SPECOM, the Glossary
SPECOM was the English acronym for Special Commando or Commando Speciale in French, the commando unit of the Royal Lao Armed Forces (commonly known by its French acronym FAR), which operated during the final phase of the Laotian Civil War from 1972 to 1975.[1]
Table of Contents
83 relations: Air America (airline), Air assault, AK-47, AKM, Anti-tank warfare, Army of the Republic of Vietnam Special Forces, Artillery observer, Bodyguard, Brigadier general, CAR-15, Claymore mine, Close-quarters battle, Commando, Commando Raiders, Counterinsurgency, Direct action (military), Direct fire, Directorate of National Coordination, Force protection, Fort Liberty, Forward air control, French language, Ho Chi Minh trail, Irregular warfare, Jungle warfare, Khmer Special Forces, Kingdom of Laos, Lao People's Armed Forces, Laos, Laotian Civil War, Light machine gun, Listening station, Long-range penetration, M16 rifle, M1911 pistol, M1918 Browning Automatic Rifle, M1919 Browning machine gun, M2 4.2-inch mortar, M2 Browning, M203 grenade launcher, M60 machine gun, M67 recoilless rifle, M72 LAW, M79 grenade launcher, Military Region 5 Commandos, Mountain warfare, North Carolina, Parachuting, Pathet Lao, Patrolling, ... Expand index (33 more) »
- 1975 disestablishments
- Military units and formations established in 1972
- Military units and formations of Laos
- Special Forces of Laos
Air America (airline)
Air America was an American passenger and cargo airline established in 1946 and covertly owned and operated by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) from 1950 to 1976.
See SPECOM and Air America (airline)
Air assault
Air assault is the movement of ground-based military forces by vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft, such as helicopters, to seize and hold key terrain that has not been fully secured, and to directly engage enemy forces behind enemy lines.
AK-47
The AK-47, officially known as the Avtomat Kalashnikova (also known as the Kalashnikov or just AK), is an assault rifle that is chambered for the 7.62×39mm cartridge.
See SPECOM and AK-47
AKM
The AKM is an assault rifle designed by Soviet small arms designer Mikhail Kalashnikov in 1959.
See SPECOM and AKM
Anti-tank warfare
Anti-tank warfare originated during World War I from the desire to develop technology and tactics to destroy tanks.
See SPECOM and Anti-tank warfare
Army of the Republic of Vietnam Special Forces
The Army of the Republic of Vietnam Special Forces (Lực Lượng Đặc Biệt Quân Lực Việt Nam Cộng Hòa, or LLDB) were the elite military units of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN). SPECOM and Army of the Republic of Vietnam Special Forces are military units and formations disestablished in 1975.
See SPECOM and Army of the Republic of Vietnam Special Forces
Artillery observer
An artillery observer, artillery spotter, or forward observer (FO) is a soldier responsible for directing artillery and mortar fire support onto a target.
See SPECOM and Artillery observer
Bodyguard
A bodyguard (or close protection officer/operative) is a type of security guard, government law enforcement officer, or servicemember who protects a person or a group of people — usually witnesses, high-ranking public officials or officers, wealthy people, and celebrities — from danger: generally theft, assault, kidnapping, assassination, harassment, loss of confidential information, threats, or other criminal offences.
Brigadier general
Brigadier general or brigade general is a military rank used in many countries.
See SPECOM and Brigadier general
CAR-15
The Colt Automatic Rifle-15 or CAR-15 is a family of M16 rifle–based firearms marketed by Colt in the 1960s and early 1970s.
Claymore mine
The Claymore mine is a directional anti-personnel mine developed for the United States Armed Forces.
Close-quarters battle
Close-quarters battle (CQB) is a close combat situation between multiple combatants involving ranged (typically firearm-based) or melee combat.
See SPECOM and Close-quarters battle
Commando
Royal Marines from 40 Commando on patrol in the Sangin area of Afghanistan are picturedA commando is a combatant, or operative of an elite light infantry or special operations force, specially trained for carrying out raids and operating in small teams behind enemy lines.
