Acronyms and Codenames FAQ, O-Q



==O==========================================================================
--OA-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(O)AFU
       Observer Advanced Flying Unit
Oak
       [USA] Codename for the Japanese Kawanishi K10W trainer
OASIS
       [USA] Over-the-horizon Airborne Sensor Information System
OAT
       Outside Air Temperature
--OB-------------------------------------------------------------------------
OBA
       Oxygen Breathing Apparatus
Oboe
       [UK] Navigation system, developed in the UK during WWII. Two radar
       stations were used for each aircraft, one determining range and one
       position. 'Oboe' was used by Pathfinder aircraft because of its
       accuracy.
OBOGS
       [USA] On Board Oxygen Generating System
Observations-helikopter Kompagni
       [Denmark] observation helicopter company.
OBSKMP
       [Denmark] Observations-helikopter Kompagni --- observation
       helicopter company.
--OC-------------------------------------------------------------------------
OC
       Officer Commanding
OCA
       [USA] Offensive Counter Air
OCA
       Obstacle Clearance Altitude
Ocean Safari
       [UK] Exercise.
Ocean Venture
       [UK] Exercise.
Ocelot
       [Allied] Codename for a code used by the Luftwaffe, that could be read
       by the Allied Intelligence.
OCH
       Obstacle Clearance Height
OCONUS
       [USA] Outside Continental United States
OCU
       [UK] Operational Conversion Unit
OCU
       [USA] Operational Capability Update
--OD-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Odd Rods
       [NATO] Soviet IFF set, characterised by a row of three antennas
       of increasing length.
ODR
       Omnidirection Range
--OE-------------------------------------------------------------------------
OEU
       [UK] Operational Evaluation Unit
--OF-------------------------------------------------------------------------
OFE
       [UK] Operational Flying Exercises
OFT
       [UK] Operational Flight Trainer, i.e. a flight simulator.
--OG-------------------------------------------------------------------------
OG
       [USA] Operations Group
OGE
       Out of Ground Effect.  See IGE.
OGMA
       [Portugal] Officinas Gerais de Material Aeronautica
OGPU
       [USSR] Obedinionnoye Gassudarstvennoye Polititsheku Upravleny --
       Poltical Administration of the Union State. Soviet political police
       during the 1920s.
--OH-------------------------------------------------------------------------
OHL
       [Germany] Oberste Heeresleitung --- Supreme Command of the Army.
       Headquarters of the German forces during WWI.
OH-X
       [Japan] Armed scout/observation light helicopter. Mock up revealed
       in September 1994.
--OI-------------------------------------------------------------------------
OIS
       [USA] Orbit Improvement System, for the E-6 Mercury. The E-6 TACAMO
       flies circles around a fixed point to keep its long trailing wire
       antenna (LTWA) in a fixed vertical position. OIS is to improve the
       steadiness of the antenna.
--OJ-------------------------------------------------------------------------
--OK-------------------------------------------------------------------------
OKB
       [USSR] Design Bureau
OKO
       [USSR] Optny Konstruktorsky Otdel --- Experimental Design Section
--OL-------------------------------------------------------------------------
OL
       Operating Location.
Olive Noires
       [USA] Mine sweeping exercise, off Toulon, France. 1978.
Olympic
       [USA] Plan for the invasion of the Japanese island Kyushu. 1945.
Olympic Fire
       [USA] U-2 surveillance missions from Patrick AFB, Florida.
Olympic Harvest
       [USA] U-2 surveillance missions from RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus.
Olympic Torch
       [USA] U-2 surveillance missions from Osan AFB, South Korea. In
       support of 'Linebacker'.
--OM-------------------------------------------------------------------------
O&M
       Operations & Maintenance
OMAG
       [USR] Osobaya Morskaya Aviatsionna Grupa -- Independent Naval
       Aviation Group.
Omaha Beach
       [Allied] One of the landing beaches used for 'Overlord'.
Omar
       [USA] Codename for the Japanese Suzukaze 20. Did not exist.
Omega
       Long-range navigation aid.
OMOS
       [USSR] Department for the development of experimental navy
       aircraft.
--ON-------------------------------------------------------------------------
ONR
       [USA] Office of Naval Research.
ONS
       [USA] Omega Navigation Set
--OO-------------------------------------------------------------------------
OOA
       [USA] Orbiting Optical Adjunct. Boeing 767 testbed operated by the
       US Army for evaluation of a Hughes sensor system to detect orbiting
       objects.
OOD
       [USA] Officer of the Deck (USN)
OOD
       [USA] Officer of the Watch (USN)
--OP-------------------------------------------------------------------------
OP
       Operator
OPC
       [Australia] Offshore Patrol Combatants
OPCON
       [USA] Operational Control
Open Skies
       [USA] Proposal to allow mutual reconaissance flights over the territory
       of the superpowers.  Accepted after the end of the Cold War.  Also used
       as name for the OC-135B equipped for this role.
