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

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(M)

Medical Branch Officer (RAF)

(MB)

Marine Craft Officer (RAF)

(MB)

Mobile Transmitter

(Met)

Denotes an Officer who has qualified in Meteorology on completion of twelve weeks’ course. In a ship, an officer appointed for Meteorological duties. (Source: Australian Navy List, 1941)

M

Missing

M

Malaya

m

Million(s)

M & S

Maintenance and Supply (USA)

M & SO

Movement and Shipping Office (RAAF)

M & V

Meat and Vegetables (Tinned Ration)

M & V

Medical and Veterinary

M Ch

Master of Surgery

M Vet Sect

Mobile Veterinary Section

M's & B's

Treatment shots for malignant and benign malaria (Second World War)

M/c

Motor cycle

M/I

Marched In (First World War)

M/O

Marched Out (First World War)

M/S

Minesweeping

M/T

Motor Transport

MA

Military Assistant

MA

Military Attaché (USA)

MA

Maintenance Area

MA

Military Advisor

MAAF

Mediterranean Allied Air Forces

MAC

Military Airlift Command (USA)

MAC

Motor Ambulance Convoy (First World War)

MAC

Medical Advisory Committee (Butler)

MAC

Maintenance Allocation Chart

MAC-ship

Merchant aircraft carrier

MACAF

Mediterranean Allied Coastal Air Forces

MACPD

Military Assistance Command Psychological Operations Directorate

MACV

Military Assistance Command Vietnam

MAD

Magnetic anomaly detector

Madras Sm

Madras Sappers and Miners

MAE

Mean Area of Effectiveness

MAETU

Medical Air Evacuation Tactical/Transport Unit (RAAF)

MAG

Marine Aircraft Group (USA)

MAG

Magnetic

MAG

Magazine

Maint

Maintenance

Maint

Maintain

Maj

Major (Rank above a Captain, first of the field ranks)

Maj‑Gen

Major General

MAL

Malaysia

MAMS

Mobile Air Movements Section

Manch

The Manchester Regiment

Maori Contingent

Maori Contingent [First World War New Zearland Unit]

MAOT

Mobile Air Operations Team

MAP

Medical Aid Post

MAP

Military Assistance Program (USA)

Market Time

Operation - Surveillance of South Vietnamese coastal waters

MARO

Marine Officer

Marsden Matting

Also known as Pierced Steel Planking (PSP)

MAS

Motor Airline Section

MASB

Motor Anti‑submarine Boat

MASF

Military Assistance Service Fund or Funded

MASH

Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (USA)

MAT

Mobile Advisory Team

MAT

Mobile Advisory and Training Team

MATCV

Mobile Air Traffic Control Vehicle

MATS

Military Air Transportation Service (USA)

Mats

Mobile Advisory Teams

MATT

Military Assistance Training Team

MATT

Mobile Advisory and Training Team

MAW

Marine Aircraft Wing (USA)

MAWD

Modified Air Warning device

MAX

Maximum

MB

Bachelor of Medicine

MBB

Motor Body Builder

MBD

Missing, believed deceased

MBE

Member of the Order of the British Empire

MBEI

May Be Issued

MBI

Military Board Instruction

Mbl

Mobile (USA)

MBRUU

May Be Retained Until Unserviceable

MBSS

Main Beach Signal Station

MBT

Main battle tank(s)

MBTF

Mean Time Between Failures

MC

Medical Corps (USA)

MC

Medium caliber (Second World War)

MC

Military Cross (Awarded to officers up to Major for distinguished service in face of enemy)

MC

Movement Control

MC

Military Characteristic

MC

Motor Cycle

MC Gp

Movement Control Group (Vietnam War)

MC Group

Movement Control Group (Vietnam War)

