ABFC	Advanced Base Functional Components (System). A complete system developed by the Navy containing prefabricated structures, equipment, and packaging for advanced base building.
Aggregate	Crushed rock used with cement to form concrete.
AID	Agency for International Development, which provides resources for underdeveloped nations through the State Department.
Alluvial soil	Consists largely of deposits left by flowing waters.
AM-2	Aluminum matting used to construct runways. It is designed to be portable and rapidly emplaced.
Annam	The original name of the country which is now the Republic of Vietnam.
Backhoe	An excavating machine in which a bucket is rigidly attached to a hinged boom and is drawn toward the machine in digging.
Bailey panel bridge	A pre-engineered semiportable tactical bridge of World War II vintage. Having its structural members above the roadway, the Bailey is a continuous truss bridge joined beneath by flat panel transoms.
BARC	Barge, amphibious, resupply, cargo. A true amphibian duplex-drive transporter. The largest LARC with a 40-ton capacity.
BEEF teams	Base emergency engineering force teams. Small Air Force detachments for construction of critical facilities.
Bladder system	An inflatable fuel container system.

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Borrow	Earth used in making fill for construction projects.
C-7	Caribou Twin-engine utility aircraft designed for short landings and takeoffs from unprepared landing areas.
CENCOM	Central Highways and Waterways Committee of the government of Vietnam.
CINCPAC	Commander in Chief, Pacific. Traditionally a naval Commander, CINCPAC controls all service forces in the Pacific area and reports directly to the joint Chiefs of Staff.
CINCPACAF	Commander in Chief, Pacific Air Forces, who reports directly to CINCPAC.
CINCPACFLT	Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet. The commander for ships afloat; he reports to CINCPAC.
CINCUSARPAC	Commander in Chief, U.S. Army, Pacific. He is responsible to CINCPAC.
COMUSMACV	Commander, U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam.
Chlorinator A	device for combining chlorine with water for sterilization.
Clam	Clamshell. A hinged-door bucket for a crane. Also known as a grab bucket.
Compacted	Soil compressed by rolling to reduce surface volume in preparation for construction.
CONEX	A reusable metal shipping container designed for worldwide movement of military equipment through the cargo transporter service.
Creosoted timbers	Piles and other timbers treated with wood-tar distillate as a preservative.
CTZ	Corps tactical zone. American military divisions of Vietnam in four areas.
DGOH	Directorate General of Highways. An office of the government of Vietnam.

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Democratic Republic of Vietnam	Communist North Vietnam.
Depth of refusal	Depth at which terminal resistance is met in driving operations.
Direct support Maintenance	performed by units not attached maintenance to the using unit. A category of maintenance limited to repair of end items or unserviceable assemblies on a return to user basis. Formerly third echelon.
DMZ	The Demilitarized Zone. A six-mile strip which roughly parallels the Song Ben Hoi separating North from South Vietnam.
DSA	Defense Supply Agency. The purchasing agent for common supply items in the Department of Defense.
Erdlator	A clarifier used in water purification units in conjunction with diatomite earth filters.
Engineer Service, Army	A World War II and Korean building appropriation fund.
Foreshore area	That area between high- and low-water marks.
FFV	Field Force, Vietnam. A flexible corps level headquarters organization designed to control Army units of all sizes. Became I Field Force August 1966.
FWMAF	Free World Military Assistance Forces. Included at times: Australian battalions, Korean divisions, New Zealand company-sized units, Philippine civic action group, and Thai regiments.
Hopper dredge	A dredge using hydraulic suction pipes to excavate bottom material into internal hoppers as opposed to separate barges. This dredge can carry its own waste to a dumping area. Unlike other plants, this one is self-propelled and fully seaworthy.
Horizontal construction	Roads, canals, etc. as opposed to vertical construction-dwellings, sheds, etc.

