Acronyms and Codenames FAQ, U-W
==U==========================================================================
U
[USSR] Uluchshennyi --- Improved.
--UA-------------------------------------------------------------------------
UADS
United Air Defence System of the Warsaw Pact. Became operational
in 1963.
UAE
United Arab Emirates
UAS
[UK] University Air Squadron
UAV
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
--UB-------------------------------------------------------------------------
U-boot
[Germany] Submarine
--UC-------------------------------------------------------------------------
UC
[UK] University Cadet
UCMJ
[USA] Uniform Code of Military Justice
UCS
Utilities Control System
--UD-------------------------------------------------------------------------
UDF
Un-Ducted Fan
UDI
Unilateral Declaration of Independence
UDT
Underwater Demolition Team
--UE-------------------------------------------------------------------------
--UF-------------------------------------------------------------------------
UFO
Unidentified Flying Object
UFO
[USA] UHF Follow On. A sattelite-based communications system of the
US Navy.
--UG-------------------------------------------------------------------------
UGM
[USA] Underwater-launched, guided ground-to-ground Missile.
UGM-27 Polaris
UGM-73 Poseidon
UGM-93 Trident
U-GO
[Japan] Attack in Burma, against Imhpal and Kohima, cities in the
border region of in India, 1944. Failed.
--UH-------------------------------------------------------------------------
UHB
Ultra-High Bypass
UHF
Ultra High Frequency
UHU
[Germany] Unterstutzungshubschrauber, support helicopter.
--UI-------------------------------------------------------------------------
--UJ-------------------------------------------------------------------------
--UK-------------------------------------------------------------------------
UKADGE
United Kingdom Air Defence Ground Environment
UKADR
[UK] United Kingdom Air Defence Region
UKAIR
[NATO] United Kingdom Air Forces
UKV
[USSR] Udarnye kosmicheskie vooruzheniya - Space-based offensive
weapons.
--UL-------------------------------------------------------------------------
ULM
Ultra Light Motorised (aircraft)
ULMS
[USA] Underwater Long range Missile System. The Trident missile.
--UM-------------------------------------------------------------------------
--UN-------------------------------------------------------------------------
UN
United Nations
UNACE
Universal Aircraft Com/Nav Evaluation
United Effort
[USA] Program to gather data on the SA-2 Guideline SAM missile, by
making them fire on unmanned recconaissance drones. ELINT aircraft
wre then able to gather the required information.
UNPROFOR
United Nations Protection Force. In Bosnia, 1990s.
UNREP
Underway Replenishment
UNSCOM
[UN] United Nations Special COMmission.
--UO-------------------------------------------------------------------------
--UP-------------------------------------------------------------------------
UP
[UK] 'Unrotated Projectile', a codename used for rockets.
Uphold Democracy
[USA] Invasion of Haiti, 1994, to restore the elected president
Aristide to power.
UPT
[USA] Undergraduate Pilot Training
--UQ-------------------------------------------------------------------------
--UR-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Urgent Fury
[USA] Invasion of Grenada, October 1983.
--US-------------------------------------------------------------------------
u/s
unserviceable
USAAC
[USA] United States Army Air Corps
USAAF
[USA] United States Army Air Force
USAAS
[USA] United States Army Air Service. Created on May 24, 1918.
USAF
[USA] United States Air Force. Created 18 September 1947.
USAFA
[USA] United States Air Force Academy
USAFC
[USA] United States Forces in China. (1920's)
USAFE
[USA] United States Air Force in Europe
USAIC
[USA] US Army Intelligence Command
USASA
[USA] US Army Security Agency
USCG
[USA] United States Coast Guard
USCS
[USA] United States Customs Service. The 'war on drugs' has caused
the USCS to adopt military equipment, such as AEW versions of the
Lockheed P-3 Orion.
USFLC
[USA] US Foreign Liquidation Commission. Managed stocks of
superfluous equipment after WWII.
USMC
[USA] United States Marine Corps
USN
[USA] United States Navy
USNI
[USA] United States Naval Institue
USNR
[USA] United States Navy Reserve
USNR(R)
[USA] United States Navy Reserve (Ready)
USNS
[USA] United States Navy Ship
USS
[USA] United States Ship
USSOCOM
[USA] US Special Operations Command
USWB
[USA] United States Weather Bureau
--UT-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Utah Beach
[Allied] One of the landing beaches used for 'Overlord'.
