The Longest Night & Crossing the Rubicon

Terminology & Acronyms

1CG: First Battalion Coldstream Guards

1RTR: First Royal Tank Regiment

2CG: Second Battalion Coldstream Guards

2LI: Second Battalion the Light Infantry

3RGJ: Third Battalion Royal Green Jackets

‘5’: Slang term for MI5

‘6’: USN carrier borne strike aircraft (Intruder)

A-6: USN carrier borne strike aircraft (Intruder)

A-10: US built single seat, close air support, tank killing aircraft (Warthog)

A-50: Russian built AWAC version of the heavy Il-76 transport aircraft (Mainstay)

AA: Air-to-Air

AAA: Anti-Aircraft Artillery

AAC: British Army’s Army Air Corps

AEW: Airborne Early Warning

AFB: Air Force Base

AFV: Armoured Fighting Vehicle

AGM: Air-to-ground missile

AIM: Aerial Intercept Missile

AK-47: Updated derivative of the Kalashnikov assault rifle

AKM-74: Romanian derivative of the AK-74

ALASAT: Air Launched Anti Satellite missile

AMIP: Area Major Inquiry Pool (Metropolitan Police)

AMRAAM: Advanced Medium Range Air to Air Missile (Slammer)

AN-72: Russian built transport

Apache: US built helicopter gunship in service with US and Allied forces

APC: Armoured Personnel Carrier

Army: 3 x Corps + combat and logistical support

Army Group: 3 x Armies

AP: Anti-Personnel

ASW: Anti-Submarine Warfare

AT: Anti-Tank

ATC: Air Traffic Control

ATF: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms

ATO: Ammunition Technical Officer (Military bomb disposal officer)

AV-8B: US developed version of the Harrier II.

AWACS: Airborne Warning And Control System

AWE: Atomic Weapons Agency (Aldermaston)

B1-B: US built supersonic swing wing early stealth bomber (Lancer)

B-2: US built stealth bomber (Spirit)

B-52: Heavy USAF bomber (The Buff aka Big Ugly F***er)

Backfire: Russian built supersonic swing wing bomber (TU-22M)

BAOR: British Army Of the Rhine

Battalion: 3–4 Rifle Coy’s + combat and logistical support (Bn)

BBC: British Broadcasting Corporation

Bde: Brigade (3 Bn’s + combat and logistical support)

Binos: Binoculars

Blackjack: Russian built supersonic swing wing bomber (TU-160)

Blinder: Russian built supersonic bomber (TU-22)

BMP: Tracked AFV

Bn: 3–4 Rifle Coy’s + combat and logistical support (Battalion)

Boomer: Ballistic Missile Submarine (SSBN)

Box: Slang term for MI5 (Post Office Box 500)

Bradley: US AFV

BRDM: Russian built four wheeled Reconnaissance vehicle

Brew: Tea

BTR: Russian built eight wheeled APC

Buckshee: Free item

Buckshee: New and inexperienced

Buff: B-52 Heavy USAF bomber (Buff aka Big Ugly F***er)

CAD: Computer Aided Dispatch

CAG: Commander Air Group

CAP: Combat Air Patrol

Carl Gustav: 84mm medium anti-tank weapon

CBU: Cluster Bomb Unit

CCCIR: Police Information Room Senior Controller

CCCP: Cyrillic alphabet for ‘Union of Soviet Socialist Republics’

CG: Coldstream Guards

Challenger: Current series of British MBTs

Charlie Gee: 84mm medium anti-tank weapon

CHARM: 120mm self stabilising main tank gun with rifled barrel

Chieftain: Former series of British MBTs

CIA: Central Intelligence Agency

CIC: Combat Information Centre

CIC: Commander In Chief

Civvy: Civilian

CNN: Cable News Network

CO: Commanding Officer

CO: The Commissioner’s Office (NSY: New Scotland Yard)

Colly: Her Majesty’s Military Correction and Training Centre (HMCC)

Company: 3 x Pl’s + logistical support (Coy)

