Just a simple question.

[RomeoNovember12]

What are the common (English) terms used for dismounted enemy infantry (footsoldiers) when assigning targets for, say a dismounted section (squad) or platoon in combat?

Is "dismounts" only used when you are mounted yourself?

Are the terms "firers" or "shots" used?

I'm asking because of a discussion we had with our (military) English teacher at the Swedish Army Combat School.

[MatsW]

What are the common (English) terms used for dismounted enemy infantry (footsoldiers) when assigning targets for, say a dismounted section (squad) or platoon in combat?

Is "dismounts" only used when you are mounted yourself?

Are the terms "firers" or "shots" used?

I'm asking because of a discussion we had with our (military) English teacher at the Swedish Army Combat School.

You can use (enemy) "troops" or "infantry".

Start SB and change to English and you will hear... ;-)

[RomeoNovember12]

Of course I have already tried that, didn't really think of it though since I was taught that "dismounts" was the correct term a year ago before going to the UK for "Urgent Quest".

My question really is wether the terms "shots" or "firers" are used, they sound a little silly to me and I just heard them the other day. They would be correct according to the Militärordbok by Krigsman and Svensson, a book I would consider poor at best since it also says that the verb "tanka" in Swedish is to "tank" when I think it should be to "refuel".

"Dismounts", "infantry" and "troops" all sound better to me.

[the_shadow]

i suppose it´s the word "Skyttar" you try to translate...
im pretty sure the correct term would be troops...

like "fientliga skyttar kl 1" would be "Enemy troops one o klock"
so troops is likely the correct term....

[RomeoNovember12]

i suppose it´s the word "Skyttar" you try to translate...

Exactly, I want to hear it from someone with a lot of first hand experience from an English speaking army though, just to be sure.

[chappy]

well these are fairly common in our army (as infantry contact reports/ target ident)

'Contact!: [insert number] [insert unit type], axis of advance, half left.' for example

Unit types could be any of these:
'enemy'
'infantry'
'rifles'
'machine gun'
etc etc

as infantry, when giving target indication I generally try to provide information about weapon systems if available. If none available, then i would say infantry or even enemy if i didnt know whether it was just infantry for example.

[Darkhorse]

....and to most tankers "crunches"

[HotTom]

Infantry would be the correct term for foot soldiers.

A "troop" can be any soldier, whether an infantryman or a clerk. The term "trooper" originally applied only to cavalrymen but it has become a catch-all term for any soldier, like "GI."

"Dismount" assumes the infantry was mounted on a personnel carrier.

Infantry can be preceded by a modifier: airborne infantry (parachute), mechanized infantry (tracked personnel carrier), motorized infantry (wheeled PC), airmobile infantry (carried by helicopter), light infantry (foot mobile) (also called "leg infantry" or "legs" by arrogant airborne infantry :) ).

Infantry soldier or infantryman (no infantrywomen yet, at least in the US) is the correct generic term for a foot soldier.

When calling a target, however, "troops" is understood to mean any personnel (not specifically infantry). "Personnel" also is commonly used in calling for artillery on people rather than things. If you're calling fire specifically on foot soldiers, "infantry" is more precise, however.

HT

[IrishHussar]

Hi Tom



Infantry can be preceded by a modifier: airborne infantry (parachute), mechanized infantry (tracked personnel carrier), motorized infantry (wheeled PC), airmobile infantry (carried by helicopter), light infantry (foot mobile) (also called "leg infantry" or "legs" by arrogant airborne infantry :) ).


HT

The up to date term for Inf carried in IVF ie Marder, Bradley, Warrior, CV 90 and vehicles that have more than just MG as it own weapon systems is "Amoured Infantry"

Irish Hussar

[IrishHussar]

But going back to the original Question from RN 12. If I'm correct, he is asking how do we (We in tank crews) refer to inf when assigning targets. As for the British Army its fairly easy to explain using an example fire order that would be used by a tank commander to his gunner.

Commander: "CO-AX Men in open"

Loader: "LOADED"

Gunner: "ON"

Commander: "FIRE"

Gunner: "LASING .......... FIRING ........TARGET"

Commander: "TARGET STOP"

Thats how it was on Challenger 2 up untill mid 2001, however somtimes drills can change.

Irish Hussar

[CharlieB]

Irish - Spot on. Stating Lasing is a drill added in by some crews. not tachnically required. Gnr should always lase unless the commander has already done it.

The Tgt aquasition sytem on CR2 allows the commander to find, lase and then handover the tgt to the gnr using the align function and the verbal eg. Coax Men fire. This tells the gnr that the Comd has already lased the tgt and the range met etc data will be passed to the ballistic computer. Something commanders forget to do but in fact speeds up engagements. Hunter killer really speeds things up esp if you have a good gunner who you trust to correctly ID tgts.

[Red6]

What are the common (English) terms used for dismounted enemy infantry (footsoldiers) when assigning targets for, say a dismounted section (squad) or platoon in combat?

Is "dismounts" only used when you are mounted yourself?

Are the terms "firers" or "shots" used?

I'm asking because of a discussion we had with our (military) English teacher at the Swedish Army Combat School.

Gunner coax "troops".

Identified.

Fire.

On the way.

[RomeoNovember12]

And now, what does "Guidons!" mean when shouted over the company net?

When I look "guidons" up I understand it means flag, sort of.

[MAJ_Fubar]

And now, what does "Guidons!" mean when shouted over the company net?

When I look "guidons" up I understand it means flag, sort of.

And you would be right. Guidons are small flags that used to be used for unit identification during battle during the late nineteenth century in the U.S. Army and are still used during unit formations and parades, but as a radio call the term is used to denote that the following transmission includes all units subordinate to the element making the net call...if that makes sense...:)

[SFViper19D]

And you would be right. Guidons are small flags that used to be used for unit identification during battle during the late nineteenth century in the U.S. Army and are still used during unit formations and parades, but as a radio call the term is used to denote that the following transmission includes all units subordinate to the element making the net call...if that makes sense...:)

Right on. Usually we heard it as "guidons, guidons, guidons," similar to "break, break, break." It was a net call to all unit leaders listening on the net to pay heed and follow the instructions/information to be detailed after the guidon call.

[RomeoNovember12]

Suspected something like that, thanks a lot!