Impasse (The Red Gambit Series) (86 page)

.30cal machine-gun

Standard US medium machine-gun.

.45 M1911 automatic

US automatic handgun

.50 cal

Standard US heavy machine-gun.

105mm Flak Gun

Next model up from the dreaded 88mm, these were sometimes pressed into a ground role in the final days.

128mm Pak 44

German late war heavy anti-tank gun, also mounted on the JagdTiger and Maus. Long-range performance would have made this a superb tank killer but it only appeared in limited numbers.

50mm Pak 38

German 50mm anti-tank gun introduced in 1941. Rapidly outclassed, it remained in service until the end of the war, life extended by upgrades in ammunition.

6-pounder AT gun

British 57mm anti-tank gun, outclassed at the end of WW2, except when issued with HV ammunition.

6x6 truck

Three axle, 6 wheel truck.

92nd Colored Infantry Division.

The US Military used to distinguish between units of different ethnic backgrounds, such as Nisei, Puerto Rican and, in this case, Coloured soldiers. Racism was rife in the WW2 US Army, something which is not widely known or accepted. Black soldiers were
mainly employed on pioneer or transport duties and not permitted near the front for some time. However, the shortage of manpower following the Battle of the Bulge created a vacuum the black soldiers could fill. The 92nd developed a reasonable combat reputation. other units such as tank-destroyer, tank and artillery units gained very good reputations

Achgelis

The Focke-Achgelis Fa223, also known as the Dragon. One of the first helicopters.

Achilles

British version of the M-10 that carried the high velocity 17-pdr gun.

Addendum F

Transfer of German captured equipment to Japanese to increase their firepower and reduce logistical strain on Soviets

Adin

In Russian, the number one.

Airspeed Oxford

Twin-engine Allied transport aircraft.

Aldis

A signal lamp used for communications consisting of a fixed light with a shutter on the front that was opened and closed to produce morse code messages. The lamp referred to by the Sunderland crew would not have been an Aldis but the word became synonymous with signal lamps of all types.

Archer

Valentine chassis developed to house the 17pdr gun. Unusual as it pointed backwards in a fixed mount.

Ashita

Tomorrow [Japanese]

ATPAU

Army Tank Prototype Assessment Unit. As far as I am aware, this is a figment of my imagination.

AVRE

Armoured vehicle, Royal Engineers.

B-29

The American Superfortress, high-altitude heavy bomber.

BA64

Soviet 4x4 light armoured car with two crew and a machine-gun.

Baka

Fool [Japanese]

Balebetishen

Roughly means respectable or respectable person.

Bali radar

German Ant3 Radar Detector.

BAR

US automatic rifle that fired a .30cal round. It was an effective weapon, but was hampered by a 20 round magazine. Saw service in both World Wars, and many wars since.

Battle of the Bulge

Germany’s Ardennes offensive of winter 1944

Bazooka

Generic name applied to a number of different anti-tank rocket launchers introduced into the US Army from 1942 onwards.

Beaufighter, Bristol

British twin-engine long-range heavy fighter, saw extensive service in roles from ground attack, night fighter, to anti-shipping strikes. Also served in the USAAF in its night fighter role.

BefehlsPanther

Command version of the German battle tank, equipped with extra radios. Most versions retained their 75mm gun whereas, a few others, converted from Beobachtswagen, did not.

Beobachtungspanzer Panther

Observation vehicle, with main gun removed and a ball-mounted MG34 in the turret front. Its main purpose was as an artillery vehicle but could be used as a mobile command post.

BergePanther

German Panther tank converted or produced as a engineering recovery vehicle to service Panther Battalions in combat.

Bianchi

Italian motorcycle

Blau Division

Designated the 25oth Infanterie Division in the German Army, the Blau Division was made up of Spanish volunteers who signed up to fight the communists.

Bletchley Park

Location of the centre for Allied code breaking during World War two. Sometimes known as Station X.

Blighty

British slang term for Britain.

Blue and Grey Division

The nickname of the 29th US Infantry Division.

Boyes

.55-inch anti-tank rifle employed by the British Army but phased out in favour of the PIAT.

Bren Gun

British standard issue light machine-gun.

Browning Hi-Power

9mm handgun with a 13 round magazine, used by armies on both sides during WW2.

Brylcreams

Slang expression for RAF aircrew.

Buffalo

British term for the LVT or Amtrak, the amphibious tracked vehicle which became a mainstay of the Pacific War, and featured in all major Allied amphibious operations from Guadalcanal onwards.

