Common terms from the Vietnam War. Please post a comment at the end of this page if you think we've missed anything.
A | B | C | D | EF | G | H | IJ | KL | M | N | O | PQ | R | S | T | UV | WXYZ
1ALSG | 1st Australian Logistic Support Group, based at Vung Tau |
1ATF | 1st Australian Task Force; brigade sized formation based at Nui Dat |
161 | 161 Battery RNZA (Royal New Zealand Artillery) |
2 (or 4 or 6) RAR/NZ (ANZAC) | Anzac battalion in which NZ companies served |
2IC | Second in command |
2,4-D | 2,4 dichloro-phenoxyacetic acid; component of Agent Orange |
2,4,5-T | 2,4,5 trichloro-phenoxyacetic acid; component of Agent Orange |
ACPO | Assistant Command Post Operator |
AD-4 Skyraider | Single-seat carrier-based dive bomber and torpedo carrier flown by the USN, USAF, and VNAF during the Vietnam War |
Adjutant | An officer who assists a more senior officer with the organisation, administration, and discipline for a battalion or regiment |
Admin | Administration; preparing for and maintaining personal and unit readiness for operations |
Agent Blue | Water-based herbicide; a non-systematic desiccant used primarily against grasses, taking effect in 24 - 48 hours and killing leaves in 2 - 4 days |
Agent Orange | Oil-based herbicide; a systematic defoliant effective against broadleaf vegetation, achieving maximum effect in 4 - 6 weeks, with a duration of approximately 12 months |
Agent White | Water-based herbicide; a systematic defoliant effective against broadleaf vegetation, achieving maximum effect in 6 - 8 weeks, with a duration of approximately 12 months |
AK47 | North Vietnamese Army (NVA) or Viet Cong (VC) semi or fully automatic assault weapon using 7.62mm short ammo |
Albatross | Call-sign of Royal Australian Airforce (RAAF) Iroquois helicopter; also known as a 'Huey' |
Anti-personnel mines | Mines designed for use against humans; to injure – as opposed to killing – as many enemies as possible in order to increase the logistical (mostly medical) support required by such an enemy force |
Ambush | Attempt to kill from cover without warning, planned or done quickly |
Ammo | Ammunition, usually bullets but including grenades and other carried munitions |
ANPRC-25 | Very high frequency (VHF) portable radio used at the sharp end for most variety of communication – called '25 set' |
ANPRC-77 | Improved VHF man portable radio; gradually replaced the 25 set – called '77 set' |
ANZAC | Australian and New Zealand Army Corps; designation created in First World War when both countries fought together for the first time (Gallipoli, 1915); also used to describe a 'common spirit of brotherhood' i.e. the Anzac spirit |
AO | Area of operations; terrain ground forces patrolled and fought to dominate |
AP | Anti-personnel mine, as in 'AP mine' |
APC | Armoured personnel carrier: M113 for troops, M125 mortars, M548 cargo, M577 ACV, M579 fitters |
Arc | Area a weapon or soldier was required to cover in an all-round protective posture |
Arc light operations | Code name for the devastating aerial raids of B52 Stratofortresses against enemy positions in South-East Asia |
Artillery forward observers | Artillery men attached to rifle companies; acted as middle men between artillery and soldiers, giving co-ordinates to artillery at base |
Arty | Artillery of any calibre, tracked or towed; most common included 105mm, 155mm, 8-inch howitzers, 40mm 'dusters' |
ASCO | Services Canteens Organisation (Australian Canteen Service) |
ARVN | Army of the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnamese government forces) |
ATF | Australian Task Force; see 1ATF |
Aussie | Australian |
AWOL | Absent without leave, unauthorised absence from duty or place |
Back pack | Load carrying back pack for field equipment and spare stores, dumped whenever a contact occurred; typical weight around 65lb/30kg; also known as field pack; see belt order |
Baggy (arse) | Private soldier; derived from ill-fitting baggy trousers |
Bandolier | Shoulder-carried ammunition pouch |