Commando Raiders
The Commando Raiders or Commando Raider Teams (CRTs) were a Laotian paramilitary commando unit, which operated closely with the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) during the final phase of the Laotian Civil War, from 1968 to 1973. SPECOM and commando Raiders are special Forces of Laos.
See SPECOM and Commando Raiders
Counterinsurgency
Counterinsurgency (COIN, or NATO spelling counter-insurgency) is "the totality of actions aimed at defeating irregular forces".
See SPECOM and Counterinsurgency
Direct action (military)
Direct action (DA) is a term used in the context of military special operations for small-scale raids, ambushes, acts of sabotage, and similar actions.
See SPECOM and Direct action (military)
Direct fire
Direct fire or line-of-sight fire refers to firing of a ranged weapon whose projectile is launched directly at a target within the line-of-sight of the user.
Directorate of National Coordination
The Directorate of National Coordination or DNC (Direction de Coordination Nationale – DCN) was the airborne-qualified paramilitary Security Agency and élite field force of the Royal Lao Police (Police Royale Laotiènne – PRL). SPECOM and Directorate of National Coordination are special Forces of Laos.
See SPECOM and Directorate of National Coordination
Force protection
Force protection (FP) is the concept of protecting military personnel, family members, civilians, facilities, equipment and operations from threats or hazards in order to preserve operational effectiveness and contribute to mission success.
See SPECOM and Force protection
Fort Liberty
Fort Liberty, formerly Fort Bragg, is a military installation of the United States Army in North Carolina, and is one of the largest military installations in the world by population, with over 52,000 military personnel.
Forward air control
Forward air control is the provision of guidance to close air support (CAS) aircraft intended to ensure that their attack hits the intended target and does not injure friendly troops.
See SPECOM and Forward air control
French language
French (français,, or langue française,, or by some speakers) is a Romance language of the Indo-European family.
See SPECOM and French language
Ho Chi Minh trail
The Ho Chi Minh Trail, also called Annamite Range Trail was a logistical network of roads and trails that ran from North Vietnam to South Vietnam through the kingdoms of Laos and Cambodia.
See SPECOM and Ho Chi Minh trail
Irregular warfare
Irregular warfare (IW) is defined in United States joint doctrine as "a violent struggle among state and non-state actors for legitimacy and influence over the relevant populations." In practice, control of institutions and infrastructure is also important.
See SPECOM and Irregular warfare
Jungle warfare
Jungle warfare or woodland warfare is warfare in forests, jungles, or similar environments.
Khmer Special Forces
The Khmer Special Forces, also designated 'Khmer SF' for short or Forces Speciales Khmères (FSK) in French, were the tier 1 special forces of the Khmer National Army (ANK), the land component of the Khmer National Armed Forces (commonly known by their French acronym, FANK) during the 1970-75 Cambodian Civil War. SPECOM and Khmer Special Forces are military units and formations disestablished in 1975.
See SPECOM and Khmer Special Forces
Kingdom of Laos
The Kingdom of Laos was the form of government in Laos from 1947 to 1975.
See SPECOM and Kingdom of Laos
Lao People's Armed Forces
The Lao People's Armed Forces (LPAF; ກອງທັບປະຊາຊົນລາວ) or the Lao People's Army (LPA) is the armed forces of the Lao People's Democratic Republic and the institution of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, who are charged with protecting the country.
See SPECOM and Lao People's Armed Forces
Laos
Laos, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic (LPDR), is the only landlocked country and one of the two Marxist-Leninist states in Southeast Asia.
See SPECOM and Laos
Laotian Civil War
The Laotian Civil War was waged between the Communist Pathet Lao and the Royal Lao Government from 23 May 1959 to 2 December 1975.
See SPECOM and Laotian Civil War
Light machine gun
A light machine gun (LMG) is a light-weight machine gun designed to be operated by a single infantryman, with or without an assistant, as an infantry support weapon.
