Military Abbreviations, Nicknames and Slang Terms
Beginning with H
Compiled by Jon Stacy

Hack-
(Slang) To tolerate something.

Hadrian-
The Waco CG-4, Glider of World War II.

Halo-
(NATO Codename) Soviet Mil Mi-26; heavy helicopter.

Hamburger Heaven-
(Navy) Midnight Chow.

Hammerhead-
The M-901, Anti-Tank Combat Vehicle. A M-113 armored personnel carrier equipped with a TOW missile package.

Hammering Hank-
(Nickname) USS Henry A. Wiley DD-749/DM-29, a Allen M. Sumner Destroyer/Mine Sweeper.

Hamp-
(Allied Codename) Japanese Mitsubishi A6M. Also known as the “Zeke”, and “Zero”.

Hand Grenade Carrier-
(Nickname) Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress.

Hand I-
Harassing and Interdiction artillery fire against the Viet Cong and the North Vietnamese Army.

Handlebar-
(Nickname) Comedian Jerry Collona, during World War II.

Hanger Pilot-
(WWII) An untruthful, boastful pilot.

Hanger Queen-
(Slang) A damaged or disabled aircraft that sits in a hanger.

Hanoi Hilton-
(Nickname) The Hoa Lo prison; in Hanoi, North Vietnam.

Hanoi Jane-
Actress Jane Fonda, during and after the Vietnam War. She visited North Vietnam, protesting US involvement in Vietnam. She was also known as “Traitor Jane”.

Hap-
(Nickname) General Herny H. Arnold, of the USAAF & USAF.

Happy Hank-
(Nickname) USS Henrico AP-90/APA-45, a Bayfield Class Amphibious Attack Troop Transport.

Happy Hooligans-
(Squadron Nickname) 178th Fighter Squadron, that operates the F-16 Fighting Falcon for the North Dakota Air National Guard.

Happy Valley-
1. (Nickname) USS Valley Forge CV-45; an Essex Class Aircraft Carrier.
2. The Ruhr Valley in Germany, a region of heavy flak.

Hard Core-
(Slang) The North Vietnamese Army.

Hard Hat-
(Slang) A Crash Helmet.

Hard Hitting Hudson-
(Nickname) USS Hudson DD-475; a Fletcher Class Destroyer.

Hare-
(NATO Codename) Soviet Mil Mi-1; Light Helicopter.

Harke-
(NATO Codename) Soviet Mil Mi-10; a crane variant of the Mi-6 Heavy Helicopter.

Harp-
(NATO Codename) for the Soviet Kamov Ka-20.

Harpoon-
1. The Lockheed PV-2; maritime patrol aircraft of World War II.
2. The Navy AGM-84; Anti-Ship Missile.

Harrier-
The McDonnell-Douglas AV-8 attack plane. A US copy of the British Harrier.

Harry-
(Nickname) USS Harrison DD-573, a Fletcher Class Destroyer.

Harry E-
(Nickname) USS Harry E. Yarnell DLG/CG-17, a Leahy Class Cruiser.

Hasemark-
A Federal service mark, worn on the sleeve of a Class A Uniform.

Hassle-
An argument or a brawl.

Hat in the Ring-
(Squadron Nickname) 94th Fighter Squadron, that operates the F-15 Eagle. Has served in World War I & World War II.

Havoc-
1. The Douglas A-20/B-20, light bomber of World War II.
2. (NATO Codename) Soviet Mil Mi-28; attack helicopter.

Hawk-
1. The Curtiss P-40, fighter of World War II.
2. The USS Kitty Hawk CVA/CV-63, a Kitty Hawk Class Aircraft Carrier.
3. (Acronym) Homing All the Way Killer. The Army’s MIM-23, surface to air missile.

Hawks-
1. (Squadron Nickname) VMF/VMA/VMFA-533, that operated the F6F Hellcat, F7F Tigercat, F2H Banshee,
A-4 Skyhawk, A-6 Intruder, & F/A-18 Hornet. Served in World War II.
2. (Squadron Nickname) VMAT-203, that operates the AV-8/TAV-8 Harrier II.

Hawkeyes-
(Squadron Nickname) 124th Fighter Squadron, that operates the F-16 Fighting Falcon for the Iowa Air National Guard.

Haze-
(NATO Codename) Soviet Mil Mi-14; a naval variant of the Mi-8 “Hip”.

Haze Gray Ghost of the North Korean Coast-
(Nickname) USS Baushell DD-845, a Gearing Class Destroyer.

HEAP-
(Acronym) High Explosive Armor Piercing.

Heartbreak Ridge-
A ridge north of the stabilized front in North Korea.

