Chapter XV: Appendix: B

GLOSSARY

AAR After Action Report

ABCCC Airborne Command and Control Center

A-4 Skyhawk A single-seat, lightweight, jet attack
bomber in service with Navy and Marine
Corps squadrons. Built by Douglas.

AN/PRC-25 U. S.-built, short-range, portable,
frequency-modulated radio set used to
provide two-way communication in the
30 megacycle to 75.95 megacycle band.

AN/TPQ-10 U. S.-built, ground-based radar system
used to guide aircraft on bombing missions.

A-1 Skyraider U. S.-built, prop-driven, attack aircraft
built by Douglas.

Arc Light Operational name for B-52 strikes in South
Vietnam.

ARVN Army of The Republic of Vietnam.

A-6A Intruder U. S. Navy and Marine Corps twin-engine,
low-altitude, jet attack bomber
specifically designed to deliver ordnance
on targets completely obscured by weather
or darkness. Carries a heavier and more
varied load than any other U. S. naval
attack aircraft. Built by Grumman.

ASRT Air Support Radar Team

BDA Battle Damage Assessment

Bde Brigade

B-52 Stratofortress USAF eight-engine, swept-wing heavy jet
bomber. Built by Boeing.

BLT Battalion Landing Team

CAC Combined Action Company

CACO Combined Action Company Oscar

CavSqd (e.g. 1/9) 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry

C-4 Plastic explosives

CG, 1st MarDiv Commanding General, 1st Marine Division

CG, FMFPac Commanding General, Fleet Marine Force,
Pacific

CG, 3d MarDiv Commanding General, 3d Marine Division

CG, III MAF Commanding General, III Marine Amphibious
Force

ChiCom Chinese Communist

CH-53A Sea Stallion U. S.-built, single-rotor,
heavy assault transport helicopter powered
by two shaft-turbine engines with an
average payload of 12,800 pounds.
Full-sized rear opening with built-in
ramp permits loading of 105mm howitzer and
carriage. External sling will accommodate
a 155mm howitzer (towed). Carries crew of
3 plus 38 combat troops or 24 litters.
Built by Sikorsky.

CH-46D Sea Knight U. S.-built, medium transport,
twin-turbine, tandem rotor helicopter
with an average payload of 4,800 pounds.
Has rear loading ramp and external sling
mount. Carries crew of 3 plus 25 combat
troops or 15 litters and 2 attendants.
Built by Boeing.

CIDG Civilian Irregular Defense Group

Claymore U. S.-built, directional antipersonnel
land mine employed above ground and
normally in an upright position.

CMC Commandant of the Marine Corps

CmdChron Command Chronology

CO Commanding Officer

ComUSMACV Commander, U. S. Military Assistance
Command, Vietnam

CP Command Post

CS Designation for tear gas

DASC Direct Air Support Center

D-Day Day scheduled for the commencement of an
operation.

DIA IntBul Defense Intelligence Agency Intelligence
Bulletin

DMZ Demilitarized Zone

EC-121 Super USAF and USN four-engine, prop-driven,
Constellation long-range, heavy transport modified with
special equipment for radar early warning
patrols and electronic warfare duty.
Built by Lockheed.

FADAC Field Artillery Digital Automatic Computer

FDC Fire Direction Center

F-8 Crusader U. S. Navy and Marine Corps supersonic,
single-seat, single-engine, jet fighter
with afterburner. Primarily used in South
Vietnam in an attack role. Carries
air-to-air and air-to-ground ordnance.
Built by LTV Vought Aeronautics.

F-4B Phantom II U. S. Navy and Marine Corps twin-engine,
two-seat, supersonic fighter/attack jet
with afterburners; has dual role of
interceptor and bomber. Of all U. S. naval
attack aircraft, F-4B carries second
largest payload. Built by McDonnell.

F-4C U. S. Air Force model of the Phantom II.

1st ACD 1st Air Cavalry Division

1st MarDiv 1st Marine Division

1st MAW 1st Marine Aircraft Wing

FOB-3 Forward Operating Base 3

F-100 Super Sabre Single-engine, jet (with afterburner)
sweptwing, supersonic fighter-bomber; in
production since 1953, the F-100 was the
first supersonic operational fighter
developed for the U. S. Air Force.
Carries air-to-air and air-to-ground
ordnance. Built by North American.

F-105 Thunderchief U. S. Air Force supersonic, single-seat,
single-engine, jet fighter/bomber with
afterburner. Built by Republic.

FMFPac Fleet Marine Force, Pacific

FO Forward Observer

FSCC Fire Support Coordination Center

GCA Ground Controlled Approach

GPES Ground Proximity Extraction System

Grenade Launcher, U. S.-built, single-shot, break-open,
M-79 breech-loaded shoulder weapon which fires
40mm projectiles and weighs approximately
6.5 pounds when loaded; it has a sustained
rate of aimed fire of 5-7 rounds
per minute and an effective range of 375
meters.

