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Up/AUF
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MARINE INFORMATIONS
NAVAL JARGON'S AND
SLANG'S
INFO
Technical alterations, misprint, wrong
slang's, jargon's and erros excepted.
Naval Terminology, Jargon and Slang
*'RN' denotes Royal Navy usage. Similarly, RCN=Royal
Canadian Navy, RAN=Royal Australian Navy, RM=Royal Marines
*Terms in ALL-CAPS have a separate listing.
*Special note: Since days of yore, sailors (and the
military in general) have often had a rather pithy (dare I say 'tasteless'?)
manner of speech. While I have attempted to present things with a bit of humor,
if you are easily offended, then this FAQ may not be for you. You have been
warned.
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A B C D
E F G H
I J K L
M N O P
Q R S T
U V W X Y
Z |
| A |
ACM - Air Combat Maneuvering.
Dogfighting practice.
Adrift - (RCN) Missing in action.
"Oh no, I'm adrift for the meeting and the Bossman'll be there!"
AEF/A - Auxiliary Electrician
Forward/Aft (Nuclear, submarine).
A-farts - Spoken form of A.F.R.T.S.
(Armed Forces Radio and Television System), a US system providing
television and radio entertainment to forces overseas.
AFFF - Aqueous Film Forming Foam. A
fire-fighting agent which is mixed with water and sprayed on flammable
liquids fires. Pronounced "A triple-F". Aka 'Light Water' for
the foam's ability to float on oil or gasoline. Replaced protein foam.
Afterburner - A system in the
engine(s) of many tactical aircraft (and a very few non-tactical a/c such
as the SR-71) which dramatically increases thrust at the cost of doubling
(or more) the fuel consumption. Analogous term in UK-based countries is
reheat.
A-gang - Auxiliaries Division of the
Engineering Department. These personnel operate and maintain the ship's
auxiliary equipment (air conditioning systems, distilling units, air
compressors, etc.)
A-ganger - Auxiliaryman. Member of
A-gang.
A-gear - See ARRESTING GEAR.
AGI - Auxiliary, Intelligence
Gathering, aka 'Tattletale'. Refers to Russian 'trawlers' (or, more
recently, purpose-built ships) stationed off NATO ports and following
fleets. A secondary mission was to ‘keep tabs’ on key NATO seagoing
assets.
Airdale, airedale - Naval aviator,
aka 'BROWNSHOE'. Can also refer to any member of the aviation community,
officer or enlisted. From envy, often modified by non-aviation types with
the adjective "fucking".
Airy-fairy – (1) (RN) Fleet Air
Arm personnel. See WAFOO. (2) (RCN) Vague or impractical suggestion.
Alert Five - Aircraft on five-minute
alert. This generally requires that the aircrew be seated in the aircraft
at all times. There may also be aircraft/aircrews on alert fifteen, etc.
Alpha Mike Foxtrot - Acronym for
"Adios, Motherfucker". Polite form: "Adios, My
Friend." Also seen as initials, ‘AMF.’
Amp Tramp - (RCN) Ship's
electrician.
Anchor-faced - (RN) Anyone who is
enthusiastic about the Navy.
Anchor clanker - (1) Any Boatswain's
Mate. (2) Any ordinary seaman (RN). See DECK APE.
Andrew (the) - (RN) Nickname for the
Royal Navy.
Angled Deck - The landing area of a
modern carrier, which is offset 10 degrees to port from the ship's
centerline to provide for safe BOLTERs. Aka 'angle deck', 'the angle.'
Anti-Smash Light - The rotating or
flashing anti-collision beacon on an aircraft.
AOW - Auxiliaryman Of (the) Watch.
Also called 'The Aux'.
Arresting Gear - Mechanism used to
rapidly bring an aircraft to a halt aboard ship or ashore. In field use
(ashore), A-gear may be a device as simple as lengths of anchor chain
connected to a CROSS-DECK PENDANT, though this type of installation is
beco ming less common. The chain device is usually referred to as 'overrun
gear', as it acts to stop an aircraft which is about to run off of the end
of the prepared runway surface. Other types of arresting gear, ashore and
afloat, involve complicated braking mechanisms.
Artificer - (RN) Engineering
technician.
AUX - Pronounced ‘ox.’ (1)
Verbal shorthand for 'auxiliary', as when referring to a machinery space,
'Aux One'. (2) Alternate form of AOW. |
| B |
BESCO - this is a good company form
Marine equipment in Germany.
Back Afty - (RN) Anything to do with
the nuclear power plant or the people who operate it. See NUKE.
Back in Battery - Originally an
artillery term for a gun which has completed its recoil/postfiring cycle
and is ready to fire again. Common usage now is 'ready to go', or
recovered. Also seen as 'Back to Battery.' "I set my hair on fire
last night, bu t five hours' rack time and I'm back in battery."
Bag - (1) Get, or collect.
"Let's go bag some traps." (2) Stop, or leave. "Let's bag
this project."
Ball (the) - The glowing image
projected by the FRESNEL LENS. Gives glideslope reference.
Bandit – (1) Air contact
positively identified as hostile. (2) (RCN) A sailor often in trouble.
Bang Seat - (British) Ejection seat.
Banjo, butty – (1) (RN) A
sandwich. Also 'sarnie'. (2) Nickname for F-2 Banshee fighter.
Banyan - (RCN) A barbecue or party
on the flight deck, usually with steaks and beer. USN form is STEEL BEACH
(without the beer).
Barricade (the) - (1) A device
vaguely similar to a tennis net which can be rigged and used to stop an
aircraft which is unable to TRAP. Aka 'barrier'. (2) In the days of the
straight-deck carriers, a series of devices rigged during normal landing
oper ations to prevent an aircraft which failed to trap from smashing into
THE PACK, graduating from a low barrier which just engaged the landing
gear, all the way to a device more similar to the contemporary one.
BB Stacker - Generically, any ORDIE.
Beagle - (RN/RAN) Wardroom steward.
Benny - A treat or reward, cf.
'benefit'.
Benny Sugg - Beneficial Suggestion
program.
BFM - Basic Flight Maneuvers.
Big Chicken Dinner – Bad Conduct
Discharge. In many ways, equivalent to a felony conviction.
Bilge - (1) (Traditional) The area
below the deck gratings in the lowest spaces of the ship, where things,
especially liquids, tend to collect. (2) To fail or do poorly. "Poor
Smitty bilged the quiz." (3) To name a classmate or shipmate involved
in wro ngdoing, or to identify a mistake made by someone else.
Bingo - (1) Fuel level or status
requiring either an immediate return to base or vector to a tanker, 'bingo
fuel'. As a verb, the act of returning to base or a tanker because of low
fuel state.
