M-577: A specially configured personnel carrier used as a command and control vehicle at battalion and brigade level.
Mech: Short for mechanized or, in the case in this book, mechanized infantry.
MI-24D: A Soviet attack helicopter similar to the US Army AH 1. The MI-24D, named Hind, is heavily armed with an automatic cannon and antitank guided missiles and is well armored.
Mine Roller: An attachment to a tank that clears a path through a mine field for an attacking armored force. The rollers are nothing more than large metal wheels that are pushed ahead of the tank and set off mines as they run over them.
MOPP Leveclass="underline" Short for mission-oriented protective posture. MOPP levels prescribe how prepared individuals are to be to meet a chemical attack. In MOPP level I, soldiers simply carry or have their protective gear available. In MOPP level II, soldiers will don the chemical protective suit and carry their protective masks, gloves and boots. MOPP level III requires the soldier to wear the chemical protective suit, gloves, and boots. MOPP level IV, the highest level, requires the soldier to wear all his protective clothing and his protective mask.
MRE: Short for Meal, Ready to Eat. MREs have replaced the age-old C-rations as the standard combat ration in the US Army. MREs are a combination of dehydrated and ready-to-eat foods that come in plastic pouches.
MTU: A Soviet tank-mounted bridge that can be laid under fire across obstacles such as antitank ditches or small streams.
NATO: North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Founded in 1949, it is a military alliance whose expressed purpose is to prevent Soviet expansion in Europe. Today, NATO consists of Norway, Great Britain, Denmark, Belgium, The Netherlands, Luxembourg, the Federal Republic of Germany, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Canada, and the United States. France is still a member but does not actively participate in NATO maneuvers or exercises.
NBC-1 report: An initial chemical attack report.
NCO: Short for noncommissioned officer or sergeant. NCO ranks are: E-5 or buck sergeant, three stripes; E-6 or staff sergeant, three stripes and one rocker or lower stripe; E-7 or sergeant first class, three stripes and two rockers; E-8 or master sergeant, three stripes and three rockers; and E-9 or sergeant major, three stripes, three rockers with a star between the stripes and rockers.
Night vision goggles: Night vision devices that amplify available light and provide the user with a visible image.
OH-58: Designation of the US Army’s current scout or observation helicopter.
OP: Short for outpost or observation post. An outpost is placed well forward of a unit’s main position and is intended to provide security and early warning for the unit. An OP can be manned by two or more dismounted personnel or armored vehicles.
Overwatch: A method of maneuvering on the battlefield in which one element or unit remains stationary, ready to support by fire another element or unit as it advances.
Panzer: German for armor.
Panzergrenadier: The German term for mechanized infantry.
Panzertruppen: Soldiers belonging to the German Army’s armored branch, German tankers.
Platoon sergeant: The senior noncommissioned officer in a platoon, normally an E-7. The platoon sergeant is the second in command of the platoon and performs the same duties that the executive officer does at company or battalion level.
PRC-77: A small man-portable FM radio used by the infantry.
Protective mask: Gas mask.
REFORGER: A peacetime exercise that practices the redeployment of US forces from the continental US to Europe.
Remote box: Part of the track’s radio system, it allows the track commander to change frequencies from his position without having to climb down into the vehicle.
RPG: Short for rocket-propelled grenade. The RPG is the standard Soviet infantryman’s antitank rocket, the equivalent to the US Army’s LAW.
S-class="underline" The “S” is for staff. The S-l is the staff officer responsible for all personnel matters in the battalion or brigade.
S-2: The staff officer responsible for gathering, analyzing, and producing intelligence on enemy activities and intentions.
S-3: The staff officer responsible for planning, coordinating, and monitoring combat operations of the battalion or brigade.
S-4: The staff officer responsible for providing and coordinating for supply, maintenance, and non-combat transportation needs of the battalion or brigade.
SABOT: The word is actually French for shoe. Here, it is the name of an antitank round. SABOT is short for armor-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot. The round consists of a small tungsten alloy or depleted uranium penetrator that has a diameter smaller than the diameter of the gun tube. To compensate for this, the penetrator is seated in a boot that is the same diameter as the gun. This boot, called the SABOT, falls away after the round leaves the gun, leaving the penetrator to continue to the target.
SHELLREP: Short for shell report. Used to report the impact of enemy artillery.
SITREP: Short for situation report. Subordinate commanders use the SITREP to update their superiors on the current activities, location, and condition of their unit.
SOP: Short for standing operating procedures. A unit SOP prescribes set actions to be taken given in a given situation.
Spot report: A short, concise report used to provide information on the sighting of enemy activity. At a minimum, the report provides information on who has made the sighting, when the sighting was made, where the enemy was observed, how the enemy was equipped, and what he was doing.
Stand-to: A set time, normally before dawn, when all members of a unit are awake and manning their weapons and fighting positions.
Stinger team: The Stinger is a man-portable short-range antiaircraft heat-seeking missile. Stinger teams are two-man teams that are stationed well forward with combat units to provide air defense.
T-55 tank: A Soviet tank with a four-man crew and mounting a 100mm gun and a 7.62mm machinegun. This tank is considered obsolete by today’s standards but is still found in Warsaw Pact inventories.
T-62 tank: A Soviet tank with a four-man crew and mounting a 115mm smoothbore gun, a 12.5mm and a 7.62mm machinegun. Though considered obsolete, it is still very capable and found in many Warsaw Pact units.
T-72 tank: A Soviet tank with a three-man crew and mounting a 125mm smoothbore gun, a 12.5mm and a 7.62mm machinegun. The elimination of the fourth crewman is achieved by using an automatic loader for the main gun. Special armor and a sophisticated fire-control system make it a powerful foe that is difficult to stop.
Task force: A combat battalion that has both tank and infantry companies. Under US Army doctrine, battalions seldom fight as pure tank or infantry units.
Team: A company-sized unit that includes both tank and mechanized infantry platoons. Unlike a peacetime company, the number and type of platoons in a team can vary according to its assigned mission. In the case of Team Yankee, the Team initially has two tank and one mechanized infantry platoon as well as two improved TOW vehicles.
Thermal sight: A sight that detects the heat emitted by an object and translates that heat into a visible image for the gunner or tank commander.