Base camp | Semi-permanent field headquarters and centre for a unit usually within its tactical area responsibility; usually contains all or part of a unit's support elements |
BC | Battery Commander |
Beehive | Direct-fire artillery round which incorporated steel darts (flechettes), used as primary base defence munition against ground attack |
Belt order | Personal load carrying belt and suspenders containing fighting equipment not otherwise carried in back pack, which remained on or close to the individual at all times; typical weight around 40lb/18kg; see back pack |
Bird | Any aircraft, usually helicopters |
Birddog | Small fixed-wing reconnaissance aircraft used to spot for ground-attack aircraft, especially Cessna L-19/O-1 |
Bn | Battalion; military unit of around 500 - 1500 men usually consisting of between 2 and 6 companies and typically commanded by a lieutenant colonel |
BOD | Base Ordnance Depot |
Bodycount | Term borrowed from US forces to describe the success or ferocity of engagements, i.e. 'there was a high bodycount of enemy killed' |
Booby trap | Improvised trap designed to maim or severely injure an individual |
Bookoo | Much; derived from the French word 'beaucoup' |
Boom boom | Sex; 'bookoo boom boom' meant 'much sex' |
Boom boom house | Slang for brothel |
Boonies | Term borrowed from US forces; see bush |
Boss | Informal bush title for an officer; alternative address to 'sir' |
Boundary | Edge of AO; to be close to or to cross a boundary required permission, called a 'mousetrap' |
BQMS | Battery Quarter Master |
Brass up | Concentrated fire into an area |
Brew | Hot drink, as in 'want a brew?'; coffee, milk and two sugar was called 'NATO standard' |
BRIAM | British Advisory Mission Vietnam; advised government of South Vietnam (GVN) on hamlet programs and counter insurgency generally; 'Malaya experts' |
Brigade | Basic military organisational unit; during the Vietnam War, a division was organised into three brigades each commanded by a colonel; a division consists of approximately 20,000 people |
Bristol 170 Freighter | Utility transport aircraft; used by RNZAF for supply missions to South Vietnam 1968-1975 |
Bronco | US OV-10 twin-engine aircraft armed with rockets and miniguns; used by the USAF and USMC for forward air control and scouting missions |
Brownie film | Toilet paper |
BSM | Battery Sergeant Major |
Bunds | Royal Australian Artillery (RAA) and Royal New Zealand Artillery (RNZA) name for sandbag defensive artillery positions created by small bulldozers |
Burst | Controlled firing of five or more rounds of automatic fire, more depending on urgency |
Bush | Jungle; area outside the base perimeter where fighting took place |
Bushranger | Australian Iroquois helicopter gunship |
B52 Stratofortress | Long-range, subsonic, jet-powered, strategic bomber operated by the United States Air Force (USAF) since 1955 |
C&C | Command and control; title applied to helicopter (usually with extra radios) with sunray on board flying above AO directing ground operations, or a person doing 'C & C' for a task |
Cadres | Small groups of covert political organisers in villages; members helped recruit, train and support Viet Cong military wing; always competed with the South Vietnamese government structure and services |
Call-sign | Radio code-word to identify or summon particular organisations or people for a radio conversation |
Canister | Anti-personnel artillery or tank round containing flechette |
Cans | Usually beer; 'in the can' meant arrested and locked up; see goffers |
Caribou | de Havilland Canada DHC-4 Caribou; a twin-engine light transport aircraft operated by the US Army, USAF and RAAF in Vietnam. |
Carpet-bombing | Heavy, indiscriminate bombing of an area by plane, usually causing widespread destruction |
CASEVAC | Casualty evacuation of injured soldiers from the field; see dustoff and MEDEVAC |
CCRSFF | Commander Central Region SEATO (South East Asia Treaty Organisation) Field Force |
Centurion | Australian battle tank |
Chalk | Group of personnel grouped together for travel |