Buffalo Soldiers

The 92nd Colored Division was sometimes referred to as the Buffalo Division

C47

US development of the DC3, known in British operations as the Dakota. Twin-engine transport aircraft.

Calliope

Also known as the Sherman T34, the tank was fitted with 60 4.5” rocket tubes, mounted on a frame over the turret and aimed by a simple arm attached to the main gun. Other combinations of rocket tubes existed.

Cavalry

The German army had cavalry until the end, all be it in small numbers. The SS had two such divisions, the 8th and 22nd.

Centauro tank division

Officially, the 131st Armoured Division ‘Centauro’, this Italian formation surrendered in Tunisia during May 1943.

Centurion I

British heavy tank, equipped with the 17pdr and a Polsten cannon.

Challenger

The British Challenger [A30] was mounted on an altered Cromwell chassis and equipped with a 17pdr gun.

Chekist

Soviet term used to describe a member of the State Security apparatus, often not intended to be complimentary.

Chesterfield

American cigarette brand.

Chickamauga

A battle in the American Civil War, fought on 19th to 20th September, 1863. It was a Union defeat of some note, and second only to Gettysburg in combined casualties.

Chikushou

Damn it or Fuck [Japanese]

Churchill IV

6pdr equipped version of the British heavy tank, some of which fought with the Soviet Army at Kursk.

Churchill VII

Much improved version of the Churchill tank, equipped with a 75mm gun and uparmoured.

Colloque Biarritz

The fourth symposium based at the Château du Haut-Kœnigsbourg.

Combat Command [CC]

Formation similar to an RCT, which was formed from all-arms elements within a US Armored Division, the normal dispositions being CC’A’, CC’B’ and CC’R’, the ‘R’ standing for reserve.

Comet

British medium tank armed with a 77mm high-velocity gun.

Contraband

Derogatory name applied to black escapees from the Southern States, originating from General Benjamin Butler’s declaration that he would treat runaway slaves like ‘contraband of war.’

Corvette

Small patrol and escort vessel used by Allied navies throughout WW2.

Court of Bernadotte

The Court of the Swedish Royal Family.

Crusader III

British cruiser tank that saw a great deal of action in the Desert Campaign. With a 6pdr gun it was superior firepower wise to the PzIII and PzIV it encountered there.

Dacha

A country cottage, but has become synonymous with a retreat for Soviet ruling classes.

Deuxieme Bureau

France’s External Military Intelligence Agency that underwent a number of changes post 1940 but still retained its ‘Deux’ label for many professionals.

Douglas DC-3

Twin-engine US transport aircraft, also labelled C-47. [Built by the Russians under licence as the Li-2]

DP-28

Standard Soviet Degtyaryov light machine-gun with large top mounted disc magazine containing 47 rounds.

Dva

In Russian, the number two.

Easy Eight

An M4A3E8 Sherman tank, derived from the E8 designation.

EBW

Explosive bridge-wire detonators.

Elektroboote

A Type XXI U-Boat

Falke

Infra-red sighting system, installed on some German vehicles, especially useful for night fighting.

Fallschirmjager

German Paratroops. They were the elite of the Luftwaffe, but few Paratroopers at the end of the war had ever seen a parachute. None the less, the ground divisions fought with a great deal of élan and gained an excellent combat reputation.

Fanculo

Italian expletive meaning ‘Go forth and multiply’

Fat Man

Implosion-type Plutonium Bomb similar in operation to ‘The Gadget’.

FBI

Federal Bureau of Intelligence, which was also responsible for external security prior to the formation of the CIA.

FFI

Forces Francaises de L’Interieur, or the French Forces of the Interior was the name applied to resistance fighters during the latter stages of WW2. Once France had been liberated, the pragmatic De Gaulle tapped this pool of manpower and created ‘organised’ divisions from these, often at best, para-military groups. Few proved to be of any quality and they tended to be used in low-risk areas.

FG42

Fallschirmgewehr 42, a hybrid 7.62mm weapon which was intended to be both assault rifle and LMG.

Firefly, Fairey

British single-engine carrier aircraft, used as both fighter and anti-submarine roles.

Firefly, Sherman V

British variant of the American M4 armed with a 17-pdr main gun, which offered the Sherman excellent prospects for a kill of any Panzer on the battlefield.

Flak

Flieger Abwehr Kanone, anti-aircraft guns.

FUBAR

Fucked up beyond all recognition.