Claymore-like (anti-personnel), At its simplest, just a small bomb designed to throw out lots of shrapnel in a specific direction. Sometimes combined with homemade napalm, poisonous gases, and/or acids because some people think bombs are just not lethal enough.
Shaped charge (anti-vehicle), Sometimes just a single, large convex copper plate in a tube with an explosive propellant in the closed end. Other times, sophisticated multi-battery arrays of different slugs. Intended to do one thing, hurl superheated armor-penetrating projectiles at close range into passing vehicles. Often shreds occupants without destroying the vehicle.
Blast (anti-everything), From a simple artillery shell in a trash bag on the side of the road to multi-ton truck bombs and everything in between. Usually employed against buildings, fortified positions (ex. checkpoints, heavily armored vehicles), or for pure terror purposes. Tragically, there is no rule stating that an IED can’t combine elements of all the above.
Long Range Desert Group (LRDG), A battalion-sized force of desert warfare specialists operating independently in small “Patrols” well behind Axis lines throughout North Africa. Made up primarily of New Zealanders, Australians, and South Rhodesians, the LRDG was tasked with deep reconnaissance of Axis rear areas and picking targets for air raids. Growing bored with such passive work, they soon earned a reputation as fearsome raiders who would just materialize out of the desert and shoot up a supply convoy or airfield, and then disappear without a trace.
LZ, Landing Zone
MG 42, Standard German 7.92 mm medium machine gun. Fairly easy to operate dismounted, assuming an assistant gunner is available to carry ammo.
MP 40, High-quality German 9mm machine pistol, but maximum effective range less than 200m.
NCO, Generic term for all Sergeants, from E-5 to E-9’s, in the US and UK/Commonwealth armies. Stands for Non-Commissioned Officer. In modern usage, each letter is always sounded out, but the Allies of WW2 often used shorthand nicknames, such as “Nico” or “Noncom.” Informal titles such as “sarge” were strongly discouraged, but still often used by junior enlisted men as a term of endearment, as long as no other NCO’s were around.
OpOrder, Operations Order. General plan.
Paddy, Temper tantrum.
QRF, Quick Reaction Force. A mobile, round-the-clock alert reserve ready to respond to any security breach.
ROE, Rules of engagement. General guidelines for the use of force, usually accompanied by a list of situational specific do or don’t shoot scenarios. Always prefaced with the disclaimer, “Nothing in these Rules of Engagement limits your right to take appropriate action to defend yourself and your unit.”
Submarine Spitfire, Advanced British fighter/bomber. Many variants produced, but the most common armament consisted of either 8x .303 machine guns or 4x .303 plus 2x 20mm cannons.
Sten Gun, Cheap British equivalent of the MP 40 submachine gun, but much lower quality and less reliable.
S-X, The command staff of a unit. Starting at Battalion level and higher, each unit’s headquarters staff has six “shops,” divided by function. Divisions and Corps designations start with G,
– S-1, Personnel, and General administration. Roughly equivalent to civilian HR.
– S-2, Intelligence/counter-intelligence.
– S-3, Operations & Training. The largest section. Responsible for turning the Commander’s General directives into detailed plans and “managing” the battle.
– S-4, Supply & Maintenance
– S-5, Civil Affairs/Psychological Operations.
– S-6, Signal (communications/IT in the modern military)
TC, Track (or vehicle) Commander. Every military vehicle has a minimum crew of two, driver and track/vehicle Commander riding in the passenger seat or turret.
TOC, Tactical Operations Center. A fancy way to say command post. Tosh, Nonsense/bullshit.
Volkswagen Kübelwagen, “Tub car,” a popular German version of the Willy Jeep based on the VW Beatle chassis.
WILCO, Radio shorthand for “Will comply.” Often used as a way to express displeasure or disagreement with an order without openly stating so.
Willy Jeep, Ford’s rugged and iconic ¼ ton, 4x4 jeep featured in most WW2 movies. While American made, tens of thousands were sold or gifted to Allied forces long before the US entered the war. Captured Jeeps were also quite popular among Axis troops, especially German Commandos.
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