Charlie | Slang for Viet Cong (VC); from radio designation 'victor charlie' |
Cheyenne | Medium-sized high-speed observation helicopter |
Chieu Hoi (Chew Hoy) | 'Open arms', programme that allowed VC to defect and receive money for surrendered weapons |
Chinook | Large twin-rotor helicopter; see Geronimo |
Chopper | Any model of helicopter, usually US model Iroquois UH-1D troop lift and utility helicopter flown by allied forces Army Aviation or air force units |
Choges | Vietnamese people |
Civvies | Civilians; clothes when out of uniform |
Clacker | Electrical firing device used to detonate claymore mine; from sound made on use |
Claymore | US model directional anti-personnel mine with 900 ball-bearings, electrically fired singly or in a bank |
Click | Kilometre, as in 'travel 6-clicks south' |
Commando Vault | BLU-82 15,000 pound bomb dropped from a C130 |
Comms | Communications, verbal or electronic, as in 'get comms with'[call-sign]' |
Conex | Container Export (used as platform for claymore mine control posts); see claymore |
Contact | Engagement, often sudden, with enemy; cry/radio message used to warn that enemy is engaged, as in 'contact front' |
Coord | Co-ordination; bringing together different agencies to achieve a common task; artillery support for infantry attack with FAC available to direct air strikes; engineer support to clear mines |
Coy | Company; organisation of soldiers for administrative and tactical reasons; usually commanded by a major |
Coyote | Small high-speed reconnaissance helicopter |
CP | Command post |
CPO | Command Post Operator |
CQMS | Company Quartermaster Sergeant; senior non-commissioned officer (NCO) responsible for stores and resupply |
Crunchie | Australian slang for infantry, from the sound made by walking on gravel |
CSM | Company Sergeant Major, senior other rank (OR) in company; 'right hand man' for officer commanding (OC) |
C130 | US model tactical troop and cargo aircraft used extensively by USAF and RNZAF; known as 'Hercules' |
C4 | Type of plastic explosive, commonly found inside claymore AP mine |
Dacrons | New Zealand dress uniform in the tropics, complete with regimental belt, beret and black rank; Australian lanyard designating the ANZAC battalion the soldier belonged to was also worn |
Dapsone | Drug used by Australians and New Zealanders as a malaria suppressant, taken in combination with Paludrine |
DAQMG | Deputy Assistant Quartermaster General |
Defoliant | Chemical sprayed or dusted on trees or plants to make leaves fall off |
Dhobi | Laundry |
DF | Defensive fire; usually refers to artillery fire called to land close to the allied perimeter; can be fired and recorded in anticipation of VC attack; a 'silent' DF target was calculated from a map (i.e. without using ranging shots) and recorded on a register for use in an emergency |
Digger | Slang for Australian soldier |
Div Loc Bty | Divisional Locating Battery |
Div Postal | Divisional Postal Unit |
Div Pro Coy | Divisional Provost Company |
Div Sal Coy | Divisional Salvage Company |
DMZ | Demilitarised Zone |
Dong | Vietnamese unit of currency |
Double-tap | Snap shooting technique where two rounds are quickly fired at the centre of a target before the firer changes position |
DOW | Died of wounds some time after being wounded |
Drill | see IA |
DTA | Division tactical area; an Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) DTA comprised two or more provinces; the DTA commander was also the ARVN division commander, and the DTA was his permanent tactical area of responsibility (TAOR) |
Duffel bag | Ground based personnel sensing devices |
Duster | M42 40mm self-propelled anti-aircraft gun; see M42 |
Dustoff | Radio code-word for removal of battle casualties from a contact, usually by helicopter |
Ebony | Call-sign for switchboard at 1 Australian Task Force (1ATF); could indicate specific officers/office, e.g. 'Ebony 12' as reference in correspondence |
Engr | Engineer; support troops used for construction, demolition or battlefield mine/booby trap clearance |
EOD | Explosive Ordnance Disposal |
