Descriptionary

armored-vehicle-launched bridge a 60-foot fold­ing bridge mounted in place of a turret on an M-60 or M-1 tank; used to span antitank ditches.

ARMY, GROuND FORCES, AND GENERAL MILITARY TERMS 349

army corps a tactical unit larger than a division and smaller than a field army; usually two or more divi­sions together with auxiliary arms and services.

army group the largest formation of land forces, nor­mally consisting of two or more armies or army corps.

assault echelon a unit scheduled for an initial assault on an area.

back tell the transfer of information from a higher to a lower echelon of command.

ballistics the science of missiles or other vehicles acted upon by propellants, wind, gravity, tempera­ture, or other forces.

banana clip a curved or crescent-shaped ammuni­tion clip holding 30 rounds.

barrage a prearranged barrier of fire designed to protect friendly troops and installations by imped­ing enemy movements across defensive lines. Also, a protective screen of balloons that are moored to the ground and kept at given heights to hinder operations by enemy aircraft.

basic encyclopedia a compilation of identified installations and physical areas of potential signifi­cance as objectives for attack.

basilage the marking of a route by a system of dim beacon lights enabling vehicles to be driven at normal speeds under blackout conditions.

battery left a method of fire in which weapons are discharged from the left one after the other, usually at five-second intervals.

battery right same as battery left, but starting from the right.

billet shelter for troops. Also, to quarter troops.

biological agent a microorganism that causes dis­ease in humans, plants, or animals or causes the dete­rioration of materiel.

blister agent a chemical agent that injures the eyes and lungs, and burns or blisters the skin. Also called vesicant agent.

blood agent a chemical compound, including the cyanide group, that affects bodily functions by pre­venting the normal transfer of oxygen from the blood to body tissues. Also called cyanogen agent.

blood chit a small cloth chart depicting an Ameri­can flag and a statement in several languages to the effect that anyone assisting the bearer to safety will be rewarded.

blue forces forces used in a friendly role during NATO exercises.

booby trap an explosive or other injuring device deliberately placed to cause casualties when an appar­ently harmless object is disturbed or a normally safe act is performed.

boot slang for a soldier fresh out of boot camp.

bound a single movement, usually from cover to cover, made by troops under enemy fire.

Bradley infantry fighting vehicle having twin missile launchers to use against enemy tanks and one 22mm cannon firing armor-piercing slugs. Also known as the M-2 and M-3.

breaching securing passage through a minefield.

bridgehead an area of ground held or to be gained on the enemy's side of an obstacle.

briefing the giving of instructions or information.

brigade a unit smaller than a division to which are attached groups and/or battalions and smaller units.

cache a hidden supply of food, medicine, water, and communication equipment, for use in evasion tactics.

call for fire a request for fire on a specific target.

camouflage any material used to hide equipment and installations within an environment.

camouflage detection photography infrared pho­tography designed to detect camouflage and what is hidden beneath it.

camouflet the resulting cavity in a deep under­ground burst when there is no rupture of the surface.

canalize to restrict operations to a narrow zone by use of obstacles or by fire or bombing.

cargo carrier highly mobile, unarmored, full- tracked cargo and logistic carrier capable of travers­ing inland waterways.

catalytic attack an attack designed to bring about war between two powers through the disguised mach­inations of a third power.

Chaparral a short-range, low-altitude, surface-to- air, army air defense artillery system.

chemical mine a mine containing a chemical agent designed to kill, injure, or incapacitate personnel.

cinderella liberty liberty that ends at midnight.

civilian internee a civilian who is interned during armed conflict for security reasons.

civilian internee camp an installation established for the internment of civilians.

click slang for kilometer.

cluster bomb a large bomb that releases mini bombs or mines that spread over a large area.

combat engineer see sapper.

combat engineer vehicle, full-tracked 165mm