Glossary

In our collection you will encounter military terminology and acronyms. Here you can find out what they mean.

H

Honorary

Islands East of Papua New Guinea (RAAF)

H & S CO

Headquarters and Service Company (USA)

H and I Fire

Harassment and Interdiction fire

H MH

Heidleberg Military Hospital

H Ship

Hospital Ship

H&I

Harassment and Interdiction fire

H-hour

Hour set for an attack or other operation to begin. Also called Zero Hour (USA).

HA

Heavy Artillery

High angle anti aircraft gun (RAAF)

Horse Artillery

HAA

Heavy Anti aircraft

HAB

High altitude bombing

Heavy Artillery Brigade (First World War)

HAC

Honourable Artillery Company

HACS

High angle control system (RAN)

HAD

Higher Duty Allowance

HADS

Heavy Artillery Defence Scheme

HAG

Heavy Artillery Group

Hamps

The Hampshire Regiment

HAP

Helicopter Assault Primary (RAN)

HAR

Harbour

HAS

Helicopter Assault Secondary (RAN)

HB

Heavy Branch

Hostile Battery - Enemy guns

HBCCU

Heavy Bomber crew Conversion Unit (RAAF)

HBRTU

Heavy Bomber Replacement Training Unit (RAAF)

HC

High Capacity

HCO

Helicopter Control Officer (RAN)

HD

Home Defence

Horse Drawn

Hd Qtrs

Headquarters

HDC

Harbor Defense Command (USA)

HDG

Heading

HDML

Harbour Defence Motor Launch

HE

Heinkel - German military aeroplane

High Explosive

Higher Establishment

HEDA

High Explosive Delayed Action. A shell fired deliberately with fuse cap on.

HEI

High Explosive Incendiary (USA)

HEL

Helicopter(s)

Herbs Tape

A computerised record of time, place, amount, type and military purpose of herbicide operations carried out by United States aircraft of the Ranch Hand operation in Vietnam between 1965 and 1971.

HF

Harassing Fire - Intermittent firing of rounds to harass the enemy

High Frequency

Home Force

HFS

Home Force Secret/Security Memo

HFT

Heavy Fire Team - consists of three gun ships (UH-1 or AH-1C)

HG

Home Guard

Horse Guards

HK

Hikari Kikan (Japanese Intelligence Organisation)

HLAD

High Level Air Defence

HLB

High level bombing

HLI

The Highland Light Infantry (City of Glasgow Regiment)

HMAS

His (or Her) Majesty's Australian Ship

HMAT

His (or Her) Majesty's Australian Transport

HMCS

His (or Her) Majesty's Canadian Ship

HMD

His (or Her) Majesty's Destroyer

HMF

His (or Her) Majesty's Forces

HMG

Heavy Machine Gun

HMIS

His (or Her) Majesty's Indian Ship

HMLS

His (or Her) Majesty's Land Ship (early tank designate)

HMNZS

His (or Her) Majesty's New Zealand Ship

HMR

Marine Corps Transport Helicopter Squadron (USA)

HMRT

His (or Her) Majesty's Rescue Tug

HMS

His (or Her) Majesty's Ship

HMSAS

His (or Her) Majesty's South

HMT

His (or Her) Majesty's Tug

HMTB

Heavy Mortar Trench Battery

HMX

Marine Corps Experimental Helicopter Squadron (USA)

HO

Hostilities only (Reservist) (Second World War)

Hydrographic Office, Washington

Hobart Def

Hobart Defences (Hobart Def) [First World War AIF Miscellaneous Unit]

Hoi Chanh

A rallier under the Chieu Hoi Program. A Viet Cong (VC) or North Vietnamese Army (NVA) soldier who defects and joins the Government of [South] Vietnam (GVN) forces or at least ceases fighting against them.

Home Port

Ships home base

HON

Helicopter Operations Net (RAN)

HOO

Helicopter Operations Officer (RAN)

Hosp

Hospital(s)

How

Howitzer

How Bde

Howitzer Brigade

HP

High Power

Horse Power

Hq

Headquarters

Headquarters (USA)

HQ & Admin Centre ICC

Headquarters and Administrative Centre, Imperial Camel Corps [First World War British Camel Corps Unit]

HQ 1

Small special compartment used as a control centre for shipboard emergencies

HQ 1 ATF

Headquarters 1st Australian Task Force (Vietnam War)

HQ 10th Aust Fd Arty Bde

Headquarters, 10th Australian Field Artillery Brigade [First World War AIF Artillery Unit]

HQ 11th Aust Fd Arty Bde

Headquarters, 11th Australian Field Artillery Brigade [First World War AIF Artillery Unit]

HQ 11th Bde RFA, Lahore Div Arty

Headquarters, 11th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, Lahore Divisional Artillery [First World War Indian Artillery Unit]

HQ 12th Aust Fd Arty Bde

Headquarters, 12th Australian Field Artillery Brigade [First World War AIF Artillery Unit]