Operation Bolo
       [USA] Operation in Vietnam, 2 January 1967, that ended with the
       shooting down of seven MiG-21s by F-4s.
Ophelia
       [France/Germany] Optique Platforme HELIcoptere Allemand. Optical
       platform for German Helicopter. A mast-mounted sight developed
       for the Bo 105 anti-tank helicopter.
OPORD
       [USA] Operation Order
OPPLAN
       [USA] Operation Plan
OpSec
       [USA] Operational Security.
--OQ-------------------------------------------------------------------------
--OR-------------------------------------------------------------------------
OR
       [UK] Operational Requirement
Orange
       [USA] War Plan Orange was the pre-WWII plan for a war with Japan.
       It envisaged naval battles and a blockade of Japan.
Orange Crop
       ESM system, Racsal MIR-2.
Orange Herald
       [UK] Nuclear bomb. 720 kiloton. Probably experimental only.
Orange Putter
       [UK] Tail warning radar for the Canberra bomber.
ORB
       [UK] Operations Record Book of an unit.
Orchidee
       [France] "Observatoire Radar Coherent Heliporte d'Investigation des
       Elements Ennemis" -- Basically this means that Orchidee is a
       pulse-doppler radar that is carried by a helicopter and is used to
       track moving ground targets.
ORE
       [USA] Operational Readiness Evaluation
ORI
       [USA] Operational Readiness Inspection.
Orient Excess
       [USA] SIGINT missions, flown along the Chinese coast from bases in
       Japan. 11 hours flying from Yokota, 9 from Kadena. Reportedly very
       boring. 1960s.
Orient Express
       [UK] Exercise in the Indian Ocean, 1983.
ORP
       [UK] RAF: Operational Readiness Platform. Hardstand at the end of a
       runway, for aircraft on QRA.
ORS
       [Allied] Operational Research Section
--OS-------------------------------------------------------------------------
OSA
       [USA] Operational Support Airlift / Aircraft
Osa
       [NATO] Soviet missile boat class
OSAP
       [USSR] Otdelni'i Smeshanni'i Aviatsoni'i Polk -- Independent Mixed
       Aviation Regiment.
Oscar
       [USA] Codename for the Japanese Nakajima Ki.43 Hayabusa fighter
OSCE
       Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.
OSINT
       Open Source Intelligence
Osirak
       [Iraq] Nuclear reactor newr Bagdad, Iraq. Destroyed by Israeli
       F-16s, escorted by F-15s, on June 7, 1981.
OSS
       [USA] Operational Support Squadron
OSS
       [USA] Office of Secret Services.
OSSV
       [USSR] Ogrnichenie i sokrashchenie stratigicheskykh vooruzhenii - START
OSV
       [USSR] Ogranichenie stratigicheskykh vooruzhenii - SALT
--OT-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Otdelni'i Vertoletni'i Eskadrilya
       [USSR] Independent helicopter squadron.
Otdelni'i Vertoletni'i Polk
       [USSR] Independent helicopter regiment.
OTH
       Over The Horizon.
OTHB
       [USA] Over The Horizon Backscatter -- radar development.
OTP
       [UK] Operational Training Phase
OTPI
       [USA] On-Top Position Indicator. Part of the avionics fit of
       ASW aircraft.
OTU
       [UK] Operational Training Unit
--OU-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Outing
       [USA] Conversion for B-29s and F-84s for in-flight refuelling.
Outlaw Hunter
       [USA] Modification of the P-3 Orion with control and communications
       systems. Two were used during the Second Gulf War.
Outlaw Viking
       [USA] Project to modify the S-3 Viking, with the hope of expanding
       its targeting capabilities.
--OV-------------------------------------------------------------------------
OVE
       [USSR] Otdelni'i Vertoletni'i Eskadrilya -- Independent helicopter
       squadron.
Overlord
       [Allied] Invasion on the coasts of Normandy, 6 June 1944.
OVP
       [USSR] Otdelni'i Vertoletni'i Polk -- Independent helicopter regiment.
       Normally three squadrons (OVE) of 20 helicopters each.
--OW-------------------------------------------------------------------------
OWE
       Operating Weight Empty
--OX-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oxcart [USA]
       Codename for the A-12 design, precursor of the SR-71.
--OY-------------------------------------------------------------------------
--OZ-------------------------------------------------------------------------

==P==========================================================================
P
       [USSR] Perekhvatchuk, interceptor.
P
       [USSR] Pushechny,  cannon-armed.
