Authors: Keith Douglass
E & E:
SEAL talk for escape and evasion.
EA-6B Prowler:
Navy plane with electronic countermeasures. Crew of 4, max speed 566 knots, ceiling 41,200 feet, range with max load 955 nautical miles.
EAR:
Enhanced Acoustic Rifle. Fires not bullets, but a high-impact blast of sound that puts the target down and unconscious for up to six hours. Leaves him with almost no aftereffects. Used as a non-lethal weapon. The sound blast will bounce around inside a building, vehicle, or ship and knock out anyone who is within range. Ten shots before the weapon must be electrically charged. Range: about 400 yards.
Easy:
The only easy day was yesterday. SEAL talk.
Ejection seat:
The seat is powered by a CAD, a shotgunlike shell that is activated when the pilot triggers the ejection. The shell is fired into a solid rocket, sets it off and propels the whole ejection seat and pilot into the air. No electronics are involved.
ELINT:
ELectronic INTelligence. Often from satellite in orbit, picture-taker, or other electronic communications.
EMP: ElectroMagnetic Pulse:
The result of an E-bomb detonation. One type E-bomb is the Flux Compression Generator or FCG. Can be built for $400 and is relatively simple to make. Emits a rampaging electromagnetic pulse that destroys anything electronic in a 100 mile
diameter circle. Blows out and fries all computers, telephone systems, TV broadcasts, radio, streetlights, and sends the area back into the Stone Age with no communications whatsoever. Stops all cars with electronic ignitions, drops jet planes out of the air including airliners, fighters and bombers, and stalls ships with electronic guidance and steering systems. When such a bomb is detonated the explosion is small but sounds like a giant lightning strike.
EOD:
Navy experts in nuclear material and radioactivity who do Explosive Ordnance Disposal.
Equatorial Satellite Pointing Guide:
To aim antenna for radio to pick up satellite signals.
ES-3A:
Electronic Intelligence (ELINT) intercept craft. The platform for the battle group Passive Horizon Extension System. Stays up for long patrol periods, has comprehensive set of sensors, lands and takes off from a carrier. Has 63 antennas.
ETA:
Estimated Time of Arrival. The planned time that you will arrive at a given destination.
Executive Order 12333:
By President Reagan authorizing Special Warfare units such as the SEALs.
Exfil:
Exfiltrate, to get out of an area.
F/A-18 Hornet:
Carrier-based interceptor that can change from air-to-air to air-to-ground attack mode while in flight.
Fitrep:
Fitness Report.
Flashbang Grenade:
Non-lethal grenade that gives off a series of piercing explosive sounds and a series of brilliant strobe-type lights to disable an enemy.
Flotation Bag:
To hold equipment, ammo, gear on a wet operation.
FO:
Forward Observer. A man or unit set in an advanced area near or past friendly lines to call in artillery or mortar fire. Also used simply as the eyes of the rear echelon planners.
Fort Fumble:
SEALs’ name for the Pentagon.
Forty-mm Rifle Grenade:
The M576 multipurpose round, contains 20 large lead balls. SEALs use on Colt M-4A1.
Four-Striper:
A Navy captain.
Fox Three:
In air warfare, a code phrase showing that a Navy F-14 has launched a Phoenix air-to-air missile.
FUBAR:
SEAL talk. Fucked Up Beyond All Repair.
Full Helmet Masks:
For high-altitude jumps. Oxygen in mask.
G-3:
German-made assault rifle.
GHQ:
General Headquarters.
Gloves:
SEALs wear sage-green, fire-resistant Nomex flight gloves.
GMT:
Greenwich Mean Time. Where it’s all measured from.
GPS:
Global Positioning System. A program with satellites around Earth to pinpoint precisely aircraft, ships, vehicles, and ground troops. Position information is to plus or minus ten feet. Also can give speed of a plane or ship to one quarter of a mile per hour.
GPSL:
A radio antenna with floating wire that pops to the surface. Antenna picks up positioning from the closest 4 global positioning satellites and gives an exact position within 10 feet.
Green Tape:
Green sticky ordnance tape that has a hundred uses for a SEAL.