UTT
[Spain] Unidad de Transicion Temporal --- Temporary Transition
Unit.
UTTAS
[USA] Utility Tactical Transport Aircraft System. Replacement
for the UH-1; the UH-60 was selected.
UTTCo
[USA] Utility Tactical Transport helicopter Company.
--UU-------------------------------------------------------------------------
UUM
[USA] Submarine-launched, anti-submarine missile. Subroc is launched
underwater, breaks trough the surface, travels through air, and then
drops it warhead into the water. It has a nuclear warhead.
UUM-4 Subroc.
UUV
Unmanned Undersea Vehicle
--UV-------------------------------------------------------------------------
UV
Ultra-Violet
UV-VS
[USSR] Upravlenie Voenno-vozdushnikh Sil -- Administration of the
air force.
--UX-------------------------------------------------------------------------
U-X
[Japan] multi-purpose support aircraft requirement for the JASDF.
The Gulfstream IV was selected.
UXB
[UK] UneXploded Bomb.
--UY-------------------------------------------------------------------------
--UZ-------------------------------------------------------------------------
==V==========================================================================
V-1
[Germany] Vergeltungswaffe 1, 'revenge weapon one'. Also know as Fi
103 or FZG 76. The V-1 was a pulse-jet powered flying bomb. Over
29000 V-1s were built. About 8000 were fired at London, of which 2419
hit. An additional 2448 fell on Antwerp.
V-2
The V-2 was the A-4 ballistic missile. Over 10000 were built. 1120
launched against England, of a total of 4320 operational firings.
Range was up to 320 km, but winged developments had a range of 750km
and the A-10 was a two-stage missile with intercontinental range.
After WWII the V-2 was tested by the Allied. This included a launch
from USS Midway, 6 september 1947.
--VA-------------------------------------------------------------------------
VA
[USA] USN attack squadron
VA-12 'Clinchers'
VA-14 'Tophatters'
VA-15 'Valions'
VA-27 'Royal Maces'
VA-34 'Blue Blasters'
VA-35 'Black Panthers'
VA-36 'Roadrunners'
VA-42 'Green Pawns'
VA-52 'Knight Riders'
VA-55 'Warhorses'
VA-65 'Tigers'
VA-66 'Waldomen'
VA-75 'Sunday Punchers'
VA-82 'Marauders'
VA-85 'Black Falcons'
VA-85 'Buckeyes'
VA-86 'Sidewinders'
VA-87 'Golden Warriors'
VA-95 'Skyknights'
VA-95 'Green Lizards'
VA-97 'Warhawks'
VA-115 'Arabs'
VA-115 'Eagles'
VA-123 'Professionals'
VA-128 'Golden Intruders'
VA-145 'Swordsmen'
VA-155 'Silver Foxes'
VA-165 'Boomers'
VA-182 'Golden Intruders'
VA-185 'Nighthawks'
VA-176 'Thunderbolts'
VA-196 'Main Battery'
VA-205 'Green Falcons'
VA-304 'Firebirds'
VAAC
[UK] Vectored thrust Aircraft for Advanced flight control. A Harrier
testbed, equipped with fly-by-wire controls.
VADS
Vulcan Air Defence System
VAID
[USA] Variable AIr Inlet Duct
VAL
[USA] USN light attack squadron
VAL-4 'Black Ponies'
Val
[USA] Codename for the Japanese Aichi D3A dive bomber
Valhalla
[Germany] Bomber formation. The bomber stream was protected by a
direct escort, a top cover, and free-hunting fighters up front.
VAMOM
[France] Visite d'Aptitude a la Mise en Oevre et a la Maintenance ---
Evaluation of servicing and maintenance.
VAP
[Russia] Vilivnoj Aviatsionnii Pribor --- Dischargeable Aviation System.
A system of water tanks installed in the cargo hold of the Il-76 for
firefighting tasks.
VAQ
[USA] USN tactical electronic warfare squadron
VAQ-33 'Firebirds'
VAQ-34 'Flashbacks'
VAQ-130 'Zappers'
VAQ-132 'Scorpions'
VAQ-134 'Garudas'
VAQ-137 'Rooks'
VAQ-209 'Star Warriors'
VAQ-309 'Axemen'
Varsity
[Allied] Operations of the 17th US and 6th British airborne divisions
in support of 'Plunder' (which to see). 23-24 March 1945.