P^3I
       Pre-Planned Product Improvement
--PA-------------------------------------------------------------------------
PAC
       [UK] Parachute and Cable.  The Type L was a 2in rocket launched to
       1000ft, dispensing a 600ft cable with a parachute at either end and an
       explosive charge at one.  Type J used a drum on the ground for the
       cable, launched to 2000ft. Type K used a 3in rocket to bring a 1000ft
       cable as high as 19000ft, and a larger paracute to slow down its
       descent.
PACAF
       [USA] Pacific Air Forces
Pacer Century
       [USA] Test of F-100-PW engines in an F-15, to the max. operating
       time of 750 hours.
Pacer Coin
       [USA] Surveillance version of the C-130.
Pacer Crag
       [USA] Avionics upgrade for the C-135 and KC-135 fleet.
Pacer Link
       [USA] Boeing EC-135, ABNCP aircraft
Pacer Loft
       [USA] Upgrade programme for the F-16A.
Pacer Plank
       [USA] Life extension program for the B-52D.
Pacer Power
       [USA] Boeing EC-135
Pacer Six
       [USA] Conversion of F-106 fighters to target drones.  1986.
Pacer Snow
       [USA] ECM and avionics upgrade program for the C-5. Missile-warning
       system, and chaff and flare dispensers.
Pacer Speckled Trout
       [USA] Boeing NC-135B avionics testbed
Pacer Strike
       [USA] Avionics upgrade for the F-111F.
Pacer Wave
       [USA] Avionics upgrades for the F-4C.
Pacer Wing
       [USA] Upgrade for the C-5 Galaxy, including rewinging; early C-5s
       were restricted to 25% of their design payload because of wing
       fatigue.
PACIR
       [USA] Propulsion, Aerodynamic, Controls Integrated Research
PACCS
       [USA] Post Attack Command & Control System
PAE
       Program Analysis & Evaluation
Paektu
       [South Korea] A signal intelligence program.
PAF
       Pakistani Air Force
PAF
       Polish Air Force
PAG
       [Germany] PersonenAbwurfGeraet --- Personnel-dropping device. This
       was a capsule with three seats, that could be parachuted by a
       transport aircraft, to drop spies in enemy-occupied territory.
PAH
       [Germany] Panzerabwehrhubschrauber. Anti-tank helicopter
Pakistan
       [UK] 'Operation Pakistan' was a population shuffle, 1-15 September 1947,
       after the partition of India.
Pakistan Fiza'ya
       [Pakistan] Pakistan Air Force
PAL
       [USA] Permission Active Link.  Device to trigger nuclear bombs from
       the cockpit.
Pampa
       [UK] Meteorological reconaissance mission over occupied Europe.
PAN
       Radio code, indicating alert, but not a serious emergency. A
       level lower than 'Mayday'.
Pandora
       [UK] Codename for the Long Aerial Mine --- See LAM.
Panservaerns-helikopter Kompagni
       [Denmark] anti-tank helicopter company.
Panther
       [UK] Movement to France of an Advanced Air Striking Force (AASF)
       to France, to support the BEF. 1939.
Papa
       [NATO] Soviet Submarine class.
Paperclip
       [USA] Transfer of German scientists to the USA after the end of
       WWII.
PAPI
       Precision Approach Path Indicator
PAR
       [Germany] Panzerabwehrregiment. Anti-tank regiment
PAR
       Phased Array Radar
PAR
       Precision Approach Radar
PAR
       [USA] Progressive Aircraft Rework
Parafrag
       [USA] Fragmentation bomb, carried down by a parachute and fused to
       explode in mid-air. Used by the USAAF against Japanese airfields in
       the Pacific.
PAS
       [UK] Police Aviation Services
Pat
       [USA] Codename for the Japanese Tachikawa Ki.74 reconaissance aircraft
PAT/ARM
       [USA] Passive Angle Tracking / Anti-Radation Missile system, fitted
       to some A-6B Intruders for operations against SAM-sites in Vietnam.
       It was intended to improve the accuracy of the AGM-87A ARM.
Pat Hand
       [NATO] Radar associated with SA-4 and SA-6.
Patsy
       [USA] Codename for the Japanese Tachikawa Ki.74 reconaissance aircraft
PatWing
       [USA] Patrol Wing
PatWingsLant
       [USA] Patrol Wings Atlantic Fleet
PAU
       [UK] Pilotless Aircraft Unit. Operated traget drones. Closed down
       in March 1946.
Paukenschlag
       [Germany] Offensive of the U-boats against merchant shipping in
       the West Atlantic, immediately after the declaration of war
       between Germany and the US.
Paul
       [USA] Codename for the Japanese Aichi E16A Zuiun seaplne
PAV
       [USA] Prototype Air Vehicles
Pave Aegis
       [USA] The Lockheed AC-130 Pave Aegis carries a 105mm cannon.
Pave Arm
       [USA] Programme to create missiles that homed on the emissions of
       aircraft. See also Brazo. Cancelled.