GSG-9:
Flashbang grenade developed by Germans. A cardboard tube filled with 5 separate charges timed to burst in rapid succession. Blinding and giving concussion to enemy, leaving targets stunned, easy to kill or capture. Usually non-lethal.
GSG9:
Grenzschutzgruppe Nine. Germany’s best special warfare unit, counterterrorist group.
Gulfstream II (VCII):
Large executive jet used by services for transport of small groups quickly. Crew of
3 and 18 passengers. Maximum cruise speed 581 mph. Maximum range 4,275 miles.
H & K 21A1:
Machine gun with 7.62 NATO round. Replaces the older, more fragile M-60 E3. Fires 900 rounds per minute. Range 1,100 meters. All types of NATO rounds, ball, incendiary, tracer.
H & K G-11:
Automatic rifle, new type. 4.7mm caseless ammunition. 50-round magazine. The bullet is in a sleeve of solid propellant with a special thin plastic coating around it. Fires 600 rounds per minute. Single-shot, three-round burst, or fully automatic.
H & K MP-5SD:
9mm submachine gun with integral silenced barrel, single-shot, three-shot, or fully automatic. Rate 800 rds/min.
H & K P9S:
Heckler & Koch’s 9mm Parabellum double-action semiauto pistol with 9-round magazine.
H & K PSG1:
7.62 NATO round. High-precision, bolt-action, sniping rifle. 5- to 20-round magazine. Roller lock delayed blowback breech system. Fully adjustable stock. 6 × 42 telescopic sights. Sound suppressor.
HAHO:
High Altitude jump, High Opening. From 30,000 feet, open chute for glide up to 15 miles to ground. Up to 75 minutes in glide. To enter enemy territory or enemy position unheard.
Half-Track:
Military vehicle with tracked rear drive and wheels in front, usually armed and armored.
HALO:
High Altitude jump, Low Opening. From 30,000 feet. Free fall in 2 minutes to 2,000 feet and open chute. Little forward movement. Get to ground quickly, silently.
Hamburgers:
Often called sliders on a Navy carrier.
Handie-Talkie:
Small, handheld personal radio. Short range.
HE:
High Explosives.
HELO:
SEAL talk for helicopter.
Herky Bird:
C-130 Hercules transport. Most-flown military
transport in the world. For cargo or passengers, paratroops, aerial refueling, search and rescue, communications, and as a gunship. Has flown from a Navy carrier deck without use of catapult. Four turboprop engines, max speed 325 knots, range at max payload 2,356 miles.
Hezbollah:
Lebanese Shiite Moslem militia. Party of God.
HMMWV:
The Humvee, U.S. light utility truck, replaced the honored jeep. Multipurpose wheeled vehicle, 4 × 4, automatic transmission, power steering. Engine: Detroit Diesel 150-hp diesel V-8 air-cooled. Top speed 65 mph. Range 300 miles.
Hotels:
SEAL talk for hostages.
HQ:
Headquarters.
Humint:
Human Intelligence. Acquired on the ground; a person as opposed to satellite or photo recon.
Hydra-Shock:
Lethal hollow-point ammunition made by Federal Cartridge Company. Outlawed in some areas.
Hypothermia:
Danger to SEALs. A drop in body temperature that can be fatal.
IBS:
Inflatable Boat Small. 12 × 6 feet. Carries 8 men and 1,000 pounds of weapons and gear. Hard to sink. Quiet motor. Used for silent beach, bay, lake landings.
IP:
Initial Point. This can be a gathering place for a unit or force prior to going to the PD on a mission.
IR Beacon:
Infrared beacon. For silent nighttime signaling.
IR Goggles:
“Sees” heat instead of light.
Islamic Jihad:
Arab holy war.
Isothermal layer:
A colder layer of ocean water that deflects sonar rays. Submarines can hide below it, but then are also blind to what’s going on above them since their sonar will not penetrate the layer.
IV Pack:
Intravenous fluid that you can drink if out of water.
JAG:
Judge Advocate General. The Navy’s legal investigating arm that is independent of any Navy command.
JNA:
Yugoslav National Army.
JP-4:
Normal military jet fuel.
JSOC:
Joint Special Operations Command.
JSOCCOMCENT:
Joint Special Operations Command Center in the Pentagon.
KA-BAR:
SEALs’ combat, fighting knife.
