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Glossary
The Glossary Page is intended to provide a reference for the acronyms, abbreviations, and jargon words that appear within the site.
The glossary is automated, and places a dotted underline beneath any active term which is listed on this page. When the mouse pointer passes over any of these terms, a small popup window or tooltip will open to show the full text or definition of the term.
Common and well known terms are generally excluded from the automated glossary in order to prevent pages becoming unnecessarily cluttered with underlined terms.
Pluralised acronyms are not included, therefore a term such as WREN would show the highlight, while the plural WRENs would not.
Plurals are included where a jargon word is as likely to be used in singular as it is in plural, such as in the case of gaines, which tend to be referred in quantity rather than as single items.
Exclusion of terms
The automated glossary cannot distinguish between the writer's intention to use an acronym or a word. For example, Admiralty Research Establishment has the acronym ARE, but this is also the common word are, which would be underlined each time it appeared. To prevent such terms from being highlighted incorrectly, they can either be excluded on a permanent basis, or on a case by case basis.
Permanent exclusion of a term
To prevent a term from ever being highlighted by the automated glossary, its entry should be preceded by the standard `. markup (a backquote, or backtick, followed by a period), which disables the following markup.
Permanently excluded items should also be identified by being grayed, which can be achieved by prefixing the text with the %gray% markup (must use gray, not grey).
Case by case exclusion of a term
If the word is relatively uncommon, or unlikely to be used frequently, it can be manually disabled on the page where it appears. Enclose it inside the standard [= =] markup which prevents formatting of its contents. Ignoring the case (which is ignored by the automated glossary), WREN, typed normally, would be identified as an acronym, and appear with a dashed underline, tooltip, and link back to this page, while wren, if typed as [=wren=] would not, and render on screen as plain text.
This is particularly useful for terms that may need to be included in section headings, where the appearance of the dotted underline is undesirable.
Capitalisation
Many writers incorrectly show the expansion of an acronym with the words capitalised. This is generally incorrect, and unless the words were originally capitalised, such as in the case of a proper noun or formal title, an expanded acronym should be written normally, using lower case letters throughout. Expanded acronyms may inherit capitalisation if used with a proper name. For example: An AA (anti-aircraft) battery was established at Drumcross during World War II, and was known locally as Drumcross Anti-Aircraft Battery.
This subject can become confusing, and it may be prudent to re-word a sentence to remove conflicting occurrences. More important than the correct or incorrect use of capitals is consistency within a page or article. Where the use may appear to be unclear, select one style and use this throughout, to avoid further confusion by mixing styles.
Acronym quick-jump
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | A | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
A
- AA
- anti-aircraft
- AAA
- anti-aircraft artillery
- AAEE
- Aeroplane & Armament Experimental Establishment
- AAOD
- Anti-Aircraft Ordnance Depot
- AAOR
- Anti-Aircraft Operations Room
- AAS
- Air Armament School
- ABM
- Anti-Ballistic Missile
- ABRO
- Army Base Repair Organisation
- Abwehr
- German Intelligence, 1921 - 1944.
- ACE High
- Allied Command Europe High Frequency Communications System
- ACIU
- Allied Central Interpretation Unit
- ACSEA
- Air Command South East Asia
- AD
- Aircraft Depot
- ADF
- Aircraft Delivery Flight
- ADU
- Aircraft Delivery Unit
- ADUK
- Air Defence of the United Kingdom
- AEA
- Atomic Energy Authority
- AES
- Admiralty Experimental Station
- AEW
- Airborne Early Warning
- AFB
- Air Force Base
- AFC
- Air Force Cross
- AFD
- Admiralty Floating Dock
- AFEE
- Airborne Forces Experimental Establishment
- AFU
- Advanced Flying Unit
- AFS
- Advanced Flying School
- AGS
- Air Gunners School
- AHBRE
- Admiralty Hydro-Ballistic Research Establishment
- AHQ
- Airfield Headquarters
- AFHQ
- Allied Force(s) Headquarters
- ALARM
- Air Launched Anti-Radiation Missile
- Amatol
- High explosive made from TNT and ammonium nitrate. Used extensively during World War I and II.