Pave Arrow
       [USA] Two F-4Ds were modified to locate heat sources on the ground,
       using modified AIM-9 seekers.
Pave Claw
       [USA] The GPU-5/A 30mm gun pod.The gun is the GAU-13/A, a
       four-barrelled version of the GAU-8 'Avenger' of the A-10.
Pave Coin
       [USA] Development programme for a low-cost, high-performance close
       support aircraft, undertaken during the Vietnam war.
Pave Cricket
       [USA] ECM RPV, based on 'Pave Tiger'.
Pave Deuce
       [USA] Conversion of F-102 for use as manned or unmanned target.
Pave Eagle
       [USA] Beech QU-22 Bonanza unmanned drone, used as signal relay
       aircraft.
Pave Fire
       [USA] Pod with a low-light level television camera and a laser ranger,
       to be used in night attacks. Unsuccessfull.
Pave Gat
       [USA] Martin B-57G night attack aircraft equipped with a triple-barrel
       20mm gun.
Pave Hawk
       [USA] The MH-60G special operations or HH-60G rescue helicopter.
Pave Knife
       [USA] Guidance pod for laser-guided bombs. AN/AVQ-10.
Pave Light
       [USA] AN/AVQ-9 laser designator.
Pave Low
       [USA] The Sikorsky MH-53 special operations helicopter.
Pave Mover
       [USA] A side-looking radar for targeting missiles to enemy forces.
Pave Nail
       [USA] Modification of the OV-10 for night precision attacks.
Pave Nickel
       [USA] Radar reconaissance flights of the RB-57F at the border of the
       Warsaw pact territory.
Pave Onyx
       [USA] Tactical electronic reconnaissance sensor. Litton AN/ALQ-125
       Terec.
Pave Pat II
       [USA] BLU-76 Fuel-Air Explosive subminution bomb.
Pave Paws
       [USA] Phased array radar, to be installed on the coastline of the
       USA as a early warning system for missiles launched by submarines.
Pave Penny
       [USA] Laser designation system for missiles, also known as TISL.
Pave Phantom
       [USA] Modification of the F-4D Phantom II with AN/ARN-92 LORAN
       navigation equipment. Phantoms equipped with this were primarily
       used for the dropping of sensors.
Pave Pillar
       [USA] Effort to develop a standardised avionics system.
Pave Pronto
       [USA] Pave Pronto was the AC-130A gunship version of the
       C-130 Hercules. Pave Pronto II was the AC-130H.
Pave Spectre
       [USA] AC-130 gunship. I: A-C130E, II: AC-130H, III: AC-130U.
Pave Spike
       [USA] AN/AVQ-23 or AN/ASQ-152(V) laser designation system.
Pave Spot
       [USA] Equipment for the coordination of air strikes, installed in OV-10
       'Pave Nail' aircraft. AN/AVQ-12 laser designator, stabilised sight,
       and LORAN navigation equipment.
Pave Storm
       [USA] KMU-421/B guidance unit, a member of the Paveway family.  Fitted
       to cluster bombs.
Pave Strike
       [USA] Defence suppression programme. EW equipment and precision
       munitions were added to a number of aircraft.
Pave Sword
       [USA] AN/AVQ-11 precision attack sensor. A modified AIM-9 seeker
       head, used to track the targets designated by the AN/AVQ-12 Pave Spot
       laser designator.
Pave Tack
       [USA] Precision bombing system with laser designation, AN/AVQ-26.
Pave Tiger
       [USA] Small RPV, CQM-121.
Paveway
       [USA] Family of laser guided bombs.
PAWS
       [Norway] Programme for Avionics and Weapon System improvements.
--PB-------------------------------------------------------------------------
PB
       [USSR] Pikuriyushi Bombardirovshchik -- dive bomber
PB
       [USSR] Plovuchaya baza (floating base)
PBF
       [UK] Personnel Briefing Facility
PBR
       [USA] USN: Patrol Boat, River
--PC-------------------------------------------------------------------------
PC
       [USA] USN:  Patrol Corvette / Patrol Craft.
PCB
       [UK] Plenum Chamber Burning. This involves the burning of fuel in the
       forward nozzles of the R.R. Pegasus engine. This is the engine used by
       the (AV-8) Harrier. PCB was proposed for the supersonic P.1154, and is
       a possibility for future versions of the Pegasus; it is not used on
       current models.
PCB
       Printed Circuit Board
PCTA
       Plastic-Cased Telescoped Ammunition
PCU
       Power Control Unit
--PD-------------------------------------------------------------------------
PDES
       [USA] Pulse-Doppler Elevation Scan. Radar mode for the E-3
       Sentry. PDES is a look-down mode which does give elevation
       information, in contrast to PDNES.