HEAT-
(Acronym) High Explosive Anti-Tank.

Heavy Haulers-
1. (Nickname) VMA-121 “Wolfpack” in Korea delivered more bomb tonnage than any other single engine aircraft squadron.
2. (Squadron Nickname) VMGR-252, that flies the KC-130 Hercules.
3. (Squadron Nickname) HMH-462, that flies the CH-53 Super Stallion.

Hecht-
(Codeword) German Air Surface Guided Missile.

Hedgehog-
An Anti-Submarine rocket launched bomb/depth charge.

Hedgehop-
To fly extremely close to the ground.

Hedgehopper-
A small light airplane.

Helen-
(Allied Codename) Japanese Nakajima Ki-49 fighter.

HEI-
(Short) High Explosive Incendiary.

Helix-
(NATO Codename) Kamov Ka-32; a development of the Ka-25 & Ka-27.

Hell Bomb-
(Slang) The Hydrogen Bomb.

Hell for Leather-
The US Army’s 1st Cavalry Division, that served in World War II, in the Pacific; the Korean War, and during the Vietnam War.

Hell on Wheels-
The 2nd Armored Division, that served in Europe during World War II.

Hell’s Angels-
(Squadron Nickname) VMF/VMFA-321; that operated the F4U Corsair, FJ Fury, F-8 Crusader, F-4 Phantom II & the F/A-18 Hornet. The unit served in World War II, Korea, & the Persian Gulf War.

Hell’s Bell’s-
(Squadron Nickname) VMF-311; that operated the F4U Corsair, TO (P-80) Seastar, & the F9F Panther, during World War II & Korea. The unit would become the “Tomcats”, upon their conversion to the A-4.

Hellcat-
1. The Grumman F6F, Naval fighter of World War II.
2. The M-18 Tank Destroyer of World War II.
3. The 12th Armored Division, that served in Europe during World War II.

Helldiver-
1. The Curtiss SBC, dive bomber of the late 1930’s.
2. The Curtiss SB2C/A-25, dive bomber of World War II.

Hellhawks-
(Squadron Nickname) VMF-213, that flew the F4F Wildcat & the F4U Corsair, during World War II. (Disestablished)

Hellions-
(Squadron Nickname) VMF-218, that operated the F4U Corsair during World War II. (Disestablished)

Hell Razors-
(Squadron Nickname) VF-174 that flew the F-8 Crusader. (Disestablished)

Hen-
(NATO Codename) Soviet Kamov Ka-15, light helicopter.

Hercules-
The Lockheed C-130, Transport.

Hendy Maru-
(Nickname) USS Henderson DD-785, a Gearing Class Destroyer.

Herky Bird-
(Nickname) Lockheed C-130 Hercules.

Hershey Bar-
An Overseas Bar.

Higgins Boat-
Nickname for the LCVP. Nicknamed after its manufacture.

High Rollers-
(Squadron Nickname) 192nd Airlift Squadron of the Nevada Air National Guard. They have flown the P-51 Mustang, F-86 Sabre, RB-57 Canberra, RF-101 Voodoo, RF-4 Phantom II, and currently the C-130 Hercules.

High Tail It-
(Slang) To Get Away, Fast.

Hind-
(NATO Codename) Soviet Mil Mi-24, attack helicopter.

Hip-
(NATO Codename) Soviet Mil Mi-8, helicopter.

HMH-
Marine Corps designation for a Heavy Helicopter Squadron.

HMLA-
Marine Corps designation for a Light Attack Helicopter Squadron.

HMM-
Marine Corps designation for a Medium Helicopter Squadron.

Hoarfrost-
(Europe WWII) Any white or silver frost.

Hobo-
(Nickname) Douglas A-1 Skyraider, in Vietnam.

Hog-
1. (Nickname) Republic F-84F Thunderstreak.
2. (Nickname) Republic A-10A Thunderbolt II.
3. (Nickname) M-48 Patton Main Battle Tank.
4. (Nickname) Vought F4U Corsair.
5. (NATO Codename) Soviet Kamov Ka-18, Light Helicopter a development of the Ka-15.

Hog Heaven-
(Squadron Nickname) 82nd Reconnaissance Squadron, that flies the RC-135.

Hog Nose-
(Nickname) Vought F4U Corsair.

Hokum-
(NATO Codename) Kamov Ka-50, Combat Helicopter.

Holiday Inn-
(Nickname) USS Bunker Hill CV-17, an Essex Class Aircraft Carrier.

Holiday Routine-
(Navy) A day off.

Holly Maru-
(Nickname) USS Hollister DD-788, a Gearing Class Destroyer.

Holy Moses-
A high velocity aircraft rocket.