See SPECOM and Light machine gun
Listening station
A radio listening station (also: listening post, radio intercept station or wireless intercept station, W/T station for wireless telegraphy) is a facility used for military reconnaissance, especially telecommunications reconnaissance (also known as signals intelligence SIGINT) by "intercepting" radio transmitter communications.
See SPECOM and Listening station
Long-range penetration
A long-range penetration patrol, group, or force is a special operations unit capable of operating long distances behind enemy lines far away from direct contact with friendly forces as opposed to a Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol, a small group primarily engaged in scouting missions.
See SPECOM and Long-range penetration
M16 rifle
The M16 rifle (officially designated Rifle, Caliber 5.56 mm, M16) is a family of assault rifles adapted from the ArmaLite AR-15 rifle for the United States military.
M1911 pistol
The Colt M1911 (also known as 1911, Colt 1911 or Colt Government in the case of Colt-produced models) is a single-action, recoil-operated, semi-automatic pistol chambered for the.45 ACP cartridge.
M1918 Browning Automatic Rifle
The Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR) is a family of American automatic rifles and machine guns used by the United States and numerous other countries during the 20th century.
See SPECOM and M1918 Browning Automatic Rifle
M1919 Browning machine gun
The M1919 Browning is a.30 caliber medium machine gun that was widely used during the 20th century, especially during World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.
See SPECOM and M1919 Browning machine gun
M2 4.2-inch mortar
The M2 4.2-inch mortar was a U.S. rifled 4.2-inch (107 mm) mortar used during the Second World War, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.
See SPECOM and M2 4.2-inch mortar
M2 Browning
The M2 machine gun or Browning.50 caliber machine gun (informally, "Ma Deuce") is a heavy machine gun that was designed near the end of World War I by John Browning.
M203 grenade launcher
The M203 is a single-shot 40 mm under-barrel grenade launcher designed to attach to a rifle.
See SPECOM and M203 grenade launcher
M60 machine gun
The M60, officially the Machine Gun, Caliber 7.62 mm, M60, is a family of American general-purpose machine guns firing 7.62×51mm NATO cartridges from a disintegrating belt of M13 links.
See SPECOM and M60 machine gun
M67 recoilless rifle
The M67 recoilless rifle is a 90 mm (3.55 inch) anti-tank recoilless rifle made in the United States and later in South Korea.
See SPECOM and M67 recoilless rifle
M72 LAW
The M72 LAW (light anti-tank weapon, also referred to as the light anti-armor weapon or LAW as well as LAWS: light anti-armor weapons system) is a portable one-shot unguided anti-tank weapon.
M79 grenade launcher
The M79 grenade launcher is a single-shot, shoulder-fired, break-action grenade launcher that fires a 40×46mm grenade, which uses what the US Army calls the High-Low Propulsion System to keep recoil forces low, and first appeared during the Vietnam War.
See SPECOM and M79 grenade launcher
Military Region 5 Commandos
The Military Region 5 Commandos (Commandos de la Région Militaire 5), MR 5 Commandos or MR 5 Cdos for short, were an elite military unit and Special Operations force of the Royal Lao Armed Forces (commonly known by its French acronym FAR), which operated during the final phase of the Laotian Civil War from 1969 to 1975. SPECOM and military Region 5 Commandos are 1975 disestablishments, military units and formations disestablished in 1975, military units and formations of Laos and special Forces of Laos.
See SPECOM and Military Region 5 Commandos
Mountain warfare
Mountain warfare or alpine warfare is warfare in mountains or similarly rough terrain.
See SPECOM and Mountain warfare
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state in the Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States.
Parachuting
Parachuting and skydiving is a method of transiting from a high point in an atmosphere to the ground or ocean surface with the aid of gravity, involving the control of speed during the descent using a parachute or parachutes.
Pathet Lao
The Pathet Lao (translation), officially the Lao People's Liberation Army, was a communist political movement and organization in Laos, formed in the mid-20th century.
Patrolling
Patrolling is a military tactic.