Bird farm - Aircraft carrier.
Birds - (1) Term for the rank
markings of a USN Captain or USMC Colonel (silver eagle, O-6 paygrade).
(2) (RCN) Punishment consisting of confinement to the ship, base, etc., or
sailors under punishment (cf. British slang for ‘jailbird.’) (3)
Generic, a irplane. (4) Missiles, especially in the surface community.
"Birds Free" means permission has been granted to fire missiles.
Bitchbox – (surface) Intercom or
amplified circuit used to communicate between spaces of the ship.
Bittersweet - A radio call
signifying that friendly aircraft are in danger from a surface AAW missile
launch, or that the presence of friendly aircraft is preventing a missile
shot.
Black Cat Merchant - (RN) Someone
who is always exaggerating.
Black-Hand Gang - (RN) See SNIPE.
Older (ca. WW II), less politically-correct form is 'Black Gang' (USN
usage). Originally, it referred to the appearance of men who had been
shoveling a lot of coal.
Black-shoe - Member of the surface
or submarine community. Until recently, the only approved footwear for
these communities was black in color. More recently, brown footwear is
optional, but seldom seen due to tradition.
Blank flange - (1) A plate bolted
onto an open pipe to prevent flooding or leaks while work is performed on
a piping system. (2) Pancakes. (3) Someone who acts like an idiot (aka
'blank file').
Bleed Air – In gas turbine
engines, compressed air that is removed (‘bled’) from the compressor
section at various points. Can be used for various applications, such as
to maintain clean airflow in the engine, anti-icing, air conditioning, or
to provid e start air to another engine.
Blivet - (1) Traditionally,
"Ten pounds of shit in a five-pound sack." (2) A rubber fuel
bladder. (3) A modified droptank (may be purpose- built or a field
modification) used to haul small cargo, especially in tactical aircraft,
or used to haul danger ous or toxic cargo outside of the aircraft.
Bloggins - (RN) The catch-all name.
"Ordinary Seaman Bloggins fucked up again." Similar to the USN's
"Joe Shit the Ragman" (qv), or "Seaman Jones".
Bloodhound – Radio codeword for
Mark 46 ASW torpedo.
Blowdown - A generic engineering
term which can be used as noun or verb. A cleaning and/or venting process.
Some specific applications: (1) A process for cleaning water-sides of a
boiler. A top blow removes scum and floating contaminants, a bottom blow
removes sludge. (2) To backflush and clean a SEACHEST. (3) The process of
removing excess pressure from a system, or venting it completely.
Blue Force - Friendly forces in a
wargame exercise.
Blue on Blue - A friendly-fire kill.
UK term is 'own-goal.'
Blue-Shirt – (1) (aviation)
Aviation Boatswain's Mate. During flight deck ops, wears a jersey
color-coded blue. Responsible for positioning and chaining down aircraft.
Aka 'Chock and Chain boys'. A type of KNUCKLEDRAGGER. Often a non-rated
person. (2) Anyone E-6 or below wearing the dungaree uniform. Similar to
the traditional term "bluejacket."
Blue Water - Literally, 'deep
water,' or 'deep draft,' but more traditionally, 'away from land.' A 'blue
water navy' is capable of prosecuting battle away from shore-based support
in vessels of sufficient size and endurance to do so safely.
Blue Water Ops - Flight ops carried
out beyond range of a bingo or divert field. At this point it is literally
sink or swim for the pilot--if he cannot trap successfully, he and his
aircrew will have to eject or bail out.
Boarding Rate - The percentage of
carrier approaches that result in successful arrestments. May be counted
for a pilot, a squadron, or an airwing.
Boards - Speed Brakes
Boat - (1) Traditional term of
reference for a submarine. (2) Traditional aviation term used to refer to
an aircraft carrier. (3) Any small Naval vessel incapable of making
regular independent voyages on the high seas.
Bogey - Unidentified air contact.
May turn out to be friendly, neutral, or hostile.
Bogey Dope - Radio calls to the
intercepting fighter giving data on the bogey's position, course,
altitude, etc.
BOHICA - Acronym for "Bend
Over, Here It Comes Again."
Bolter - The go-around that occurs
when the carrier plane's tailhook misses the wires. Only possible on
modern carriers with an ANGLED DECK (qv). Prior to the advent of the
angled deck, missed wires often resulted in a BARRICADE engagement or a
crash i nto the PACK.
Bomb (The) - (submarine only) The
oxygen generator system.
Bomber - See BOOMER.
Bonedome - Flight helmet. Aka
'hardhat', 'brain bucket'.
Boomer - (1) (Naval) Ballistic
missile submarine. Primary mission is nuclear deterrence. (2) (Air Force)
The operator of the boom, the pipe extending below the aircraft which is
used to transfer fuel. The boom is "flown" (controlled) into
contact with the receiving aircraft.
Boondoggle - Travel which is more
fun than functional. Applies to many military schools.
Boresight - (1) A rough method of
aligning guns to a sighting system. (2) Excessive concentration on one
situation in a time of plenty, i.e. tunnel vision. Aka "Head Up And
Locked." (3) A location on the aircraft's datum line, often used as a
center p oint for dogfight radar scan modes, or when telling the RIO to
get a lockup, goddammit!
Boot – Rookie, or newbie.
Bootneck (RN) - See ROYAL MARINE.
Bounce - (1) Carrier landing
practice. (2) (older usage) Surprise air-to-air attack by a fighter,
usually from behind.
Brain Fart - Conceptual
discontinuity. Loss of the bubble. Polite forms: 'brain fade', 'brain
cramp'.
Bravo Zulu - Phonetic pronunciation
of 'BZ' from the NATO signals codes. signifies 'Good Job', or 'Well Done'.
Break (the) - Maneuver used by
pilots of tactical aircraft to slow to pattern speed. Typically, a
180-degree turn to the downwind leg at 4.5-6 G's (depending on speed of
entry).
Broke Dick – Non-functional. See
‘TITS UP.’
Brown-Shirt – (Aviation) A Plane
Captain, so called because of the brown jersey he wears.
Brownshoe - Member of the aviation
community. Refers to the brown boots or shoes which once were worn by
aviation personnel with the Aviation Green uniform. Unauthorized footgear
for a while, but recently re-approved for all USN service communities.
Brown Water - Shallow water or
shallow draft, especially a ship or force whose ships are not suited to
deep (or open) water and deep-water combat.
Brown Water Ops – Naval operations
in shallow water, typically consisting of water depths of 100 fathoms or
less.
Bubblehead - Member of the submarine
community. Frequently modified by members of the surface fleet with the
adjective "fucking". See 6 D's.