Extraction | Withdrawal by air of troops from area of operation via helicopter; see AO |
F4 Phantom II | Two-seat, twin-engined, long-range supersonic interceptor jet fighter/fighter-bomber flown in Vietnam by the USN and USAF |
FAC | Forward air controller, usually airborne, who could call for and direct air strikes |
FDC | Fire-Direction Control Centre; place where requests for fire support were interpreted into specific information for ground artillery. Also co-ordinated artillery and mortar fire |
FFI | Free from infections; routine medical inspection to check for skin and other medical problems |
Field dressing | Large cotton pad with strapping soldiers carried for emergency first aid to stop bleeding, usually taped to equipment such as rifle butts |
Firebase | Semi-permanent defended location in an AO from which a unit supports operations with artillery and logistics |
Firetrail | Land clearing of bush to provide better observation of likely VC routes |
Flechette | Individual dart from either flechette artillery or tank round; each round contains several thousand individual flechettes designed to break up massed infantry assaults |
FOO | Artillery forward observation officer, usually a captain, who travelled with infantry to co-ordinate artillery support |
FOO(A) | Artillery forward observation officer assistant; a NCO or gunner (gnr) who travelled with infantry as fire support co-ordinator in place of mortar fire controller (MFC) |
Forward scout | Soldier in front of platoon, seeking out likely enemy ambush sites and booby traps |
Frag | Fragmentation hand grenade |
Fragging | Assassination of unpopular officers by allied soldiers, often by means of fragmentation grenade; there are no recorded incidents of NZ troops fragging officers during the Vietnam War |
Friendlies | Australian troops, allies, or anyone not on the other side |
Friendly fire | Air, artillery, or small arms fire from own forces mistakenly directed at own positions |
FSCC | Fire Support Co-ordination Centre; artillery command post to manage fire from all deployed guns |
FSPB | Fire support patrol base followed by a particular name, usually of a woman; see firebase |
FWMAF | Free World Military Assistance Forces (US, NZ, Australian, South Vietnamese and other allied forces) |
Gat | Rifle |
Geronimo | Nickname for US CH-47 Chinook helicopter; based on aircraft call-signs |
GI | Nickname for American soldiers; from the term 'Government Issue' which was stamped on all equipment used by the soldiers |
Goffer | Can of soft drink |
Gollock | Issue machete, rarely used except in FSPB as the noise attracted enemy attention; see secateurs |
Gook | Slang for Viet Cong; see VC |
GPMG | General purpose machine gun, used at section level for fire support; see M60 |
GPO | Gun Position Officer; a lieutenant or captain responsible for a battery's technical tasks and for operating the battery command post |
Greens | Green uniform designed for field wear |
Ground clearance | Permission given by land force commander for air or artillery clearance to fire/fly into or over his area of operations |
Grunt | US slang for infantry soldier, as in 'the only answer you get from a foot soldier is a grunt' |
GSW | Gun shot wound |
Guns | Artillery; see arty |
GVN | Government of [South] Vietnam |
Happy pills | Anti-malarial tablets |
Harbour | Bush location where field troops rest and protect themselves |
H&I | Harassment and interdiction; unobserved artillery, mortar or air bombardment on locations which might be used by enemy forces, usually fired at night |
HE | High explosive; destructive force in artillery shells, mortar bombs, aerial bombs |
Hepatitis roll | Bread roll baked locally |
Hercules | Transport aircraft; see C130 |
Hexie | Hexamine or solid kerosene; British-made cooking tablet used mainly in Malaysia |
Hoi Chanh | Viet Cong or North Vietnamese soldier who defects and joins the government of South Vietnam forces or ceases fighting against them; see Chieu Hoi |
Hoochie | House, tent or other living space; from US slang; also known as hutchie |
