Hugh McManners - Falklands Commando

2 May

Argentine cruiser General Belgrano sunk.

4 May

HMS Sheffield sunk. The first Sea Harrier shot down.

7 May

Total Exclusion Zone extended to 12 miles from the Argentine coast.

12 May

QE2 sails from Southampton with 5 Infantry Brigade (including Lt P.J. McManners RE) on board.

14 May

The SAS destroy aircraft at Pebble Island using 148 Battery-directed naval gunfire.

18 May

The Landing Force ships RV with the Task Group, north-east of Falklands.

19 May

The British War Cabinet gives the order to land in the Falklands.

21 May

British landings at San Carlos begin.

Ardent sunk.

23 May

Antelope sunk.

25 May

Coventry and Atlantic Conveyor sunk.

27 May

The Land Force starts moving from the landing area: Special Forces move inland, the SAS to Mount Kent and the SBS to the north-west, while 3 Para and 45 Commando begin the long march toward Teal Inlet. 2 Para march toward Goose Green.

28 May

2 Para fight and win at Darwin and Goose Green.

5 Infantry Brigade cross-deck from QE2 onto the Canberra at South Georgia.

31 May

42 Commando helicoptered onto Mount Kent.

1 June

5 Infantry Brigade begin disembarkation at San Carlos.

2 June

2 Para move east to Bluff Cove.

8 June

RFAs Sir Galahad and Sir Tristram bombed at Bluff Cove – putting the Welsh Guards out of action.

11 June

The main battle for Stanley begins.

14 June

Argentine land forces surrender.

AAAnti-aircraft

ADC (Aide-de camp)Personal staff officer

AGIAmphibious Gatherer Intelligence (ship)

AOOAmphibious Operations Officer

AORAmphibious Operations Room

APArmour Piercing

ASDAnti-Submarine Duties

AvgasAviation Gasoline

BAORBritish Army of the Rhine

BashaSmall hide area with poncho roof, where one or two soldiers live (more correctly a jungle version, but a general usage)

BearRussian high altitude reconnaissance aircraft

Bergen (also Bergen rucksack)A large military rucksack back-pack with side pouches, made of waterproof material

Binosbinoculars (abbrev)

Biscuits ABships style hard compo biscuits

Bite(as a fish to bait) A positive reaction to a provocative comment, which may lead to the commentator being ‘goffa’d’ (qv)

Bivvie(from bivouac) See basha

BlowpipeLight shoulder launched point defence air defence missile

BMABrigade Maintenance Area (mountains of stores, vehicles and a hive of activity)

BombardierA Royal Artillery soldier holding rank of corporal

BlueySmall portable cooker

Brew a wetMake tea, coffee or similar hot drink ( qv )

BrickA man and his oppo ( qv )

Burma RoadMain passage through a ship

BuzzRumour (a gen buzz)

C130 (Hercules)Heavy-lift transport aircraft, used by us and the Argentinians

CacheHidden supply of ammunition, food, batteries et al

Cam creamBlack camouflage cream, said to be very good for the complexion, to cam out or cam up with foliage

CAPCombat Air Patrol (Cap); Harriers

CasevacCasualty Evacuation

ChaffTin foil, used as a decoy on enemy radar screens

Chairman Mao SuitQuilted Arctic jacket and trousers

ChatelaineSmaller hand-held thermal imager (TI)

COMAWCommodore Amphibious Warfare (Commodore Mike Clapp)

Commando SnakeSingle-file line of soldiers moving at night

CommsCommunications (abbrev)

CompoCombat rations (See rats)

ContainerContraption of straps and clips with which a paratrooper jumps with his weapon and equipment secured to his body. (He releases it in the air once his parachute has safely opened and it drops below him, attached by a 15-foot rope to his harness). See also CSPEP

CPOChief Petty Officer

CSPEPCarry Straps Parachutist Equipment (See Container)

CWCarrier Wave, used to transmit morse code

DFDefensive Fire or Direction Finding, depending on context

DLGDestroyer Light Guided

DPMsDisrupted Pattern Material, camouflage cotton uniforms

Drop ZonesArea of ground suitable for dropping paratroops

First field dressingVacuum-packed shell dressing with yards of crêpe bandage, for initial wound treatment

Fives Measurement of satisfactory radio communications

Flick Verb meaning rapidly to change radio frequency. Can also be a noun referring to the quartermaster’s file in which people sign when they become responsible for equipment – as “it’s on my flick”

FlycoFlying Command running flying operations on a ship

FO teamShortened version of NGFO team, Naval Gunfire Forward Observation team (also FO1, NGFO Team Number 1).

FOOForward Observation Officer (Artillery)

FPBFast Patrol Boat

GizzetSpoil of war (from “Give us that…”)

GoffaBread roll, large (sea) wave, or a punch (To be goffa’d is to be hit by a wave or a punch)

GPMGGeneral Purpose Machine-Gun, 7.62 mm

GPMG (SF)GPMG in the sustained-fire role, on a tripod firing on fixed lines

Green slugSleeping bag (or maggot)

GunnerRoyal Artillery private soldier (also the generic term for members of the Royal Artillery)

HardArea of hard standing used to beach sea craft

HarryPeculiar naval word added to anything to give emphasis (e.g. Last night I was ‘harry crappers’ meaning “I was very under the influence of alcohol”)

Harry MaskersBlack plastic masking tape used for everything (one item without which military operations would grind to a halt)

HDS(see SDS) Helicopter Delivery Service

Heavy weaponsArtillery guns, anti-tank guns, 130-mm mortars

Helohelicopter (abbrev)

HerculesSee C130

HexxyHexamine, tablets that burn to heat food

HFHigh Frequency Radio

HLSHelicopter Landing Site

Jack or Jolly JackSlang term for a sailor (Jolly Jack Tar)

KelpThick belts of seaweed that clog many Falkland inlets

KMskilometres (abbrev)

LAWLight Anti-Tank Weapon, 66-mm rocket launcher

LCMLanding Craft Mechanised

LCULanding Crafy Utility