People's Army of Vietnam
The People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN), officially the Vietnam People's Army (VPA; of Vietnam), also recognized as the Vietnamese Army (lit) or the People's Army (Quân đội Nhân dân), is the national military force of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the armed wing of the ruling Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV).
See SPECOM and People's Army of Vietnam
Raid (military)
Raiding, also known as depredation, is a military tactic or operational warfare "smash and grab" mission which has a specific purpose.
See SPECOM and Raid (military)
Recoilless rifle
A recoilless rifle (rifled), recoilless launcher (smoothbore), or simply recoilless gun, sometimes abbreviated to "RR" or "RCL" (for ReCoilLess) is a type of lightweight artillery system or man-portable launcher that is designed to eject some form of countermass such as propellant gas from the rear of the weapon at the moment of firing, creating forward thrust that counteracts most of the weapon's recoil.
See SPECOM and Recoilless rifle
Reconnaissance
In military operations, military reconnaissance or scouting is the exploration of an area by military forces to obtain information about enemy forces, the terrain, and civil activities in the area of operations.
Riot control
Riot control measures are used by law enforcement, military, paramilitary or security forces to control, disperse, and arrest people who are involved in a riot, unlawful demonstration or unlawful protest.
Royal Lao Air Force
The Royal Lao Air Force (ກອງທັບອາກາສຣາຊອານາຈັກລາວ; Aviation Royale Laotiènne – AVRL), best known to the Americans by its English acronym RLAF, was the air force component of the Royal Lao Armed Forces (FAR), the official military of the Royal Lao Government and the Kingdom of Laos during the Laotian Civil War between 1960 and 1975. SPECOM and Royal Lao Air Force are military units and formations disestablished in 1975.
See SPECOM and Royal Lao Air Force
Royal Lao Armed Forces
The Royal Lao Armed Forces (ກອງທັບຣາຊອານາຈັກລາວ; Forces Armées du Royaume), best known by its French acronym FAR, were the official armed defense forces of the Kingdom of Laos, a state that existed from 1949 to 1975 in what is now the Lao People's Democratic Republic. SPECOM and Royal Lao Armed Forces are military units and formations disestablished in 1975.
See SPECOM and Royal Lao Armed Forces
Royal Lao Army
The Royal Lao Army (ກອງທັບລາດຊະອານາຈັກລາວ; Armée royale du Laos – ARL), also designated by its anglicized title RLA, was the land component of the Royal Lao Armed Forces (FAR), the official military of the Kingdom of Laos during the North Vietnamese invasion of Laos and the Laotian Civil War between 1960 and 1975. SPECOM and royal Lao Army are military units and formations disestablished in 1975.
Royal Lao Army Airborne
The Royal Lao Army Airborne was composed of the élite paratrooper battalions of the Royal Lao Army (RLA), the land component of the Royal Lao Armed Forces (commonly known by its French acronym FAR), which operated during the First Indochina War and the Laotian Civil War from 1948 to 1975. SPECOM and Royal Lao Army Airborne are 1975 disestablishments, military units and formations disestablished in 1975 and special Forces of Laos.
See SPECOM and Royal Lao Army Airborne
Royal Lao Government
The Royal Lao Government was the ruling authority in the Kingdom of Laos from 1947 until the communist seizure of power in December 1975 and the proclamation of the Lao People's Democratic Republic.
See SPECOM and Royal Lao Government
Royal Lao Police
The Royal Lao Police (ກຣົມຕຳຮວຈລາວ; French: Police Royale Laotiènne – PRL), was the official national police force of the Kingdom of Laos from 1949 to 1975, operating closely with the Royal Lao Armed Forces (FAR) during the Laotian Civil War between 1960 and 1975.
See SPECOM and Royal Lao Police
RPD machine gun
The RPD (Ruchnoy Pulemyot Degtyaryova, English: Degtyaryov hand-held machine gun) is a 7.62x39mm light machine gun developed in the Soviet Union by Vasily Degtyaryov for the 7.62×39mm M43 intermediate cartridge.
