The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1943-03-29
MEANINGS OF THE
COMMON TERMS USED
In ARMY AND NAVY
Alp Features

Slue your SlODdl maps.
BATTLESHIP-Most powerful
type of war vessel, named afte
states. Carries about 1,500 men
is obetween 10000 and 50,00'
tons.
BATTALION - Four infantr,
companies or four artillery bat
teries.
BATTERY army foul
pieces of artillery and theil
crews; Navy the armament O
a ship.
BELT ARMOR-A thick stee
plate along the waterline of
war ship. protecting the maya
zines.
BIVOUAC-To camp in the
open all night.
BOATSWAIN-Navy warrant
officer who superintends work
about the deck.
BRIGADE-Two regiments OF
infantry or three regiments OF
artillery.
CAISSON-A two-wheeled am
munition cart pulled by horses.
COMPANY-Four platoons OF
infantry. Corresponding terms in
artillery and cavalry are battery
and troop.
CORPS - Generally two or
more divisions plus 4corps
troops attached to corps head
quarters as conditions call for
them.
CORVETTE-A war vessel
similar to destroyer but small
er and slower.
COXSWAIN - Technically a
boatswain's mate, third class,
who steers small boats, launches,
gigs, etc.
CRUISER - (Heavy). Warship
of about 10000 tons, rated about
80 knots. Carries about nine g.
inch guns. Light Warships of
between 5000 and 10000 tons,
also rated about 80 knots. Mount
16 six-inch guns. The different
between light and heavy cruis-
ers is in the guns they carry.
DEPLOY = Change from a
formation of movement to a
formation of battle, whether of
ships or troops.
DESTROYER - Smallest sur
face fleet unit. Standard speed
30-37 knots, main battery usual
ly four to eight five-inch guns.
DIVISION = (Square) two in
fantry brigades, one artillery
brigade, one engineer regiment,
one medical regiment plus spe-
cial troops as needed. CTriangu-
lar) three infantry regiments,
three battalions light artillery,
one battilion medium artillery
one reconnaissance troop, one
engineer battalion, one medical
battalion, one quartermaster bat
talon, plus special troops. Both
consist of from 10000 to 10000
men.
ECHELON - A formation ir
which ships or troops are stag.
gered diagonally to the rear,
(Army) a part of larger unit.
FLAG OFFICER-Used freely
in the Navy to mean any officer
of the line above the rank Of
captain, but technically any Off.
Ger (not below the rank of com.
mander) appointed by the Presi.
dent to command a squadron.
FLEET TRAIN-All ships es.
sential to the maintenance Of
the fighting fleet.
FORECASTLE - Upper deck
forward of the mainmast of {
ship.
CT. - Government issue, ap,
piled to equipment and to sup.
plies issued to enlisted men.ole
GIG-Ship's boat used by com,
handing officer.
GUNBOAT-Carries about Isl
men and is used for patro
work.
HOWITZER-Artillery weapon
with a high angle of fire. ItS
shell falls almost vertically.
MACHINE GUN-Qight) ali
cooled, 30-caliber, shoots SIS bull
lets per minute at a distance o.
about $500 yards. Heavy) wa,
ter cooled, 50-caliber, shoot.
about 600 bullets per minute uI
to about four miles.
KNOT-About / lie statute OF
land miles.
MORTAR-A short large cali
Der cannon which shoots higf
into the air, dropping its shell
behind an embankment, wall
etc.
o. D.-Officer of the day.
PETTY OFFICER - Specials
in the Navy, such as machinist'
mate, yeoman, torpedoman, etc
PLATOON = Three or fou
squads (which consist of eigh
to IL soldiers).
lPORT-Left side of ship
facing forward. Right side i
Starboard.
QUARTERMASTER - Navy
steersman of a ship. (Army
QuartemaSter Corps supple
everything except weapons an
ammunition, which are supple,