Hook into | To attack aggressively |
Hot Extraction | Withdrawal of troops from area of operation via helicopter while under enemy fire |
Hot LZ | Landing zone under hostile fire |
HQ | Headquarters, at any level describes the command staff structure |
HueyCobra | AH-1 Cobra - two-bladed, single engine attack helicopter; also known as Snake |
Hutchie | Small nylon sheets rigged up to branches to provide shelter |
IA | Immediate action; instinctive drill such as ambush or contact |
In country | In Vietnam |
Inf | Infantry |
INTREP | Intelligence report on enemy locations, movement and intentions |
Iroquois | Model of US helicopter operated in Phouc Tuy province by 9 Squadron RAAF; see UH-1D |
J [jay] | Jungle; see bush |
Jumping jack | Anti-personnel mine; known by Americans as a 'bouncing betty' |
Jungle penetrator | Heavy bulb device with fold away seats, lowered from a helicopter by winch to extract people where a landing is not feasible |
KFS | Knife, fork, spoon, used with mess tins, preferably plastic to reduce noise in the bush |
KIA | Killed in action during a contact; see WIA |
'Kit Carson' | Viet Cong defector who then served with allied forces as a scout or interpreter; Australians called them 'bushman scouts'; see Chieu Hoi |
Kiwi | New Zealander; nickname used internationally and within New Zealand to describe people from New Zealand; derived from flightless bird native to New Zealand |
L5 | 105mm L5 pack howitzer gun used by 161 Battery in Vietnam, 1965-1967 |
LAD | Light aid detachment |
LFT | Light fire team; comprised two UH-1D helicopters armed with forward firing mini-guns and 2.75-inch Zuni rocket pods with twin M60 in each door; RAAF call-sign 'bushranger' |
Lilo | Australian model air mattress with inner air tubes |
LOB | Left out of battle; personnel routinely rested from operations; see pogue |
LOCSTAT | Statement of location of a force or activity, typically a coded grid reference |
LP | Landing point, single helicopter pad or area in bush capable of allowing one helicopter to land |
LZ | Landing zone, capable of multiple helicopter landings and movements |
MAINTDEM | Routine supply to field troops of essential items like food and water; see OPDEM |
MEDCAP | Medical Civic Action Program; normally conducted in a secure area and could involve psychological operations to display humanitarian treatment and improve the image of occupying forces |
MEDEVAC | Medical evacuation |
Medic | Medical orderly or trained soldier who would provide medical support |
Mess | Dining hall; barbeque area |
Mess tins | Metal dishes used to cook and eat meals; container for shaving water, etc |
MFC | Mortar fire controller attached to infantry; mortar sections often accompanied companies in the bush; MFC directed artillery fire in absence of forward observation officer |
MG | Machine gun |
MID | Mentioned in despatches; lowest form of decoration |
Minigun | Electric Gatling gun; 7.62mm machine gun comprising 6-10 rotating barrels firing up to 6000 rounds per minute. They were usually mounted on airplanes and helicopters to be used on gound targets |
Mohawk | Grumman OV-1 Mohawk observation aircraft; designed for battlefield surveillance and light strike capabilities |
Mortar | Infantry support weapon which fires bombs in a high trajectory that plummet onto target |
Mossie | Mosquito |
MPC | Military payment certificates with face value of US currency but only valid for use by service personnel at Allied facilities; issued to control the local black market |
MPO | Medical Petty Officer |
Mug | Field cup used to heat food and drink |
M2A2 | 105mm howitzer gun used by 161 Battery in Vietnam, 1967-1971; also designated M101A1 |
M16 | US designed anti-personnel jumping mine; also known as a Jumping Jack |
M16-A1 | US model 5.56mm lightweight personal rifle; see SLR |
M18 | US model smoke grenade used for signalling; available in four colours – violet, green, yellow, and red |
M18-A1 | Designation for claymore anti-personnel mine |
M26 | US model fragmentation grenade |