Buffer - (RN/RCN/RAN) The senior
rate responsible for seamanship evolutions, typically a Chief Boatswain's
Mate.
Bug juice - A substance not entirely
unlike Kool-Aid which is served as a beverage aboard USN ships. Its color
has no bearing on its flavor. Largely composed of ascorbic acid. Used
extensively as an all-purpose cleaner/stripper for bulkheads, decks, br
ass fire nozzles, and pipes.
Bug Out - 'Getting the hell out of
Dodge.' An escape maneuver from an air-to-air fight, generally consisting
of unloading and selection of ZONE FIVE.
Bulkheading - Loudly criticizing a
fellow officer.
Bulldog – Codeword for Harpoon
cruise missile.
Bull Ensign - Senior ensign aboard.
In multi-unit ships, such as a carrier with its airwing embarked,
generally each squadron will have its own Bull Ensign.
Bull Nuke - Senior nuclear-trained
CPO aboard a sub. Junior in authority to the COB.
Bullnose - A chock placed right over
the stem, or 'in the eyes' of the ship.
Bullpen - Term for the large antenna
arrays associated with a shore HFDF (High Frequency Direction Finding)
station.
Bunting Tosser, bunts (RN) - Signals
or Radio personnel. The term originates from the use of semaphore flags
for visual signals. Analogous USN terms: ‘flag wagger,' 'skivvy waver.'
Burner - (1) In a submarine, a
system that burns carbon monoxide and hydrogen out of the air, converting
H2 to water and CO to CO2. CO2 is then removed by the SCRUBBER. (2) In
aviation, short for afterburner.
Buster - Aviation term for maximum
speed available without using afterburners.
Butt – (1) Cigarette. (2)
(obsolete) A wooden cask or barrel.
Butter Bar – Ensign/Second
Lieutenant (O-1 paygrade), so called for the gold bar collar device.
Butt Kit - Ashtray.
|
| C |
CAG - Carrier Air Group. Can also
refer to the Carrier Air Group commander. Sometimes seen as CAW for
Carrier or Commander Air Wing.
Call the Ball - A radio transmission
from a pilot that he has sighted the BALL during approach to the carrier.
Typically consists of SIDE NUMBER, aircraft type (to ensure proper
ARRESTING GEAR settings), and amount of fuel onboard in thousands of pound
s, e.g. '205 Tomcat ball, 3.5'.
Camel Station - Rendezvous point for
ships in the Indian Ocean.
CAMS - Central Atmosphere Monitoring
System. A mass spectrometer that samples the atmosphere on submarines.
Cannon Cocker - Gunnery specialist.
CAP - Combat Air Patrol. Usually
defensive in nature. There are several types: TARCAP (TARget CAP), BARCAP
(BARrier CAP), RESCAP (REScue CAP, i.e. for SAR operations).
Captain's Mast - Non-judicial
disciplinary procedure, usually meted out by unit commanders.
Captain of the... - (RN) Person in
charge of a particular part of the ship, i.e. Captain of the Focs'l.
Derogative, ‘Captain of the Head.’
Captain's Table - (RN) A
disciplinary hearing. See CAPTAIN'S MAST.
CAS – Close Air Support. Moving
mud to help out the grunts.
CAVU - Aviation term, short for
'Ceiling And Visibility Unlimited'.
CERA - (RCN, pronounced 'sarah' or
‘Chief ERA’) Chief Engine Room Artificer.
Cha - (RN) Tea. Also spelled 'char'.
Charlie Oscar - Commanding Officer.
Charlie Sierra - Chickenshit. The
unnecessarily thorough enforcement of a regulation.
Charlie Time - Assigned time for
carrier aircraft to land. "Your Signal Charlie" means 'commence
approach immediately and land upon arrival.'
Cheng - CHief ENGineer. Pronounced
'chang'.
Chicken of the Sea - Ballistic
missile submarine, or a crewmember of same; the nature of their mission is
to avoid detection by whatever means necessary. Their motto is "We
hide with pride." See BOOMER.
Chinstrap - (RM) So tired, usually
from running, that one's head drops. Any naval personnel are assumed to be
'on their chinstraps' at all times.
Chop – (1) Supply Officer. See
PORKCHOP. (2) CHange of OPerational command, spoken as "inchop"
(entering a command region or zone) or "outchop" (leaving a
command region), e.g. "We will inchop MIDEASTFOR at 0830
tomorrow."
Civvy Street – Civilian life.
CIWS - Close-In Weapon System, a
short-range anti-missile point defense system commonly comprised of a
radar system and rotary-barreled Gatling gun. In NATO, the Vulcan Phalanx.
A newer version, Goalkeeper, uses the GAU-8 30mm Gatling gun found in the
A-10 Thunderbolt for increased range and destructive power. Can have
anti-surface modes as well. Derisive interpretations of the acronym
include: 'Christ, It Won't Shoot', and 'Captain, It Won't Shoot'.
Clear Datum - (1) Submarine: to
leave the area where you have been detected (see DATUM). (2) To leave the
scene of the crime, especially when liquor and members of the opposite sex
are involved, and particularly if the member of the opposite sex in que
stion is a GRONK.
Clankie, Clanky - (RN) Mechanical
Engineer.
Clara - The radio call from a
carrier pilot on approach signifying that he has not sighted the BALL. May
be due to conditions of poor visibility.
Clobbered - Weathered in, as in
"We made a good approach, but the field was clobbered and we had to
divert." Similar to WOXOF.
CMC - Command Master Chief. Similar
to the COB, but for surface, shore, and aviation commands. See also MCPOC.
CO - Commanding Officer. The captain
or skipper of a vessel. Generally spoken as 'Charley Oscar'.
COB - Chief Of (the) Boat. Senior
enlisted onboard a submarine; acts as liaison between the crew and the XO.
Coffeepot - Nuclear reactor. Aka
TEAKETTLE.
Collision Mat - Pancake.
Con Level – Altitude at which
contrails occur. To be avoided in tactical situations, as they make for
easy visual detection.
Condition 1 - General Quarters
(battle stations). May be modified for certain conditions, such as
Condition 1AS, in which all antisubmarine watch stations and weapons are
manned, but AAW stations may not be. Modified conditions are used to
minimize cre w fatigue, which can be a significant factor over a prolonged
period at battle stations.
Condition 2 - A material condition
of readiness commonly associated with wartime steaming where some, usually
half, of the ship's weapons are kept in a manned and ready status.
Condition 3 - A material condition
of readiness commonly associated with peacetime steaming. There are no
weapons in a ready status.
Coner - aka 'noseconer'. A crew
member on a submarine who does not work in the engineering spaces. A
non-nuke.
Contact Coordinator - (submarine
only) Senior Enlisted/Junior Officer that mans the submarine periscope
during surface operations in order to help track and assess surface
contacts.