- AMES
- Air Ministry Experimental Station
- AMRAAM
- Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile
- AMTE
- Admiralty Marine Technology Establishment
- ANS
- Air Navigation School
- AONB
- Area of Outstanding National Beauty
- AONS
- Air Observer Navigation School
- AOSNI
- Air Officer Scotland and Northern Ireland
- ARE
- Admiralty Research Establishment
- APC
- Armament Practice Camp
- APS
- Armament Practice Station
- APU
- Aircraft Preparation Unit
- ARL
- Admiralty Research Laboratory
- ARP
- Air Raid Precautions
- ASDIC
- Anti-Submarine Detection Investigation Committee; Allied Submarine Detection Investigation Committee. Non-existent committee name used to maintain secrecy of sonic aspect of system, the IC was added to the basic acronym merely to confuse.
- ASP
- Air Stores Park
- ASR
- Air Sea Rescue
- AST
- Air Service Training
- ATA
- Air Transport Auxiliary
- ATC
- Air Training Corps
- ATFERO
- Atlantic Ferry Organisation
- ATS
- Auxiliary Territorial Service, women's branch of the British Army
- AUWE
- Admiralty Underwater Weapons Establishment
- AWDREY
- Atomic Weapon Detection Recognition and Estimation of Yield
- AWE
- Atomic Weapons Establishment
B
- BAVG
- British Auxiliary Aircraft Carrier
- Battle HQ
- Battle headquarters, used to defend airfields
- Bde
- Brigade
- BGS
- British Geological Survey
- BHFU
- British Honduras Forestry Unit
- BNFL
- British Nuclear Fuels Ltd
- BPI
- Bomb Power Indicator
- BSDU
- Bomber Support Development Unit
- BUTEC
- British Underwater Test and Evaluation Centre
C
- CAA
- Civil Aviation Authority
- CANS
- Civil Air Navigation School
- CAACU
- Civilian Anti-Aircraft Co-Operation Unit
- CACF
- Coast Artillery Co-Operation Flight/Unit
- CAPFASFLOT
- Captain Faslane Flotilla
- CBE
- Commander of the Order of the British Empire; Commander of the British Empire
- CDAA
- Circular Disposed Antenna Array
- CDU
- Coastal Defence U-Boat
- CEW
- Centimetric Early Warning
- CGS
- Central Gunnery School
- CHCC
- Carbeth Hutters Community Company
- CHEL
- Chain Home Extra Low
- CHL
- Chain Home Low
- CMU
- Civil Maintenance Unit
- COMINCH
- Commander in Chief
- command post
- The term CP was used for elements in batteries responsible for technical command and control. Troop and battery CPs (TCP and BCP) in field artillery carried out the various technical calculations to produce firing data for the guns.
- Copra
- Combined Operation pay ratings and accounts
- COSPAS
- Russian; Cosmicheskaya Sistyema Poiska Avariynich Sudov. English; Space System for the Search of Vessels in Distress.
- CRC
- Control and Reporting Centre
- CRO
- Civilian Repair Organisation
- CRS
- Central Radio School
- CRU
- Civilian Repair Unit
- CTBT
- Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty 1996
- CTC
- Commando Training Centre
- CTU
- Combat Training Unit
- CU
- Conversion Unit
- CVE
- Carrier Vessel Escort
D
- DARA
- Defence Aviation Repair Agency
- DE
- Defence Estates, Ministry of Defence
- DCSA
- Defence Communications Services Agency
- degaussing
- demagnetising; neutralising the residual magnetism in the hull of a steel vessel or its parts. American use; deperming.
- DEL
- defence electric light
- DERA
- Defence Evaluation and Research Agency
- DGPS
- Differential Global Positioning System
- Div
- Division
- DLO
- Defence Logistics Organisation
- DLT
- Deck Landing Training
- DMC
- Defence Munitions Centre
- DME
- Distance Measuring Equipment
- DSC
- Distinguished Service Cross
- DSDA
- Defence Storage and Distribution Agency
- DSO
- Duty Staff Officer
- Dstl
- Defence Science and Technology Laboratory
- DU
- Depleted Uranium
E
- EFTS
- Elementary Flying Training School
- EFRTS
- Elementary and Reserve Flying Training School
- ELF
- Extremely Low Frequency, 3 Hz to 30 Hz.
- ELINT
- Electronic Intelligence
- embrasure
- Loophole or slit which allows observation or weapons fire through a wall or similar.
