| AAR | After Action Report |
| ABCCC | Airborne Command and Control Center |
| A-4 Skyhawk | A single-seat, lightweight, jet attack
bomber in service with Navy and Marine
Corps squadrons. Built by Douglas. |
| AN/PRC-25 | U. S.-built, short-range, portable, frequency-modulated
radio set used to provide
two-way communication in the 30 megacycle
to 75.95 megacycle band. |
| AN/TPQ-10 | U. S.-built, ground-based radar system
used to guide aircraft on bombing missions. |
| A-1 Skyraider | U. S.-built, prop-driven, attack aircraft
built by Douglas. |
| Arc Light | Operational name for B-52 strikes in South
Vietnam. |
| ARVN | Army of The Republic of Vietnam. |
| A-6A Intruder | U. S. Navy and Marine Corps twin-engine,
low-altitude, jet attack bomber specifically
designed to deliver ordnance on
targets completely obscured by weather or
darkness. Carries a heavier and more
varied load than any other U. S. naval
attack aircraft. Built by Grumman. |
| ASRT | Air Support Radar Team |
| BDA | Battle Damage Assessment |
| Bde | Brigade |
| B-52 Stratofortress | USAF eight-engine, swept-wing heavy jet
bomber. Built by Boeing. |
| BLT | Battalion Landing Team |
| CAC | Combined Action Company |
| CACO | Combined Action Company Oscar |
| CavSqd (e.g. 1/9) | 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry |
| C-4 | Plastic explosives |
| CG, 1st MarDiv | Commanding General, 1st Marine Division |
| CG, FMFPac | Commanding General, Fleet Marine Force,
Pacific |
| CG, 3d MarDiv | Commanding General, 3d Marine Division |
| CG, III MAF | Commanding General, III Marine Amphibious
Force |
| ChiCom | Chinese Communist |
| CH-53A Sea Stallion | U. S.-built, single-rotor, heavy assault
transport helicopter powered by two shaft-turbine
engines with an average payload
of 12,800 pounds. Full-sized rear opening
with built-in ramp permits loading of
105mm howitzer and carriage. External
sling will accommodate a 155mm howitzer
(towed). Carries crew of 3 plus 38 combat
troops or 24 litters. Built by Sikorsky. |
| CH-46D Sea Knight | U. S.-built, medium transport, twin-turbine,
tandem rotor helicopter with
an average payload of 4,800 pounds. Has
rear loading ramp and external sling
mount. Carries crew of 3 plus 25 combat
troops or 15 litters and 2 attendants.
Built by Boeing. |
| CIDG | Civilian Irregular Defense Group |
| Claymore | U. S.-built, directional antipersonnel
land mine employed above ground and
normally in an upright position. |
| CMC | Commandant of the Marine Corps |
| CmdChron | Command Chronology |
| CO | Commanding Officer |
| ComUSMACV | Commander, U. S. Military Assistance
Command, Vietnam |
| CP | Command Post |
| CS | Designation for tear gas |
| DASC | Direct Air Support Center |
| D-Day | Day scheduled for the commencement of an
operation. |
| DIA IntBul | Defense Intelligence Agency Intelligence
Bulletin |
| DMZ | Demilitarized Zone |
| EC-121 Super
Constellation | USAF and USN four-engine, prop-driven, long-range, heavy transport modified with
special equipment for radar early warning
patrols and electronic warfare duty.
