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Abbreviations, Acronyms, Codewords, Terms
For additional code words definitions, see:
For additional military terms, see:
--A--
- AA
- Antiaircraft
- AAA
- Antiaircraft Artillery
- A.A.F.
- United States Army Air Forces
- ABC
- American-British-Canadian
- ABCD
- American-British-Chinese-Dutch
- ABD
- American-British-Dutch
- ABDA
- American-British-Dutch-Australian
- Acct
- Accounting
- Act
- Action
- ACofS
- Assistant Chief of Staff
- ADB
- American-Dutch-British
- ADC
- Assistant Division Commander
- Adees
- Addressees
- Adj
- Adjutant
- AE
- Auxiliary Explosive ships
- Adm
- Admiral
- Adv
- Advance
- AF
- Asiatic Fleet
- AFV
- Armored Fighting Vehicle(s)
- AGMC
- Adjutant General Message Center
- Air
- Aircraft
- AK
- Navy cargo ship
- AKA
- Attack cargo ship
- Amer
- American
- Amph
- Amphibious
- Amtrack
- Amphibian Tractor (LVT)
- An
- Annual
- Anzac
- Australia-New Zealand Area
- Anzac
- Australia-New Zealand Army Corps (World War I)
- AP
- Armor piercing
- AP
- Navy transport ship
- APA
- Attack transport ship
- APC
- Coastal transport ship
- APD
- Destroyer transport ship
- AR
- Action Report
- Arcadia
- U.S.-U.K. Conference, 12/41-1/42
- Arty
- Artillery
- A/S
- Antisubmarine
- ASF
- Army Service Forces
- AsFlt
- Asiatic Fleet
- ASW
- Antisubmarine Warfare
- ATIS
- Allied Translator and Interrogator Section
- Avn
- Aviation
- AWS
- Aircraft Warning Service (Army)
--B--
- B
- Base
- BAR
- Browning Automatic Rifle
- Batdiv
- Battleship division
- BB
- Battleship
- Bd
- Board
- BLT
- Battalion Landing Team
- BM
- Boatswain's Mate
- Bn
- Battalion
- BOQ
- Bachelors' Office Quarters
- Br
- Branch
- Brig
- Brigade
- BriGen
- Brigadier General
- Btry
- Battery
- Bu
- Bureau
- BuDocks
- Bureau of Yards and Docks
- BuEng
- Bureau of Engineering
- Buord
- Bureau of Ordnance
- Bupers
- Bureau of Naval Personnel
- Buships
- Bureau of Ships
"- etc.
--C--
- C
- Combat
- CA
- Coast Artillery
- CA
- Heavy cruiser
- Cactus
- Code name for Guadalcanal
- Cal
- Caliber
- CAM
- Combined Army & Marine
- C.A.P.
- Combat Air Patrol
- Capt
- Captain
- Cardiv
- Carrier division
- CCS
- Combined Chiefs of Staff (U.S.-U.K.)
- Cdr
- Commander
- CG
- Commanding General
- Ch
- Chief
- Chap
- Chapter
- Chmn
- Chairman
- C.I.
- Counterintelligence
- C.I.C.
- Combat Information Center
- CinC
- Commander in Chief
- Cincaf (CinCAF)
- Commander-in-Chief, Asiatic Fleet
- Cinclant
- Commander-in-Chief, Atlantic Fleet
- Cincpac (CinCPAC)
- Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet (Admiral Nimitz, USN)
- CinCPOA
- Commander in Chief, Pacific Ocean Area
- CinCSWPA
- Commander in Chief, Southwest Pacific Area (General MacArthur, USA)
- CINCUS
- Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet -- the unfortunate acronym was changed after Pearl Harbor
- CL
- Light cruiser
- CMC
- Commandant of the Marine Corps
- CM-IN
- Cable Message In
- CM-OUT
- Cable Message Out
- C.N.O.
- Chief of Naval Operations
- CNS
- Chief of Naval Staff (British)
- C.O.
- Commanding Officer
- Co
- Company
- CofS
- Chief of Staff
- CofSA
- Chief of Staff, U.S. Army
- Col
- Colonel
- Com
- Commander; Commandant
- Com
- before cardiv, desdiv, etc.,
means Commander Carrier Division, Commander Destroyer Division, etc.