PDF
       Precision Direction Finder
PDF
       Panamanian Defence Force
PDI
       Pilot Direction Indicator
PDM
       [USA] Programmed Depot Maintenance
PDMS
       [USA] Point-Defense Missile System.  SAM system for ships, built around
       the RIM-7 Sea Sparrow.
PDNES
       [USA] Pulse-Doppler Non-Elevation Scan. Radar mode for the E-3
       Sentry. PDNES is a look-down mode which does not give elevation
       information.
PDR
       Periscope Detection Radar
PDU
       [UK] Photographic Development Unit
PDWE
       Pulse Detonation Wave Engine. The PDWE uses explosions of fuel rather
       than continous buring of fuel. It is said be able to operate at speeds
       up to Mach 10.
--PE-------------------------------------------------------------------------
PE
       [UK] Procurement Executive
Peace Diamond
       [USA] Delivery of F-4 Phantom IIs to Turkey.
Peace Eagle
       [USA] Delivery of F-15s to Japan.
Peace Echo
       [USA] Delivery of RF-4E Phantom IIs to Israel, in the '70s.
Peaco Fox
       [USA] Delivery of F-15s to Israel.
Peace Icarus
       [USA] Delivery of 36 F-4Es to Greece, in 1974.
Peace Jack
       [USA] Development of the F-4 Phantom II, intended as reconaissance
       aircraft for Israel. Ended as the F-4E(S) carrying the
       HIAC camera in a lengthened nose.
Peace Marble
       [USA] Delivery of F-16s to Israel.
Peace Onyx
       [USA] Delivery of F-16s to Turkey. The aircraft are actually built
       in Turkey, then tested by and delivered to the USAF, and then
       delivered to the Turkish air force.
Peace Patch
       [USA] Delivery of 12 ex-USAF F-4Es to Israel.
Peace Pearl
       [USA] Installation of Western electronics in the Chinese J-8B fighter.
       Cancelled after the Tien-an-men killings.
Peace Peek
       [USA] Installation of ELINT equipment in a number of German
       Atlantic maritime patrol aircraft.
Peace Pharaoh
       [USA] Delivery of 35 McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom IIs to Egypt.
       This was a consequence of the 'Camp David' agreement, but Egypt
       was unable to operate the fighters effectively.
Peace Pheasant
       [USA] Delivery of 37 F-4E Phantom IIs to South Korea, 1978.
Peace Reef
       [USA] Loan of 24 F-4E Phantom IIs to Australia, to compensate the
       late delivery of the ordered F-111Cs.
Peace Sentinel
       [USA] Delivery of Boeing E-3A and KE-3A to Saudi Arabia.
Peace Spectator
       [USA] Delivery of F-4D Phantom II to South Korea, in the early 1970's.
Peace Station
       [USA] Boeing 707-3J9C tanker for Iran.
Peace Sun
       [USA] Delivery of the first F-15 to Saudi Arabia.
Peace Trout
       [USA] modification of a Luftwaffe RF-4E as electronic warfare aircraft
       for the German Luftwaffe.
Peace Vector IV [USA]
       Delivery of F-16s, built in Turkey, to Egypt.
Peach Wings
       [USA] Exchange of the surviving Canadian F-101s for upgraded F-101B
       interceptors, 1970.
PECM
       Passive ECM
PECS
       Powered Elevator Control System. In improvement for the Saab 2000
       commuter aircraft.
PEE
       [UK] Proof and Experimental Establishment, at Foulness.
Peel Group
       [NATO] Radar for SA-N-1 Goa.
Peggy
       [USA] Codename for the Japanese Mitsubishi Ki.67 bomber
Peipenkopf
       [Germany] EO-homing anti-tank missile.  WWII.
Perry
       [USA] Codename for the Japanese Kawasaki Ki.10 fighter biplane
Pete
       [USA] Codename for the Japanese Mitsubishi F1M seaplane
--PF-------------------------------------------------------------------------
PF
       [USA] USN:  Patrol Frigate
PFA
       Popular Flying Association
PFCS
       Primary Flight Control System
PFD
       Primary Flight Display
PFL
       Practice Forced Landing
PFP
       [NATO] Partnership For Peace
--PG-------------------------------------------------------------------------
PG
       [USA] USN:  Patrol Gunboat
PGH
       [USA] USN:  Patrol Gunboat, Hydrofoil
PGM
       Precision Guided Munition
PGM
       [USA] Missile.
       PGM-1  Al Hakim
       PGM-3  Pegasus
       PGM-11 Redstone.
--PH-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Phalanx
       [USA] Radar-controlled version of the 20mm Vulcan six-barrel cannon,
       intended as anti-aircraft and anti-missile weapon. Range about
       5000m.
PHARE
       [Europe] Programme for Harmonised Air Traffic Management Research
       (Europe).