VASI
Visual Approach Slope Indicator
VASTAC
[UK] Vector-ASsisted TACtics.
VAW
[USA] USN airborne early warning squadron.
VAW-88 'Cottonpickers'
VAW-114 'Hormel Hawgs'
VAW-125 'Tigertails'
VAW-126 'Seahawks'
VAW-127 'Seabats'
VA(X)
[USA] USN requirement for a new attack aircraft, in 1957. The
A-6 Intruder was selected for this.
--VB-------------------------------------------------------------------------
VB
[USA] Vertical Bomb. VB-1 and VB-2 were free-fall weapons with
azimuth-only guidance, later VBs had complete guidance. VB-9 to
VB-13 had annular wings. VB-13 was used on large scale in Korea.
VB-1 Azon 454kg, used during WWII, used with succes against
bridges.
VB-2 Azon Similar to VB-1, 907kg.
VB-3 Razon 454kg
VB-4 Razon 907kg
VB-5 454kg, image contrast ligth seeker.
VB-6 Felix 45kg, IR seeker
VB-7 TV-guidance
VB-8 TV-guidance
VB-9 Radar homing
VB-10 TV guidance
VB-11 IR guidance
VB-12 Radio control, visual guidance
VB-13 Tarzon 5443kg
VBF
[USA] USN fighter-bomber squadron.
VBH
[Germany] Verbindungshubschrauber. Liaison helicopter.
V-bombers
[UK] The Valiant, Victor and Vulcan bombers, which formed the
nuclear deterrent of Britain in the 1960s.
--VC-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Vc
Design cruise speed
VC
[USA] USN composite squadron
--VD-------------------------------------------------------------------------
VD
[USSR] Vertikalnye dvigateli, 'vertical engines', i.e. lift engines.
Vd
Maximum dive speed
VDF
VHF Direction Finding (station)
VDS
Variable Depth Sonar (towed on a cable). Enabled ASW vessels to
detect submarines hiding below thermal layers.
VDU
Video, or Visual Display Unit
--VE-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Veli aya Otechestvennaya Voina
[USSR] Great Pattriotic War, i.e. WWII.
VERTREP
[USA] Vertical Replenishment --- transport by helicopter of supplies
to warships.
--VF-------------------------------------------------------------------------
VF
[USA] USN Fighter Squadron
VF-1 'Wolf Pack'
VF-2 'Flying Chiefs' (WWII)
VF-2 'Bounty Hunters'
VF-5 'Red Rippers' (1930s)
VF-10 'Grim Reapers'
VF-14 'Tophatters'
VF-21 'Freelancers'
VF-31 'Sluggers'
VF-32 'Swordsmen'
VF-42 'Green Pawns'
VF-43 'Challengers'
VF-45 'Blackbirds'
VF-51 'Screaming Eagles'
VF-53 'Blue Knights'
VF-74 'Be-Devilers'
VF-84 'Jolly Rogers'
VF-101 'Grim Reapers'
VF-103 'Tomcatters'
VF-103 'Sluggers'
VF-111 'Sundowners'
VF-124 'Moonshiners'
VF-126 'Bandits'
VF-142 'Ghost Riders'
VF-143 'Pukin' Dogs'
VF-202 'Superheats'
VF-211 'Checkmates'
VF-301 'Devial Disciples'
VF-302 'Stallions'
VF-513 'Red Rippers'
VFA
[USA] Fighter-Attack squadron of the US Navy.
VFA-15 'Valions'
VFA-22 'Fighting Redcocks'
VFA-25 'Fist of the Fleet'
VFA-27 'Chargers'
VFA-37 'Bulls'
VFA-81 'Sunliners'
VFA-82 'Marauders'
VFA-83 'Rampagers'
VFA-86 'Sidewinders'
VFA-87 'Golden Warriors'
VFA-94 'Nighty Strikes'
VFA-97 'Warhawks'
VFA-105 'Gunslingers'
VFA-106 'Gladiators'
VFA-113 'Stingers'
VFA-125 'Rough Riders'
VFA-127 'Cylons'
VFA-127 'The Desert Bogeys'
VFA-131 'Wildcats'
VFA-132 'Privateers'
VFA-136 'Knight Hawks'
VFA-137 'Kestrels'
VFA-146 'Blue Diamonds'
VFA-147 'Argonauts'
VFA-151 'Vigilantes'
VFA-131 'Wildcats'
VFA-132 'Privateers'
VFA-192 'World Famous Golden Dragons'
VFA-195 'Dambusters'
VFA-203 'Blue Dolphins'
VFA-204 'River Rattlers'
VFA-303 'Golden Hawks'
VFA-305 'Lobos'
VFC
[USA] USN Fighter Composite Squadron.