- Cominch
- Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet (Admiral King, USN)
- COMAIRSOPAC
- Commander, Aircraft, South Pacific Force
- COMAIRWING I
- Commanding General, 1st Marine Air Wing
- COMAMPHIBFORSOPAC
- Commander, Amphibious Force, South Pacific Force
- Comb
- Combined
- Comdr
- Commander
- COMGENSOPAC
- Commanding General, U.S. Army Forces in the South Pacific Area
- COMINCH
- Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet
- Comm
- Communcations
- COMNAVBAS
- Commander, Naval Base[s]
- COMNAVEU
- Commander, U.S. Naval Forces in Europe
- COMSERONSOPAC
- Commander, Service Squadron, South Pacific Force
- COMSOPAC
- Commander, South Pacific Area & South Pacific Force
- COMSOWESPACFOR
- Commander, Southwest Pacific Force (USN Commander under MacArthur)
- Cont
- Continuing
- COS
- Chief of Staff, U.S. Army
- CP
- Command Post
- C&R
- Construction & Repair
- Cru
- Cruiser
- CSP
- Communication Security Publication
- CT
- Combat Team
- CTF
- Commander Task Force
- CTG
- Commander Task Group
- CV
- Fleet Aircraft Carrier
- CVE
- Escort Carrier
- CVL
- Light Carrier
- CWO
- Chief (Commisioned) Warrant Officer
--D--
- D-1
- Division Personnel Officer(r)
- D-2
- Division Intelligence Officer(r)
- D-3
- Division Operations Office(r)
- D-4
- Division Logistics Office(r)
- DA
- Department of the Army
- DC
- Dental Corps (Navy)
- DCA
- Defensive Coastal Area
- DD
- Destroyer
- DE
- Destroyer Escort
- Deception
- Code name for Iwo Jima Operation
- Defense
- Defense
- Dept
- Department
- Des
- Destroyer
- Dev
- Development
- DIP
- Diplomatic intelligence (derived from MAGIC)
- Dir
- Director
- Disp
- Dispatch
- Div
- Division
- DNI
- Director of Naval Intelligence
- Doc
- Document
- DOW
- Died of Wounds
- DUKW
- Amphibious Truck
--E--
- Encl
- Enclosure
- Engineer
- Engineer
- Enl
- Enlisted
- Ens
- Ensign
- ExO
- Executive Officer
- Ext
- Extension
--F--
- FA
- Field Aretillery
- FAdm
- Fleet Admiral
- FBI
- Federal Bureau of Investigation
- FEAF
- Far East Air Force
- FEC
- Far East Command
- Flex
- Fleet Exercise
- Flot
- Flotilla
- FM
- Field Manual
- FMF
- Fleet Marine Force
- FO
- Forward Observer
- FO
- Field Order
- For
- Force
- Fourteen
- 14th Naval District (Hawaii)
--G--
- G-1
- Personnel Officer(r)
- G-2
- Intelligence Officer(r)
- G-3
- Operations Office(r)
- G-4
- Logistics Office(r)
- Gar
- Garrison
- GCT
- Greenwich Civil Time
- Gen
- General
- GHQ
- General Headquarters
- Gnd
- Ground
- GO
- General Order
- Gp
- Group
- GPO
- Government Printing Office
- Gru
- Group
- Gun
- Gunnery
--H--
- HD
- Harbor Defense
- HE
- High explosive
- Hist
- History; historical
- H.O.
- Hydrographic Office
- H.M.A.S.
- His Majesty's Australian Ship
- H.M.C.S.
- His Majesty's Canadian Ship
- H.M.N.Z.S.
- His Majesty's New Zealand Ship
- H.M.S.
- His Majesty's Ship
- HMSO
- His (Her) Majesty's Stationery Office
- H.Q.
- Headquarters
- HQMC
- Headquarters, Marine Corps
- H&S
- Headquarters & Service
- HSCAB
- Headquarters Separate Coast Artillery Brigade
- Hydro
- Hydrographic Office
--I--
- IBC
- Iceland Base Command
- IFF
- Identification, Friend or Foe
- IJA
- Imperial Japanese Army
- IJN
- Imperial Japanese Navy
- Inf
- Infantry
- Inst
- Instruction
- Int
- Intelligence
- Interrog
- Interrogation
- Is
- Island
--J--
- J
- Joint
- J-series
- American term for group of Japanese codes
- JAG
- Judge Advocate General
- JAMBOREE
- TF-58 air strikes on Japan, preceding Iwo Jima landing
- JASCO
- Joint Assault Signal Company
- JAYWICK
- British command attack on Singapore, 1943
- J.C.S.