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Hue	Former capital of Annamese Empire. Ancient city considered cultural center for Vietnam. Scene of bitter street fighting in 1968 Tet offensive.
GAME WARDEN	A code name for naval river patrol operations.
ICC	International Control Commission established by 1954 Geneva Convention consisting of representatives from Canada, India, and Poland.
ICTZ	I Corps Tactical Zone. The northernmost provinces in South Vietnam.
IFFORCEV	I Field Force, Vietnam.
JCS	Joint Chiefs of Staff. Includes Chief of Staff, Army; Chief of Staff, Air Force; Chief of Naval Operations; Commandant of the Marine Corps; and the chairman. This is a planning and advisory staff without command authority.
JGS	Joint General Staff. Vietnamese equivalent of our JCS.
JLRB	Joint Logistics Review Board. Investigative body which met during 1969 to formulate recommendations on logistics.
Keppel Yards	Singapore shipyard contracted for marine repairs.
LARC	Amphibian lighter. Duplex-drive amphibian descendant of World War II DUKW. V series has 5-ton capacity, XV series 15 tons. Also fitted for recovery.
Laterite	A red ferruginous soil containing iron and alumina.
LCM	Landing craft, mechanized.
LCU	Landing craft, utility.
LOC	Lines of Communications.
LSD	Landing ship, dock. Ship having a cargo deck which carries amphibian transporters; to launch, the cargo deck is flooded and the stern opens to the sea.

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LZ	Landing zone.
MACV	Military Assistance Command, Vietnam. Established in February 1962 at Saigon from the former Military Assistance Advisory Group.
MAF	III (Third) Marine Amphibious Force. USMC headquarters formed in May 1965 from the former 9th Marine Expeditionary Brigade to control elements of 1st, 3d, 5th Marine Divisions and 1st Marine Air Wing.
MAP	Military Assistance Program controls sales of American military equipment worldwide.
Marine wood borers	Organisms which feed on wood structures at  and below water level and cause rapid structural decay.
MARKET TIME	Code name for naval coastal patrol operations.
MCA	Military Construction, Army. An appropriation specifically for new construction.
MCB	Naval mobile construction battalions. "Sea bees."
MILCON	Military Construction or construction funded by MCA funds.
MSR	Main supply route.
NAVFORV	Naval Forces, Vietnam. All naval forces afloat and ashore in Vietnam.
NSA	Naval Support Activity. Consists of shore facilities to support operations afloat and land based naval aircraft.
OMA	Operations and Maintenance, Army, funds. Appropriations for repair and maintenance of existing facilities.
PA&E	Pacific Architects and Engineers.
PACAF	Pacific Air Forces. All Air Force units in Pacific area including 5th Air Force in Korea, 7th Air Force in Vietnam, etc.
PACOM	Pacific Command. Unified command of CINCPAC, CINCPACAF, CINCUSARPAC and commanded by CINCPAC.

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Pipeline cutterhead dredge	A dredge in which a steel basket-shaped cutter head surrounds the suction pipe intake. Pipelines carry the bottom material ashore or overboard.
Plastic membrane seal	Rolled sheets of thin flexible plastic used to  cover soil and prevent erosion.
POL	Petroleum, oil, and lubricants.
Potable	Suitable, safe, or ready for drinking.
Prime BEEF teams	Air Force base emergency engineer forces.
Red Ball	A designation for specially expedited repair parts and supplies having very high priority.
Red Horse	Air Force heavy repair squadron.
Riprap	Large crushed and random-sized rock used in construction without cement.
RMK-BRJ	Contracting combine of Raymond, Morrison Knudson, Brown and Root, and J. A. Jones.
ROK	Republic of Korea.
SATS	Short airfield for tactical support. Portable runways and facilities for service, landings, and takeoffs. Makes use of AM-2 panels and mobile command control equipment.
Sheet piles	Sheet steel formed for pile driving and designed to interlock forming retaining walls.
T-2 Tanker	An electrical power ship. Tankers withdrawn from Maritime Reserve Fleet and converted to electrical power barges by Vinnell Corp. T-2 designates Maritime Commission class size.
Tank farm	Petroleum storage area.
Turnkey	A contract that makes the contractor responsible for all phases of the work, to include administrative and logistical support from design through completion of construction.
USAECAV	U.S. Army Engineer Construction Agency, Vietnam.

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USARYIS	U.S. Army, Ryukyu Islands.
USAMC	U.S. Army Materiel Command.
USAPAV	U.S. Army Procurement Agency, Vietnam. Responsible for administering of all civilian contracts and local outside purchases.
USARPAC	U.S. Army, Pacific.
USARV	U.S. Army, Vietnam. A headquarters primarily responsible for logistics, administration, and support for MACV.

page created 15 December 2001