Glossary

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

R

Air Force Reserve

R & D

Research and Development

R and C

Rest and Convalescence

R Aust Inf

Royal Australian Infantry Corps

R Aust Sigs

Royal Australian Corps of Signals

R Aust Svy

Royal Australian Survey Corps

R Berks

The Royal Berkshire Regiment (Princess Charlotte of Wales')

R C

Replenishment Centre (RAAF)

R Ir F

The Royal Irish Fusiliers (Princess Victoria's)

R of O

Australian Army Reserve (Reserve of Officers)

R Sigs

Royal Corps of Signals

R Sup O

Rail Supply Officer

R Sussex

The Royal Sussex Regiment

R Tanks

Royal Tank Corps

R&F

Rank and File

R-boat

Small German minesweeper (Second World War)

R/T

Radio Telegraphy (ie by voice)

Radio?telephone (VHF radio equipment) (RAAF)

Radio transmitter

RA

Rear Admiral

Royal Artillery

Reserve Aircraft

RAA

Royal Australian Artillery

RAA Ch D

Royal Australian Army Chaplains Department

RAA Pro

Royal Australian Army Provost Corps

RAAC

Royal Australian Armoured Corps

RAAD Corps

Royal Australian Army Dental Corps

RAADC

Royal Australian Army Dental Corps

RAAEC

Royal Australian Army Education Corps

RAAF

Royal Australian Air Force

RAAF COM

RAAF Command

RAAF FPO

RAAF Field Post Office

RAAF HOS

RAAF Hospital

RAAF MO

RAAF Meteorological Office

RAAF STN

RAAF Station

RAAFNS

Royal Australian Air Force Nursing Service

RAAFPU

RAAF Postal Unit

RAAFSC

RAAF Staff School

RAAMC

Royal Australian Army Medical Corps

RAANC

Royal Australian Army Nursing Corps (1951- )

RAANS

Royal Australian Army Nursing Service

RAAOC

Royal Australian Army Ordnance Corps

RAAPC

Royal Australian Army Pay Corps

RAASC

Royal Australian Army Service Corps

RAC

Royal Armoured Corps

RACT

Royal Australian Corps of Transport

RAD

Radio

RADA

Radioactive

RADHAZ

Radiation Hazard

RADM

Rear Admiral

Rear Admiral

RADMECH

Radio Mechanic

RADO

Radio Officer

RADOG

Radiographer

RADOG12

Radiographer 12

RADOG6

Radiographer 6

RADOP

Radio Operator

RADTECHA

Radio Technician Air

RADTECHG

Radio Technician Ground

RAE

Royal Australian Engineers

RAEME

Royal Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers

RAF

Royal Air Force

RAFA

Royal Australian Field Artillery

RAFLO

Royal Air Force Landing Officer

RAFO

Reserve of Air Force Officers

RAFPRU

Royal Air Force Photographic Reconnaissance Unit

RAFR

Royal Australian Fleet Reserve

RAFSC

Royal Air Force Staff College

RAFVR

Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

RAG

River Assault Group (Vietnam War)

RAGA

Royal Australian Garrison Artillery

RAINF

Royal Australian Infantry Corps

RAM

Radar Absorbent Material

RAMC

Royal Army Medical Corps (First World War)

RAMC (SR)

Royal Army Medical Corps (Special Reserve) (First World War)

RAMC (TF)

Royal Army Medical Corps (Territorial Force) (First World War)

RAMC(TC of T)

Royal Army Medical Corps (temporary commission) (First World War)

RAMO

Rear Airfield Maintenance Organisation

RAN

Royal Australian Navy

RAN (Emergy)

Royal Australian Navy (Emergency)

RAN(EM)

An officer originally commissioned in the Royal Australian Navy who retired but was placed on an emergency list for recall if required

RANAS

Royal Australian Naval Air Station

RANBT

Royal Australian Navy Bridging Train/Team

RANC

Royal Australian Naval College

RANCH HAND

The tactical military project for the aerial spraying of herbicides in South Vietnam (WSAF OEHL Technical Report)

RANCOT

Royal Australian Navy Clearance Diving Team

RANEM

An officer originally commissioned in the Royal Australian Navy who retired but was placed on an emergency list for recall if required

Range

Position aircraft on carrier prior to taking off (RAAF)