- EMG
- Electro-Magnetic Gun
- EOD
- explosive ordnance device
- EP
- Equipment Park
- ERA
- Engine Room Artificer
- ESH
- Explosive Storehouse(s)
- EURATOM
- European Atomic Energy Community
- EWC
- Electronic Warfare Calibration
F
- FAA
- Fleet Air Arm
- FBSU
- Flying Boat Servicing Unit
- FBMU
- Flying Boat Maintenance Unit
- FFO
- Furnace Fuel Oil
- FIBUA
- Fighting In Built Up Areas
- FLT
- Flight
- FOCT
- Fleet Operations Conversion Training
- FOIC
- Flag Officer In Charge
- FOSNI
- Flag Officer Scotland and Northern Ireland
- FOSNNI
- Flag Officer Scotland, Northern England and Northern Ireland
- FP
- Ferry Pool (ATA)
- FPP
- Ferry Pilots Pool Organisation
- FRAeS
- Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society
- FRS
- Flying Refresher School
- FRU
- First Responder Unit
- FSM
- Field Strength Monitor
- FTS
- Flying Training School
- FU
- Ferry Unit
- FTU
- Flight Training Unit; Ferry Training & Aircraft Despatch Unit
G
- gaine
- a chemical booster, such as tetryl, employed between a detonator such as mercury fulminate and a high explosive. HE shells used in WWII had to be very stable to prevent accidental detonation, and gaines ensured that more stable detonators worked reliably
- gaines
- chemical boosters, such as tetryl, employed between a detonator such as mercury fulminate and a high explosive. HE shells used in WWII had to be very stable to prevent accidental detonation, and gaines ensured that more stable detonators worked reliably
- GCF
- Group Communication Flight
- GCHQ
- Government Communications Headquarters
- GCI
- Ground Control Intercept
- GDC
- Group Disbandment Centre
- Gee
- hyperbolic navigation system, AMES Type 7000, 20-85 MHz
- GL
- Gun Laying
- GLCM
- Ground Launched Cruise Missile
- GOR
- Gun Operations Room
- GP
- Group Pool
- GPO
- General Post Office
- GPS
- Global Positioning System
- GPSS
- Government Pipeline and Storage System, maintains a strategic supply of aviation fuel in depots throughout the UK
- GRP
- Group
- GSU
- Group Support Unit
- gun laying
- The process of aiming a gun
- GZI
- Ground Zero Indicator
H
- HAA
- Heavy Anti-Aircraft
- HCU
- Heavy Conversion Unit
- HF
- High Frequency, 3 MHz to 30 MHz
- HFDF
- High Frequency Direction Finding; Huff-Duff
- HLF
- Heritage Lottery Fund
- HM
- Her Majesty's; His Majesty's
- HMCS
- Her Majesty's Canadian Ship; His Majesty's Canadian Ship
- HMNB
- Her Majesty's Naval Base; His Majesty's Naval Base
- HMS:Her Majesty's Ship; His Majesty's Ship
- HSE
- Health and Safety Executive
I
- IACMST
- Inter-Agency Committee on Marine Science and Technology
- IAEA
- International Atomic Energy Authority
- IATA
- International Air Transport Association
- ibid
- From Latin ibidem "in the same place". This repeats the previous author and title and whatever else is identical. Do not use in SeSco.
- ICAO
- International Civil Aviation Organization
- ICCS
- Integrated Command and Control System
- IFF
- Identification Friend or Foe
- ILW
- Intermediate Level (nuclear) Waste
- ISOLUS
- Interim Storage Of Laid-Up Submarines
- ISRB
- Inter Services Research Bureau
- IWC
- Integrated Weapons Centre
J
- JARIC
- Joint Air Reconnaissance Intelligence Unit
- JASSM
- Joint Air to Surface Standoff Missile
- JDAM
- Joint Direct Attack Munition
- JMC
- Joint Military Commission; Joint Maritime Course
- JMOTS
- Joint Maritime Operations Tactical School
- JSP
- Joint Services Publication
- JSSL
- Joint Services School for Linguistics
K
L
- LCA
- Landing Craft Assault
- LCI
- Landing Craft Infantry
- LCL
- Landing Craft Logistics
- LCT
- Landing Craft Tank
- LFA
- Low Flying Area
- Loran
- long range navigation, hyperbolic navigation system, AMES Type 700, 1.7-20 MHz
- LST
- Landing Ship Tank
M
- MAEE
- Marine Aircraft Experimental Establishment
- MAP
- Ministry of Aircraft Production
- MATELO
- Maritime Air Telecommunications Organization
- markup
- Name given to the special formatting commands used within SeSco
- MATO
- Military Air Traffic Operations
- MATS)
- Military Air Transportation Service
- MCA
- Ministry of Civil Aviation; Maritime and Coastguard Agency
- MCMV
- Mine Counter Measure Vessels
- MDP
- Ministry of Defence Police
- MDU