Phimat
       [France] Chaff and flares dispenser. Also carried by RAF Tornados.
PHM
       [USA] USN:  Missile-armed Patrol Hydrofoil.
PhotInt
       Photoghraphic Intelligence
--PI-------------------------------------------------------------------------
PI
       Practice Interception
PI
       Photographic Interpreter
PIAT
       [UK] Projector, Infantry, Anti-Tank. WWII anti-tank weapon,
       a shoulder-held spigot mortar.
PIC
       Pilot In Command
Picket
       [UK] Delivery of Spitfires to Malta, 21 and 29 March 1942.
Pierce Arrow
       [USA] Strike at North Vietnamese torpedo boat bases, as a retaliation
       for the so-called 'Tonkin Gulf Incident'. 1964.
PIF
       [USA] Photo Interpretation Facility.
Pig Through
       [UK] A rack carrying 14 2in anti-aircraft rockets, introduced on
       RN ships in the beginning of WWII.
Pillar Box
       [UK] Anti-aircraft rokcet launcher, a circular box with an aimer in
       the central seat and ten rockets at each side. WWII.
PILOT
       [USA] Piloted Lowspeed Tests -- Martin-Marietta X-24.  'Low Speed' was
       in comparison with the X-23 PRIME vehicle.
Pilot's Associate
       [USA] Development of 'user friendly' aircraft cockpits.
Pine
       [USA] Codename for the Japanese Mitsubishi K3M trainer
Pine Tree
       [USA / Canada] A line of early-warning ballistic missile radar stations,
       close the US-Canadian border, on the Canadian side. Covers most of Canada.
Pink Team
       [USA] Organisation of the US helicopter units of the Cavalry. The
       'Pink Team' consisted of a observation helicopter and a gunship
       helicopter. See also 'White Team', 'Red Team', and 'Blue Team'.
Pinnacle
       [UK] Tests of the probe-and-drogue method of in-flight refuelling.
       1951. Also the autumn exercise in 1951.
Pinpoint
       [UK] Delivery of Spitfires to Malta, 16 July 1942.
Pinsel
       [Germany] EO-homing anti-tank missile.  WWII
Pipe Dream
       [Allied] Fuel pipeline from Calcutta, India to Kunming, China.
       2900km in mountainous jungle.
Piperack
       [Allied] Jamming transmitter, fitted to the lead aircraft of bomber
       formations.
Pip Squeak
       [UK] Device that automatically transmitted a signal at fixed
       intervals, to help ground stations in determining the position of
       the aircraft. Introduced in the later 1930s.
PISA
       Pilot's Infra-red Sighting Ability
--PJ-------------------------------------------------------------------------
--PK-------------------------------------------------------------------------
PKR
       [USSR] Protivolodochniy kreyser (anti-submarine cruiser)
--PL-------------------------------------------------------------------------
PL
       [USSR] Podvodnaya lodka (patrol submarine)
PLA
       [USSR] Atomnaya podvodnaya lodka (nuclear attack submarine)
Plainfare
       [UK] British contribution to the airlift to Berlin.
Plain Jane
       [USA] First AC-130A gunship version, also reported as
       nickname for the KC-135A.
Planters Punch
       [UK] Detachment of Canberra jet bombers to Singapore in support
       of operations in Malaya. 1955.
PLAP
       [USSR] Atomnaya protivolodochnaya podlodka (nuclear hunter-killer
       submarine)
PLARB
       [USSR] Atomnaya podlodka raketnaya ballisticheskaya (nuclear ballistic
       missile submarine)
PLARK
       [USSR] Atomnaya podlodka raketnaya krilataya (nuclear cruise missile
       submarine)
PLK
       [USSR] Podlodka raketnaya krilataya (cruise missile submarine)
PLM
       [USA] Production Line Maintenance. Organisation of aircraft
       maintenance, similar to a production line. Practical only when
       a large number of a single type of aircraft has to be maintained.
       Used in the USA and the CBI during WWII.
PLSS
       [USA] Precision Location Strike System. System to pinpoint radio
       transmitters, fitted to TR-1 / U-2R aircraft.
Plum Bob
       [USA] Series of nuclear tests, 1957. This include a test firing
       of the AIR-2 Genie nuclear air-to-air rocket.
Plunder
       [Allied] Montgomery's crossing of the Rhine, 23 and 24 March 1944.
Pluto
       [Allied] Pipe-Line Under The Ocean. Actually a cross-channel
       pipeline to supply allied armies in Europe.
Pluto
       [USA] Project to investigate the feasability of nuclear ramjet
       engines.
--PM-------------------------------------------------------------------------
PM
       [USA] USN:  Patrol Missile Boat
PM
       [USSR] Plovuchaya masterskaya (floating workshop)
PMFD
       [USA] Primary Multi-Function Display
PMTC
       [USA] Point Mugu Test Center, missile test center of the USN.