RANHF

Royal Australian Navy Helicopter Flight Vietnam

RANNS

Royal Australian Naval Nursing Service

RANR

Royal Australian Naval Reserve

RANR (S)

Royal Australian Naval Reserve (Seagoing)

RANVR

Royal Australian Naval Volunteer Reserve

RAOC

Royal Army Ordnance Corps

RAP

Regimental Aid Post

RAPC

Royal Army Pay Corps

RAPW&I

Repatriation of Allied Prisoners of War and Internees

RAR

Regular Army Reserve (USA)

Royal Army Reserve

Royal Australian Regiment (Battalions designated as 1RAR, 2RAR, etc)

Rarotongan Det

Rarotongan Detachment [First World War New Zearland Unit]

RAS

Replenishment at sea

RASC

Royal Army Service Corps (First World War)

RASCO

Replenishment at Sea Control Position

RASIGS

Royal Australian Signal Corps

RASO

Rear Airfield Supply Organisation

RASR

Regular Army Special Reserve

RAT

Ration

RATEL

Radio Telephone

RATG

Radio Telegraphy

RATO

Rocket Assisted Take Off

RATT

Radio Teletype

RAVC

Royal Army Veterinary Corps

RB

The Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own)

RBAA

Reserve Brigade Australian Artillery

RC

Recruiting Centre (RAAF)

Roman Catholic

RCAF

Royal Canadian Air Force

RCAFTC

Royal Canadian Air Force Transport Command

RCB Malaysia

Rifle Company Butterworth Malaysia

RCCP

Resources Control Check Point (Vietnam War)

RCE

Railway Construction Engineer (Second World War)

RCL

Recoilless rifle or gun

RCM

Radio Counter Measures

RCN

Royal Canadian Navy

Royal College of Nursing

Rcn LR

Reconnaissance Long Range (USA)

RCP

Regimental Command Post

RCS

Royal College of Surgeons

Rescue and Communication Squadron

RCT

Regimental Combat Team (USA)

Royal Corps of Transport

RD

Recruit Depot

Reserve Officers' Decoration (Naval)

Revolutionary Development. RD was the Government of [South] Vietnam (GVN) agency responsible for upgrading the economy, government, education, social welfare, and lines of communication of hamlets and villages throughout Vietnam. The personnel performing

RD & IU

Radio Development and Installation Unit (RAAF)

RD STN

Radar Station (RAAF)

Rd/s

Road(s)

RDC

Research and Development Centre

RDF

Radio Direction Finding

Rapid Deployment Force (Peacekeeping)

RDF WING

Radio Direction Finding Wing (RAAF)

RDFIMU

Radio Direction Finding Installation & Maintenance Unit (RAAF)

RDFS

Radio Direction Finding School

RDI

Relief Driver Increment (Australian Army Service Corps)

RDR

Radar

RDRO

Radar Officer

RE

Corps of Royal Engineers (British Engineers)

REALL

Re-Allocate

REC

Recovery

Receive

RECAP

Recapitulate

Recce

Reconnaissance, or reconnoiter

Recce Flt

Reconnaissance flight (Vietnam War)

RECD

Record

Recgroup

Code name for the Allied Air Reconnaissance group responsible for seaward reconnaissance of whole sphere of Supreme Allied Command, South West Pacific

RECLAS

Reclassify

RECM

Recommend

RECON

Reconnaissance

Reconnoiter

RECOV

Recover

RECR

Recreation

RECTRANU

Recruit Training Unit

REF

Refer

REG

Regular

Reg Sta

Regulating Station

Reglone

Reglone (diquat). Reglone was the commercial name for an Australian supplied herbicide used by the Australian Force in Vietnam. (Interdepartmental Report: The Pesticides Report Note: Reglone was supplied in blue containers)

Regt

Regiment

Regtl S?1

Regimental Adjutant (USA)

Regtl S?2

Regimental Intelligence Officer (USA)

Regtl S?3

Regimental Plans and Training Officer (USA)

Regtl S?4

Regimental Supply Officer (USA)

REHAB

Rehabilitate

Reinft

Reinforcement

REINS

Reinforcements

REL

Release

Relief

Relieve

REME

Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers

RENG

Re-engage

REO

Reinforcement

Rep

Receipt

Representative

Repair

Represent

Repat & Demob

Repatriation and Demobilisation, AIF [First World War AIF Repatriation and Demobolisation Unit]