MCA

Maintenance Construction Army

MCA

Malayan Chinese Association

MCA

Maritime Commander Australia

MCAVST

Maritime Commander Australia

MCC/I/O

Mine countermeasures vessel(s), coastal/inshore/offshore

MCCREW

Marine Craft Crew

MCE

Military Corrective Establishment

MCF of A

Military Christian Fellowship of Australia

MCFITT

Marine Crew Fitter

MCM

Mine Counter measures

MCMV

Mine countermeasures vessel(s)

MCO

Movement Control Officer

MCP

Malayan Communist Party

MCR

Marine Corps Reserve (USA)

MCR

Machinery Control Room

MCRU

Mobile Control and Reporting Unit

MCS

Medical Clearing Station

MCTC

Mine Clearance Training Centre (Peacekeeping)

MCTU

Mine Clearance Training Unit. United Nations Advance Mission in Cambodia (UNAMIC)/United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC).

MCU

Malaria Control Unit

MD

Doctor of Medicine

MD

Military District

MD

Medical Dispensary (Vietnam War)

MDAP

Mutual Defence Assistance Program (USA)

MDM

Medium

MDS

Main Dressing Station

Me

Messerschmitt (German fighter plane)

ME

Middle East

ME

Main Engines

ME

Measuring Equipment

MEAC

Middle East Air Command

MEAF

Middle East Air Force

Mech

Mechanic/Mechanical (USA)

Mech

Mechanised

Mecz

Mechanised (USA)

Med

Medical

Med

Medium

Med

Medical Sailor (after rank)

MEDCAP

Medical Civic Action Program. Normally conducted in a secure area, a MEDCAP may be integrated with psychological operations to display humanitarian treatment, to improve the image of occupying forces and liaison with local officials, to survey hamlet sta

MEDEVAC

Medical evacuation of casualties by air. Used to describe the process of moving casualties from ship or remote areas to hospital or other substantial medical facilities.

MEDEVAC FL

Medical Evacuation Flight, RAAF (Vietnam War)

MEDICARE

Medical Care

MEDORD

Medical Orderly

MEF

Mediterranean Expeditionary Force (Gallipoli)

MEF/B/U

Marine Expeditionary Force/Brigade/Unit (USA)

MEMO

Memorandum

MEO

Marine Engineering Officer

MESEC

Mess Secretary

MET

Meteorology

Met O

Meteorological Officer

METASST

Meteorological Assistant

METH

Methodist

METMACH

Metal Machinist

METT-T

Mission, enemy, terrain, troops available and time (Peacekeeping)

MF

Medium Frequency

MFC

Mobile Fire Controller

MFCU

Mobile Fighter Control Unit

MFDF

Medium Frequency Direction Finding

MFI

Military Financial Instruction

MFO

Military Forwarding Officer

MFO

Multinational Force Observers (Peacekeeping)

MFR

Military Financial Regulation

MFRI

Military Financial Regulation and Instructions

MFS, HQ

Mobile Fighter Section, Headquarters

MG

Machine gun

MG Bn

Machine Gun Battalion

MG Coy

Machine Gun Company

MG Sqn

Machine Gun Squadron

MG, HQ

Maintenance Group, Headquarters (RAAF)

MGC

Machine Gun Corps

MGGS

Major General, General Staff

MGO

Master General of the Ordnance

MGRA

Major General, Royal Artillery

MH

Medal of Honour (USA)

MH(S)

Military History (Section)

MHA

Modified Handling Authorized

MHC

Coastal Mine hunter

MHC/I/O

Mine hunter(s) coastal/inshore/offshore

MHE

Materials Handling Equipment

MHQAust

Maritime Headquarters Australia

MHZ

Megahertz

MI

Marched in

MI

Military Intelligence

MIA

Missing In Action

MIC

Microphone

MICS

Microsecond

MICV

Mechanised infantry combat vehicle(s)

MID

Mentioned in Despatches (for Meritorious Service)