--PN-------------------------------------------------------------------------
PNG
       Passive Night Goggles
PNGDF
       [Papua New Guinea] Papua New Guinea Defence Force
PNVS
       [USA] Pilot's Night Vision Sensor
--PO-------------------------------------------------------------------------
POC
       Proof Of Concept
POD
       Plan Of the Day
Pointblank
       [Allied] Instruction for the bomber offensive against Germany,
       10 June 1943.
POL
       Petroleum, Oil, Lubricants
Pole Tax
       [USA] Moves to protect US forces in Panama from terrorism.
       Nov. 1989.
POM
       [USA] Preparation for Overseas Movement
Pop Group
       [NATO] Radar for SA-N-4.
Porcupine
       [UK] Version of 'Hedgehog' with percussion firing instead of
       electric firing. Abandoned.
Port Bow
       [USA] Detachment of USAF aircraft to Taiwan after the 'Pueblo'
       incident.
Porton Liner
       [UK] Crew shelter, protected against chemical or biological weapons.
       There is room for four to six people.
POST
       [USA] Proposed Optical Stinger.  A FIM-92 version with a new seeker.
Post Time
       [USA] Plan for a military occupation of key sites on the Panama
       Canal. See also Prayer Book.
POW
       Prisoner Of War
--PP-------------------------------------------------------------------------
PPA
       [USSR] Pastanovchik-Pamech Aktivni'i -- Active Jammer. As in Mi-18PPA
       'Hip-J'
PPI
       Plan Position Indicator (radar or navigation display)
PPL
       Private Pilot's License
PPL
       [USA] Pre-Production Verification
--PQ-------------------------------------------------------------------------
--PR-------------------------------------------------------------------------
PR
       Public Relations
PR
       Photo-Reconaissance
Prairie Fire
       [USA] Reconaissance missions in Vietnam, north of the 17th degree.
Prayer Book
       [USA] Set of plans for possible military operations in Panama, 1988.
       Included Post Time, Klondike Key, Blind Logic and Blue Spoon.
PRC
       People's Republic of China
Predator
       [USA] The Tier II reconaissance UAV.
PRF
       Pulse Repetition Frequency
PRIME
       [USA] Precision Recovery Including Maneuvring Entry.  Martin X-23
       lifting-body entry vehicle.
Prize Crew
       [USA] Development of quiet observation aircraft by Lockheed.
PRO
       [USA] Protivoraketnaya oborona - ABM
PRO
       [UK] Public Records Office
PROFIT
       [USA] Propulsion/Flight Control Technology.
Profiteer
       [UK] Exercise: Deployment of bombers to the Far East.
Project Amber
       [USA] Twin-engined RPV project for the USN.
Project Anvil
       [USA] The use of the BQ-8 unmanned flying bomb conversion of the B-24.
Project Batty
       [USA] Operational use of the GB-4 guided bomb, by the 388th BG, in July
       1944.
Project Bullet
       [USA] Attempt to set a transcontinental speed record with a F8U-1
       and an F8U-1P. John Glenn in the F8U-1P made it at an average speed
       of 1167km/h.
Project Buster
       [USA] Attempt during the Korean War to develop a 'radar-busting'
       aircraft, based on the RB-26 Invader.
Project Danny
       [USA] Mid-1944 plan to use USMC aircraft, F4U Corsairs, to attack V-1
       and V-2 laucnhing sites with the 'Tiny Tim' rocket.  Never done.
Project Gunboat
       [USA] Development program for the gunship version of the C-130.
Project Hot Shot
       [USA] The development of the AIM-7 Sparrow AAM.
Project Look Alike
       [USA] Modification programme to bring all F-105D's to F-105D-25-RE$
       standard and increase their capability.  1964.
Project Optimize
       [USA] Modification programma to the F-105 to cure some problems.  1960.
Project Peewee
       [USA] The RB-57F program.
Project Perilous
       [USA] The use of the Boeing BQ-7 guided bomb version of the B-17.
Project Tailchaser
       [USA] Investigation into the application of sideward-spointing
       armament.  Created the first AC-47 gunships.
Project Vulcan
       [USA] Gun development program that produced the M61 Vulcan cannon.
       Began in 1946.
Provide Assistance
       [USA] Humanitarian operations in Zaire and Ruanda, following the civil war
       in Ruanda, 1994.
Provide Comfort
       [USA] Operations over Nothern Iraq to establish the no-fly zone created
       there after the Gulf War.
Provide Hope II
       [USA] Humanitarian operations in conflict zones in the former USSR.
Provide Promise
       [USA] Humanitarian operations in Bosnia.
PRU
       [UK] Photographical Reconaissance Unit.