Gun, 100mm M1944 Soviet-built, dual purpose field and
antitank gun introduced toward the close
of World War II; it weighs 7,628 pounds,
is 30.9 feet in length and has a muzzle
velocity of 900 meters per second. Maximum
range is 21,000 meters and maximum rate
of fire is 8-10 rounds per minute. Is
recognizable by long tube, double-barrel
muzzle brake, dual wheels, and sloping
shield.

Gun, 130mm Soviet-built fieldpiece which utilizes
either a limber for transport or is
self-propelled. Towed weapon weighs 19,000
pounds, is 38 feet in length, and has a
muzzle velocity of 930 meters per second.
Maximum range is 27,000 meters and maximum
rate of fire is 6-7 rounds per minute.
Tube has a multi-perforated muzzle brake.

Gun, 175mm U. S.-built, self-propelled gun which
weighs 62,100 pounds and fires a 147-pound
projectile to a maximum range of 32,800
meters. Maximum rate of fire is 1/2 round
per minute.

Hand Grenade, U. S.-manufactured, hand-thrown bomb,
Fragmentation which weighs approximately one pound,
M-26 and contains an explosive charge in a
body that shatters into small fragments;
it has an effective range of 40 meters.

H&I Harassment and Interdiction

H&S Co Headquarters and Service Company

HistBr Historical Branch

HMM Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron

Howitzer, 105mm U. S.-built, towed, general purpose light
M2A1 artillery piece; the weapon is mounted
on a carriage equipped with split box
trails and pneumatic tires. On-carriage
sighting and fire control equipment are
used both for direct and indirect fire.
The piece weighs 4,980 pounds, is 19.75
feet in length, has a muzzle velocity of
470 meters per second, and a maximum range
of 11,155 meters. Maximum rate of fire
is 4 rounds per minute.

Howitzer, 155mm U. S.-built, towed, medium artillery piece
M1 mounted on a two-wheel, split-trail
carriage with detachable spades. The
howitzer is fired from a three-point
suspension, with the trails spread and
the carriage resting upon an integral
firing jack, the wheels being clear of the
ground. The piece weighs 12,700 pounds,
is 24 feet long, has a muzzle velocity of
560 meters per second and a maximum range
of 15,080 meters. Maximum rate of fire
is 3 rounds per minute.

Howitzer, 8-inch U. S.-built, self-propelled heavy artillery
M-110 piece; 37 feet long tracked carriage is
identical to that of 175mm gun. M-110 has
a maximum range of 16,930 meters and a
rate of fire of 1/2 round per minute.

HQMC Headquarters, United States Marine Corps

IFR Instrument Flight Rules

KBA Killed By Air

KIA Killed In Action

KSCB Khe Sanh Combat Base

LAPES Low Altitude Proximity Extraction System

LSA Logistics Support Area

LZ Landing Zone

MACV Military Assistance Command, Vietnam

MAG Marine Aircraft Group

Machine Gun, U. S.-built, belt-fed, recoil-operated,
.50 Caliber air-cooled automatic weapon, which weighs
approximately 80 pounds without mount or
ammunition; it has a sustained rate of
fire of 100 rounds per minute and an
effective range of 1,450 meters.

Machine Gun, M-60 U. S.-built, belt-fed, gas-operated,
air-cooled, 7.62mm automatic weapon, which
weighs approximately 23 pounds without
mount or ammunition; it has a sustained
rate of fire of 100 rounds per minute and
an effective range of 1,100 meters.

____ Marines Designation of Marine regiment

MATCU Marine Air Traffic Control Unit

Medevac Medical evacuation

Mortar, 60mm U. S.-built, smooth-bore, muzzle-loaded,
single-shot, high-angle of fire weapon,
which weighs 45.2 pounds when assembled
and fires an assortment of high explosive
and pyrotechnic rounds; it has a maximum
rate of fire of 30 rounds per minute and
sustained rate of fire of 18 rounds per
minute; the effective range is 2,000
meters.

Mortar, 81mm U. S.-built, smooth-bore, muzzle-loaded,
single-shot, high angle of fire weapon,
which weighs approximately 115 pounds
when assembled and fires an assortment of
high explosive and pyrotechnic rounds;
it has a sustained rate of fire of 2 rounds
per minute and an effective range of
2,200-3,650 meters, depending upon the
ammunition used.

Mortar, 82mm Soviet-built, smooth-bore, muzzle-loaded,
single-shot, high-angle of fire weapon
which weighs approximately 123 pounds
when assembled and fires high explosive
and pyrotechnic rounds; it has a maximum
rate of fire of 25 rounds per minute and
a maximum range of 3,040 meters.

Mortar, 120mm Soviet- or Chinese Communist-built,
smooth-bore, drop or trigger fired,
single-shot, high-angle of fire weapon,
which weighs approximately 606 pounds when
assembled and fires high explosive and
pyrotechnic rounds; it has a maximum rate
of fire of 15 rounds per minute and a
maximum range of 5,700 meters.

