya: Soviet codename for AGS-17 30mm grenade launcher; in Russian it means "flame."

PMP: Russian acronym for pontoon bridge assembly, a type of portable engineer bridge called a "Ribbon Bridge" in the U.S. Army.

Praporshchik: Soviet rank corresponding to warrant officer.

PRP-3: Soviet acronym for mobile reconnaissance post, an artillery scout vehicle based on the BMP chassis with a turret-mounted surveillance radar and other sensors. Called Little Fred in NATO.

PTURS: Russian acronym for antitank guided missile.

PVO: Russian acronym meaning Air Defense Force, a branch of the Soviet armed forces.

RAAM: Remotely scattered antiarmor mine, an artillery-delivered mine of the FASCAM series. Razvedchiki: Russian name for scout troops.

RGN: Russian acronym for a type of concussion hand grenade.

RGO: Russian acronym for a type of fragmentation hand grenade.

RKhM: Russian acronym for chemical reconnaissance vehicle, a tracked, armored vehicle based on the same chassis as the 2S1 selfpropelled howitzer. Used by Soviet chemical defense troops for scouting chemically contaminated areas.

RPG: Russian acronym meaning rocket-propelled antitank grenade. Includes types like the RPG-7, RPG-22.

RPV: Remotely piloted vehicle, usually referring to a small unmanned drone aircraft used for reconnaissance purposes.

RSC: Reconnaissance strike complex. Soviet term for future integrated artillery systems.

RWR: Radar warning receiver. An electronic device fitted to aircraft which warns the pilot when the plane is being tracked by enemy radars.

SADARM: Sense and destroy armor munition. A type of American artillery projectile that dispenses autonomously guided antiarmor submunitions.

SAM: Surface-to-air missile. An antiaircraft missile.

Spetsnaz: Russian abbreviation for "special purpose." Used to refer to Soviet special forces.

Su-24: Soviet codename for the Sukhoi strike aircraft known as Fencer in NATO. This is a large, high capability two-man strike aircraft similar in configuration to the U.S. Air Force F-111.

Su-25K: Soviet codename for the Sukhoi ground attack aircraft known as Frogfoot in NATO. This is a single-seat, subsonic attack aircraft, roughly comparable to the U.S. Air Force A-10 Warthog.

SVD: Russian acronym for a 7.62mm sniper rifle.

Syrena: Soviet codename for a RWR (radar warning receiver) mounted on a Soviet combat aircraft; means "siren" in Russian.

TGW: Terminally guided weapon. A NATO program to develop an autonomously guided submunition for the MLRS artillery rocket system.

TOW: Tube-launched, optically tracked, wire-guided antitank missile. The American BGM-71 heavy antitank missile, comparable to the Franco-German HOT or Soviet Konkurs.

Tyulpan: Soviet codename for the 2S4 240mm self-propelled mortar vehicle; in Russian it means "tulip flower."

UAC: Unified Army Corps; a new Soviet formation somewhat larger than a division and smaller than an army, used as the OMG or exploitation force of a Soviet front.

UAZ-469: A Soviet jeep.

Uragan: Soviet codename for the BM-22 multiple launch rocket system; means "hurricane" in Russian.

VDV: Russian acronym for Air Assault Force; a semi-independent branch of the Soviet army specializing in paratroop operations.

Villiys: Soviet slang for a jeep, stemming from "Willys."

VTA: Russian acronym for Military Transport Aviation, a branch of the Soviet Air Force responsible for transport aircraft.

VV: Russian acronym for Interior Army, a paramilitary state police force of the Ministry of the Interior.

VVS: Russian acronym for the Soviet Air Force.

ZiL-130: Soviet medium truck.

ZU-23: Soviet towed, twin-barrelled antiaircraft 23mm automatic cannon.