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|  Army Abbreviations & Terms |
I have tried to list all of the abbreviations and terms used in my Military pages on this one to make things a little clearer, also listed are some other terms we may have heard or used. Some Afrikaans terms are included.
 1 or 2Pip - The insignia of rank worn by lieutanants.
2 Striper - Corporal i.e. The 2 chevrons of rank.
7 days
A long furlough usually after the completion of combat training, before active deployment.
AK /AK47 - Russian Kalashnikof 7.62mm cal assault rifle, versions made in all Communist countries
Alpha Group
Aspro Tiffie - Medic
Bats / Parabats - Parachute troops or Parabats as they were also known of 44 Parachute Brigade or 1 Parachute Battalion, based in Tempe, Bloemfontein
Bom Roller - Air Force aircraft armourer. From the act of rolling the bomb's under the aircraft in bomb carts. (Thanks to Dion Russouw
Bosvark - Semi Mine protected Unimog, normaly had armour plating under the drivers cab, the load box was sandbagged. (see Buffel)
Bravo Group
Bren - WWII 303 Light Machine Gun1, converted to 7.62, used the standard R1 Rifle magazine instead of a belt/clips as the LMG did.
Buffel - Mine protected vehicle built on the chassis of the Unimog with a cab for driver and 10 seats in rear mine protected compartment. (see Bosvark)
Bundu Bashing / Bashing - To travel by vehicle through bush where no road or track exists. SOP was to tie loggs on bumpers to reinforce the bumper.
CF - Citizen Force member
Chopper - helicopters
Coinops - Counter Insurgency Operations
Donkey bite / Donkiebyt - Lance Corporal i.e. The single chevron of rank. Donkey alluding to the work they did / pack donkey.
Fort Doppies - One of the bases in the Caprivi from wich the Recces operated.
Forty Days - The 40th last day of one's service or tour, usually a party is held if the situation allows.
F100 - Ford pick up / ldv, usually 4x4 and very popular with the more affluent LP.
Garrie / Garry - Nickname for a Landrover. Origin probably derived from Indian word for horse cart.
Have - To eliminate enemy "Ons het die terr's gehave" or as seen on a Rhodesian T Shirt "Have a Terr a day"
Hippo - Mine protected vehicle built on the Bedford chassis, 15 seater if I can recall correctly.
Honoris Crux - Highest award for Bravery in the SADF & SANDF.
HotelMike / Hearts & Minds - Patrols to bolster the goodwill towards the SADF and gather intelligence.
Hotnotsgod - Mine protected anti mine vehicle contraption with a long boom, resembled a Praying Mantis.
IGP/IBT - Infantry battle tests, competion between units to determine who are the most efficent and well trained.
Kwêvoël - 20 ton Mine proofed trucks used to transport supplies/troops beween larger bases. (see Maguires Deutz )
Lilly - Plastic urinal sunk into sandy soil, more commonly called a "Pislilly", sometimes confused a bunker ventilation stacks, a la Leon Schuster movie's. ;-)
LMG - Light machine gun or squad machine gun, made by FN, usually manned by 2 troops and commanded by a Lace Corporal.
LP / Lpops / Lima Pappa's - Local Population (See PB as well.)
Loot/Lootie - First or second leutenant
Maguires Deutz - 20 ton Trucks used to transport supplies/troops beween larger bases. (see Kwêvoël & Samil)
Min Dae - The last 2 months of one's N/s
N/s - National Service. Initialy 9 months, then 12 months, extended to 24 Months in the later period of the 70's
NAFI - Term for troops that displayed a negative attitude towards the army in general. (No Ambition F/all Intrest.)
Night Vision2 - Equipment to aquire targets or operate in the dark, 3 types, IR illuminated and passive IR and Starlight;
O/P o/p - Observation post
Ops/ops - Operation or mini campain.
Oppie - Pack drill, usually as a form of punishment
PB / Pappa Bravo - Plaaslike bevolking (See LP, afrikaans abbreviatin for local population.)
PF - Permanet Force member. (Regular)
PTSD - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder all Veterans suffer from this in varying degrees.
R1 rifle - 7.62mm cal semi automatic assault rifle, SA version of the FN FAL 7.62.
Recces - Operatives of the Reconnisance or Special Forces battalions. Similar to British SAS and US Navy Seals
R4 rifle - 5.56 mm cal semi automatic assault rifle, SA refinened version of the Israeli Galil.
R5 rifle - As R4 but with shorter barrel, for armour and parachute troops. Lately a R6 has also been made with an even shorter barrel
Revved / rev - Being under attack or attacked by enemy forces, usually if caught by surprise.
Roofie / Rower - N/s doing their basic and combat training.
RPG - Soviet anti tank grenade launcher.
RV / rv - Romeo Victor, a point of rendezvous or a target 's map grid refrence point.
Samil / SAMAG - 10 & 20 ton trucks, similar to Maguires Deutz, built in SA.
Selection - Similar to IGP but of a individual nature to sift out the weak so to speak.
Slot / Slotted - a Term used in Rhodesia for eliminating enemy, "The terrs were slotted"
Spinnekop - Mine protected mine detecting vehicle, had 16 wheels and looked like a spider.
SOP - Standard Operating Procedure - Also slang for a set way to do certain tasks/functions etc.
T/A t/a - Training Area
Terr - Abbreviation for Terrorist
T/B or t/b - Temporary base, bivvie or biovac usually only used for overnight stop or one day's stay.
Unimog / Mog - Mercedes Benz produced 4x4 10 seater troop carrier/truck. Very rugged. LHD
UZI - Israeli 9mm cal machine pistol, made under licence in SA
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