REPT

Report

REQ

Request

Requisition

Res

Reserve

RESENG

Resident Engineer

Reserve Bde Aust Arty

Reserve Brigade Australian Artillery [First World War AIF Artillery Unit]

RESPFOR

Response Force (East Timor)

RESTD

Restricted

Ret

Retired

Reuters Telegrams GHQ MEF

Reuters Telegrams, Intelligence, General Headquarters, Egyptian Expeditionary Force [First World War British Headquarters Unit]

RF

Range Finder

The Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment)

Representative Fraction

Regional Forces. The RF were locally recruited units employed under the direction of the province chief, normally within their home province. (Vietnam War)

Radio Frequency

Rf?Pf

Regional and Popular Forces

RFA

Royal Field Artillery

Royal Fleet Auxiliary

RFC

Royal Flying Corps

RFC C&P Rev

Royal Flying Corps Communiques and Press Reviews [First World War British Flying Corps Unit]

RFD

Reserve Forces Decoration

RFM

Reserve Forces Medal

RFMF

Republic of Fiji military Forces (Peacekeeping)

Rfn

Rifleman

RFR

Royal Fleet Reserve

Rft

Reinforcement

Rfts

Reinforcements

RFU

Refresher Flying Unit

RGA

Royal Garrison Artillery

Royal Guernsey Artillery

RGP

Reconnaissance Group

RGR

Royal Gurka Rifles

RHA

Royal Horse Artillery

RHD

Rail Head

RHG

Royal Horse Guards (The Blues)

RHIB

Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat

Rhod

Rhodesia Medal

RHQ

Regimental Headquarters (USA)

RHS

RAAF Historical Section

RHU

Reinforcement Holding Unit

RI

Republic of Indonesia

RIA

Royal Indian Artillery

RIAF

Royal Indian Air Force

RIASC

Royal Indian Army Service Corps

RIC

Royal Irish Constabulary

RIE

Royal Indian Engineers

RIF

Reconnaissance in Force

RIM

Royal Indian Marines

RIMPAC

Pacific Rim (Exercise)

RIMU

Radio Installation & Maintenance Unit (RAAF)

RIN

Royal Indian Navy

RIR

Reserve Infanterie Regiment (German, First World War)

RJ

Road junction (USA)

RKT

Rocket

RL

Retired List

Rocket Launcher

RLS

Repair Loan Store

RLT

Regimental Landing Team

Rlway

Railway

Rly Coy

Railway Company

RM

Royal Marines

RMA

Rear Maintenance Area

Royal Marine Artillery

Royal Military Academy

RMAF

Royal Malaysian Air Force

RMC

Royal Military College

RML

Rifled Muzzle Loading Gun

RMLI

Royal Marine Light Infantry

RMO

Regimental Medical Officer (Unit Doctor) (First World War)

RMS

Regimental Sergeant Major

Rendering Mines Safe

Royal Mail Steamship (Second World War)

RMT Unit

Remount Unit

RN

Royal Navy (British Navy)

RNAD

Royal Naval Ammunition Depot

RNAH

Royal Naval Auxiliary Hospital

RNAS

Royal Naval Air Service

RNAV

Royal Naval Artillery Volunteers

RND

Royal Naval Division

RNF

Royal Northumberland Fusiliers

RNI Army

Royal Netherlands Indies Army

RNO

Resident Naval Officer

RNR

Royal Naval Reserve

RNSC

Royal Naval Staff College

RNSR

Royal Navy Special Reserve (Second World War)

RNTU

Royal Naval Training Unit

RNVR

Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve

RNZA

Royal New Zealand Artillery

RNZAF

Royal New Zealand Air Force

RNZASC

Royal New Zealand Army Service Corps

RNZIR

Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment

RNZN

Royal New Zealand Navy

Ro

Radio Operator

Regimental Orders (USA)

Roads Officer

Routine Orders

Romania

ro?ro

Roll on, roll off

ROC

Railway Operating Group

Royal Observer Corps

Republic of China

ROD

Radio Operating Division

Railway Operating Division (First World War)

ROE

Rules of Engagement

ROK

Republic of Korea Forces

Rome Plough

A Rome Plough (Plow) was a device fixed to a bulldozer for land clearing operations. It gained its name from the manufacturer, the Rome Plow Company of the United States.