Counter battery - Firing on enemy
artillery. 'Doing unto them before they can do unto you.'
COW - Chief Of (the) Watch.
(submarine only) Responsible for coordinating shipboard evolutions such as
housekeeping, watchstanding, wake-ups, etc. Also controls the BCP (ballast
control panel) while underway.
Cox - (RN) The Coxswain. The senior
rate on a destroyer, frigate, or smaller vessel. Responsible, among other
things, for discipline.
Crab, crabfat - (RN) A member of the
Royal Air Force. From the color (light blue) of the uniform, which is the
same as the crabfat grease used on gun breeches, etc., in the RN.
Cranie - Protective headgear worn by
flight deck crewmembers. Incorporates hearing protection and impact
protection. May be color-coded like the flight-deck jerseys.
Crank - See MESSCRANK.
Crash and Smash Crew (or Team) -
Crash and Rescue personnel. They wear red flight deck jerseys.
Crinkleneck - Small fish that wait
for waste to drop from the SCUTTLE. Derogatory term for officers and
enlisted that figuratively do the same.
Crippie - Cryptographic personnel.
Critter fritters - Fried mystery
meat.
Cross-Decking - The practice of
transferring men or equipment from one ship to another, especially when
transferring from a ship returning from deployment to a ship departing or
about to depart on deployment.
Cross-Deck Pendant, CDP - The wire
(cable) which the hook of a carrier aircraft catches to accomplish an
arrested landing.
Crow - The rate insignia of a USN
Petty Officer (E-4 through E-6), so-called because of the eagle
surmounting the rate chevrons.
Crusher - (RN) A member of the
Regulating Branch, i.e. Naval Shore Patrol.
Cumshaw - Procurement of needed
material outside the supply chain, usually by swapping, barter, or mutual
backscratching. Often involves coffee or other food items. Officially
frowned upon, but a widespread practice. |
| D |
Dabtoe - (RN) Surface sailor.
DACT – Dissimilar Air Combat
Training. ACM conducted between aircraft of different types. Also seen as
DACM. Valuable in that it teaches an aircrew to consider comparative
performance points of their aircraft and others.
Datum - A point or location where a
submarine has been detected or has made its own detection possible,
especially by firing missiles or torpedoes.
DC - Damage Control.
DCA - Damage Control Assistant.
Responsible, under the Chief Engineer, for damage control and stability of
a ship.
Dead Horse - An interest-free loan
which is paid off via payroll deduction. Often used to cover relocation
expenses, or to pay back a disbursing error which was originally in your
favor.
Deck ape - Surface fleet personnel,
usually Boatswain's Mates, that care for topside gear and equipment. A
type of KNUCKLE-DRAGGER.
6 D's - Deep Diving Death Defying
(or Dealing) Denizens of the Depths. Term used by submariners to refer to
themselves. Often used to detect SKIMMERs by their helpless laughter upon
hearing the phrase.
Deeps - (RN) Submariner.
Deep Six - Originally, a call of the
leadsman signifying that the water is more than 6 fathoms deep, but less
than seven. Euphemism for throwing something overboard. Also seen as
'splash', 'float check', 'float test'.
DIB - (RCN) Any non-engineering
personnel.
Dick the dog – (1) Being
unproductive. "When you guys are done dicking the dog, I could use a
hand here."
Dink - Spoken form of 'Delinquent In
Qual.’ Someone delinquent in PQS qualification points. A weekly points
goal is typically set by each command that an NQP (qv) must achieve.
Failure to do so means daily mandatory study hours supervised by the duty
C hief.
Dip - To lower a sonar transducer
into the water from a hovering helicopter.
Dit - (RN) Short written note.
Dive the intakes - Cleaning engine
intakes, usually by crawling into them.
Dixie Cup - The USN sailor's white
hat. See also WHITEHAT.
Dixie Station - One of the two
positions typically occupied by an aircraft carrier off the coast of
Vietnam. 'Dixie' was the southern station, tasked with troop support
(CAS).
Dobie - (RCN) Laundry. Also seen as
'Dhobi.'
Dobie Dust - (RCN) Laundry soap.
Dockyard Tour - (RN) An excuse to
slide away early when at a fleet school.
Dodge City - Diego Garcia, a British
possession in the approximate middle of the Indian Ocean. US military
forces also operated from there.
Dog Watch – (1) A shortened watch
period. Generally, two two-hour watches, designated First and Second (or
First and Last, RCN), arranged so that personnel on watch can eat the
evening meal. Usually 16:00 to 18:00, and 18:00 to 20:00. Also serves to
al ternate the daily watch routine so sailors with the midwatch one night
will not have it the next time. Origin of term unclear. (2) (RCN) An
unpopular watch, usually the 2400-0400 or 0400-0800.
Dolphins - The warfare insignia of
the submarine fleet. Aka 'tin tunas', 'pukin' fish'. Represented as two
heraldic dolphins flanking the prow of a WW II-type submarine, gold for
officers and silver for enlisted. "Getting (one's)
dolphins"--achieving t he status of a qualified submariner.
Donkey Dick - (1) The nozzle of an
inline proportioner in a firefighting hoseline for AFFF. Note: this term
is also used for literally dozens of other objects in the naval service.
Double Nuts - Aircraft with side
number zero-zero. Often the CAG's bird.
DOW - Diving Officer of the Watch.
Down to the Short Strokes - Nearly
done; almost finished.
Draeger Tubes - An older method of
sampling atmosphere, in which a hand-held pump is used to draw samples
into the test system.
Drilling holes in the water - Term
for the underwater operations of a submarine. Also refers to sailing from
point A to point B for no particular reason.
Drip - (RN) Complain. "The
Chief was dripping about the state of the world."
Droplights - Red lights arranged
vertically below the RAMP, on the approach centerline, on the carrier's
stern. Used to provide lineup cues for night landings.
DTG - (1) Days To Go. Short-timer's
record-keeping. (2) Date-Time Group, part of the header of a message which
indicates the date, time, and timezone of the message's origin.
Duff - (RCN, RN) (1) Dessert. (2)
Broken, or useless.
Dusty- (RN) Stores rating,
especially one concerned with food or clothing. More fully 'Jack Dusty'.
USN usage, 'Jack o' the Dust.' |
| E |
EAB - Emergency Air Breathing mask. A
sealed mask with an airhose and a quick disconnect to attach to the main
EAB system. When using this, a crewman is said to be 'sucking rubber'.
8 o'clock Reports - Reports made by
all department heads to the XO, who then takes them to the CO. The reports
usually consist of equipment reports and position reports, significant
events of the day or of the day to come, etc.