Built by Lockheed. |
| FADAC | Field Artillery Digital Automatic Computer |
| FDC | Fire Direction Center |
| F-8 Crusader | U. S. Navy and Marine Corps supersonic,
single-seat, single-engine, jet fighter
with afterburner. Primarily used in South
Vietnam in an attack role. Carries air-to-air
and air-to-ground ordnance. Built
by LTV Vought Aeronautics. |
| F-4B Phantom II | U. S. Navy and Marine Corps twin-engine,
two-seat, supersonic fighter/attack jet
with afterburners; has dual role of interceptor
and bomber. Of all U. S. naval
attack aircraft, F-4B carries second
largest payload. Built by McDonnell. |
| F-4C | U. S. Air Force model of the Phantom II. |
| 1st ACD | 1st Air Cavalry Division |
| 1st MarDiv | 1st Marine Division |
| 1st MAW | 1st Marine Aircraft Wing |
| FOB-3 | Forward Operating Base 3 |
| F-100 Super Sabre | Single-engine, jet (with afterburner)
sweptwing, supersonic fighter-bomber; in
production since 1953, the F-100 was the
first supersonic operational fighter developed
for the U. S. Air Force. Carries
air-to-air and air-to-ground ordnance.
Built by North American. |
| F-105 Thunderchief | U. S. Air Force supersonic, single-seat,
single-engine, jet fighter/bomber with
afterburner. Built by Republic. |
| FMFPac | Fleet Marine Force, Pacific |
| FO | Forward Observer |
| FSCC | Fire Support Coordination Center |
| GCA | Ground Controlled Approach |
| GPES | Ground Proximity Extraction System |
| Grenade Launcher,
M-79 | U. S.-built ,single-shot, break-open,
breech-loaded shoulder weapon which fires
40mm projectiles and weighs approximately
6.5 pounds when loaded; it has a sustained
rate of aimed fire of 5-7 rounds
per minute and an effective range of 375
meters. |
| Gun, 100mm M1944 | Soviet-built, dual purpose field and antitank
gun introduced toward the close of
World War II; it weighs 7,628 pounds, is
30.9 feet in length and has a muzzle velocity
of 900 meters per second. Maximum
range is 21,000 meters and maximum rate
of fire is 8-10 rounds per minute. Is
recognizable by long tube, double-barrel
muzzle brake, dual wheels, and sloping shield. |
| Gun, 130mm | Soviet-built fieldpiece which utilizes
either a limber for transport or is self-propelled.
Towed weapon weighs 19,000
pounds, is 38 feet in length, and has a
muzzle velocity of 930 meters per second.
Maximum range is 27,000 meters and maximum
rate of fire is 6-7 rounds per minute.
Tube has a multi-perforated muzzle brake. |
| Gun, 175mm | U. S.-built, self-propelled gun which
weighs 62,100 pounds and fires a 147-pound
projectile to a maximum range of 32,800
meters. Maximum rate of fire is 1/2 round
per minute. |
| Hand Grenade,
Fragmentation
M-26 | U. S.-manufactured, hand-thrown bomb,
which weighs approximately one pound,
and contains an explosive charge in a
body that shatters into small fragments;
it has an effective range of 40 meters. |
| H&I | Harassment and Interdiction |
| H&S Co | Headquarters and Service Company |
| HistBr | Historical Branch |
| HMM | Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron |
| Howitzer, 105mm
M2A1 | U. S.-built, towed, general purpose light
artillery piece; the weapon is mounted
on a carriage equipped with split box
trails and pneumatic tires. On-carriage
sighting and fire control equipment are
used both for direct and indirect fire.