HQ 13th Aust Fd Arty Bde

Headquarters, 13th Australian Field Artillery Brigade [First World War AIF Artillery Unit]

HQ 14th Aust Fd Arty Bde

Headquarters, 14th Australian Field Artillery Brigade [First World War AIF Artillery Unit]

HQ 15th Aust Fd Arty Bde

Headquarters, 15th Australian Field Artillery Brigade [First World War AIF Artillery Unit]

HQ 18th Bde RFA, Lahore Div Arty

Headquarters, 18th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, Lahore Divisional Artillery [First World War Indian Artillery Unit]

HQ 18th Bde RHA, ANZAC Mtd Div

Headquarters, 18th Brigade, Royal Horse Artillery, Australian and New Zealand Army Corps Mounted Division

HQ 19th Bde RHA, ANZAC Mtd Div

Headquarters, 19th Brigade, Royal Horse Artillery, Australian and New Zealand Army Corps Mounted Division [First World War AIF Artillery Unit]

HQ 1st & 2nd Aust Siege Bty Amm Cols

HQ, 1st & 2nd Australian Siege Battery Ammunition Columns [First World War AIF Artillery Unit]

HQ 1st Aust Div Arty

Headquarters, 1st Australian Divisional Artillery [First World War AIF Artillery Unit]

HQ 1st Aust Div Engrs)

Headquarters, 1st Australian Divisional Engineers [First World War AIF Engineers Unit]

HQ 1st Aust Fd Arty Bde

Headquarters, 1st Australian Field Artillery Brigade [First World War AIF Artillery Unit]

HQ 2 AFCU

Headquarters 2 Australian Force Canteen Unit

HQ 21st Aust Fd Arty Bde

Headquarters, 21st Australian Field Artillery Brigade [First World War AIF Artillery Unit]

HQ 22nd Aust Fd Arty Bde

Headquarters, 22nd Australian Field Artillery Brigade [First World War AIF Artillery Unit]

HQ 22nd Mtd Bde

Headquarters, 22nd Mounted Brigade, ANZAC Mounted Division [First World War AIF Cavalry Unit]

HQ 24th Aust Fd Arty Bde

Headquarters, 24th Australian Field Artillery Brigade [First World War AIF Artillery Unit]

HQ 25th Aust Fd Arty Bde

Headquarters, 25th Australian Field Artillery Brigade [First World War AIF Artillery Unit]

HQ 2nd Aust Div Arty

Headquarters, 2nd Australian Divisional Artillery [First World War AIF Artillery Unit]

HQ 2nd Aust Div Engrs

Headquarters, 2nd Australian Divisional Engineers [First World War AIF Engineers Unit]

HQ 2nd Aust Fd Arty Bde

Headquarters, 2nd Australian Field Artillery Brigade [First World War AIF Artillery Unit]

HQ 3 Aust Fd Arty Bde

Headquarters, 3rd Australian Field Artillery Brigade [First World War AIF Artillery Unit]

HQ 3rd Aust Div Arty

Headquarters, 3rd Australian Divisional Artillery [First World War AIF Artillery Unit]

HQ 3rd Aust Div Engrs

HQ 3rd Australian Divisional Engineers [First World War AIF Engineers Unit]

HQ 3rd NZ Rifles Bde

Headquarters, 3rd New Zealand (Rifles) Brigade [First World War New Zearland Unit]

HQ 4th Aust Div Arty

Headquarters, 4th Australian Divisional Artillery [First World War AIF Artillery Unit]

HQ 4th Aust Div Engrs

HQ 4th Australian Divisional Engineers [First World War AIF Engineers Unit]

HQ 4th Aust Fd Arty Bde

Headquarters, 4th Australian Field Artillery Brigade [First World War AIF Artillery Unit]

HQ 5th Aust Div Arty

Headquarters, 5th Australian Divisional Artillery [First World War AIF Artillery Unit]

HQ 5th Aust Div Engrs

HQ 5th Australian Divisional Engineers [First World War AIF Engineers Unit]

HQ 5th Aust Fd Arty Bde

Headquarters, 5th Australian Field Artillery Brigade [First World War AIF Artillery Unit]

HQ 5th Bde RFA, Lahore Div Arty

Headquarters, 5th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, Lahore Divisional Artillery [First World War Indian Artillery Unit]

HQ 6th Aust Fd Arty Bde

Headquarters, 6th Australian Field Artillery Brigade [First World War AIF Artillery Unit]

HQ 7th Aust Fd Arty Bde

Headquarters, 7th Australian Field Artillery Brigade [First World War AIF Artillery Unit]

HQ 7th Indian Mountain Arty Bde

Headquarters, 7th Indian Mountain Artillery Brigade [First World War Indian Artillery Unit]

HQ 8th Aust Fd Arty Bde

Headquarters, 8th Australian Field Artillery Brigade [First World War AIF Artillery Unit]

