Imperial Guard Slang and Battle-Cant

Imperial Guard Battle Cant

Battle Cant is the collective name for the series of abbreviated words and combinations of initials used fairly universally by the Imperial Guard in the field of battle, this is a near-universal sub-language spoken by the Guard that confounds most who are not accustomed to hearing it but cuts across the language barriers that occur when Guard regiments operate together who don't share the same low-gothic dialects.

+ – out

ACK – acknowledge

ACK/AUTH – I have understood your request and approve it; proceed

ALPHA – a location target of interest

AMMO – ammunition

AO – Area of Operations

ARMR – Armoured vehicles

ARTY – Artillery

ASS’D – Assessed

AUTH – authenticate, or approve

Black forces – organised crime / rebels

Blue forces – friendly

BRAVO – a human or Xenos target of interest

CAP – capability

CAS – casualty

CASREP – Casualty Report

CAT1 – a seriously wounded casualty requiring immediate medicae treatment

CAT2 – a non-walking casualty

CAT3 – walking wounded

CAT4 – unsalvageable casualty requiring the Emperor’s Peace

CHARLIE – a vehicle or Voidship target of interest

COG – centre of gravity

COIN – Counter-Insurgency

COMD – command(er)

COMPLETE – all troops/equipment in one location

CQA – close quarter attack / assassination

CSUP – Combat Supplies

DE – This Is

DET – detail (“Grd in Det” = Ground in Detail)

DET – Detonator

EF – Enemy Forces

ELMS – Elements

EMBUREP – Emergency Burial Report

EN – enemy

EQPT – Equipment

FA – First Aid

FF – Friendly Forces

FRAG – fragmentation

G1 – personnel

G2 – intelligence

G3 – operations

G4 – logistics & sustainment

G5 – plans

G6 – communications / vox

G7 – training

G8 – Munitorum requests, finance & procurement

G9 – doctrine & spiritual guidance

GD or GRD – Ground

Green forces – local/allied security forces

H – Hello

HE – High Explosive

HLS – rotary-wing landing site

HQ – Headquarters

HVT – High Value Target

I READBACK – I am reading back your last message to verify

IDF – Indirect Fire (mortars/rockets/artillery)

INS – Insurgent/Insurgency

INT – intelligence

IVO – in the vicinity of

K – over

KLE – key leader engagement

L – attached to a time, this means “local time”

LOC – lines of communication

LOCSTAT – location

LOE – Limit of Exploitation

LOGS – logistics

LZ – Landing zone

MEANS – method of communication (“These Means” = this vox channel)

MSG – Message

NKA – No Known Allergies

NOCHEM – No standard Medicae chemicals

NOPEN – No Standard Antibiotics

NOSYN – No Synthskin

NOTICAS – notification of casualty’s relatives/loved ones

O Gp – Orders Group

PIR – Priority Intelligence Requirement

Pl – Platoon

PRI – Priority

Ptl – Patrol

QRF – Quick Reaction Force

RADIO CHECK – are you hearing this message?

RATS – rations

RECCE – reconnaissance

Red forces – enemy

REPLENDEM – Replenishment demand

RF – Red Forces

RFI – Request for Information

RGR – roger

RIP – Relief-in-place

Rpt – Report

RTB – Return(ed) To Base

SA – Situational Awareness

SANGAR – a small fortified firing position

SECT – section

SITREP – Situation Report

SLS – Shuttle landing site

SMK – smoke

SML – small

SOP – standard operating procedure

SPT – support

SQEP – Suitably Qualified & Equipped Personnel

STR – Strength

STRAT – strategic

SUS – Sustainment or Life Support

SYM – Send Your Message

TAC – tactical headquarters

TPT – transport

TRN – terrain

TTPs – Tactics, Techniques & Procedures

VEH – vehicle

VERIFY – read back the contents of the message I have just sent

Vis – Visibility

VOX CHECK – as RADIO CHECK

VULN – vulnerable / vulnerability

W – wait

WF – White Forces

White forces – local civilians

WNGO / WGO – warning order

WTR – water

ZERO – the head / commander of a vox net