M42 | 40mm self-propelled anti-aircraft gun, often used for point security, convoy escort or perimeter defence in Vietnam; also known as the Duster |
M60 | US model general purpose machine gun |
M72 | US model shoulder fired 72mm light shaped charge rocket used to attack bunkers |
M79 | US model 40mm grenade launcher |
M113 | Armoured personnel carrier designed to carry and position troops and supplies; used to transport the L5 pack howitzer guns of 161 Battery 1965-67 |
M125 | M113 variant; self-propelled armoured personnel carrier with 81mm mortar firing through large, circular roof hatch in hull rear |
M548 | M113 variant; unarmoured cargo carrier |
M577 ACV | M113 variant; command vehicle used as a tactical operations centre; includes command and control equipment and long-range communications through hand-cranked extendible antenna system |
M579 fitter | M113 variant; repair and recovery vehicle fitted with crane attachment |
Napalm | Mixture of gasoline and detergent, which, when it exploded, sucks oxygen from the air, either killing people through asphyxiation or burning them alive; often used during firefights |
Nasho | Australian national serviceman or two-year conscript |
NCO | Non-commissioned officer; section commander; platoon sergeant type ranks |
NDP | Night defensive position; a small temporary base for supporting arms like tanks |
Neptune | P-2 US Navy aircraft |
NEWZAD | The New Zealand Army Detachment Vietnam; engineer detachment which served in Vietnam, June 1964 - July 1965 |
Night hunter | Co-ordinated radar, artillery and air cavalry |
Night raid | Planned operation against an intelligence target |
Nitecap | Integrated civic action programme during darkness with particular emphasis on psychological operations |
Nog/Noggie | NZ/Australian slang for Vietnamese |
NVA | North Vietnamese Army; regular army of North Vietnam |
NZ | New Zealand or New Zealander; see Kiwi |
NZATTV | New Zealand Army Training Team Vietnam |
NZV Force | New Zealand Army Force (Vietnam) |
OC | Officer commanding; also known as the company commander or sunray |
OCTU | Officer Cadet Training Unit |
O Group | Orders group; meeting of personnel to be tasked for future operations |
OPDEM | Urgent supply to field troops of ammunition and weapons; see MAINTDEM |
Op(s) | Operation (usually followed by a name); see AO |
OR | Other ranks; soldiers who are not commissioned officers |
Orion | P-3 US Navy aircraft |
Oscar Deuce | Cessna 0-2 Forward Air Control (FAC) aircraft |
OTLP | One Time Letter Pad; a code book system used by patrols in the field; each page would be used only once |
OUMC | Otago University Medical Company |
Pad | See LP |
Paludrine | Drug used by Australians and New Zealanders in Vietnam as a malaria suppressant, taken in combination with Dapsone |
Patrol | Activity; selection of soldiers from three to company size on task in the bush |
PC | Slang for APC, as in 'mount that PC' |
PE | Plastic explosive such as C4 |
People sniffer | Electro-chemical device to detect humans |
Pepper-pot | Advance to contact in an unpredictable manner using small groups who cover movement with observation and aimed fire; in appearance like shaking pepper from a pot |
Pit | Hole dug or scraped in the ground as protection from incoming fire |
Pl | Platoon; military unit typically composed of two to four sections or squads and containing 30 - 50 soldiers |
Pl comd | Platoon commander; usually an officer of lieutenant rank |
Pl sgt | Platoon sergeant, responsible for platoon administration and deputising for commander |
Picket duty | Sentry duty |
Pogue | Derisory slang for someone permanently left out of battle; see LOB |
POO | Point of Origin; map referencing system in which prearranged grid references on a map were used as a point of origin by jungle patrols |
Pop smoke | To throw a coloured (red, yellow, or green) smoke grenade to assist helicopters identify correct landing place |
Possum | Call-sign for aircraft or helicopter of 161 Reconnaissance Flight |
POW | Prisoner of war |