ELSA - (RN) Emergency Life Support
Apparatus. Consists of a clear plastic hood and an air bottle, used to
escape from smoke-filled spaces.
EM – (1) Electrician’s Mate. (2)
Extra Mechanic. (nuke) Electrician’s Mates often stand Motor Machinist
(MM) watches to support the watchbill.
EMCON - EMissions CONtrol. Various
conditions of electronic silence. 'EMCON Alpha' is total emissions
silence, 'EMCON Bravo' allows radiation of certain non type-specific
emitters, etc.
EMI - Extra Military Instruction.
Duties assigned as punishment which are also intended to improve one's
military knowledge. Chipping paint would not qualify as EMI, while
inventorying the ship's pubs (publications) would.
EOOW - Engineer Officer Of the
Watch. Pronounced 'ee-ow'.
EOS – Enclosed Operating Space.
Space from which engineering spaces are controlled. Generally
air-conditioned and soundproofed, the wimps.
Essence - Good, pleasant, or
attractive. "Having a totally essence time--the weather is here, wish
you were beautiful."
Evap - Distilling unit, aka 'the
still'. Used to produce fresh water at sea, both for the boilers and for
potable usage. |
| F |
FAG - Fighter-Attack Guy. The pilot
of an F/A-18.
Fancy Dinns - Steak and wine night
at sea. Usually hosted by the various departments.
Fast Attack - Refers to submarines
whose primary missions are sealane control, anti-shipping operations,
anti-submarine warfare, and intelligence operations.
FESTA - (obsolete) ire Extinguishing
System, Twin Agent. An installation which pairs an AFFF-dispensing system
with a PKP-dispensing system. Often found in engineering spaces. See TAU.
Field Day - To scrub or otherwise
clean a ship's spaces. Usually ordered when the COB or the XO thinks
morale is low.
FIGMO - Fuck It, (I) Got My Orders.
Equivalent to "Go away and don't bother me". (no polite form)
First Lieutenant - (1) (USN) Deck
Division officer aboard ship, or officer responsible for general
seamanship and deck evolutions. In a ship with a large deck department,
especially where it is key to the ship's mission, such as a carrier or
amphib, ge nerally the deck department head. (2) (RN) Executive Officer of
a ship, if a
Lieutenant Commander or below.
Fishhead - (RN) WAFU term for the
rest of the RN surface crowd.
Fist - (RN) To make a 'good' fist of
something is to do it well. To make a 'real' fist of something is to do it
badly.
Flaming Datum - A burning ship or a
missile breaking water. See also DATUM.
Float Test - Testing the buoyant
qualities of unwanted material while at sea.
FOD - Foreign Object Damage. Can be
used as a noun ("Look at the piece of FOD I picked up.") or a
verb ("Dave FODded his engine last night.") Any object ,
including people, which might be sucked into and thereby damage a jet
engine
FOD walkdown - (1) Unpopular
activity aboard aviation ships where personnel not on watch and 'gawkers,
walkers, and talkers' (innocent bystanders and onlookers) line up and walk
the flight deck from end to end, picking up any object that might damage a
n engine or, if picked up by jet blast, an eye. The human broom picking up
any and every small item on the flight deck.
Foul Deck - A flight deck which is
unsafe for landings. May be due to a crash, location of an aircraft, gear,
or personnel, or condition of the deck surface.
Foul Line - Painted lines on the
flight deck which delineate an area which must be kept clear for flight
operations to proceed safely.
Four-ringer - (RN) Captain.
Fox One (two, three, etc.) - Used to
report the launch of a air-to-air missile, from the 'Foxtrot' (F) of the
phonetic alphabet. 'Fox One' is a radar missile, usually Sparrow or
AIM-120. 'Fox Two' is a heat- seeking missile, e.g. the Sidewinder. 'Fox T
hree' is a Phoenix (AIM-54) missile (the Air Force sometimes uses this to
report firing of guns.) 'Fox Four' is sometimes used derisively to refer
to a midair collision.
Fox Oscar - Fuck Off.
Fresh Air Snipe - Rates which spend
at least some of their time in the engineering spaces, and are members of
the Engineering Dept., but do not work solely with engineering machinery.
Includes rates such as IC (Interior Communications Electrician) and EM
(Electrician's Mate), though nuke EMs are seldom seen outside the plant.
Fresnel Lens, The Lens - An
arrangement of lights that gives a pilot glideslope information during his
approach to an arrested landing, or when simulating same ashore. A yellow
image, called 'THE BALL,' is visible to the pilot on approach. The ball
mov es vertically as the aircraft position varies on the glideslope. If
the ball is lined up with a row of green 'datum' lights, the aircraft is
on glideslope. The ball turns red if the pilot gets too low. Found also on
almost all Naval Air Stations. Also has lights mounted on it which can be
used to give waveoff or ‘cut’ commands. A simplified form of the lens
is mounted on ships which operate helicopters.
Friday/Sunday Routine - (RN) Field
day aboard, followed by CO's rounds. A cake or a couple of cases of beer
are awarded to the cleanest mess on the ship.
FTN - 'Fuck The Navy.' Term used by
short-timers, attitude cases, and sailors having a bad day. Facetiously,
Fun-Time Navy.
FTN Space (the) - An obscure,
hard-to-get-to space, compartment, or void used to hide from officers or
chiefs. According to legend, some ships have had such spaces which do not
show up on the blueprints at all. Persistent rumors exist of entire,
fully- outfitted machinery spaces which do not officially exist.
FUBAR - Fucked Up Beyond All
Recognition. |
| G |
G - The acceleration force felt by
aircrews when maneuvering.
Gash - Garbage or rubbish. Also used
to refer to any unwanted item.
Gate - Aviation term for maximum
afterburners. Aka 'zone five'.
Gawkers, Walkers, and Talkers -
Off-duty personnel.
Gear (the) - Arresting gear.
Geedunk, gedunk - (1) Dessert/junk
food/candy, or a place to buy same. Aka 'pogey bait'. (2)
"Extras" or benefits, awards, ribbons, or medals. (3) Easy or
"sweet" duty.
GIB - "Guy In Back". More
common in Air Force usage, refers to the backseater (non-pilot, NFO) of a
2-place tactical aircraft, aka ‘the pitter,' the guy in the 'pit.’ In
USN/USMC fighters, more commonly called the RIO. In A-6's, the
Bombardier/Navigato r or BN, even though he sits beside the pilot rather
than behind. In S-3 Vikings, more properly an Overwater Jet Navigator
(OJN).
GLOC - G-induced Loss Of
Consciousness. Pronounced 'gee-lock'.
Can be induced by magnitude or
duration of the G load, the rate at which G's are applied, or a
combination of these factors.