Mid

Midshipman

MIDN

Midshipman

MIF

Maritime Interception Force

mih

Miles in the hour

mil

Military

Mil Sec

Military Secretary

MILCAP

Military Civil Aid Program

MILSTRIP

Military Standard Requisitioning and Issue Procedures

MIN

Minimum or Minute

MINC

Medical in Confidence

MINTECH

Ministry of Technology

MINURSO

United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara

MINUSO

United Nations Peacekeeping Mission Western Sahara

MIRV

Multiple independently‑targetable re‑entry vehicle(s)

misc

Miscellaneous

Misd

Manager, in service design

MISL

Missile

MISREP

Mission Report

Mission

One or more aircraft assigned to a particular task at a particular time

MIZ

Missile Interception Zone

MIZH

Miles In Two Hours

MJA

Medical Journal of Australia

Mk

Mark (model number)

ML

Minelayer

ML

Motor Launch

MLA

Mean Line of Advance (RAN)

MLC

Military/Motor Landing Craft

MLO

Military Landing Officer

MLO

Military Liaison Officer

MLOC

Minimum Level of Operational Capability

MLR

Main Line of Resistance

MM

Military Medal (For bravery to Warrant Officers, Non Commissioned Officers and Other Ranks)

MM

Mass  Masseuse (WW1 rank)

MMC

Maintenance Management Committee

MMF

Mobile Meteorological Flight (RAAF)

MMG

Medium Machine Gun

MMG

Motor Machine Gun

MMI

Manual of Military Intelligence

MML

Manual of Military Law

MMR

Monthly Maintenance Report

MMWG

Mixed Military Working Group - Headquarters United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC) for liaison with factions (Peacekeeping)

MN

Merchant Navy

MNA

Marine Navigator

MNADMIN

Musician Administrative

MNBDO

Mobile Naval Base Defence Organisation

MNEA

Malayan National Emancipation Army

MNF

Multinational Force (Peacekeeping)

MNNF

Multinational Naval Force

MNTK

Merchant Navy Training Ketch

MO

Medical Officer (First World War)

MO

Military Observer

MO

Military Orders

MO

Marched out

Mob

Mobile/Mobilisation

Mob Bact Lab

Mobile Bacteriological Laboratory

Mob Vet Sect

Mobile Veterinary Section

MOB3

Nominal Roll of Draft

mod

Modified/modification

MOD UK

Ministry of Defence United Kingdom

MOH

Medical Officer of Health

MOI

Military Operations and Intelligence

Moneval

Monthly Evaluation

mor

Mortar(s)

MORTREP

Mortar Bombing Report

Mot

Motor/Motorized

MOU

Memorandum of understanding

Mov

Movement

Mov & Tn

Movement and Transportation

Mov Cont

Movement Control

Movt

Movement

Moz

Mozambique clasp to Australian Service Medal (ASM)

MP

Malay Peninsula

MP

Meeting Point - where Royal Army Service Corps transport is met by unit guides and directed to delivery points

MP

Military Police

MP 40

Second World War German sub machine gun, often (incorrectly) referred to sa a ‘Schmeisser’

MPC

Military Payment Certificates

MPH

Miles per Hour

MPI

Mean Point of Impact

MPL

Maintenance Parts List

MPMU

Mobile Paratroops Maintenance Unit (RAAF)

MPO

Military Planning Office

MPP

Most Probable Position

MPR

Manpower Release

MPRC

Military Personnel Research Committee

MPS

Marine prepositioning squadrons

MPSC

Military Provost Staff Corps

MQ

Married Quarters

MR

Maritime reconnaissance

MR

Motor rifle

MR

Military region

MR3

Military Region 3

MRAF

Marshal of the Royal Air Force

MRBM

Medium‑range ballistic missile(s)

MRC

Medical Research Committee of National Insurance

MRC

Maintenance and Repair Craft

MRC

Mobile Radio Communications

MRD

Motor rifle division

MRL

Materials Research Laboratory

MRL

Multiple rocket launcher(s)