See SPECOM and RPD machine gun
Savannakhet
Savannakhet (ສະຫວັນນະເຂດ), officially named Kaysone Phomvihane (ໄກສອນ ພົມວິຫານ); since 2005 and previously known as Khanthaboury (ຄັນທະບູລີ), is a city in western Laos.
Seno, Laos
Seno (ເຊໂນ) is a town located in the Savannakhet Province of Laos.
Sikorsky H-34
The Sikorsky H-34 (company designation S-58) is an American piston-engined military helicopter originally designed by Sikorsky as an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) aircraft for the United States Navy.
Smith & Wesson Model 10
The Smith & Wesson Model 10, previously known as the Smith & Wesson.38 Hand Ejector Model of 1899, the Smith & Wesson Military & Police or the Smith & Wesson Victory Model, is a K-frame revolver of worldwide popularity.
See SPECOM and Smith & Wesson Model 10
Smith & Wesson Model 39
The Smith & Wesson Model 39 is a semiautomatic pistol developed for the United States Army service pistol trials of 1954.
See SPECOM and Smith & Wesson Model 39
Special operations
Special operations or special ops are military activities conducted, according to NATO, by "specially designated, organized, selected, trained, and equipped forces using unconventional techniques and modes of employment." Special operations may include reconnaissance, unconventional warfare, and counterterrorism, and are typically conducted by small groups of highly trained personnel, emphasizing sufficiency, stealth, speed, and tactical coordination, commonly known as special forces.
See SPECOM and Special operations
Special reconnaissance
Special reconnaissance (SR) is conducted by small units, such as a recon team, made up of highly trained military personnel, usually from special forces units and/or military intelligence organizations.
See SPECOM and Special reconnaissance
Thakhek
Thakhek (ທ່າແຂກ), the capital of Khammouane Province, is a town in south-central Laos on the Mekong River and the administrative centre of the district with the same name.
Thao Ma
Brigadier-General Thao Ma (1931–1973) was a Laotian military and political figure of the Laotian Civil War and the Vietnam War (aka Second Indochina War).
Thao Ty
Brigadier general Thao Ty Lithilusa, best known as Thao Ty (not to be confused with Colonel Thao Ly, a fighter-bomber pilot of the Royal Lao Air Force), was a Laotian Paratrooper officer and commander of the Airborne Forces and the Special Forces of the Royal Lao Army (French: Armée Royale du Laos – ARL), the land component of the Royal Lao Armed Forces (French: Forces Armées du Royaume – FAR), the official military of the Kingdom of Laos during the 1960s and 1970s.
Tracking (Scouting)
Tracking is an element of scouting that encompasses observation, stalking and the following of a trail.
See SPECOM and Tracking (Scouting)
TT pistol
The TT-30, commonly known simply as the Tokarev, is a Soviet semi-automatic pistol. It was developed during the late 1920s by Fedor Tokarev as a service pistol for the Soviet Armed Forces and was based on the earlier pistol designs of John Moses Browning, albeit with a number of detail modifications to simplify production and maintenance.
Type 56 assault rifle
The Type 56 (literally; "Assault Rifle, Model of 1956") is a Chinese 7.62×39mm automatic rifle, a licensed derivative of the Soviet-designed AK-47 (specifically Type 3 variant).
See SPECOM and Type 56 assault rifle
United States Army Special Forces
The United States Army Special Forces (SF), colloquially known as the "Green Berets" due to their distinctive service headgear, is the special operations branch of the United States Army.
See SPECOM and United States Army Special Forces
Vientiane
Vientiane (ວຽງຈັນ, Viangchan) is the capital and largest city of Laos.
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975.
Wattay International Airport
Wattay International Airport (ສະໜາມບິນສາກົນວັດໄຕ) is one of the few international airports in Laos and the country's main international gateway, serving the capital Vientiane, located outside of the city centre in Sikhottabong district, Vientiane Prefecture.
See SPECOM and Wattay International Airport
Weapons of the Laotian Civil War
The Laotian Civil War was a military conflict that pitted the guerrilla forces of the Marxist-oriented Pathet Lao against the armed and security forces of the Kingdom of Laos (French: Royaume du Laos), led by the conservative Royal Lao Government, between 1960 and 1975.
