Name |
Description |
#books |
After |
The back half of a ship or aircraft is called the 'after' part. The direction from any point towards the back is called 'after' or 'aft'. 'Abaft' is used when indicating towards the back relative to a specific object. | 12 |
Aldis Lamp |
A visual signalling device used for optical communication, typically using Morse code. | 2 |
Bandits |
A military brevity code word used to identify an enemy aircraft. Such codes are designed to convey complex information with a few words. | 1 |
Bulkhead |
TBD. | 3 |
Combined Operations |
Operations conducted by forces of two or more allied nations acting together for the accomplishment of a common strategy; a strategic and operational and sometimes tactical cooperation. | 4 |
Compass |
A compass is an instrument used for navigation and orientation that shows direction relative to geographic points, usually including a diagram called a compass rose, which shows the directions north, south, east, and west. | 11 |
Cowling |
A covering for a vehicle's engine, most often found on automobiles and aircraft. It may be used for drag reduction, engine cooling by directing airflow or decorative purposes. | 5 |
Echelon Formation |
A military echelon formation is a formation in which its units are arranged diagonally. Each unit is stationed behind and to the right (a 'right echelon'), or behind and to the left ('left echelon'), of the unit ahead. | 6 |
Epidiascope |
A device which displays opaque materials by shining a bright lamp onto the object from above. A system of mirrors, prisms and/or imaging lenses is used to focus an image of the material onto a viewing screen. | 1 |
Fore |
The front half of a ship or aircraft is called the 'fore' part. The direction from any point towards the front is called 'forward' or 'afore'. 'Before' is used when indicating towards the front relative to a specific object. | 13 |
Greenwich Mean Time |
The mean solar time at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London. | 1 |
Gyroscope |
A device used for measuring or maintaining orientation and angular velocity. It is a spinning wheel or disc in which the axis of rotation is free to assume any orientation by itself. When rotating, the orientation of this axis is unaffected by tilting or rotation of the device. | 1 |
Heliograph |
A wireless telegraph that signals by flashes of sunlight reflected by a mirror. The flashes are produced by momentarily pivoting the mirror, or by interrupting the beam with a shutter. | 1 |
Individual Compass Error |
The small errors associated with any specific compass due to manufacturing or condition which require it to be calibrated regularly. | 1 |
Mine |
An explosive device concealed under or on the surface and designed to destroy or disable enemy targets, ranging from combatants to vehicles, tanks and ships, as they pass over or near it. Land mines are typically detonated by way of pressure when a target steps on it or drives over them. Naval mines are concealed in the water and detonated when contact is made with the vessel. | 13 |
Port |
The port is the left side of a ship or aircraft when facing in the forward direction of travel. (see starboard) | 17 |
Rudder |
A primary control surface used to steer a ship, boat, submarine, hovercraft, aircraft, or other conveyance that moves through air or water. On an aircraft the rudder is used primarily to counter adverse yaw and is not the primary control used to turn the airplane. | 11 |
Sextant |
A doubly reflecting navigation instrument that measures the angle between two visible objects. It’s main use is to measure the angle between an object and the horizon for the purposes of celestial navigation. | 3 |
Sidescuttle |
A generally circular window used on armored vehicles, aircraft and automobiles to admit light and air. | 3 |
Starboard |
The starboard is the right side of a ship or aircraft when facing in the forward direction of travel. (see port) | 14 |
Stern |
The extreme rear of the ship or aircraft is called the stern. Astern means towards the stern. | 12 |
Trim tab |
Small surfaces connected to the trailing edge of a larger control surface on a boat or aircraft. Adjusting the angle of the tab relative to the larger surface counteracts forces and stabilises the craft in a particular desired attitude. | 1 |
Turret |
This is used to generally describe any armoured, rotating gun installation on a warship, aircraft or tank. | 10 |