Bravo Two Zero

As to the rights and wrongs of the war-well, that’s never been a worry to me. I was a soldier; that’s what I was paid for. It was very exciting; I got high doing it.

And as for the people who interrogated me, if I met any of them in the street tomorrow and thought I could get away with it, I’d slot them.

Glossary

203 M16 rifle with 40mm grenade launcher attached

2 i/c second in command 66 lightweight, throwaway antitank rocket

AAA or Triple A antiaircraft artillery APC Armored Perso

AWACS Airborne Warning And Control

System beasting army slang for a beating bergen pack carried by British farces on active service berm entrenchment for tank Big Four the only four pieces of information which, under the Geneva Convention, an enemy is allowed to ask for: number, rank, name, date of birth bone (adj.) stupid brew mug of tea buckshee free, without charge, surplus bulk up vomit cabby, as in fire your weapon at “have a cabby at” chin strap be on really knackered, as in “I can’t go your on, I’m on, my chin strap here.”

claymore antiperso

COP Close Observation Platoon

CT Counter Terrorist

CTR close target recce curls countryside cyalume stick light-stick activated by squeezing

DF direction finder find the direction of Dinkie short-wheelbase Land-Rover (term first used during the Gulf War)

OOP drop-off point DPM disrupted-pattern material (i.e. camouflage)

E amp;E escape and evasion

ERV emergency rendezvous

FOB Forward Operations Base

FRY final rendezvous fuddle or getting together and having a brew kefuddle or conference gob off speak

GPMG general purpose machine gun glossary 421 green slime member of Intelligence Corps hard routine regime in the field that demands, among other things: belt kit on, weapons at hand, no flame or smoke, and all equipment packed away unless in use

HE high explosive

Head Shed nickname for anyone in authority. From Malaya days, this is what any form of leadership in the Regiment has been called-after the term for the start of a river course hex amine (hexy) small block of solid fuel

ID identify identity Jane’s military encyclopedia jundie Iraqi soldier laager an armored vehicle

LUP launched punched

LSV light strike vehicle (dune buggy)

LUP lying-up point

MSR Main Supply Route

NBC nuclear, biological, chemical (warfare)

net radio network

NVA night-viewing aid

NVG night-viewing goggles

OC officer commanding

OP observation post

OP SEC operational security

PE plastic explosive j pear-shaped got the hump pinkie (110) long-wheelbase Land-Rover, Regiment Special Air Service remf rear echelon motherfucker Rupert nickname for officer-not always derogatory

RV rendezvous point scaley signaler scaley kit signals equipment

Sit Rep situation report

SOP standard operating procedure spook member of Intelligence Corps squaddy soldier stag sentry (also sentry duty) stand stood to ready to fight in your position Syrette automatic one-time injector S60 57mm antiaircraft gun tab forced march over a long distance, usually carrying a heavy load

TACBE tactical beacon

TEL transporter erector launcher

VCP vehicle checkpoint

Andy McNab

ANDY McNAB, Sergeant, SAS, joined the British infantry as a boy soldier. In 1984 he was “badged” as a member of the SAS-the British Special Forces-and has since been involved in elite intelligence and combat operations worldwide. During the Gulf War he commanded Bravo Two Zero, a patrol that in the words of his commanding officer “will remain in regimental history forever.” After six months of medical treatment immediately following his release by the Iraqis, Andy McNab was back on active service. He remained with the SAS until February 1993, at which time he was the most highly decorated soldier in the British Army.