Pte | Private; lowest grade of trained soldier; also Gnr (gunner – artillery), Sig (signaller – Corps of Signals), Spr (sapper – engineers), Tpr (trooper – armoured corps) |
Puff the magic dragon | C-47 aircraft equipped with three mini-guns; see spooky |
Punji | Sharpened stick; see booby trap |
PX | Post Exchange; retail stores operating on United States military installations worldwide. Known as Base Exchange (BX) on Air Force bases, and Navy Exchange (NEX) on Navy bases |
Q store | Quartermaster store; reserve stores in base area |
RAA | Royal Australian Artillery |
RAAF | Royal Australian Air Force; helicopters and transports supporting 1st Australian Task Force (1ATF) |
Ranch hand | Tactical military project for aerial spraying of herbicides in South Vietnam |
Rank | Designation of experience and authority; see Pte, NCO, CQMS, CSM, OC |
RAP | Regimental aid post; first level medical facility |
RAR | Royal Australian Regiment; Australian infantry structure of nine battalions, three of which were designated ANZAC and had New Zealand companies |
Rats | Rations |
Raven | US UH-23 observation helicopter |
Recce | Reconnaissance; US abbreviation was 'recon' |
resup | Resupply; see MAINTDEM |
RF/PF | Regional force or popular force militia; part of ARVN; also known as ruff puffs |
Rolling thunder | US air campaign against North Vietnam |
Rounds | Ammunition |
RPG | Soviet or Chinese model shoulder-fired rocket propelled grenade; used as local firepower by VC |
RNZA | Royal New Zealand Artillery |
RNZAF | Royal New Zealand Air Force |
RNZIR | Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment |
RNZN | Royal New Zealand Navy |
RNZNVR | Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve |
RSVN | Republic of South Vietnam |
RTNZ | 'Return to New Zealand' from overseas posting |
R in C | Rest-in-country; a 48-hour recreational break at Peter Badcoe Club Vung Tau |
R&C | Rest and convalescence; 5-day leave for NZers outside South Vietnam |
R&R | Rest and recreation sponsored by US Forces; 5-days off outside South Vietnam |
Sapper | Lowest grade of field engineer; special force VC or NVA soldiers who penetrated bases to destroy infrastructure |
SAS | Special Air Service, either Australian or New Zealand; lived on 'SAS Hill', the highest point in Nui Dat |
Scout | First and second soldier in patrol; role to give early warning of danger |
SEATO | South East Asia Treaty Organisation |
Secateurs | Hand-held pruning shears used to remove bush during movement; see gollock |
Shell scrape | Military earthwork used as a sleeping space for soldiers in the field |
Short | Time still remaining to serve in a tour of duty |
Sig | Signaller or radio operator; see Pte |
SITREP | Situation report, usually a coded radio message using a standard format |
Sky crane | See superhook |
SLR | British model 7.62mm semi-automatic self-loading personal rifle; see M16-A1 |
Slick | Single helicopter movement; slang for an individual troop carrying helicopter |
Sioux | US OH-13 observation helicopter |
Snake | AH-1 Cobra - two-bladed, single engine attack helicopter; also known as HueyCobra |
Snakepit | Revetments at Vung Tau airfield where AH-1 Cobra gunship helicopters were based |
Snatch | Rapidly planned and executed operation to exploit information obtained from enemy |
Snoopy | US aircraft tasked to scan jungle with a range of human detecting sensors |
SOP | Standard operating procedure; agreed way to do certain actions or reports |
Spider holes | Shoulder-deep hole, often covered by a camouflaged lid and linked to a tunnel system; the VC stood and fired a weapon, then closed the lid to disguise the hole |
Splinter team | Small group of field engineers attached to rifle units for mine, booby trap or obstacle clearing tasks |
Splintex | Term for round filled with flechettes |
Spooky | Call sign for C-47 gunship; see puff the magic dragon |
Sqn | Squadron, military subunit of company equivalent; air force unit |
Stag | Rostered sentry duty |
Stand-to | Period at dusk and dawn when all activity ceases; change from day to night routine or vice versa |