MRO

Military Reporting Officer (ie in NAO unit)

MRP

Mobile Radar Post

MRP

Mobile Reporting Post

MRR

Motor Rifle Regiment

MRS

Medical Receiving Station (RAAF)

MRT

Medium Range Transport

MRU

Medical Rehabilitation Unit (RAAF)

MRV

Multiple re-entry vehicle(s)

MS

Military Secretary

MS

Mine sweeper

MS

Maintenance Support Aircraft Establishment

MS

Master of Surgery

MS

Medical Service

Ms & Bs

Treatment shots for malignant and benign malaria (Second World War)

MSA

Malaysia, Singapore Airlines

MSA

Mine Sweeping Auxiliary

MSB

Military Supply Board

MSC

Motorised submersible canoe (Second World War) Coastal Minesweeper

MSC/I/O

Minesweeper(s), coastal/inshore/offshore

MSD

Military Supply Depot

MSF

Mine sweeping flotilla (RAN)

MSFU

Merchant Service Fighter Unit

MSG

Message

MSI

Maintenance Supply Item (RAAF) Inshore Mine Sweeper Type 1

msl

Missile(s)

msl

Mean Seal Level

MSM

Meritorious Service Medal

MSN

Mission

MSO

Ocean Minesweeper

MSO

Main Signal Office (RAN)

MSP

Medical Staging Post

MSR

Main Supply Road (USA)

MSS

Manuscripts

MSTG

Mustering

MSTS

Military Sea Transportation Service (USA)

MT

Mechanical Transport (First World War)

MT

Megaton(s)

MT

Military Training

MT

Marine Technician

MT Coy

Mechanical Transport Company

MT/Dvr

Mechanical Transport Driver

MTB

Motor Torpedo Boat

MTBM

Mean Time Between Maintenance

MTC

Mechanical Transport Company

MTCR

Missile Technology Control Regime

Mtd

Mounted

MTD

Mechanical Transport Driver

MTD

Mechanical Transport Driver (Women's Royal Australian Air Force - WRAAF)

MTFITT

Mechanical Transport Fitter

MTH

Mechanical Technical Hull

MTH

Month

MTI

Moving Target Indicator

MTM

Medium Trench Mortar

MTMB

Medium Trench Mortar Battery

MTMECH

Mechanical Transport Mechanic

MTMO

Motor Transport Maintenance Officer

MTMU

Mobile Torpedo Maintenance Unit (RAAF)

mtn

Mountain

MTO

Motor/Mechanical Transport Officer

MTP

Mechanical Technical Propulsion

MTP

Military Training Pamphlet

Mtr

Motor (USA)

Mtrcl

Motorcycle (USA)

MTRIM

Motor Trimmer

MTRS

Motor Transport Repair Section (RAAF)

MTS

Mobile Torpedo Section (RAAF)

MTTD

Motorised Tank Transporter Depot

MTTD

Motor Transport Training Depot (Second World War)

MTU

Medical Training Unit (RAAF)

MTU

Mobile Telecommunications Unit

Mtz

Motorised

MU

Maintenance Unit

MU

Medical Unit

MUC

Meritorious Unit Commendation

MUIOOF

Manchester Unity Independent Order of Oddfellows

MUR

Melbourne University Regiment

MUSICIAN

Musician

MV

Merchant vessel

MV

Motor vessel (Naval)

MV

Muzzle velocity

MVAF

Malayan Volunteer Air Force

MVD

Ministerstvo Vnutrennich Del (Ministry of Internal Affairs, USSR)

MVO

Member of the Royal Victorian Order [4th or 5th Class]

MVS

Mobile Veterinary Section

MWO

Modification Work Order

MWRF&I

Military War Financial Regulations and Instructions

MWS

Mobile Works Squadron

Mx

The Middlesex Regiment (Duke of Cambridge's Own)