RON

Remain Overnight

ROO

Railhead Ordnance Officer

ROP

Report of Proceedings (RAN)

ROTC

Reserve Officers' Training Corps (USA)

Royals

1st The Royal Dragoons

RP

Radio Plotter

Refilling/Replenishment Point

Regimental Police

Relay Post (First World War)

Rocket projectile (RAAF)

Rules of Procedure

Republic of Philippines

RPC

Royal Papuan Constabulary (Second World War)

Royal Pioneer Corps

RPD & TE

Radio Physics Department and Training Establishment

rpg

Rocket Propelled Grenade from the Russian abbreviation of Reaktivniy Protivotankniy Granatomyot meaning 'rocket anti-tank launcher' (Vietnam War)

Rounds Per Gun

Rounds per gun

RPGPM

Round per gun per minute

RPL

Repair Parts List

rpm

Rounds per minute

RPMOR

Rounds Per Mortar

RPN

Royal Pakistan Navy

RPP

Reserve Personnel Pool (RAAF)

RPT

Repeat

RPV

Remotely piloted vehicle(s)

RQMS

Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant

RR

Railroad (USA)

Recoilless rifle (Vietnam War)

Refilling Point

Radio Relay

RR & GDD

Recruit Reception and General Details Depot

RRC

Member of the Royal Red Cross

RRD

Redbank Reinforcement Depot

RRL

Regimental Reserve Line (USA)

RS

Radio Supervisor

Radio School (RAAF)

Records Section (USA)

The Royal Scots (The Royal Regiment)

RSAAF

Royal South African Air Force

RSAF

Republic of Singapore Air Force

RSAR

Royal South Australian Regiment

RSC

Regimental Supervisor Communications (Warrant Officer)

RSD

Railway Supply Detachment

Returned Stores Depot

RSETO

Resettlement Officer

RSF

The Royal Scots Fusiliers

RSL

Regimental Supernumerary List (Officers)

Returned Services League subsequently the Returned and Services League

RSLAB

Reference Standards Laboratory

RSM

Regimental Sergeant Major

RSO

Range Safety Officer

Railhead Supply Officer

RSPacS

Research School of Pacific Studies

RSPAS

Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies

RSR

Raiding Support Regiment

RSS & AILA

Returned Sailors', Soldiers' and Airmen's Imperial League of Australia

RSSILA

Returned Sailors' and Soldiers' Imperial League of Australia

RSSZ

Rung Sat Special Zone, area of swamp south of Saigon (Vietnam War)

RSTT

RAAF School of Technical Training

Regimental Supervisor Technical Telecommunications (Warrant Officer)

RSU

Repair and Salvage Unit (RAAF)

Repair and Servicing Unit

RTA

Returned to Australia

Royal Thai Army

RTAF

Royal Thai Air Force

RTAVF

Royal Thai Army Vietnam Force

Royal Thai Army Volunteer Force

RTB

Recruit Training Battalion

RTC

Replacement Training Center (USA)

RTD

Return to Duty

RTFV

RAAF Transport Flight Vietnam

RTO

Railway Traffic Officer

Railway Transportation Officer

RTR

Royal Tank Regiment

RTS

Recruit Training Section/Squadron (RAAF)

RTU

Recruit Training Unit

Run

Jump Ship; Deserted

RUR

The Royal Ulster Rifles

RV

Re?entry vehicle(s)

Rendezvous

RVE

Request for Variation to Entitlement

RVN

Republic of Vietnam (South)

RVNAF

Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces

RVT

Request for Variation to Establishment

RVTNA

Royal Victorian Training Nurses Association

RW

Royal Warrant, required for pay to be docked (First World War)

Royal Wing

RW, HQ

Radar Wing, Headquarters

RWAFF

Royal West African Frontier Force

RWAU

Rotary Wing Aviation Unit

Rwda

Rwanda clasp to Australian Service Medal (ASM)

RWF

The Royal Welch Fusiliers

RWK

The Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment

RX

Red Cross

RXS

Red Cross Society

Ry

Railway

Ry Tel

Railway Telegraph