VFP
[USA] USN photo-reconaissance squadron
VFR
Visual Flight Rules
--VG-------------------------------------------------------------------------
VG
Variable Geometry
VGO
[UK] Vickers Gas-Operated gun.
--VH-------------------------------------------------------------------------
VHF
Very High Frequency
VHSIC
Very High Speed Integrated Circuit
--VI-------------------------------------------------------------------------
VI
[USSR] Vysotny Istrebitel -- High-altitude fighter
Victor
[NATO] Soviet submarine class
VID
Visual Identifaction
VIFF
Vectoring In Forward Flight, use of the vectoring jet nozzles of the
Harrier to enhance maneuvrability in combat. Never used operationally,
because the large energy loss outweighs the advantages.
Vigilant
[UK] Exercise, 1957.
Vigilant Warrior
[USA] Deployment of US forces to the Gulf Region, late in 1994.
Violet Banner
[UK] Advanced infrared detector, a development of 'Blue Jay', the
IR homing system for the Firestreak missile. Remained
experimental.
Violet Club
[UK] 'Violet Club' was an interim megaton bomb, using a "Green
Grass" warhead and a "Blue Danube" bomb casing. It was a fission
bomb, not a H-bomb.
VISREP
[UK] Visual Reporting. 'Eyeball Mk.I' observations by the crew of
reconaissance aircraft.
VISTA
[USA] Variable stability In-flight Simulator Test Aircraft, a modified
F-16.
Vixen
[UK] Attenuator, fitted to ASV Mk.VI radar sets. On the German
'Naxos' radar warner, which was called by U-boats, this gave the
impression that the aircraft did not close in.
--VJ-------------------------------------------------------------------------
--VK-------------------------------------------------------------------------
VKP
[USSR] Vozduzhnyi Komandnii Punkt --- airborne command post. As in
Mi-6VKP 'Hook-B'.
--VL-------------------------------------------------------------------------
VL
Vertical Landing
VLAGES
Very Low Altitude Gravity Extraction System. Airdropping at low
altitude and low speed, without parachutes.
VLCT
Very Large Commercial Transport
VLF
Very Low Frequency
VLG
[Netherlands] VliegtuigGroep --- Aircraft Group.
VLO
Very Low Observable
VLU
[Czechoslovakia] Aviation Research Institute.
--VM-------------------------------------------------------------------------
VMA
[USA] USMC attack squadron
VMA-224 'Bengals'
VMA-231 'Ace of Spades'
VMA-242 'Batmen'
VMA-322 'Polka Dots'
VMA-331 'Bumblebees'
VMA-513 'Flying Nightmares'
VMA-533 'Hawks'
VMA-542 'Flying Tigers'
VMA-(AW)
[USA] USMC All-weather attack squadron. (Numbers: see VMA)
VMAQ
[USA] USMC attack and electronic warfare squadron.
VMAQ-2 'Playboys'
VMAQ-4 'Seahawks'
VMAT
[USA] USMC attack training squadron.
VMB
[USA] USMC Bombardment Squadron
VMC
Visual Meteorological Conditions
VMCJ
[USA] USMC electronic warfare squadron
VMCJ-2 'Playboys'
VMF
[USA] USMC Fighter Squadron
VMF-111 'Devil Dogs'
VMF-112 'Wolf Pack'
VMF-115 'Silver Eagles'
VMF-214 'Blacksheep'
VMF-215 'Fighting Corsairs'
VMF-221 'Flying Falcons'
VMF-222 'Flying Duces'
VMF-311 'Hell's Belles'
VMF-321 'Hell's Angels'
VMF-323 'Death Rattlers'
VMF-441 'Black Jacks'
VMF-513 'The Flying Nightmares'
VMF-542 'Bengals'
VMFA
[USA] Fighter-Attack squadron of the USMC.
