Thomas Jefferson is reputed to have said the most valuable of all talents is “that of never using two words where one will do.”
The military, populated with its fair share of go-getters, has taken Jefferson’s philosophy and, perhaps too enthusiastically, tried to improve upon it. Because surely the author of our Declaration would nod approvingly at the perfection that is many words magically melded into one?
In fact, the military has been so successful at this word-melding game that it has taken words, turned them into abbreviations, which have evolved into words.
"RADAR" – Radio Detection and Ranging — for instance, has become "radar."
Which is to say that, while I understand most of the acronyms in Princeton's War Diary, I am aware that I may be the exception. Therefore, the GAAT is intended to be a compilation of words and acronyms — WORDCRONYMS — that may be helpful as our journey proceeds.
In addition, to provide a visual reminder of the risks associated with carrier operations, I will highlight significant events with colored text as follows:
RED: fatal accidents, on the carrier, at sea or in the air
BLUE: non-fatal crashes in the sea
GREEN: non-fatal crashes on the carrier
AFT: behind
AIR COORDINATOR: (see FAC(A) below)
ALNAV: All Navy Message. Communication intended for all Naval Units.
AS: Air Search, aircraft mission to search ocean for ships, boats, subs (see also ASP and SSC)
ASP: Air Search Patrol (see also AS and SSC)
AV(N): USNR (R=Reserve Commission) aviation flight officers, detailed to active duty in the Navy immediately following their completion of training and designation as naval aviators
BANDIT: enemy aircraft, sometimes referred to as "HOSTILE",
BLACKSHOE/BLACK SHOES/SHOE: Surface Warfare Officer, "ship driver"
BLUE WATER OPS: no land divert airport available
BOGEY: unidentified aircraft
BOLTER: failed attempt to land on the ship, touch down but land past wires or hook fails to catch wire. The possibility of a bolter requires modern day carrier aircraft to go to full power in order to maintain flying speed in the event of a bolter.
BOW: front of vessel
BROWN SHOES: Naval Aviators
BZ/Bravo Zulu: Well Done!
CA: Heavy Cruiser, combatant surface ship
CAG: Commander, Air Group
CAP: Combat Air Patrol, fighter aircraft orbiting over a fixed point in anticipation of intercepting potential threat from enemy aircraft.
CAS: Close Air Support, "Air action by fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft against hostile targets that are in close proximity to friendly forces."—Department of Defense Joint Publication 3-09.3
CARDIV: Carrier Division
CHARLIE: Term used to communicate the time an aircraft is expected to be crossing the ramp (stern of the ship) and landing.
CIC/CVIC: Combat Information Center, operational function emphasizes control of aircraft and AA [Anti-aircraft] defense.
CINCPAC: Commander In Chief, Pacific
COMDESRON: Commander, Destroyer Squadron
CQ: Carrier Qualification, day and night, for new pilots and to maintain currency
CV: Aircraft Carrier, displacement 36,000 tons
CVE: Escort Aircraft Carrier, displacement 8,200 tons.
CVL: Light Aircraft Carrier, displacement 15,000 tons
CVLG: Light Carrier Air Group
DIVISION: formation of 4 aircraft operating under a single "lead" aircraft. A "light division" is 3 aircraft.
EMCON: Emissions Control, a condition set to eliminate any electronic transmissions in order to prevent enemy from locating via interception of said signals.
F6-F: Hellcat fighter aircraft
FAC: Forward Air Controller, land-based individual who directs aircraft to targets
FAC(A): Airborne Forward Air Controller, directs aircrafts to targets from observation point in another airplane. In modern day, done in a two-seat aircraft generally.
FDO: Fighter Direction Officer, responsible for detecting enemy aircraft and vectoring fighters to intercept
FNG: F**king New Guy, generally refers to a first tour aviator or newcomer to a squadron. Gets to wear the "FNG" name tag until someone newer shows up.
FORE: front
FOC'SLE/FORECASTLE: the forward deck of the ship. It derives its name from the days of sailing ships when the raised forward deck was known as the “forecastle.”
GMT: Greenwich Mean Time (also known as "Zulu" time)
"THE GRAYBOOK": the Command Summary is the CINPAC staff's "running estimate of the situation" and summary of command decisions, as well as key dispatches receiver or originated by CINPAC headquarters. Think of it as Fleet Admiral Nimitz's daily briefing.
IMO/IMHO: In My Opinion, In My Humble Opinion
LSO: Landing Signal Officer, see also "Hero"
NAF: Naval Air Facility
NAS: Naval Air Station
NSTR: Nothing Significant To Report
OD: Officer of the Day
OOD: Officer of the Deck (e.g. senior watch stander on the bridge)
OPAREA: Operations Area
OPNAVINST 3100.7C: Chief of Naval Operations Instruction detailing instructions for maintaining a ship's log.
OPTEMPO: Operations Tempo, i.e. how busy a unit is
OTC/O.T.C.: Officer in Tactical Command
PBY: Catalina; twin-engine Navy patrol-bomber (VPB), manufactured by Consolidated. Essentially a flying boat, used for multiple missions including Search and Rescue, Transport, ASP, Submarine hunting.
PIM: Position of Intended Movement, where the ship is scheduled to be, and when.
PORT: left
READY ROOM: where the pilot officers congregate on the carrier. It is a space where they brief, drink coffee, socialize and plan missions. It is also where the SDO (Squadron Duty Officer) sits and runs the flight schedule for the day.
SA: Situational Awareness (pronounced just as you say the word "essay", being aware of your surroundings and being prepared for any contingency.
SDO: Squadron Duty Officer
SECTION: formation of 2 aircraft with one designated as the "lead"
SHIP'S COMPANY: Personnel with official orders assigning them to a specific ship (as opposed to Air Group or Air Wing personnel who are assigned to a Squadron but deploy on a ship for a certain amount of time)
SHOE: Surface Warfare Officer, "ship driver”
SOC: Seagull, single-engine Navy scout-observation (VSO) landplane or seaplane, biplane, manufactured by Curtiss
SSC: Surface Search and Control - modern lingo for searching the ocean's surface for contacts of interest (see also AS and ASP)
SOPA: Senior Officer Present Afloat
STARBOARD: right
STERN: back of vessel
SWO: Surface Warfare Officer, see also "SHOE" and "BLACKSHOE"
T.A.S./TAS: True Airspeed, The true airspeed of an aircraft is the speed of the aircraft relative to the air mass through which it is flying.
TBF: Avenger, single-engine Navy torpedo-bomber (VTB), manufactured by Grumman
TBM: Avenger, single-engine Navy torpedo-bomber (VTB), manufactured by General Motors
TBS: Talk-Between-Ships, very high frequency (VHF) shipborne radio equipment of medium power, used for ship-to-ship short range communication and tactical maneuvering
TG: Task Group
TU: Task Unit (multiple TU's make up a TG)
UNREP: Underway Replenishment, refueling at sea via air (mail, food, parts etc. via helicopter) and/or via hoses from ship-to-ship
VF: fighter aircraft (V= heavier than air, F=fighter)
VSB: Scout Bombing Aircraft (V=heavier than air, S=Scout, B=Bomber)
VT: bomber/torpedo bomber aircraft (V=heavier than air, T=torpedo)
WATCH SCHEDULE:
Mid-Watch 0000-0400
Morning Watch 0400-0800
Forenoon Watch 0800-1200
Afternoon Watch 1200-1600
First Dog Watch 1600-1800
Second Dog Watch 1800-2000
Evening Watch 2000-2400
YO: Fuel Barge (Y=District Craft, O=Oil Barge)
ZULU TIME: Greenwich Mean Time
Comentarios