HQ A & NZ Mtd Div Train

Headquarters, Australian and New Zealand Mounted Divisional Train [First World War AIF Supplies and Transport AASC Unit]

HQ ALSG

Headquarters Australian Logistic Support Group (Vietnam War)

HQ ANZAC Mtd Div Arty

Headquarters, Australian and New Zealand Army Corps Mounted Divisional Artillery [First World War AIF Artillery Unit]

HQ ASC, Imp Mtd Div

Headquarters, Army Service Corps, Imperial Mounted Division [First World War AIF Supplies and Transport, Australian Army Services Corps Unit]

HQ AST

Headquarters Australian Theatre (East Timor)

HQ Aust Base Deps

HQ Australian Base Depots, France [First World War AIF Bases and Depots Unit]

HQ Aust Corps Hvy Arty

Brigadier General, 1st ANZAC Corps Heavy Artillery (BG 1st ANZAC Corps Hvy Arty), and Headquarters, Australian Corps Heavy Artillery [First World War AIF Artillery Unit]

HQ Aust Corps MT Col

Headquarters, Australian Corps Mechanical Transport Column (formerly "K" Supply Column, 1st ANZAC Corps and then "K" Supply Column, Australian Corps) (HQ Aust Corps MT Col)

HQ Aust Hvy Arty Bde

Headquarters, 36th Heavy Artillery Group (HQ 36th Hvy Arty Gp) (later 36th Australian Heavy Artillery Brigade, and also known as 36th (Aust) Brigade, Royal Garrison Artillery) [First World War AIF Artillery Unit]

HQ Aust Mtd Div Train

Headquarters, Australian Mounted Divisional Train [First World War AIF Supplies and Transport AASC Unit]

HQ Aust Rly Coys

Headquarters, Australian Railway Companies [First World War AIF Railways Unit]

HQ FLSG

Headquarters Force Logistics Support Group (East Timor)

HQ IC Bde

Headquarters, Imperial Camel Brigade (formerly 1st Imperial Camel Brigade) [First World War British Camel Corps Unit]

HQ Imp Mtd Div Arty

Headquarters, Imperial Mounted Divisional Artillery [First World War British Artillery Unit]

HQ KOREM 164I

Indonesian Dili Command Headquarters (East Timor)

HQ Lahore Div Arty

Headquarters, Lahore Divisional Artillery [First World War Indian Artillery Unit]

HQ Liaison Force

Headquarters, Liaison Force [First World War British Headquarters Unit]

HQ LSF

Logistics Support Force (East Timor)

HQ NORCOM

Headquarters Northern Command (East Timor)

HQ NZ & Aust Div Arty

Headquarters, New Zealand and Australian Divisional Artillery [First World War AIF Artillery Unit]

HQ NZ & Aust Div Engrs

HQ New Zealand and Australian Divisional Engineers [First World War AIF Engineers Unit]

HQ NZ Div Arty

Headquarters, New Zealand Divisional Artillery [First World War New Zearland Unit]

HQ NZ Div Engrs

Headquarters, New Zealand Divisional Engineers [First World War New Zearland Unit]

HQ NZ Inf Bde

Headquarters, New Zealand Infantry Brigade (HQ NZ Inf Bde)

HQ NZMR Bde

Headquarters New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade [First World War New Zearland Unit]

HQ RA Aust Corps

General Officer Commanding, Royal Artillery, 1st ANZAC Corps (GOC RA 1st ANZAC Corps) and Headquarters, Royal Artillery, Australian Corps [First World War AIF Artillery Unit]

HQADF

Headquarters Australian Defence Force

HQMC

Headquarters of the General Officer Commanding, Malaya Command

HQOC

Headquarters Operational Command (RAAF)

Hqrs

Headquarters

HQSC

Headquarters Support Command (RAAF)

HR

Hour

HRC

Human Rights Commission

HRH

His (or Her) Royal Highness

HRS

Hours

Hussars

Baidoa Humanitarian Relief Sector (Peacekeeping - Somalia)

HS

Hospital Ship (First World War)

Hardstand

HSB

Health Support Battalion

HSF

Helicopter Support Facility

HSGO

Housing Officer

HSL

High Speed launch

HSP

Heavy Stressed Platform

HT

High Tension

Hired Transport

Horsed Transport

Hospital Train (USA)

HTM

Heavy Trench Mortar (First World War)

HTMB

Heavy Trench Mortar Battery (First World War)

Hu

Hungary

Hurricane

Switchboard designator and common nickname for HQ II FFORCE V

Huss

Hussars

Hv

Heavy (USA)

High Voltage

High Velocity

HVO

Bosnian Croat Army (Peacekeeping)

Hvy

Heavy (First World War)

Hvy Bty, 1st Aust Div

Heavy Battery, 1st Australian Division

HWT

Heavy weight torpedo(s)

HWY

Highway (USA)

HY

Heavy

HYG

Hygiene

HYGINSP

Hygiene Inspector

HYGO

Hygiene Officer

HZ

Hertz