- Joint Chiefs of Staff
- JD
- Japanese Diplomatic (code)
- JIC
- Joint Intelligence Center
- JICPOA
- Joint Intelligence Center, Pacific Ocean Area
- JG
- Junior Grade (Navy: Lieutenant, jg)
- JN-25
- Japanese Naval (code)
- Jnl
- Journal
- JPC
- Joint Planning Committee
- JPS
- Joint Staff Planners
- JUNEAU
- Minesweeping operation at Okinawa, July 1945
--K--
- KDPOW
- Killed or Died while a Prisoner of War
--L--
- LA
- American term for a simple Japanese code
- Lan
- Landing
- Lant
- Atlantic (Fleet)
- LC
- Landing craft
- LCdr
- Lieutenant Commander
- LCI
- Landing Craft, Infantry
- LCM
- Landing Craft, Mechanized
- LCS
- Landing Craft, Support
- LCT
- Landing Craft, Tank
- LCVP
- Landing Craft, Vehicles and Personnel
- LSD
- Landing Ship, Dock
- LSI
- Landing Ship, Infantry
- LSM
- Landing Ship, Medium
- LST
- Landing Ship, Tank
- LSV
- Landing Ship, Vehicle
- Lt
- Lieutenant
- Ltr
- Letter
- LVT
- Landing Vehicle, Tracked (Amphtrac)
- LVT(A)
- Landing Vehicle, Tracked (Armored)
- LVT(G)
- Landing Vehicle, Tracked (Gunboat)
- LVT(L)
- Landing Vehicle, Tracked (Large)
- LVT(M)
- Landing Vehicle, Tracked (Mortar)
- LVT(R)
- Landing Vehicle, Tracked (Rocket)
--M--
- MAC
- Marine Amphibious Corp
- MAG
- Marine Aircraft Group
- MAGIC
- American term for all (intercepted & decoded) Japanese diplomatic codes and ciphers
- Maj
- Major
- Mar
- Marine(s)
- MarCor
- Marine Corps
- MAW
- Marine Aircraft Wing
- Mbr
- Member
- MC
- Marine Corps; Medical Corps (Navy)
- MCEC
- Marine Corps Educational Center
- MCO
- Marine Corps Order
- MCS
- Marine Corps School
- MD
- Marine Detachment
- Medical
- Medical
- Memo
- Memorandum
- MG
- Marine Gunner; Machine Gun
- MGC
- Major General Commandant of the Marine Corps
- MI
- Military Intelligence (G-2)
- MIA
- Missing in Action
- MIAPD
- Missing in Action, Presumed Dead
- MID
- Military Intelligence Division, U.S. Army
- Mil
- Military
- MIS
- Military Intelligence Service
- MLR
- Main Line of Resistance
- Mm
- Millimeter
- Mob
- Mobile
- Mph
- Miles per hour
- MS
- Manuscript
- Msg
- Message
- MSgt
- Master Sergeant
- MTB
- Motor Torpedo (PT) Boat
--N--
- NAD
- Naval Ammunition Depot
- NAS
- Naval Air Station
- ND
- Naval Department
- N.E.I.
- Netherlands East Indies
- NHD
- Naval History Division
- NGF
- Naval Gunfire
- NOB
- Naval Operating Base
- NR
- Number (relating to a radiogram)
- NRMC
- Naval Records Management Center (Alexandria, VA)
- NSD
- Naval Supply Depot
- NTG
- No Time Group
--O--
- Obs
- Observer, Observation
- Off
- Officer(s)
- Ofl
- Official
- OICC
- Officer in Charge of Construction
- O-in-C
- Officer in Charge
- O.N.I.
- Office of Naval Intelligence
- OP
- Obervation Post
- Op
- Operation
- OPD
- Operations Division, U.S. Army (after March 1942)
- OPlan
- Operation Plan
- Opn
- Operation
- Opnav
- Chief of Naval Operations
- OpOrd
- Operation Order
- Op plan
- Operation Plan
- Ops
- Operations (G-3)
- Orange
- U.S. code term for Japan
- Ord
- Order
- O.S.S.
- Office of Strategic Services
- O.T.C.
- Officer in Tactical Command
- OUTFLANK
- British Pacific Fleet raid on Pangkalan Brandan, 20 Nov 44
--P--
- PAA
- Pan American Airways
- Pac
- Pacific (Fleet)
- Para
- Parachute
- Patwing
- Patrol wing
- PB
- Patrol Boat
- PC
- Patrol Craft
- PCE
- Patrol Craft, Escort
- Pers
- Personnel
- Phib
- Amphibious
- Phil
- Philippine
- Pion
- Pioneer
- Pl
- Platoon
- Pncf
- Pacific Naval Coastal Frontier
- Pnncf
- Pacific Northern Naval Coastal Frontier
- POA
- Pacific Ocean Area -- Nimitz's command
- P.O.W.