Goat Locker - Chiefs' Quarters and
Mess. The term originated during the era of wooden ships, when Chiefs were
given charge of the milk goats on board.
God Botherer - (RN) The chaplain.
Aka 'Sin Bosun', 'Sky Bosun'.
God's G - The acceleration due to
gravity.
Goffa - Any non-alcoholic drink (why
bother?).
Goffer - (RM) A large wave. Usually
shouted as a warning.
Golden BB - That one bullet or shell
that ruins your day in a dogfight, or when conducting ground attacks.
Golden Rivet - The mythical last
rivet which completes a ship. Generally found in the depths of the
engineering spaces, a maneuver used to get a female guest to bend over.
"And if you look 'way down there, you can see the golden rivet!"
Golden Shellback - One who has
crossed the Equator at the International Date Line.
Gong – (RN/RCN/RAN) Medal.
Gonk - (RN) To sleep, perchance to
doze. "I think I'll have a gonk before we hit the beach."
Gonzo Station - The rendezvous point
for aircraft carrier battle groups off the Straits of Hormuz in the
Persian Gulf.
Goofers – See VULTURE’S ROW.
Gopping - (RN) Awful, horrible.
Gouge (the) - Information, or the
'inside scoop'. Aka 'the poop', 'the gen' (USAF). See SCUTTLEBUTT.
GQ - General Quarters. The call for
all hands to man battle stations. Can be used for almost any shipwide
emergency. Action stations (RN).
Grand Slam – Radio call for the
successful SPLASH (destruction) of an air contact. "Grand Slam with
birds" signifies a kill with missiles.
Grape - (1) Easy pickings, esp. in
ACM. (2) Member of the flight deck fuels crew, who wear purple jerseys.
Grape sig - An easy signature on
your quals, generally given in return of a favor. The signature is
traditionally in purple ink, and the practice is frowned upon.
Gray Funnel Line - (RN) The Royal
Navy surface fleet.
Greenie - (RN) (1) Electrician. (2)
Weapons Electrical Branch. (3) A board used to track and display landing
scores of the pilots of a squadron, the 'greenie board.' (4) A fiber-type
scrubbing or scouring pad. (5) Green (solid, not just spray) water co ming
aboard.
Green Maggots - (RCN) Sleeping bag.
Gripe – (Aviation) A discrepancy
noted (on a ‘gripe sheet’) for maintenance action.
Gronk - (RN) Ugly or unattractive,
especially a member of the opposite sex.
Grunt - Marine infantry. Aka
Leatherneck.
G-suit - A piece of gear worn by
flight crews in tactical aircraft. Uses compressed air to squeeze the
calves, thighs, and stomach to reduce the blood-pooling effects of hard
maneuvering.
Guard – (1) International distress
radio frequencies, including 243.0 MHz and 121.5 kHz. (2) To maintain a
specific type of watch on a radio net or circuit.
Gulch – (RN/RCN/RAN) A collection
of PITs. Berthing space.
Gun Boss - WEPS.
Gun Busters - (RCN) Naval weapons
ratings.
Gundeck - To mark a maintenance or
PMS check as complete without doing the work. Aka 'Pencil-whipping,'
especially when intentionally falsifying logs or records, filling in the
blanks just before an inspection. Aka 'Radioing in' a report. May also be
u sed to refer to work that is logged before it is performed.
Gunner - (1) Aviation: the CAG
Weapons Officer. Responsible for the air-launched weapons. (2) Surface:
Term of address for a Warrant Officer gunnery or weapons specialist.
Gunny - Marine Corps Gunnery
Sergeant (E-7). |
| H |
Hack - (1) Informal confinement to
quarters or to squadron spaces. (2) Time check, though this usage is more
common to USAF than USN.
H and I - A military mission
emphasizing Harassment and Interdiction of enemy forces and supply routes.
Hanging Out - (RM) Similar to
CHINSTRAP (q.v.), but worse, i.e. 'Hanging out of their arses.'
Hatch - An opening in the deck, and
its closure. Sometimes (incorrectly) used to mean a watertight door, which
is mounted vertically in a bulkhead.
Heaving Deck - Call from the LSO to
a pilot on approach that the vertical movement of the deck due to the
action of wind and wave is sufficient to be a factor in the approach. Not
only may BALL indications be erroneous, but upward deck movement combine d
with aircraft descent rate may result in damaging impact at touchdown.
Hi-Pac - High Pressure Air
Compressor.
Hold Down - In ASW, to hold contact
on a sub long enough to force it to surface due to battery exhaustion or
lack of oxygen aboard. Only applies to non-nuke subs.
Hollywood shower - An excessively
long shower.
Hong Kong Haircut – Oral sex.
Hook Point - The part of the
tailhook that actually engages the wires. It is replaced periodically, as
it is worn down by contact with the deck or by field arrestment. Field
traps are particularly rough on the hook point, as it is common practice
to t ouch down well prior to the gear and roll into it. As the hook is
held down on the deck by a pressurized snubber, wear is accelerated.
Hooky - (RN) Leading rate. So called
from the fouled anchor rate badge.
Hoover - (1) S-3 Viking, so called
for the vacuum cleaner-like sound of its turbofan engines. (2) Any jet
aircraft, for their tendency to suck objects and debris up off the ground,
especially one with a chin or beard intake, such as the A-7 Corsair
II.
Horse-cock - Sandwich meat, usually
served at MIDRATS, made with mystery meat masquerading as bologna or other
lunch meat. The legendary 'tube steak.' Aka 'Cylindrical Sirloin', 'Fillet
of Mule Tool.'
Huffer - A cart used to provide
start air to an aircraft.
Hummer - (1) E-2 Hawkeye, so-called
for the sound of its turboprop engines. (2) Any propeller-driven aircraft.
Hunter-killer – (1) A SAG whose
primary mission is ASW; a term coined in WWII. (2) FAST ATTACK sub. |
| I |
IFR - Instrument Flight Rules.
Derisively, 'I Follow Roads'. An FAA-defined set of flight rules where the
aircraft is under positive radar control. Legal responsibility for safe
flight and collision avoidance rests with the Air Traffic Control center,
although a certain amount of legal and moral responsibility always rests
with the pilot(s). Has nothing to do with meteorological conditions.
Illuminate, illumination - (abb.
'illum') (1) The targeting of an object with radar, especially for weapons
guidance purposes. Differs from 'PAINT' (qv) in that painting is generally
used to denote detection and tracking, while illumination is generall y
for guidance of missiles. (2) The lighting-up of an area with flares.
Illumination Round - Star shell
IMC - Instrument Meteorological
Conditions. A set of FAA-defined criteria for inflight visibility.