KATN:
Kick Ass and Take Names. SEAL talk, get the mission in gear.
KH-11:
Spy satellite, takes pictures of ground, IR photos, etc.
KIA:
Killed In Action.
KISS:
Keep It Simple, Stupid. SEAL talk for streamlined operations.
Klick:
A kilometer of distance. Often used as a mile. From Vietnam era, but still widely used in military.
Krytrons:
Complicated, intricate timers used in making nuclear explosive detonators.
KV-57:
Encoder for messages, scrambles.
Laser Pistol:
The SIW pinpoint of ruby light emitted on any pistol for aiming. Usually a silenced weapon.
Left Behind:
In 30 years SEALs have seldom left behind a dead comrade, never a wounded one. Never been taken prisoner.
Let’s Get the Hell out of Dodge:
SEAL talk for leaving a place, bugging out, hauling ass.
Liaison:
Close-connection, cooperating person from one unit or service to another. Military liaison.
Light Sticks:
Chemical units that make light after twisting to release chemicals that phosphoresce.
Loot & Shoot:
SEAL talk for getting into action on a mission.
LT:
Short for lieutenant in SEAL talk.
LZ:
Landing Zone.
M1-8:
Russian Chopper.
M1A1 M-14:
Match rifle upgraded for SEAL snipers.
M-3 Submachine Gun:
WWII grease gun, .45-caliber. Cheap. Introduced in 1942.
M-16:
Automatic U.S. rifle. 5.56 round. Magazine 20 or 30, rate of fire 700 to 950 rds/min. Can attach M203 40mm grenade launcher under barrel.
M-18 Claymore:
Antipersonnel mine. A slab of C-4 with 200 small ball bearings. Set off electrically or by trip wire. Can be positioned and aimed. Sprays out a cloud of balls. Kill zone 50 meters.
M60 Machine Gun:
Can use 100-round ammo box snapped onto the gun’s receiver. Not used much now by SEALs.
M-60E3:
Lightweight handheld machine gun. Not used now by the SEALs.
M61A1:
The usual 20mm cannon used on many American fighter planes.
M61(j):
Machine pistol. Yugoslav make.
M662:
A red flare for signaling.
M-86:
Pursuit Deterrent Munitions. Various types of mines, grenades, trip-wire explosives, and other devices in anti-personnel use.
M-203:
A 40mm grenade launcher fitted under an M-16 or the M-4A1 Commando. Can fire a variety of grenade types up to 200 yards.
MagSafe:
Lethal ammunition that fragments in human body and does not exit. Favored by some police units to cut down on second kill from regular ammunition exiting a body.
Make a Peek:
A quick look, usually out of the water, to check your position or tactical situation.
Mark 23 Mod O:
Special operations offensive handgun system. Double-action, 12-round magazine. Ambidextrous safety and mag-release catches. Knight screw-on suppressor. Snap-on laser for sighting. .45-caliber. Weighs 4 pounds loaded. 9.5 inches long; with silencer, 16.5 inches long.
Mark II Knife:
Navy-issue combat knife.
Mark VIII SDV:
Swimmer Delivery Vehicle. A bus,
SEAL talk. 21 feet long, beam and draft 4 feet, 6 knots for 6 hours.
Master-at-Arms:
Military police commander on board a ship.
MAVRIC Lance:
A nuclear alert for stolen nukes or radio-active goods.
MC-130 Combat Talon:
A specially equipped Hercules for covert missions in enemy or unfriendly territory.
McMillan M87R:
Bolt-action sniper rifle. .50-caliber. 53 inches long. Bipod, fixed 5- or 10-round magazine. Bulbous muzzle brake on end of barrel. Deadly up to a mile. All types .50-caliber ammo.
MGS:
Modified Grooming Standards. So SEALs don’t all look like military, to enable them to do undercover work in mufti.
MH-53J:
Chopper, updated CH053 from Nam days. 200 mph, called the Pave Low III.
MH-60K Black Hawk:
Navy chopper. Forward infrared system for low-level night flight. Radar for terra follow/avoidance. Crew of 3, takes 12 troops. Top speed 225 mph. Ceiling 4,000 feet. Range radius 230 miles. Arms: two 12.7mm machine guns.