- Magnox Depleted Uranium
- MEFFV
- Marine Expeditionary Family of Fighting Vehicles
- MGB
- motor gun boat
- MHQ
- Marine HeadQuarters
- MI(R)
- Military Intelligence (Research)
- MoD
- Ministry of Defence
- ML
- motor launch
- MPA
- Maritime Patrol Aircraft
- MSD
- Minimum Safe Distance
- MTB
- motor torpedo boat
- MTI
- Moving Target Indicator
- MU
- Maintenance Unit
N
- NAAFI
- Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes
- NARS
- North Atlantic Radio System
- NATS
- National Air Traffic Services
- NATO
- North Atlantic Treaty Organisation
- Navstar
- Space based radio positioning system
- NBC
- Nuclear Biological Chemical
- NCRE
- Admiralty Naval Construction Research Establishment
- NDA
- Nuclear Decommissioning Authority
- NDB
- Nuclear Depth Bomb; Non Directional Beacon
- NFF
- National Filling Factory
- NGO
- Non-Government Organisation
- NGR
- National Grid Reference
- NII
- The Nuclear Installations Inspectorate of The Health and Safety Executive
- NOFU
- Newfoundland Overseas Forestry Unit
- NOSS
- Naval Ocean Surveillance System
- NSA
- National Security Agency
O
- OADU
- Overseas Aircraft Despatch Unit
- obturation
- Sealing of the rear of the breech chamber to prevent propellant gases escaping, provided by the breech in BL ordnance and cartridge case in QF.
- OCU
- Operational Conversion Unit
- OGD
- Other Government Department
- OIC
- Officer In Charge
- OLF
- Operational Low Flying
- ordnance
- British term for the complete barrel assembly, typically comprising firing mechanism, breech, barrel and muzzle brake.
- OTC
- Officer Training Corps
- OTH
- Over The Horizon
- OTU
- Operational Training Unit
P
- PAFU
- (Pilots) Advanced Flying Unit
- PATP
- Packed Aircraft Transit Pool
- PDS
- Passive Detection System
- PDU
- Photographic Development Unit
- PFI
- Private Finance Initiative
- POL
- Petroleum, Oil and Lubricants
- PRO
- Public Records Office
- PPI
- Plan Position Indicator
- PRFU
- (Pilot) Refresher Flying Unit
- PRU
- Photographic Reconnaissance Unit
- PWSS
- Port War Signal Station
- PX
- Post Exchange, US base retail store
Q
- QF
- Starfish fire decoy; quick fire, a type of ordnance where a brass cartridge case contained the propellant charge bags and provided obturation.
- QL
- Starfish lighting decoy
- QWIC
- Qualified Weapons Instructor Course
R
- RA
- Royal Artillery
- RAF
- Royal Air Force, formed on April 1, 1918, from the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service.
- RAP
- Recognised Air Picture
- RASC
- Royal Army Service Corps
- RATOG
- Rocket Assisted Take Off Gear
- RATT
- Radio Teletype
- RCAHMS
- Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland
- RCNC
- Royal Corps of Naval Constructors
- REME
- Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
- REPPIR
- Radiation Emergency Preparedness and Public Information Regulations
- RDF
- Radio Direction Finding
- RFA
- Royal Fleet Auxiliary
- RFC
- Royal Flying Corps
- RFP
- Radio Finger Printing
- RGA
- Royal Garrison Artillery
- RGF
- Royal Gun Factory
- RIAS
- The Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland
- RMAS
- Royal Maritime Auxiliary Service
- RMS
- original Royal Mail Steamer; later Royal Mail Ship
- RN
- Royal Navy
- RNAD
- Royal Naval Armament Depot
- RNAS
- Royal Naval Air Service; Royal Naval Air Station; Royal Naval Airship Station
- RNR
- Royal Naval Reserve
- ROC
- Royal Observer Corps
- RNTF
- Royal Naval Torpedo Factory
- RNVR
- Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve
- ROF
- Royal Ordnance Factory
- ROS
- Repair On Site Parties (Came under the control of MUs)
- RSG
- Regional Seat of Government
- RSMID
- Receipt, Storage, Maintenance, Issue and Distribution
- RSU
- Repair & Salvage Unit/Section
S
- SAR
- Search and Rescue; Synthetic Aperture Radar
- SAS
- Special Air Service
- SARSAT
- Search And Rescue Satellite Aided Tracking
- SBWASS
- Space Based Wide Area Surveillance System
- SC
- Salvage Centre
- SCNDA
- Scottish Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament
- SEPA
- Scottish Environment Protection Agency
- SF
- Special Fire; Starfish
- shell
- A hollow projectile containing some type of filling or payload and fitted with a fuze, usually at the nose.