Inflight Arrestment - Occurs during
an arrested landing if the hook engages while the main gear are not on
deck. Generally the result of a significantly non-excellent approach,
visually it looks like what happens to the dog in the cartoon when he hits
the end of the chain. Aircraft damage can result.
INT - Short form of the radio
pro-word "Interrogative". Also used as a phrase in flag or Morse
comms.
Irish Pennant - (1) (RN) Loose mop
strings left in the flat. May be seen as ‘Irish Pendant.’ (2) (USN)
More generically, any dangling or loose thread on a uniform, or lines left
adrift or dangling from upper works or rigging of the ship.
Iron Lung - (RN) Soda dispenser
filled with beer. |
| J |
Jack - (1) (RN) General nickname for
Royal Navy sailors. (obsolete, from 'Jack Tar') (2) The Union Jack, a
small flag flown from the jackstaff on the bow of USN ships inport; has a
blue field and 50 white stars. It is also flown from the yardarm when a
court martial or court of inquiry is in session aboard. (3) To slowly turn
the propeller shaft or shafts of a ship when engines are stopped, both to
maintain the oil film in shaft bearings and to prevent shaft bowing.
Jacking Gear - The machinery used to
jack a shaft. May also be used to lock the shaft.
JANFU - Joint Army-Navy Fuck-Up.
Jarhead - GRUNT.
Jimmy, Jimmy the One - (RN) First
Lieutenant of a ship.
Joe Shit the Ragman - The generic
dirtbag or screwup. Also seen as 'J.S. Ragman'. Aka Seaman Jones.
Joker – (Aviation) Critically low
fuel state.
Joss, jossman - (RN) Master at Arms.
The 'Fleet Joss' was the Fleet Chief Petty Officer Master at Arms.
Judy - Radio call signifying that
the fighter has radar contact on the BANDIT and can complete the intercept
without further assistance. |
| K |
Ki, kai - (RN) Hot chocolate made
from slab chocolate shavings mixed with water into a cloyingly sweet
drink. Pronounced 'kye'.
Killick - (RN, RCN) Leading rate.
Often used with the branch name or nickname, e.g. Killick Stoker, Killick
Bunting Tosser.
King Neptune - The mythological God
of the Sea. He always presides, with his court, at the LINE-CROSSING
CEREMONY.
Knee-knockers - The coaming of a
watertight door or bulkhead opening. These coamings are a foot or so off
the deck. So called because they can wreak havoc on the shins of those new
to a ship.
Knuckle-dragger - Any sailor whose
job requires more brawn than brain. See DECK APE, ORDIE. |
| L |
Laundry Queen - (submarines) A junior
sailor, usually an NQP, especially if DINK, assigned to handle a
division's laundry chores.
Lawn Mower - (RN) 'Flashing up a
lawn mower' is used when a sailor is about to steal or woo another
sailor's companion away. Cutting one's fellow sailor's grass.
Leatherneck - Marine. Derives from
the historical use of a leather collar, ostensibly to protect the neck
from saber cuts. Also BOOTNECK (RN), GRUNT, JARHEAD, MUDPUPPY. All terms
frequently modified by Naval personnel with the adjective
"fucking".
Lens (the) - See FRESNEL LENS
Light Water - AFFF.
Line-Crossing Ceremony - The
ceremony which turns POLLYWOGs into SHELLBACKs. Enjoyed much more by the
Shellbacks than by the 'Wogs. Held when a vessel crosses the Equator.
During the ceremony, POLLYWOGS are made to go through a number of ordeals,
each more disgusting than the last. These trials are conducted in full
view of KING NEPTUNE and his court. Once the ceremony is completed, the
POLLYWOG is now a SHELLBACK. Similar ceremonies are conducted for Orders
of the BLUENOSE and REDNOSE.
Loadtoad – (1) (aviation) See
REDSHIRT. (2) (surface) A small ceramic frog used as a talisman to prevent
loss of the load (qv). Similar to the chicken bones used by other rates to
ward off evil spirits.
Log Room - An engineering space used
for engineering admin purposes, often used as the office for the
engineering dept.
Lose the Bubble - Originally, to
assume such an extreme up- or down-angle in a submarine that the bubble of
the inclinometer is no longer visible. In common usage, to lose
SITUATIONAL AWARENESS. See BRAIN FART.
Lose the load – To lose electrical
power. Also seen as 'Drop the load.'
LoPac - LOw Pressure Air Compressor
LSO - Landing Signals Officer. Aka
'Paddles'. A specially-qualified pilot who observes landing approaches
aboard a carrier. A pilot's 'passes' (approaches) are critiqued and graded
as follows: OK ('okay underline pass') is the elusive perfect pass, and
counts as 4 points. OK ('okay pass') counts 3 points. A 'no grade pass' is
worth 2 points;
A 'bolter pass' (which grade can be
assigned whether the aircraft traps successfully or not) is worth 1 point.
A 'cut pass' counts zero points and is considered to have put ship, plane,
and pilot in danger.
Lucky bag - A compartment maintained
by the Chief Master at Arms where gear adrift is stored. Personnel can
retrieve gear adrift items by working off EMI. If after a period of time
the items are not claimed, they are sold with the funds going to the Re c
Fund. Also scran-bag (RN). |
| M |
MAD - (1) Magnetic Anomaly Detector;
as in MAD boom, MAD bird. (2) Marine Aviation Detachment.
MADMAN - The call of the MAD
operator when his gear detects an undersea object (ostensibly, a
submarine).
Mail Buoy Watch - A practical joke
pulled on inexperienced crewmembers and midshipmen which revolves around
convincing the victim that mail is delivered to a ship at sea via a buoy.
Main Control - The engineering space
from which the operations of the engineering spaces are controlled.
Watchstation of the EOOW.
Main Space - The engine room.
Make a play for the deck - A
maneuver guaranteed to attract the ire of the LSO, where the pilot tries
to salvage a non-excellent approach with a dive for the deck and the
arresting wires. Can result in damage to the aircraft, even a rampstrike.
Improve s the BOARDING RATE but costs at the GREENIE BOARD.
MARDET - MARine DETachment.
Masker - A noise-reduction system
which pumps air into the water from belts in the vicinity of the
engineering spaces.
Matelot - (RN) A sailor. Actually,
the word is French and means, literally, sailor.
Material Condition Xray - A material
condition where fittings or closures (hatches, watertight doors, valves,
flappers, etc.) marked with an 'X' ('X-ray, in the phonetic alphabet) must
be closed. Generally seen only inport. Surface ships only.
Material Condition Yoke - Closures
marked 'X' and 'Y' must be kept closed. This is the normal daylight
underway material condition, and represents a minimal condition of
watertight integrity.