The piece weighs 4,980 pounds, is 19.75
feet in length, has a muzzle velocity of
470 meters per second, and a maximum range
of 11,155 meters. Maximum rate of fire
is 4 rounds per minute. |
| Howitzer, 155mm
M1 | U. S.-built, towed, medium artillery piece
mounted on a two-wheel, split-trail carriage
with detachable spades. The howitzer is
fired from a three-point suspension, with
the trails spread and the carriage resting
upon an integral firing jack, the wheels
being clear of the ground. The piece
weighs 12,700 pounds, is 24 feet long,
has a muzzle velocity of 560 meters per
second and a maximum range of 15,080
meters. Maximum rate of fire is 3 rounds
per minute. |
| Howitzer, 8-inch
M-110 | U. S.-built, self-propelled heavy artillery
piece; 37 feet long tracked carriage is
identical to that of 175mm gun. M-110 has
a maximum range of 16,930 meters and a
rate of fire of 1/2 round per minute. |
| HQMC | Headquarters, United States Marine Corps |
| IFR | Instrument Flight Rules |
| KBA | Killed By Air |
| KIA | Killed In Action |
| KSCB | Khe Sanh Combat Base |
| LAPES | Low Altitude Proximity Extraction System |
| LSA | Logistics Support Area |
| LZ | Landing Zone |
| MACV | Military Assistance Command, Vietnam |
| MAG | Marine Aircraft Group |
| Machine Gun,
.50 Caliber | U. S.-built, belt-fed, recoil-operated,
air-cooled automatic weapon, which weighs
approximately 80 pounds without mount or
ammunition; it has a sustained rate of
fire of 100 rounds per minute and an
effective range of 1,450 meters. |
| Machine Gun, M-60 | U. S.-built, belt-fed, gas-operated, air-cooled,
7.62mm automatic weapon, which
weighs approximately 23 pounds without
mount or ammunition; it has a sustained
rate of fire of 100 rounds per minute and
an effective range of 1,100 meters. |
| ____ Marines | Designation of Marine regiment |
| MATCU | Marine Air Traffic Control Unit |
| Medevac | Medical evacuation |
| Mortar, 60mm | U. S.-built, smooth-bore, muzzle-loaded,
single-shot, high-angle of fire weapon,
which weighs 45.2 pounds when assembled
and fires an assortment of high explosive
and pyrotechnic rounds; it has a maximum
rate of fire of 30 rounds per minute and
sustained rate of fire of 18 rounds per
minute; the effective range is 2,000 meters. |
| Mortar, 81mm | U. S.-built, smooth-bore, muzzle-loaded,
single-shot, high angle of fire weapon,
which weighs approximately 115 pounds
when assembled and fires an assortment of
high explosive and pyrotechnic rounds;
it has a sustained rate of fire of 2 rounds
per minute and an effective range of
2,200-3,650 meters, depending upon the
ammunition used. |
| Mortar, 82mm | Soviet-built, smooth-bore, muzzle-loaded,
single-shot, high-angle of fire weapon
which weighs approximately 123 pounds
when assembled and fires high explosive
and pyrotechnic rounds; it has a maximum
rate of fire of 25 rounds per minute and
a maximum range of 3,040 meters. |
| Mortar, 120mm | Soviet- or Chinese Communist-built, smooth-bore,
drop or trigger fired, single-shot,
high-angle of fire weapon, which weighs
approximately 606 pounds when assembled
and fires high explosive and pyrotechnic
rounds; it has a maximum rate of fire of
15 rounds per minute and a maximum range
of 5,700 meters. |
| Mortar, 4.2 inch
M2 | U. S.-built, 107mm, rifled, muzzle-loaded,
drop-fired weapon consisting of tube, baseplate
and standard; weapon weighs 330
pounds, is 4 feet in length, and has a
maximum range of 4,020 meters. Rate of
fire is 20 rounds per minute and utilizes
both high explosive and pyrotechnic
ammunition. (Five M2s were employed at
KSCB) |
| Mortar, 4.2-inch
M98 Howtar | U. S.-built, 107mm, rifled, muzzle-loaded,
mortar; a towed weapon, the Howtar is
mounted on a carriage with two pneumatic
tires. Tube and carriage weigh 1,289
pounds; maximum range is 5,500 meters.