VMFA-115 'Silver Eagles'
VMFA(AW)-121 'Green Knights'
VMFA-122 'Crusaders'
VMFA-134 'Hawks'
VMFA-142 'Flying Gators'
VMFA-212 'Lancers'
VMFA(AW)-225 'Vagabonds'
VMFA-232 'Red Devils'
VMFA-235 'Death Angels'
VMFA(AW)-242 'Batmen'
VMFA-251 'Thunderbolts'
VMFA-312 'Checkertails'
VMFA-314 'Black Knights'
VMFA-323 'Death Rattlers'
VMFA-333 'Shamrocks'
VMFA-451 'Warlords'
VMFA-531 'Grey Ghosts'
VMFAT
[USA] Fighter-Attack Training squadron of the USMC.
VMFT
[USA] Fighter Training squadron of the USMC.
VMFT-401 'Snipers'
Vmo
Maximum permitted operating speed
VMO
[USA] USMC observation squadron
VMO-1 'Yazoo'
VMO-2 'Hostage'
VMO-6 'Tomcats'
--VN-------------------------------------------------------------------------
VNAF
[South Vietnam] Vietnamese Air Force
Vne
Never to exceed speed (structural limitation)
--VO-------------------------------------------------------------------------
VOD
Vertical On-Board Delivery
Volant Cross
[USA] Mission for WC-130 weather reconaissance aircraft,
gathering weather data for overseas TAC detachments.
Volant Dew
[USA] Supply missions to the Dew radar line in Greenland, flown by
ski-equipped LC-130H aircraft.
Volant Eye
[USA] Mission for WC-130 weather reconaissance aircraft, to
monitor hurricanes along the US coastline.
Volant Forest
[USA] Fire-fighting program for the C-130 Hercules.
Volant Ghost
[USA] Mission for WC-130 weather reconaissance aircraft,
collecting data in regions were there is a lack of ground
stations.
Volant Oak
[USA] C-130 at Howard AFB, Panama, for the US Southern Command.
Volant Solo
[USA] Psychological warfare version of the C-130 Hercules. The EC-130E
exists in 'Comfy Levi' and 'Rivet Rider' versions.
VOLMET
Routine broadcast of meteoroloigcal information
VOR
VHF Omnidirectional Range (beacon)
VORTAC
VHF Omni Range & Tactical Air Navigation
--VP-------------------------------------------------------------------------
VP
Variable Pitch (propeller)
VP
[USSR] Visotny Perekhvatchik --- High-Altitude Interceptor.
VP
[USA] USN patrol squadron
VP-8 'Tigers'
VP-17 'White Lightnings'
VP-23 'Sea Hawks'
VP-24 'Batmen'
VPR
Virtual PPI Reflectoscope
--VQ-------------------------------------------------------------------------
VQ
[USA] USN electronic reconaissance squadron.
VQ-1 'World Watchers'
VQ-2 'Batmen'
VQ-3 'Iron Men'
VQ-4 'Shadows'
VQ-5 'Sea Shadows'
VQ-6 'Black Ravens'
--VR-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Vr
Rotation Speed
VR
[USA] USN heavy transport squadron
VR-60 'Volunteer Express'
VR
Volunteer Reserve
VRC
[USN] USN Carrier on-board delivery squadron
VRC-50 'Foo Dogs'
VRF
[USA] USN ferry transport squadron
VRDK
[USSR] 'Air-turbocompressor reaction engine', also known as
'accelerator', an auxiliary reaction engine used in 1945 to increase
the performance of several fighters with reciprocating engines. Air
was compressed by an engine-driven compressor, then mixed with fuel
and ignited.
VRF
[USA] USN transport wing.
--VS-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Vs
Stalling Speed
VS
[USA] USN submarine warfare squadron
VS-21 'Fighting redtails'
VS-22 'Checkmates'
VS-30 'Diamondcutters'
VS-31 'Top Cats'
VS-32 'Maulers'
VS-32 'Norsemen'
VS-37 'Sawbucks'
VS-38 'Red Griffins'
VSI
Vertical Speed Indicator
VSS
[USA] Variable Stability System. Installed in an SH-60B.
VSSU
[USA] USN Anti-Submarine Warfare Support Unit
VSTT
[USA] Variable Speed Training Target: Competition for a traget drone,
won by the Beechcraft MQM-107.
V/STOL
Vertical / Short Take-Off and Landing
VSWing
[USA] USN Air Anti Submarine Warfare Support Wing
VSX
[USA] Requirement, published in 1964 by the USN, for a carrier-borne
ASW aircraft. This became the S-3 Viking.
--VT-------------------------------------------------------------------------
VT
[USA] USN training squadron.
