Glossary

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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

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
ASP: Air Stores Park
ASR: Air Sea Rescue
AST: Air Service Training
ATA: Air Transport Auxiliary
ATC: Air Training Corps
ATFERO: Atlantic Ferry Organisation
AWDREY: Atomic Weapon Detection Recognition and Estimation of Yield
AWE: Atomic Weapons Establishment

B

BAVG: British Auxiliary Aircraft Carrier
Bde: Brigade
BGS: British Geological Survey
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
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
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
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
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
JMC: Joint Military Commission; Joint Maritime Course
JMOTS: Joint Maritime Operations Tactical School
JSP: Joint Services Publication
JSSL: Joint Services School for Linguistics

K

Kriegsmarine: German Navy

L

LCA: Landing Craft Assault
LCI: Landing Craft Infantry
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
MATELO: Maritime Air Telecommunications Organization
markup: Name given to the special formatting commands used within SeSco
MATO: Military Air Traffic Operations
&gray%MATS): Military Air Transportation Service
MCA: Ministry of Civil Aviation;Maritime and Coastguard Agency
MCMV: Mine Counter Measure Vessels
MDU: Magnox Depleted Uranium
MEFFV: Marine Expeditionary Family of Fighting Vehicles
MGB: motor gun boat
MHQ: Marine HeadQuarters
MI(R): Military Intelligence (Research)
&gray%MoD: Ministry of Defence
ML: motor launch
MPA: Maritime Patrol Aircraft
MSD: Minimum Safe Distance
MTB: motor toprpedo 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
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
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
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
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

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
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

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