Mortar, 4.2 inch U. S.-built, 107mm, rifled, muzzle-loaded,
M2 drop-fired weapon consisting of tube,
baseplate and standard; weapon weighs 330
pounds, is 4 feet in length, and has a
maximum range of 4,020 meters. Rate of
fire is 20 rounds per minute and utilizes
both high explosive and pyrotechnic
ammunition. (Five M2s were employed at
KSCB)

Mortar, 4.2-inch U. S.-built, 107mm, rifled, muzzle-loaded,
M98 Howtar mortar; a towed weapon, the Howtar is
mounted on a carriage with two pneumatic
tires. Tube and carriage weigh 1,289
pounds; maximum range is 5,500 meters.
(Two Howtars were employed at KSCB)

M-16 U. S.-built, magazine-fed, 5.62mm
gas-operated, air-cooled shoulder weapon
designed for either semiautomatic or full
automatic fire; fully loaded weighs 7.6
pounds, fires a maximum rate of 150-200
rounds per minute, and has a maximum
effective range of 460 meters.

9th MAB 9th Marine Amphibious Brigade

9th MEB 9th Marine Expeditionary Brigade

NVA North Vietnamese Army

O1-E U. S.-built, single engine, two-seat,
prop-driven light observation aircraft
built by Cessna.

Ontos U. S.-built, lightly-armored tracked
vehicle armed with six coaxially mounted
106mm recoilless rifles. Originally
designed as a tank killer, the Ontos is
primarily used in Vietnam to support the
infantry.

PCV Provisional Corps, Vietnam

PF Popular Forces

PMDL Provisional Military Demarcation Line

RC-292 U. S.-built, elevated, wide-band, modified
ground-plane antenna designed to operate
with and increase the distance range of
various radio sets.

Recoilless Rifle, U. S.-built, single-shot, recoilless,
106mm, M40A1 breech-loaded weapon which weighs 438
pounds when assembled and mounted for
firing; it has a sustained rate of fire
of 6 rounds per minute and an effective
range of 1,365 meters. The weapon can
be singly or Ontos mounted.

RF Regional Forces

RLT Regimental Landing Team

Rocket, 122mm A Soviet-built, four-piece, fin-stabilized,
9-foot long rocket weighing 125 pounds;
maximum range is approximately 17,000
meters. Launcher tube and mount weigh
121 pounds and are 8.1 feet in length.

RPG-2 A Soviet-and Chinese Communist-built
antitank grenade launcher; a smooth-bore,
muzzle-loaded, shoulder-fired, recoilless
weapon which fires a 40mm spin-stabilized
round. The weapon weighs 6.3 pounds, is
3.2 feet in length, has a muzzle velocity
of 84 meters per second, and an effective
range of 100 meters. Maximum rate of fire
is 4-6 rounds per minute utilizing High
Explosive Antitank ammunition.

SLF Special Landing Force

S-2 Intelligence section or officer

TA-4 Two-seat trainer model of the A-4 Skyhawk

TAC(A) Tactical Air Controller (Airborne)

TAFDS Tactical Airfield Fuel Dispensing System

Tank, PT-76 Soviet-built, 15.4-ton, amphibious tank
with a crew of 3; primary armament is
turret mounted 76mm gun and maximum
thickness of armor is 0.6 inches.

Tank, M-48 U. S.-built 50.7-ton tank with a crew
of 4; primary armament is turret-mounted
90mm gun with one .30 caliber and one
.50 caliber machine gun. Can be configured
with water fording equipment.
Maximum road speed of 32 miles per hour
and an average range of 195 miles.

TAOR Tactical Area Of Responsibility

TET Vietnamese Lunar New Year

3d MarDiv 3d Marine Division

III MAF III Marine Amphibious Force

TIO Target Intelligence/Information Officer

TOT Time On Target

UHF Ultra High Frequency

UH-1E A single-engine, Marine, light
Huey Gunship attack/transport helicopter noted for its
maneuverability and firepower; carries a
crew of three with seven combat troops or
three litters, two sitting casualties and
a medical attendant, or 3,000 pounds of
cargo. It is armed with air to ground
rocket packs and fuselage mounted,
electrically fired machine guns.

UH-34D A single-engine, Marine, medium transport
Sea Horse helicopter with a crew of three; carries
16-18 combat troops or 8 litters or a
normal 5,000 pound payload.

USAF United States Air Force

USA United States Army

USMC United States Marine Corps

USN United States Navy

VC Viet Cong

VFR Visual Flight Rules

VHF Very High Frequency

Viet Minh The Vietnamese contraction for Viet Nam,
Doc Lap Nong Minh Hoi, a Communist-led
coalition of nationalist groups which
actively opposed the Japanese in World
War II and the French in the early years
of the Indo-China War.

VMA Marine Attack Squadron

VMFA Marine Fighter/Attack Squadron

VMGR Marine Aerial Refueler Transport
Squadron

VMO Marine Observation Squadron

VNAF Vietnamese Air Force

VT Variable Timed fuze for artillery shell
which causes airburst over target area.