VT
[USSR] Voyenniy transport (military transport ship)
VT
[USSR] Vnutrenniaia Tiurma --- national prison. Used as designation
for aircraft designed by imprisoned design teams during the
Stalinist purges.
VT
Variable Time (proximity) fuse.
VTA
[USSR] Voenno-Transportnaya Aviatsiya (Military Transport Aviation)
VTAS
[USA] Visual Target Acquisition System. A helmet sight.
VTOL
Vertical Take-Off and Landing
VTX-TS
[USA] Trainer competition for the US Navy, won by the British
Aerospace Hawk, known as T-45 in USN service.
--VU-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Vulcan
[USA] The 20mm M61 gatling gun, standard armament for US fighter
aircraft and also used in a variety of other land-based, sea-
based and land-based applications.
--VV-------------------------------------------------------------------------
VVS
[USSR] Voenno-Vozdushniye Sily --- Air force. Formed in 1924.
VVSRF
[Russia] Voenno-Vozdushniye Sily Rossiskoi Federatsii (Air Forces of
the Russian Federation)
VVS-VMF
[USSR] Voenno-Vozdushniye Sily -- Voenno Morskovo Flota. Naval air
force. Formed in 1924.
--VW-------------------------------------------------------------------------
VW
[USA] USN Airborne Early Warning Squadron
--VX-------------------------------------------------------------------------
VX
[USA] USN Air Test and Evaluation Squadron
VX-4 'Evaluators'
VX-5 'Vampires'
VXE
[USA] USN development squadron
VXE-6 'Puckered Penguins'
VXN
[USA] USN Oceanographic Development Squadron
--VY-------------------------------------------------------------------------
--VZ-------------------------------------------------------------------------
VLU
[Czechoslovakia] Aviation Research and Test Institute.
VZPU
[USSR] Vozdushnyi Zapastnoi Punkt Upravlenya --- Airborne Reserve
Command Post. As in Mi-8VZPU 'Hip-D'.
==W==========================================================================
--WA-------------------------------------------------------------------------
WAAF
[UK] Women's Auxiliary Air Force
WAAM
[USA] Wide-Area Anti-Armor Munitions, a development program for
anti-tank munitions.
WAATS
[USA] Western ARNG Aviation Training Site
WAC
Weapon Aiming Computer
Wacht am Rhein
[Germany] Plan for the attack in the Ardennes, 1944. Later renamed
'Herbstnebel'.
WADC
[USA] Wright Air Development Center
Wa F
[Germany] Waffenforschung --- Weapons Research (Bureau)
WAGB
[USA] USCG: Icebreaker
WAGL
[USA] USCG: Lighthouse Tender
Wako
[Germany] Waffenausbildungskomponente. Weapon-Trainings Component.
Walk About
[UK] Non-stop flight from UK to Australia by Vulcan bombers. 1963.
Walkure
[Germany] WWII. Emergency plan for a possible internal rebellion,
but used by the leaders of the attempted coup that followed on the
July 1944 plot to kill Hitler.
Wanganui
[UK] Bombing of targets in bad weather, with the H2S radar set
used for aiming.
Wa Pruf
[Germany] Heereswaffenamt Prufwesen --- Test service of the Army
weapons bureau.
Warden
[UK] British part of 'Provide Comfort'.
WARPAC
Warsaw Pact
WAS
Weapon Aiming System
Wasserfall
[Germany] WWII development programme for a SAM. Abandoned in February
1945. Wasserfall was steered by radio commands.
Wassermann
[Germany] FuGM 402 long-range ground detection radar. Range 190km,
frequency between 120 and 158MHz. Range precision 300m, angle
precision 0.25 degrees.
WAT
Weight, Altitude, Temperature (factors determining take-off
performance)
WAT
[Poland] Wojskowa Akademia Technicza. Military Technical Academy.
Watchtower
[USA] Invasion of Guadalcanal. August 1942.
Water Pump
[USA] Combat missions flown by USAF pilots in Laos, in 1964.
--WB-------------------------------------------------------------------------
--WC-------------------------------------------------------------------------
WC
Weapons Controller
WC^3
Warning, Command, Control and Communications
--WD-------------------------------------------------------------------------
WD
Weapons Director
WDNS
Weapons Delivery & Navigation System
--WE-------------------------------------------------------------------------
WE 177
[UK] Family of nuclear weapons currently in use. Little
information is available.
Wedgetail
[Australia] Requirerement for an AEW aircraft.