COMSUBPAC: Commander Submarines Pacific

Corps: 3 x Div’s + combat and logistical support

Coy: 3 x Pl’s + logistical support (Company)

CP: Command Post

Cpl: Corporal

CQMS: Company Quarter Master Sergeant (Colour Sergeant rank)

CSA: Chief Scientific Advisor

CSM: Company Sergeant Major (WO2 rank)

CTR: Close Target Reconnaissance

CVR(T): Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked)

CVR(W): Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Wheeled)

DEEP STRIKE: Air and SF attacks on logistical targets 100k + behind the lines

DefCon5: Peacetime

DefCon4: Peacetime; Increased intelligence; Strengthened security

DefCon3: Increased force readiness

DefCon2: Increased force readiness — Less than maximum

DefCon1: Maximum force readiness

DF: Defensive Fire

DF: Direction Find

Div: 3 x Bde’s + combat and logistical support (Division)

DPM: Disruptive Pattern Material (Camouflage)

DZ: Drop Zone

E-2C: US built Carrier borne early warning aircraft (Hawkeye)

E-3: US built AWACS based on Boeing 707 (Sentry)

Eagle: USAF swing wing, twin engine, single seat, all weather, fighter (F-15)

ECM: Electronic Counter Measure

ELINT: Electronically gathered Intelligence

EMCON: Electronic Emission Control (Radio and Radar silence)

EMP: Electro Magnet Pulse

ESM: Electronic Surveillance Measures

Expo: Explosives Officer (Police bomb disposal officer)

Extender: Aerial Tanker derived from Boeing 707 (KC-135)

F-14: USN swing wing, twin engine, two seat, strike fighter (Tomcat)

F-15: USAF swing wing, twin engine, single seat, tactical fighter (Eagle)

F-15E: USAF swing wing, twin engine, single seat, all weather, strike fighter (Strike Eagle)

F-16: US built multi-role fighter (Falcon)

F-117A: USAF stealth fighter bomber (Nighthawk)

F-117X: Northrop experimental stealth fighter bomber testbed in service with USAF

FAC: Forward Air Controller

Falcon: US built multi-role fighter (F-16)

FAO: Forward Artillery Observer

FBI: Federal Bureau of Investigation

FEBA: Forward Edge of the Battle Area

Fencer: Russian built two seat interdiction and attack aircraft (SU-24)

Flanker: Russian built single seat, twin engined fighter (SU-27)

FLIR: Forward Looking Infra-Red

Flogger: Russian built single seat, single engine fighter (MIG-23)

FLOT: Forward Line Of Troops

Fox One: Radio call from a pilot announcing his firing an AIM-9M Sidewinder missile

Foxbat: Russian built high speed interceptor (MIG-25)

Foxhound: Russian built high speed interceptor (MIG-31)

Foxhound: Infantryman

FPF: Final Protective Fire

Frogfoot: Russian built close air support, ground attack aircraft (SU-25)

FRV: Final Rendezvous Point

Fulcrum: Russian built single seat, twin engined fighter (MIG-29)

Fullback: Russian built advanced two seat fighter bomber (SU-32)

FUP: Forming Up Point

Gdsm: Guardsman

Gimpy: General Purpose Machine Gun

GPMG: General Purpose Machine Gun

GPS: Global Positioning System

Green Beret: US Army special forces unit

Green Maggot: Sleeping bag

GRI: General Research Institute (Chinese espionage service)

Grumble: Russian built anti-aircraft missile system

HARM: High speed anti-radiation missile

Harpoon: Anti-shipping missile

Harrier: British designed VTOL Strike fighter

Hawkeye: US built Carrier borne early warning aircraft (E-2C)

HE: High Explosive

HESH: High Explosive Squash Head (shaped charge warhead)

Hind-D: Heavily armoured helicopter gunship

Hornet: US built all weather strike fighter (F/A-18)

HUD:

Heads Up Display

HUMINT: Intelligence gathered by humans

ICBM: Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile

IFF: Identification Friend or Foe

IL-76: Russian built heavy transport aircraft

Intruder: USN carrier borne strike aircraft (A-6)