See SPECOM and Weapons of the Laotian Civil War
Willys M38A1
The Willys MD, formally the M38A1 Truck, Utility: 1/4 ton, 4x4, or the G758 by its U.S. Army Standard Nomenclature supply catalog designation, was a four-wheel drive, military light utility vehicle, made by Willys and Willys Motors / Kaiser Jeep from 1952 to 1971.
XM148 grenade launcher
The XM148 was an experimental 40 mm grenade launcher developed by Colt Firearms as the CGL-4 (Colt Grenade Launcher).
See SPECOM and XM148 grenade launcher
1973 Laotian coup attempt
The 1973 Laotian coup d'état attempt was a final attempt to stave off a communist coalition government of the Kingdom of Laos.
See SPECOM and 1973 Laotian coup attempt
See also
1975 disestablishments
- Apollo Guidance Computer
- Associação Democratica para a Integração de Timor-Leste na Austrália
- Military Region 5 Commandos
- National Redemption Council
- President of China
- Progressive Party (South Africa)
- Republic of Vietnam Traffic Control Police
- Royal Lao Army Airborne
- SPECOM
- Sandbach, Tinne & Company
- Saor Éire (1967–1975)
- United States Atomic Energy Commission
Military units and formations established in 1972
- 1 Reconnaissance Commando (South Africa)
- 10th Battalion, Ulster Defence Regiment
- 111 Brigade (Sri Lanka)
- 11th Battalion, Ulster Defence Regiment
- 12th Flying Training Wing
- 14th Flying Training Wing
- 1st Cavalry Division Horse Cavalry Detachment
- 201st Infrastructure Construction Engineer Division
- 203rd Infrastructure Construction Engineer Division
- 242nd Motor Rifle Division
- 29th Flying Training Wing
- 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment (France)
- 406 Maritime Operational Training Squadron
- 5 Forward Delivery Squadron
- 500th Brigade
- 52nd Expeditionary Flying Training Squadron
- 62nd Motor Rifle Division
- 708th Airlift Squadron
- 711th Division (Vietnam)
- 74th Armoured Regiment (India)
- 75th Armoured Regiment (India)
- 8 Mobile Hospital
- 80th Flying Training Wing
- 9th Battalion, Ulster Defence Regiment
- Australian Embassy Guard Platoon, Saigon
- Fleet Requirements and Aircraft Direction Unit
- Guardians of the Oglala Nation
- Gulf and Caribbean Sea Naval Force
- Islamic Legion
- Kommando Landstreitkräfte
- Medium Tank Trials Unit (Australia)
- Officer Candidate School (Indonesian Army)
- Pacific Naval Force
- Regiment Springs
- Rhodesian Armoured Corps
- SPECOM
- South African Special Forces
- South-Eastern District (British Army)
- Special Reconnaissance Unit
- Sri Lanka Volunteer Naval Force
- United Kingdom Land Forces
- Western District (British Army)
- XVI Corps (India)
Military units and formations of Laos
Special Forces of Laos
- Commando Raiders
- Directorate of National Coordination
- Military Region 5 Commandos
- Royal Lao Army Airborne
- SPECOM
References
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SPECOM
, People's Army of Vietnam, Raid (military), Recoilless rifle, Reconnaissance, Riot control, Royal Lao Air Force, Royal Lao Armed Forces, Royal Lao Army, Royal Lao Army Airborne, Royal Lao Government, Royal Lao Police, RPD machine gun, Savannakhet, Seno, Laos, Sikorsky H-34, Smith & Wesson Model 10, Smith & Wesson Model 39, Special operations, Special reconnaissance, Thakhek, Thao Ma, Thao Ty, Tracking (Scouting), TT pistol, Type 56 assault rifle, United States Army Special Forces, Vientiane, Vietnam War, Wattay International Airport, Weapons of the Laotian Civil War, Willys M38A1, XM148 grenade launcher, 1973 Laotian coup attempt.