(Two Howtars were employed at KSCB) |
| M-16 | U. S.-built, magazine-fed, 5.62mm gas-operated,
air-cooled shoulder weapon
designed for either semiautomatic or full
automatic fire; fully loaded weighs 7.6
pounds, fires a maximum rate of 150-200
rounds per minute, and has a maximum
effective range of 460 meters. |
| 9th MAB | 9th Marine Amphibious Brigade |
| 9th MEB | 9th Marine Expeditionary Brigade |
| NVA | North Vietnamese Army |
| O1-E | U. S.-built, single engine, two-seat, prop-driven light observation aircraft
built by Cessna. |
| Ontos | U. S.-built, lightly-armored tracked
vehicle armed with six coaxially mounted
106mm recoilless rifles. Originally designed
as a tank killer, the Ontos is
primarily used in Vietnam to support the
infantry. |
| PCV | Provisional Corps, Vietnam |
| PF | Popular Forces |
| PMDL | Provisional Military Demarcation Line |
| RC-292 | U. S.-built, elevated, wide-band, modified
ground-plane antenna designed to operate
with and increase the distance range of
various radio sets. |
| Recoilless Rifle,
106mm, M40A1 | U. S.-built, single-shot, recoilless,
breech-loaded weapon which weighs 438
pounds when assembled and mounted for
firing; it has a sustained rate of fire
of 6 rounds per minute and an effective
range of 1,365 meters. The weapon can
be singly or Ontos mounted. |
| RF | Regional Forces |
| RLT | Regimental Landing Team |
| Rocket, 122mm | A Soviet-built, four-piece, fin-stabilized,
9-foot long rocket weighing 125 pounds;
maximum range is approximately 17,000
meters. Launcher tube and mount weigh
121 pounds and are 8.1 feet in length. |
| RPG-2 | A Soviet-and Chinese Communist-built
antitank grenade launcher; a smooth-bore,
muzzle-loaded, shoulder-fired, recoilless
weapon which fires a 40mm spin-stabilized
round. The weapon weighs 6.3 pounds, is
3.2 feet in length, has a muzzle velocity
of 84 meters per second, and an effective
range of 100 meters. Maximum rate of fire
is 4-6 rounds per minute utilizing High
Explosive Antitank ammunition. |
| SLF | Special Landing Force |
| S-2 | Intelligence section or officer |
| TA-4 | Two-seat trainer model of the A-4 Skyhawk |
| TAC(A) | Tactical Air Controller (Airborne) |
| TAFDS | Tactical Airfield Fuel Dispensing System |
| Tank, PT-76 | Soviet-built, 15.4-ton, amphibious tank
with a crew of 3; primary armament is
turret mounted 76mm gun and maximum thickness
of armor is 0.6 inches.
|
| Tank, M-48 | U. S.-built 50.7-ton tank with a crew
of 4; primary armament is turret-mounted
90mm gun with one .30 caliber and one
.50 caliber machine gun. Can be configured
with water fording equipment.
Maximum road speed of 32 miles per hour
and an average range of 195 miles. |
| TAOR | Tactical Area Of Responsibility |
| TET | Vietnamese Lunar New Year |
| 3d MarDiv | 3d Marine Division |
| III MAF | III Marine Amphibious Force |
| TIO | Target Intelligence/Information Officer |
| TOT | Time On Target |
| UHF | Ultra High Frequency |
| UH-1E
Huey Gunship | A single-engine, Marine, light attack/transport
helicopter noted for its
maneuverability and firepower; carries a
crew of three with seven combat troops or
three litters, two sitting casualties and
a medical attendant, or 3,000 pounds of
cargo. It is armed with air to ground
rocket packs and fuselage mounted, electrically
fired machine guns. |
UH-34D
Sea Horse | A single-engine, Marine, medium transport
helicopter with a crew of three; carries
16-18 combat troops or 8 litters or a
normal 5,000 pound payload. |
| USAF | United States Air Force |
| USA | United States Army |
| USMC | United States Marine Corps |
| USN | United States Navy |
| VC | Viet Cong
|
| VFR | Visual Flight Rules |
| VHF | Very High Frequency |
| Viet Minh | The Vietnamese contraction for Viet Nam,
Doc Lap Nong Minh Hoi, a Communist-led
coalition of nationalist groups which
actively opposed the Japanese in World
War II and the French in the early years
of the Indo-China War. |
| VMA | Marine Attack Squadron |
| VMFA | Marine Fighter/Attack Squadron |
| VMGR | Marine Aerial Refueler Transport
Squadron |
| VMO | Marine Observation Squadron |
| VNAF | Vietnamese Air Force |
| VT | Variable Timed fuze for artillery shell
which causes airburst over target area. |