IR: Information Room (Metropolitan Police)

IR: Infra-Red

IRST: Infra-Red Search and Tracking

Jaguar: British/French ground attack aircraft

JNAIRT Joint Nuclear Accident and Incident Response Team

JSTARS: Joint Surveillance and Target Attack Radar System (air to ground surveillance)

KC-135: Aerial Tanker derived from Boeing 707 (Extender)

Kevlar: Carbon fibre armour

Klick: Kilometre / a thousand metres

L/Cpl: Lance Corporal

L/Sgt: Lance Sergeant

Lancer: US built supersonic swing wing early stealth bomber (B1-B)

LAW: Light Anti-Tank Weapon

LSW: Light Support Weapon

Lynx: British, fast, tank hunting helicopter

LZ: Landing Zone

M&AWC: Mountain & Arctic Warfare Cadre (RM Specialists)

MAC: Military Airlift Command

Mach: Speed of sound (at sea level = 1,225 KPH / 761.2 MPH)

Maggot: Sleeping bag

Mainstay: Russian built AWAC version of the heavy Il-76 transport aircraft (A-50)

MAW: Medium Anti-Tank Weapon

MBT: Main Battle Tank

Mess: Sleeping quarters/Dining area/Bar/social organisation

Met: Metropolitan Police

MFC: Mortar Fire Controller

MIG-23: Russian built single seat, single engine fighter (Flogger)

MIG-25: Russian built high speed interceptor (Foxbat)

MIG-29: Russian built single seat, twin engined fighter (Fulcrum)

MIG-31: Russian built high speed interceptor (Foxhound)

Mirage: French air superiority fighter

MLRS: Multi Launch Rocket System

MP: Member of Parliament

MP: Military Police

MP5: Heckler & Koch MP5 9mm SMG and carbine

MRCA: Multi Role Combat Vehicle

MRR: Motor Rifle Regiment

MSTAR: Battlefield radar system

NAAFI: Navy Army Air Force Institute (shop and bar facilities for British forces)

NAS: Naval Air Station

NATO: North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

NAVSAT: Navigation Satellite

NBC: Nuclear Biological Chemical

NBC: National Broadcasting Company

NCIS: National Crime Intelligence Service

NCO: Non Commissioned Officer

Nighthawk: USAF stealth fighter bomber (F-117A)

NSA: National Security Agency

NSY: New Scotland Yard

NVG: Night Vision Goggles

O Group: Orders Group (Briefing)

OP: Observation Post

Oppo: Buddy

Oulou In the countryside. In the middle of nowhere.

PC: Police Constable

Peewits: Possession With Intent to Supply (The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. S 5 (3)

Pickle: Release bombs

Pl: Platoon: (3 x Sections)

PLA: Peoples Liberation Army

PLAAF: Peoples Liberation Army Air Force

PLAN: Peoples Liberation Army Navy

Platoon: 3 x Sections (Pl)

PLCE: Personal Load Carrying Equipment (Webbing)

PM: Prime Minister

PNG: Passive Night Goggle

PRC: Peoples Republic of China

PS: Police Sergeant

Ptarmigan: British, secure battlefield communications system

Pte: Private

Q Bloke: Quartermaster

QM (T): Quartermaster (Technical) — (W01 rank)

QRF: Quick Reaction Force

QRH: Queens Royal Hussars

RA: Royal Artillery

RAC: Royal Armoured Corps

RAF: Royal Air Force

Rapier: British AAA missile system

RE: Royal Engineers

REME: Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers

Replen: Replenish

Rfn: Rifleman

RIO: Radar Intercept Officer

RM: Royal Marines

RMP: Royal Military Police

RN: Royal Navy

ROC: Republic Of China (Taiwan)

ROC: Generic term for the Taiwanese military

ROE: Rules Of Engagement

RORSAT: Radar Ocean Reconnaissance Satellite

RQMS: Regimental Quarter Master Sergeant (W01 rank)

