To the uninitiated, acronyms and abbreviations used by military personnel can be difficult to make head or tail of. Our Jargon Buster helps to make sense of these commonly used military abbreviations.
1Delta Company - part of the Canterbury based Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (5 Scots). A light infantry company.
2 Scots - (The Royal Highland Fusiliers) based in their Mastiff armoured vehicles also based at MSQ and are there to support the foot soldier out on the ground. Can provide transport for troops, CASEVAC (casualty evacuation), flank protection/extra firepower/logistic support to the deployed troops - could drop off rations/ammunition etc. The Mastiff vehicle itself is a heavily armoured, 6x6 wheel drive protected patrol vehicle. It can be fitted either with the GPMG, HMG (50 Cal as above) or the 40mm Grenade Machine Gun (GMG) - which can fire over 300 rounds a minute and provides both high flexibility and excellent rates of firepower.
5 Scots - are part of the Army's premier fighting formation, 16 Air Assault Brigade, based in Canterbury, Kent.
50 Cal - refers to the calibre of one of MOD weapon systems. Also known as the Heavy Machine gun which can fire over 600 rounds a minute.
Air support - when ground troops need more heavy artillery support they call in the jet fighters. Air support is provided by whatever jets are on standby (could be French Mirage, British Harriers, US jets, F18s or by Apache Helicopter).
Anti-personnel mine - one of the types of mine which is found in Afghanistan as part of legacy minefields (laid by the Russians) or by the Taliban who have recovered old mines and relaid them to use against Coalition forces.
ANA - Afghan National Army who are being mentored by the Royal Irish Regiment and a small group of
Americans who are responsible for training the Afghan National Police (ANP).
ANP - Afghan National Police.
Camp Bastion - is the main British military base in Helmand Province, Afghanistan where all troops / logistics / stores etc are held / mounted from.
Cap Day Fox - name of the military operation.
Compound/s - deserted mud brick houses that the soldiers clear.
DC - District Centre.
FOB - Forward Operating Base.
GMG - Grenade Machine Gun.
GPMG, HMG (50 Cal) - or the 40mm Grenade Machine Gun (GMG) – can fire over 300 rounds a minute and provides both high flexibility and excellent rates of firepower.
GPMG - a belt fed General Purpose Machine Gun and can fire over 700 rounds a minute at ranges up to 1800 metres.
IBEX - a mine detector (metal detector), the company that makes it is called IBEX however in theatre now they are using a new piece of equipment which has replaced the IBEX called VALLON.
IED - Improvised Explosive Device.
IDF - Indirect Fire.
ICOM - Distributor of Radio Communication Products.
ISAF - International Security Assistance Force, a NATO-led security and development mission in Afghanistan.
Javelin Weapon System - Anti-tank guided weapon, primarily designed to destroy tanks and armoured vehicles it also provides a potent all weather, day/night capability against fixed defences.
Green Zone - where the agricultural areas in Helmand are concentrated, the Green Zone runs alongside and parallel to the Helmand river where farmers can irrigate their crops. Due to the extreme climate as soon as the irrigation channels / ditches end it is nigh on impossible for anything to grow due to lack of water. In the summer after the poppy harvest one of the main crops is wheat which can grow up to 8ft tall which can make fighting extremely difficult as visibility is reduced for both friendly and enemy forces. The height of the crops and the cover they provide can mean that the troops are fighting at very close quarters.
KLICK - One Kilometre - 1000 metres
Musa Qaleh - a town and the district center of Musa Qala District in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. In Ross Kemp Returns To Afghanistan Ross is at the Musa Qaleh FOB.
OC - Officer Commanding.
RV - Rendezvous Point (meeting place).
ROGER - Confirmation that task understood / instruction received.
RPG - Rocket Propelled Grenade.
Royal Anglian Regiment - The Royal Anglian Regiment (R ANGLIAN) was formed in 1964 as one of the new large infantry regiments, through the amalgamation of the Regiments of the East Anglia Brigade. The Royal Anglian Regiment is a line infantry regiment. The 1st Battalion is currently in the mechanized infantry role, the 2nd Battalion in the light role and the 3rd Battalion is a Territorial Army Battalion.
Royal Irish Regiment - the 1st Battalion is based in Tern Hill, Shropshire (between Liverpool and Birmingham) and forms part of 16 Air Assault Brigade. 16 Brigade is the UK’s high readiness early entry force and comprises the Royal Irish Regiment, as air assault force, alongside Apache attack helicopters and the Parachute Regiment. At 1 R IRISH Battlegroup are deployed in Helmand Province in Afghanistan on Operation HERRICK 8.
Sit Rep - Situation Report.
Thunder Boxes – Toilets.
NW Battle-groups headquarters - a site where the following troops are based in Musa Qaleh: Delta Company, 2 Scots, Afghan National Army.
Waddi - a geographical feature. The area where the river runs or would normally be if had not dried out.
You can also visit the Ministry of Defence's site for more information on their equipment.