Stick | Group of men ready to board helicopters |
Stokes litter | Rigid stretcher with straps to immobilise a casualty before winching aboard a dustoff helicopter |
Sunray | Radio term for officer commanding; see OC |
Superhook | CH-54 cargo helicopter; also known as sky crane |
SVN | South Vietnam |
Sweep | Tactical move through an area to check for bodies, wounded, equipment etc |
Tail-end Charlie | Last person in a patrol, responsible for covering tracks backwards observation |
Tan Tay Lan | Vietnamese for 'New Zealander' |
TAOR | Tactical area of responsibility; unit's operating area; area around Nui Dat and other firebases |
TCDD | 2,3,7,8 tetrachloro-dibenzodioxin |
The Dat | Nui Dat, base of 1Australian Task Force (1ATF) combat units, as in 'heading back to the Dat' |
TOD | Tour of duty (usually one year); period of time for a task or posting |
Tracer bullets | Special bullets containing a phosphorous that burns brightly while in motion to show where they are going |
Triangle | Easily understood shape of a harbour position; adapted as a drill for ambushes and halts |
Troopie | Slang for ANZAC soldier |
Uc Dai Loy | Vietnamese for 'Australian' |
UH-1D | Model of US helicopter operated in Phouc Tuy province by 9 Squadron RAAF; see Iroquois |
Uncle Ho | Nickname for Ho Chi Minh used by his supporters during the war and still widely used in Vietnam |
USAF | United States Air Force |
USMC | United States Marine Corps |
USN | United States Navy |
VCI | Viet Cong infrastructure; the covert cadres in villages |
VHF | Very high frequency; radio frequency between 30-300 MHz |
Victor | V Company RNZIR; there were successive company replacement drafts, each with a numeral to indicate order - V5 Coy was the fifth V Coy to arrive in Vietnam |
Viet Cong (VC) | Armed forces of the communist National Liberation Front, more formally known as the People's Liberation Armed Forces |
Viet Minh | National liberation movement formed by Hồ Chí Minh in 1941 to seek independence for Vietnam from France as well as to oppose the Japanese occupation |
VIS | Vietnamese Information Service, responsible for interpretation and dissemination of South Vietnamese government programme and information |
VNAF | (South) Vietnam Air Force; now defunct |
VTSZ | Vung Tau special zone |
Vung Tau Airlines | No. 35 Squadron RAAF, which flew Caribou aircraft |
Vungers | Slang for Vung Tau |
Wakey | Final day of service in Vietnam; from 'wake up and go home' |
Webbing | See belt order |
Whisky/Whiskey | W Coy RNZIR; there were successive company replacement drafts, each with a numeral to indicate order - W3 Coy was the third W Coy to arrive in Vietnam |
White mice | Derogatory name for South Vietnamese police; derived from their uniform of white helmets and gloves |
White phosphorous | Explosive round fired from artillery, mortar, or rockets, which dispersed thick smoke and caused serious burns; also known as willie peter |
WIA | Wounded in action; see GSW |
Willie peter | Nickname for white phosphorous explosives |
WO | Warrant Officer Class 1; New Zealand Army rank; see NCO |
WO2 | Warrant Officer Class 2; New Zealand Army rank; see NCO |
Zippo | Cigarette lighter |
The terms in this glossary come from a number of sources, including 'Glossary', Australian War Memorial, accessed 24 April 2008 and 'Glossary of Words/Slang', W3 Company Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment, accessed 11 February 2008.
Many publications about Vietnam include useful lists of terms. See Further information
How to cite this page: '
Glossary
', URL: https://vietnamwar.govt.nz/glossary, (Ministry for Culture and Heritage), updated 23-May-2024
Comments
Oscar Deuce: Cessna 0-2
Oscar Deuce: Cessna 0-2 FAC aircraft //
Snake: AH-1 Cobra gunship helicopter //
Snakepit: Revetments at Vung Tau airfield where the Snakes were based //
Commando Vault: BLU-82 15,000 pound bomb dropped from a C130. ( "Instant helicopter pad") //
Vung Tau Airlines: No. 35 Squadron RAAF (Caribou)
Thanks Robin - I've added