--PS-------------------------------------------------------------------------
PS
       [USSR] Passazhirskii i syaz -- passenger and liaison/communications.
       As in Mi-8PS.
PSKR
       [USSR] Pogranichniy storozhevoy korabl' (border patrol ship)
PSP
       [USA] Pierced Steel Planking -- surface for improvised runways.
PSR
       Post-Strike Reconaissance
PSSK
       Probability of Single-Shot Kill
--PT-------------------------------------------------------------------------
PT
       [USA] USN: Torpedo Boat
PTG
       [USA] USN:  Torpedo Boat, guided missile armament
PTM
       [USA] USN:  Missile-armed Torpedo Boat
PTT
       [USA] Part Task Trainer
--PU-------------------------------------------------------------------------
PUC
       [USA] Presidential Unit Citation
Puff Ball
       [NATO] Big surveillance radar, carried by the Tu-16.
PUFFS
       [USA] Passive Underwater Firecontrol Feasability System.
Pull Out
       [USA] Program to cure the most serious defiencies of the F-86D
       all-weather interceptor, 1954.
Puppchen
       [Germany] 88mm antitank rocket launcher
Purple Warrior
       [UK] Exercise in Scotland, November 1987. This was a 'rerun' of the
       Falkland War.
--PV-------------------------------------------------------------------------
PV
       [USSR] Pulemot Vozdushny -- Machine Gun, Air.
       PV-1   7.62mm   780rds/m
PV
       Private Venture
PVHKMP
       [Denmark] Panservaerns-helikopter Kompagni --- anti-tank helicopter
       company.
PVO
       [USSR] Protivo-Vozdushnoy Oborony Strany, Air Defence of the homeland
PVOS
       [USSR] See PVO.
--PW-------------------------------------------------------------------------
PWR
       [UK] Passive Warning Receiver
PWW
       [USA] Planar Wing Weapon, a cancelled alternative for CWW.
--PX-------------------------------------------------------------------------
--PY-------------------------------------------------------------------------
--PZ-------------------------------------------------------------------------

==Q==========================================================================
--QA-------------------------------------------------------------------------
--QB-------------------------------------------------------------------------
--QC-------------------------------------------------------------------------
--QD-------------------------------------------------------------------------
QDM
       Course to steer
--QE-------------------------------------------------------------------------
--QF-------------------------------------------------------------------------
QFE
       Atmospheric pressure at aerodrome elevation
QFI
       [UK] RAF: Qualified Flying Instructor
--QG-------------------------------------------------------------------------
--QH-------------------------------------------------------------------------
--QI-------------------------------------------------------------------------
--QJ-------------------------------------------------------------------------
--QK-------------------------------------------------------------------------
--QL-------------------------------------------------------------------------
--QM-------------------------------------------------------------------------
QM
       Quartermaster
--QN-------------------------------------------------------------------------
QNE
       Altimeter reading at airfield when subscale is set to 1013.2 millibars.
QNH
       Altimeter subscale setting to destination airfield altitude
--QO-------------------------------------------------------------------------
--QP-------------------------------------------------------------------------
--QQ-------------------------------------------------------------------------
--QR-------------------------------------------------------------------------
QRA
       Quick Reaction Alert
--QS-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q Star
       [USA] A Schweizer sailplane, modified to a prototype silent
       reconaissance aircraft with an engine behind the pilot.  A long shaft
       was positioned above the cockpit, and a big propellor was fitted on top
       of the nose.
--QT-------------------------------------------------------------------------
--QU-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Quadrant
       [Allied] Conference of the allied war leaders in
       Quebec, August 1943.
Quail
       [USA] The ADM-20 decoy missile.
Quick Draw
       [USA] Withdrawal of US forces from Somalia, 1994.
Quick Fix
       [USA] Electronic Warfare helicopter. Quick Fix I was the EH-1H;
       Quick Fix II is the EH-60. The equipment used is ALQ-151.
Quick Look I
       [USA] Program to modify the Grumman OV-1 Mohawk to RV-1C recce
       aircraft.
Quick Look II
       [USA] Program to modify the Grumman OV-1 Mohawk to RV-1D recce aircraft
       with AN/ALQ-133 radar receivers.
Quicksilver
       [Allied] Also known as Fortitude South. Desinformation plan, that
       created a 'Ghost army' in England, purporting to prepare an
       invasion in the Pas de Calais area.
Quickstrike
       [USA] Family of air-dropped mines.
--QT-------------------------------------------------------------------------
--QV-------------------------------------------------------------------------
--QW-------------------------------------------------------------------------
--QX-------------------------------------------------------------------------
--QY-------------------------------------------------------------------------
--QZ-------------------------------------------------------------------------


This FAQ created and maintained by Emmanuel Gustin
Reproduction, reuse, or distribution without permission is prohibited.