Homer-
NATO Codename for the Mil V-12 helicopter.

Honest Abe-
(Nickname) USS Abraham Lincoln CVN-72; a Nimitz Class Aircraft Carrier.

Honest John-
An Unguided Ballistic Rocket, during the Cold War.

Honey-
(Nickname) M-3 Grant/M-5 Stuart light tanks.

Honeybucket-
1. (Nickname) An aircraft urinal.
2. (Korea, Origin of the term) A shoulder mounted, twin bucket container carried by Korean farmers. The buckets carried human waste to be used as fertilizer.

Honeywagon-
(Nickname) A Latrine Servicing Truck or Cart.

Hong Kong Haircut-
(Slang) A Blow Job.

Hoodlum-
(NATO Codename) Soviet Kamov Ka-26, general purpose helicopter.

Hook-
1. (NATO Codename) Soviet Mil Mi-6, heavy helicopter.
2. A ridge west of the stabilized front, in North Korea.

Hootch-
(Slang) A Vietnamese shack or thatched hut.

Hoover-
(Nickname) Lockheed S-3 Viking.

Hoplite-
(NATO Codename) Soviet Mil Mi-27, a development of the Mi-2.

Hormone-
(NATO Codename) Soviet Kamov Ka-25, naval helicopter.

Hornet-
The McDonnell-Douglas/Boeing F/A-18, multi-role fighter.

Horse-
(NATO Codename) Soviet Yakovlev Yak-24.

Horseshoe-
(Nickname) Vought F4U Corsair.

Hose Nose-
(Nickname) Vought F4U Corsair.

Hot LZ-
A helicopter landing zone, under hostile fire.

Hot Rock-
1. (Slang) A hotshot pilot.
2. A skillful, industrious person.

Hot Rod-
(Nickname) Douglas A-4 Skyhawk.

Hot Seat-
An Ejection Seat.

Hot Spot-
A region of intense AA or AAA fire.

Hot Target-
An important target, that requires immediate attention.

Hotel-
Codeword for the letter H.

Hound-
(NATO Codename) Soviet Mil Mi-4, a general purpose helicopter.

Hounds-
(Squadron Nickname) 524th Fighter Squadron, that flew the F-111 Aardvark & currently the F-16 Falcon.

Hourglass-
The 7th Infantry Division, that served in World War I, World War II in the Pacific, and during the Korean War.

Housewife-
(WWI) A Sewing Kit.

Hoverfly-
The Sikorsky R-4/HNS-1 Helicopter that served at the end of World War II.

Howling Mad-
(Nickname) Lt. General Holland M. Smith, USMC.

HS-
Air Force & Navy designation for a Helicopter Squadron.

HSL-
Navy designation for a Light Helicopter Squadron

HSLA-
Navy designation for a Light Attack Helicopter Squadron

HST-
Navy designation for a Training Helicopter Squadron.

Hudson-
The Lockheed A-28/A-29/AT-18, light bomber of World War II.

Huey-
(Nickname) Bell UH-1 Iroquois.

Huff/Duff-
The HF/DF Radio antenna of World War II. Used to locate enemy submarines using high frequency radios.

Hughy P-
(Nickname) USS Hugh Purvis DD-709, a Allen M. Sumner Class Destroyer.

Hum Job-
(Nickname) A Blow Job

Hummer-
1. The M-998, multi-Purpose vehicle.
2. (Nickname) Grumman E-2 Hawkeye.
3. (Nickname) A Blow Job

Hummingbird-
The Lockheed XV-14.

HumVee-
The M-998, multi-purpose vehicle.

Hump-
(Nickname) The Himalayan Mountains.

Hun-
(Nickname) North American F-100 Super Sabre.

Hunters-
1. (Squadron Nickname) VF/VFA-201, that operated the F-8 Crusader, F-4 Phantom II, F-14 Tomcat & currently the F/A-18 Hornet.
2. (Squadron Nickname) VF-162, that operated the F4D Skyray, & F-8 Crusader.(Disestablished)

Hurricane Hunters-
(Squadron Nickname) 53rd Weather Squadron, that operates the WC-130 Hercules.

Hustler-
The Convair B-58, Long Range, Mach 2, Nuclear bomber.

Hustlin’ Huskers-
(Squadron Nickname) 173rd Air Refueling Squadron, that operates the KC-135 for the Nebraska Air National Guard.

HVAR-
(Short) High Velocity Aircraft Rocket.




This list was created by Jon Stacy and is displayed on MaritimeQuest with his permission.
This information may not be duplicated, displayed or published without the express written consent of the author.

© 2006 John Stacy All Rights Reserved.


If you have an addition, correction or clarification please
email John Stacy.