RSM: Regimental Sergeant Major (WO1 rank)

RV: Rendezvous Point

RVP: Rendezvous Point

SA: Surface-to-Air

SA80: British 5.56mm calibre individual weapon

Sabre: British tracked reconnaissance vehicle

SACEUR: Supreme Allied Commander Europe

SAM: Surface to Air Missile

Samaritan: British tracked armoured ambulance

Samson: British tracked armoured recovery vehicle

SAR: Search-And-Rescue

SAR: Synthetic Aperture Radar

SARH: Surface to Air Radar Homing

SAS: Special Air Service (recruits from British Army)

SASR: Special Air Service Regiment (recruits from Australian Army)

Saxon: British, wheeled APC

SBS: Special Boat Service (recruits from Royal Marines)

Scimitar: British tracked reconnaissance vehicle

Sea Harrier: RN V/STOL Fleet defense aircraft

Sentry: US built AWACS based on Boeing 707 (E-3)

SFO: Specialist Firearms Officer (Police)

SIS: Secret Intelligence Service

Sitrep: Situation report

Six: Directly behind (Six o’clock position)

SLBM: Nuclear powered ballistic missile submarine

SLR: Self-Loading Rifle

SMG: Sub Machine Gun

SO12: Special Branch (Metropolitan Police)

SO13: Anti-Terrorist Squad (Metropolitan Police)

SO14: Royalty Protection (Metropolitan Police)

SO16: Diplomatic Protection Group (Metropolitan Police)

SCO19: Specialist Firearms Unit (Metropolitan Police)

Spartan: British tracked vehicle for AAA, MFC, Engineer or Recce

SP HVM: Self-Propelled High Velocity Missile

Spearfish: British advanced, high speed, wire guided torpedo

Spirit: US built stealth bomber (B-2)

SRAM: Short Range Attack Missile

SS: Surface to Surface

SSBN: Ballistic Missile Submarine (Boomer)

SSG: Diesel powered guided missile submarine

SSGN: Nuclear powered guided missile submarine

SSK: Diesel powered attack submarine

SSN: Nuclear powered attack submarine

Starstreak: British advanced, high speed anti-aircraft missile

Striker: British tracked AT vehicle

STOL: Short Take Off and Landing

SU-24: Russian built two seat interdiction and attack aircraft (Fencer)

SU-25: Russian built close air support, ground attack aircraft (Frogfoot)

SU-27: Russian built single seat, twin engined fighter (Flanker)

SU-32: Russian built advanced two seat fighter bomber (Fullback)

Sultan: British tracked, armoured command vehicle

SWAT: Special Weapons and Tactics

T-64: Russian designed MBT

T-72: Russian designed MBT

T-80: Russian designed MBT

T-90: Russian designed MBT

TAO: Tactical Action Officer

TAVR: Territorial Army Volunteer Reserve

TEL: Transporter Erector Launcher

Thunderbolt: US built single seat, close air support, tank killing aircraft (A10 / Warthog)

Tomcat: USN swing wing, twin engine, two seat, strike fighter (F-14)

Tornado F3: British/German twin seat, swing wing fighter

Tornado GR: British/German ground attack aircraft

Tpr: Trooper

Triple A: AAA (Anti-Aircraft Artillery)

TU-22: Russian built supersonic swing wing bomber (Blinder)

TU-22M: Russian built supersonic swing wing bomber (Backfire)

TU-160: Russian built supersonic swing wing bomber (Blackjack)

UGM: Un-Guided Missile

USAF: United States Air Force

USMC: United States Marine Corps

USN: United States Navy

USSR: Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

VTOL: Vertical Take Off and Landing

Warrior: British AFV

Warthog: A-10: US built single seat, close air support, tank killing aircraft

Wild Weasel: Dedicated, specialized, AAA suppression mission

Willy Pete: WP: White Phosphorus

WO: Warrant Officer

WP: White Phosphorus

ZSU: Russian designed series of Self — Propelled AAA vehicles