- SGR
- School Of General Reconnaissance
- SHF
- Super High Frequency, 3 GHz and 30 GHz
- shrapnel
- First used about 1800 and withdrawn from UK service after World War II. Had some use in the first years of World War II with guns of World War I. <br \>The shell was activated by time fuze to project a cone of lead bullets forward in a shotgun like manner. The term is widely misused to describe the fragments from a bursting HE shell.
- sic
- Latin: thus; so; used in quotations to show that an apparent error within the quote is, not a mistake and is to be read as it stands.
- SIGINT
- Signals Intelligence
- SLG
- Satellite Landing Ground
- SNPD
- Scottish NATO POL Depot
- SOC
- Sector Operations Control
- SOE
- Special Operations Executive
- SONAR
- SOund Navigation And Ranging
- SOO
- Staff Officer Operations
- SOSUS
- Sound Surveillance System, USN
:SOTT School Of Technical Training
- SP
- Staging Post
- SSBN
- United States Navy hull classification symbol for a nuclear powered, ballistic nuclear missile carrying submarine. SS denotes Ship Submersible, B denotes Ballistic missile capability, N denotes Nuclear power.
- SSEB
- South of Scotland Electricity Board
- SSGN
- United States Navy hull classification symbol for a nuclear powered cruise missile submarine. SS denotes Ship Submersible, G denotes Guided (Cruise) missile, N denotes Nuclear power.
- SSIN
- Secure Survivable Integrated Network
- SSSI
- Site of Special Scientific Interest
- SSK
- United States Navy hull classification symbol for a hunter-killer submarine (retired).
- SSN
- United States Navy Hull classification symbol for a general-purpose fast attack submarine. SS denotes Ship Submersible, N denotes Nuclear power.
- SSU
- Subsatellite Unit
- STCICS
- Strike Command Integrated Communications System
- STOL
- short take-off and landing
- STS
- Special Training School
- SU
- Servicing Unit
- SUBRON
- Submarine Squadron
T
- TA
- Territorial Army
- TAF
- 2nd Tactical Air Force
- TAL
- Trans-oceanic Abort Landing
- TEU
- Tactical Exercise Unit
- TLBH
- Top-Level Budget Holder
- TLT
- Tactical Leadership Training
- trunnions
- Provide the rotational axis for elevating the barrel in its cradle. Horizontal cylindrical projections from the cradle that rotate vertically in the saddle.
- TRV
- Torpedo Recovery Vessel
- TTA
- Tactical Training Area
U
- UAV
- unmanned aerial vehicle
- UHF
- ultra high frequency, 300 MHz and 3 GHz
- UK
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- UKADR
- United Kingdom Air Defence Region
- UKAEA
- United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
- UKASACS
- United Kingdom Air Surveillance and Control System
- UKWMO
- United Kingdom Warning and Monitoring Organization
- UNDEX
- Admiralty Underwater Explosion Research Establishment
- UNESCO
- United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
- upper register
- Firing (artillery) at an elevation greater than 45 degrees, now called high angle.
- USAAC
- United States Army Air Corps
- USAAF
- United States Army Air Force
- USAF
- United States Air Force
- USAFE
- United States Air Force Europe
- USN
- United States Navy
- USS
- United States Ship
- UXO
- Unexploded Ordnance (Ammunition, Bombs, Explosives)
V
- VGS
- Volunteer Gliding Squadron (School, until 2005)
- VHF
- Very High Frequency, 30 MHz to 300 MHz
- VIC
- Victualling Inshore Craft
- VOR
- VHF (Very High Frequency) Omni-directional Radio-range; VHF Omnidirectional Range
- VTOL
- vertical take-off and landing
W
- WAAF
- Women's Auxiliary Air Force
- WMF
- World Monuments Fund
- WNG
- Wing
- WREN
- Women's Royal Naval Service (member of)
- WRNS
- Women's Royal Naval Service
- WSA
- Warship Support Agency
- WT
- Wireless Telegraphy
X
Y
Z
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
External links
⚠ [[!Uncategorised]]
⚠ (:WPCategoriesList:)