WEF
With Effect From
WEG
[USA] Weapons Evaluation Group
Western Ranger
[UK] Bombing exercise, over Canada. 1960s.
WEU
Western European Union (defence organisation)
--WF-------------------------------------------------------------------------
WFU
Withdrawn From Use.
--WG-------------------------------------------------------------------------
WG
[USA] Wing
--WH-------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHEC
[USA] USCG: High Endurance Cutter
Whisky
[NATO] Soviet submarine class. 'Whisky Twin Cylinder' with two deck
launchers for SS-N-3 cruise missiles, 'Whisky Long Bin' with four
internal launchers.
White Paper
[UK] The 1957 Defence White Paper, created by Duncan Sandys,
that declared that aircraft were made obsolete by the
development of guided missiles --- a decision that wrecked most
of the British aviation industry.
White Team
[USA] Team of two observation helicopters. See 'Pink Team'.
--WI-------------------------------------------------------------------------
WIG
Wing-In-Ground effect
WIGE
Wing-In-Ground effect
Wilde Sau
[Germany] 'Wild Boars'. Single-seat fighters, not equipped with
radar, operating during the night in WWII. They found their target
against the bright background of burning cities.
Wild Goose
[USA] Upgrading of F-106s to the latest production standard, 1960.
Wild Weasel
[USA] Generic designation applied to aircraft specialized in
anti-radar and anti-SAM operations. Wild Weasel 1 was a modified
F-100. Wild Weasel 1A, 2 and 3 were F-105's. Wild Weasel 4 was
a F-4 version.
William Tell
[USA] Exercise and competition for fighter squadrons at Tyndall AFB,
Florida.
Willie
[USA] Conversion of B-17s to unmanned BQ-7s.
Willow
[USA] Codename for the Japanese Yokosuka K5Y trainer.
Wintergewitter
[Germany] The relief operation for Stalingrad.
WIP
Work In Progress
WIU
Weapons Interface Unit
WIX
[USA] USCG: Training Cutter
Wizzo
[USA] (slang) WSO
--WJ-------------------------------------------------------------------------
--WL-------------------------------------------------------------------------
WLA
[UK] Women's Land Army
WLB
[USA] USCG: Seagoing Buoy Tender
WLM
[USA] USCG: Coastal Buoy Tender
WLR
[USA] USCG: River Buoy Tender
--WM-------------------------------------------------------------------------
WMEC
[USA] USCG: Medium Endurance Cutter
--WN-------------------------------------------------------------------------
--WO-------------------------------------------------------------------------
W/O
Written Off.
W/Op
Wireless Operator
WOC
[USA] Wing Operations Center
WOC
War Operations Centre
WOD
Wind Over the Deck -- of a carrier, of course.
Wolf FAC
[USA] Fast-jet FAC. F-4Ds were used.
Workman
[USA] Development of air bases on Iwo Jima. 1944.
--WP-------------------------------------------------------------------------
WP
White Phosporus
WPB
[USA] USCG: Large Patrol Boat
--WQ-------------------------------------------------------------------------
--WR-------------------------------------------------------------------------
WRAF
[UK] Women's Royal Air Force
WRAMA
[USA] Warner-Robins Air Material Area
WRS
[USA] Weather Reconaissance Squadron
WRSK
[USA] War Readiness Spares Kit
--WS-------------------------------------------------------------------------
WS
[USA] Weather Squadron
WSES
[USA] USCG: Surface Effect Ship
WSIP
[USA] Weapon Systems Improvement Program
WSMR
[USA] White Sands Missile Range
WSO
Weapon Systems Officer
--WT-------------------------------------------------------------------------
W/T
Wireless Telephony. Used as a synonym for radio.
--WU-------------------------------------------------------------------------
WUDO
[Europe] Western Union Defence Organization. Created in 1948 by the
treaty of Brussels; precursor of NATO.
Wurzburg
[Germany] FuMG 39/62 short-range ground radar. Wurzburg-C had a
range of only 40km, but was precise enough to guide nightfighters
into visual range.
--WV-------------------------------------------------------------------------
--WW-------------------------------------------------------------------------
WW
World War
--WX-------------------------------------------------------------------------
--WY-------------------------------------------------------------------------
--WZ-------------------------------------------------------------------------
This FAQ created and maintained by Emmanuel Gustin
Reproduction, reuse, or distribution without permission is prohibited.