The One That Got Away - Junior edition

GLOSSARY

Bergen Haversack

Bivvy bag A cross between a sleeping bag and a tent

Casevac Casualty evacuation

CO Commanding officer of the regiment

Comms Communications

Contact In action against the enemy, using weapons

Director, the Officer commanding Special Forces, generally a brigadier

Dishdash Cotton robes, worn by people in the Middle East who live or work in deserts

DPM Disruptive pattern material camouflage clothes

Escape map A lightweight map with basic details, carried on operations

FMB Forward Mounting Base

GPS Global positioning system

Gulf War A war between Iraq (led by Saddam Hussein) and 34 coalition countries who were against the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. It lasted 2 August 1990–28 February 1991

Int Intelligence

Laager point A camp, especially one surrounded by a ring of vehicles

Loadie Crewman on RAF military flight

LUP Lying-up point

Mag Weapons magazine, holding rounds

NBC Nuclear, biological and chemical

OC Officer commanding the squadron

OP Observation post

Regiment, the The SAS

Rounds Bullets

RV Rendezvous

Sangar Fortified enclosure

Satcom Telephone using satellite transmission

Scuds Missiles, transported and fired from mobile launchers

Shamag Shawl used by Arabs as a headdress

SOP Standard operating procedure

SP Team Special projects or counter-terrorist team

SQMS Squadron Quartermaster Sergeant

SSM Squadron Sergeant Major

Stand By To get ready for action

Stag Sentry duty

Tabbing Progressing at speed across country, often with heavy loads

TACBE Tactical rescue beacon

TEL Transporter-erector-launcher vehicle

Wadi A watercourse in a desert region; dry, except in the rainy season

Zero a weapon To set your sights to ensure the weapon is accurate

Tristar Aircraft used for air transport and in-air refuelling

Hercules Large plane, used for troop transports

Chinook Helicopter with two rotary blades

B-52 US bomber plane

203 Combination of 5.56 calibre automatic rifle (top barrel) and 40 mm grenade launcher below

.50 Heavy machine gun

66 Disposable rocket launcher

AK-47 Assault rifle, first developed in the Soviet Union by Kalashnikov

Claymore mines Anti-personnel mines; unlike more conventional landmines, the claymore fires metal balls like a shotgun

GPMG General-purpose machine gun, also known as a ‘gympi’

LAW 90 Rocket launcher

Minimi 5.56 calibre machine gun

M19 Rapid-fire grenade launcher

SA80 British small arms (Small Arms for the 80s); includes rifles that are the standard issue for the British Army