- Prisoner of War
- P&P
- Plans & Policies Division, HQMC
- Proj
- Project
- Prov
- Provisional
- Psncf
- Pacific Southern Naval Coastal Frontier
- PT
- Motor Torpedo Boat (MTB)
- PTO
- Pacific Theater of Operations
- PURPLE
- American term for the top-priority Japanese diplomatic cipher
--Q--
- QM
- Quartermaster
--R--
- RAAC
- Royal Australian Air Force
- Rad
- Radiogram
- Rear Admiral
- Rear Admiral
- RAF
- Royal Air Force
- RAN
- Royal Australian Navy
- RCAF
- Royal Canadian Air Force
- RCN
- Royal Canadian Navy
- RCT
- Regimental Combat Team
- Rdr
- Raider
- Rec
- Record(s)
- Recon
- Reconnaissance
- Reinf
- Reinforced
- Rept
- Report
- reurad
- Regarding your radiogram
- RF
- Representative Fraction (Map Scale); Radio Frequency
- RINGBOLT
- Code name for Tulagi
- RLT
- Regimental Landing Team
- RM
- Royal Marine(s)
- RMA
- Royal Marine Artillery
- RN
- Royal Navy
- ROICC
- Resident Officer in Charge of Construction (subordinate to OICC)
--S--
- SCAP
- Supreme Commander Allied Powers
- Sch
- School
- Sec
- Section
- SEC NAV
- Secretary of the Navy
- Sen
- Senior
- Sep
- Separate
- Ser
- Service
- s.f.c.p.
- shore fire control party
- SGO
- Office of the Surgeon General
- Sgt
- Sergeant
- SHOESTRING
- Unofficial code name for Guadalcanal campaign (WATCHTOWER)
- SHOESTRING II
- Landing at Cape Torokina, Bougainville, 1 Nov 1943
- SIS
- Signal Intelligence Service
- Sixteen
- 16th Naval District (Philippines)
- S/L
- Searchlight
- SM
- Special Manual
- SMS
- Marine Service Squadron
- SNLF
- Japanese Special Naval Landing Force ("Marines")
- So
- South
- S.O.P.A.
- Senior Officer Present Afloat
- SOPAC
- South Pacific Area, South Pacific Force
- Spenavo
- Special Naval Observer (London)
- Spl
- Special
- SS
- Special Staff
- SS
- Submarine
- SSgt
- Staff Sergeant
- SSUSA
- Special Staff, U.S. Army
- Stf
- Staff
- SWPA
- Southwest Pacific Area (MacArthur's command)
--T--
- TAGO
- The Adjutant General's Office
- TF
- Task Force
- TG
- Task Group
- T.H.
- Territory of Hawaii
- Tng
- Training
- T/O
- Table of Organization
- TQM
- Transport Quartermaster
- Trans
- Translation
- Trans
- Transport
- TSgt
- Technical Sergeant
- TU
- Task Unit
--U--
- UDT
- Underwater Demolition Team
- U/F
- Unit of Fire, a unit of measurement for ammunition supply, representing a specific number of rounds of ammunition per weapon
- US
- United States (Fleet)
- USA
- United States Army
- USAFFE
- United States Army Forces in the Far East
- USFIP
- United States Forces in the Philippines
- USAFISPA
- U.S. Army Forces in the South Pacific Area
- USCG
- United State Coast Guard
- USCGC
- United States Coast Guard Cutter
- USCGR
- United State Coast Guard Reserve
- USMC
- United States Marine Corps
- USMCR
- United States Marine Corps Reserve
- USN
- United States Navy
- USNI
- United States Naval Institute
- USNR
- United States Navy Reserve
- USS
- United States Ship
- USSBS
- United States Strategic Bombing Survey
--V--
- VAdm
- Vice Admiral
- VB
- Bomber plane or squadron
- VC
- Composite plane or squadron
- VF
- Fighter plane or squadron
- VMF
- Marine Fighter Squadron
- VMJ
- Marine Utility Squadron
- VMSB
- Marine Scout-Bomber Squadron
- VP
- Navy Patrol Squadron
- VS
- Navy Scouting Squadron
- VT
- Torpedo plane or squadron
- VOS
- Observation-Scout plane or squadron
--W--
- Watchtower
- Code name for the Guadalcanal-Tulagi Operation
- WD
- War Department
- WDC
- War Documents Center
- WDCSA
- Chief of Staff, U.S. Army
- WDGS
- War Department General Staff
- Wes
- West
- WIA
- Wounded In Action
- WO
- Warrant Officer
- WPD
- War Plans Division, U.S. Army (before March 1942)
- WPL
- War Plan
- Wpns
- Weapons
- WW
- World War
--X--
--Y--
- YMS
- Motor minesweeper
- YP
- Patrol Vessel
--Z--
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Last updated:
April 11, 1999
Feedback: corrections, additions, and comments are welcome!
Compiled and formatted by Patrick Clancey