Material Condition Zebra - All
fittings and closures marked 'X', 'Y', and 'Z' must be closed. Maximum
watertight integrity. "Set Condition Zebra" is the command to
close all water-tight doors, hatches, and fittings throughout the ship.
Usually follows the call to GQ.
Material Condition Circle William -
A material condition involving ventilation fittings and machinery marked
with a 'W' inside a circle. Used to control the spread of smoke in a fire
belowdecks, or in preparation for an NBC attack.
Max Conserve - Signal to aircraft to
use power levels appropriate for maximum endurance. 'Loiter' is similar,
although loitering usually involves staying in one place. 'Max Conserve'
more properly applies to an aircraft flying a long-range profile.
MCAS - Marine Corps Air Station.
MCPOC – (pronounced ‘mickpock’)
Master Chief Petty Officer Of the Command. Senior MCPO assigned to the
unit. Similar to the COB of a submarine.
Meatball - (obsolete) A system in
which a red light was reflected off a large parabolic mirror and projected
aft to provide glideslope data to the pilot on approach. In common usage
today, synonymous with the luminous yellow display of the FRESNEL LENS
system which replaced it.
Menopause Manor - (RN) See GOAT
LOCKER.
Messcrank - aka CRANK. Food service
personnel, especially nonrated personnel provided by the ship's other
departments (non-Supply depts.) to perform scutwork such as busing tables,
washing dishes, etc.
Mess Mother - (RN) Senior hand of
the mess, responsible to the COX'N for the cleanliness and good order of
the mess decks.
Mickey Mouse Book - See PIPING TAB.
Midrats - Food served at midnight
for offgoing watchstanders. Usually a combination of leftovers, plus
something new to round out the service.
Midwatch - A watch stood from
midnight (2400) until 4 a.m. (0400).
Mike Mike – Phonetic for ‘millimeter.’
Military power - Aviation term for
maximum 'dry' power, i.e. without afterburner.
MMR - Main Machinery Room.
Monkey dicks - Sausages.
Monkey on a stick - Derisive term
for dish similar to satay chicken, served on skewers, by street vendors in
any port of call. In third-world countries, only consumed by drunk sailors
and Marines, due to questionable sanitation practices.
Monkey Fist - The complex knot
surrounding (sometimes taking the place of) the weight on the end of a
heaving line.
Monkey Shit -
Room-temperature-vulcanizing packing material (caulking) used for stuffing
tubes, etc.
MPA - Main Propulsion Assistant.
Division Officer for MP Division, the group that operates and maintains
the ship's main engines.
Muscle Bosun - Physical Training
rating.
Mustang - An officer who has 'come
up through the ranks', i.e. started out as an enlisted man and earned a
commission.
|
| N |
NAAF - Naval Auxiliary Air Field
NAAFI - (RN) Navy, Army, and Air
Force Institute. Provides canteens, shops, and other services to the armed
forces ashore and afloat.
NAFOD – Abbreviation for "No
Apparent Fear Of Death." What a frightened LSO writes on your grade
card. Indicates consistent unsafe practices.
NALF - Naval Air Landing Field
NAM - Navy Achievement Medal. Said
to be given to SONAR GIRLS for tracking a stationary object.
NAS - Naval Air Station
Nav (the) - (1) Navigator, or having
to do with navigation. (2) The Navy (USN).
NavSta - Naval Station.
Navigator - Officer responsible,
under the captain, for safe navigation of the ship. Aka 'Gator',
'Nagivator', 'Old Clueless'.
NBC Warfare -
Nuclear/Biological/Chemical Warfare.
Neats - (RN) Straight rum (as
opposed to GROG (q.v.). Also seen as 'Neaters'.
NFO - Naval Flight Officer.
Derisively, Non-Flying Officer.
NJP - Non-Judicial Punishment. See
CAPTAIN'S MAST.
Nonskid - An epoxy compound applied
to deck surfaces to improve traction for feet and wheels. At the end of a
cruise, when a flight deck's nonskid is mostly gone, not to mention oily
and/or greasy, taxiing or landing can be even more of an adventure. U
sually applied to all weather decks of any ship.
NQP - Non-Qual-Puke. (submarines
only) One who has not yet received his DOLPHINS. Also used as a derogatory
term for a Dolphin wearer who screws up on something he should have known.
Nub – Newbie, or someone who does
not stand watches and is therefore deadweight to the department.
Nugget - First-tour pilot or NFO. A
diamond in the rough, or at least with a few rough edges.
Nuke, nuc - Nuclear-trained
crewmember, whether surface or sub.
Number 8's - (RN) Action working
dress. The equivalent of US dungarees.
Nuts and Bolts - (RN) Stores rating
concerned with equipment. |
| O |
OBA - Oxygen Breathing Apparatus. An
oxygen generating and rebreathing system used for firefighting.
OBE - Overcome By Events. Eaten by
the snakes in the cockpit; the victim of task saturation. What happens to
the pilot who forgets that his actions go in the following order: Aviate,
Navigate, Communicate.
OD - (RN) (1) An ordinary seaman.
(2) Derogatory term for anyone acting 'green'. Frequently modified with
the adjective "fucking".
O-ganger - Officer.
Oh Dark Thirty - Very late at night,
or very early in the morning. Aka Zero Dark Thirty.
1MC - The basic one-way
communications system on a vessel. Reaches all spaces on a ship. Used for
general announcements, and to transmit general alarm system signals.
Control stations are located on the bridge, quarterdeck, and central
station. Other t ransmitters may be installed at additional points. There
are other MC and JV circuits used for communications within the ship. They
are typically system-specific, i.e. weapons systems, navigation
communication, engineering systems, firefighting, etc.
130-rpm fish - A form of sea life
(type unknown) which makes a sound very similar to a propeller turning at
130 rpm.
Opposite Number - (RN) Anyone
carrying out comparable or equivalent duties on another watch or ship.
Oppo - (RN) Friend. Aka 'Wings',
'Winger'. cf OPPOSITE NUMBER.
Orange Force - Opposing force in a
wargame exercise.
Order of the Golden Dragon - Awarded
for crossing the equator at the International Date Line. An event similar
to a LINE-CROSSING CEREMONY is staged for the victim's benefit.
Ordie - See REDSHIRT.
Oscar - (1) The dummy used for man
overboard drills. (2) The international signal flag hoisted for "man
overboard".
Oolie - (Submarine) A difficult
question that may not pertain to one's duties, or one that tests one's
system knowledge to the limit. Also seen as Ouly or owly.
Own Goal - See BLUE ON BLUE. |
| P |
Pack (the) - Aircraft ranged about
the deck of an aircraft carrier, especially forward of the landing area.
Padeye - (1) A recessed tie-down
| |