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Squadron Abbreviations - 12/1/2005 5:28:53 AM   
ctangus


Posts: 2153
Joined: 10/13/2005
From: Boston, Mass.
Status: offline 		Anyone have a source for what certain US Navy & Marine squadron abbreviations mean? VF, VMF, VMR, VMSB, VQDEGUDKIDR, etc.?

I've gotten as far as figuring out that F stands for fighter, M for Marines and R for Recon, but beyond that I'm clueless.
Post #: 1
RE: Squadron Abbreviations - 12/1/2005 5:38:55 AM   
dereck


Posts: 2800
Joined: 9/7/2004
From: Romulus, MI
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: ctangus

Anyone have a source for what certain US Navy & Marine squadron abbreviations mean? VF, VMF, VMR, VMSB, VQDEGUDKIDR, etc.?

I've gotten as far as figuring out that F stands for fighter, M for Marines and R for Recon, but beyond that I'm clueless.


Not a complete list by far ...

VF = Fighter
VFN = Night fighter
VB = Bomber (dive bomber and level bomber like PB4Y)
VBF = Fighter/Bomber
VT = Torpedo
VP = Patrol

The above are Navy. If there is an "M" after the "V" then it is a Marine squadron. I.E., VF-12 is Navy Fighter squadron 12, VMF-12 would be Marine Fighter squadron 12.

There's others like VCF which are fighters or VCT which are torpedo planes. Just check the type of aircraft being flown.

_____________________________

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USS Midway CV-41 (1981-1984)
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Naval Reserve (1986-1992)

(in reply to ctangus)
Post #: 2
RE: Squadron Abbreviations - 12/1/2005 5:39:51 AM   
Tankerace


Posts: 6400
Joined: 3/21/2003
From: Stillwater, OK, United States
Status: offline 		VF- Navy FIghter
VMF- Marine Fighter
VB- Navy Bomber
VBF- Navy Fighter Bomber
VS- Navy Scouting Squadron
VMSB - Marine Scouting/Bombing Squadron (Uses Scout/Dive Bombers)
VT - Navy Torpedo Squadron
VMTB - Marine Torpedo Bomber
VR - Navy Replenishment (not recon).
VMR - Marine Replinishment (don't think this exists).
VP - Navy Patrol
VO - Navy Battleship Observation Squadron
VCS - Navy Cruiser Observation Squadron
VC - Navy Composite Squadron (can be of bombers of torpedo bombers)
VCF - Navy Composite Fighter
VCT - Navy Composite Torpedo
VFN - Navy Night Fighter
VTN - Navy Night Torpedo
VMD - Marine Patrol Squadron
VMO - Marine Observation Squadron
VMF(N) - Marine Night Fighter Squadron
VMB - Marine Bomber Squadron (NOT Scout/Dive bomber)

Hope that helps.



_____________________________

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Allied Naval OOBer of Admiral's Edition
Naval Team Lead for War in the Med

Author of Million-Dollar Barrage: American Field Artillery in the Great War coming soon from OU Press.

(in reply to ctangus)
Post #: 3
RE: Squadron Abbreviations - 12/1/2005 5:40:34 AM   
Feinder


Posts: 6589
Joined: 9/4/2002
From: Land o' Lakes, FL
Status: offline 		All the abbreviations you ever wanted to know, but were afraid to ask...


Naval Abbreviation Index

And the "V" means "heavier than air", as in not a dirigible.

-F-

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Post #: 4
RE: Squadron Abbreviations - 12/1/2005 5:41:42 AM   
ctangus


Posts: 2153
Joined: 10/13/2005
From: Boston, Mass.
Status: offline 		Any idea why the "V"?

While certainly not that important, I've had a question about it for years. My best guess so far is "Venereal" but I don't think that quite covers it.

(in reply to dereck)
Post #: 5
RE: Squadron Abbreviations - 12/1/2005 5:45:15 AM   
Feinder


Posts: 6589
Joined: 9/4/2002
From: Land o' Lakes, FL
Status: offline 		See above.

-F-

_____________________________

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Post #: 6
RE: Squadron Abbreviations - 12/1/2005 5:45:20 AM   
Tankerace


Posts: 6400
Joined: 3/21/2003
From: Stillwater, OK, United States
Status: offline 		One theory is that when the US Navy created new aircraft squadron designations, it made blimps and dirigible use the letter "Z" from Zepplin, and heavier than air squadrons the letter "V" from the French word "Volplane", which means winged aircraft.

Edit: Thus, VO-3 is Heavier than Air Observation Squadron Number 3.
VF-4 Is Heavier than Air Fighter Squadron Number 4, etc.

_____________________________

Designer of War Plan Orange
Allied Naval OOBer of Admiral's Edition
Naval Team Lead for War in the Med

Author of Million-Dollar Barrage: American Field Artillery in the Great War coming soon from OU Press.

(in reply to ctangus)
Post #: 7
RE: Squadron Abbreviations - 12/1/2005 5:48:29 AM   
ctangus


Posts: 2153
Joined: 10/13/2005
From: Boston, Mass.
Status: offline 		You answered my question before I asked it.

Any idea why the "V" for heavier than air? Do you know what the airship abbreviations were?

By the way, thanks all.

(in reply to Feinder)
Post #: 8
RE: Squadron Abbreviations - 12/1/2005 5:49:07 AM   
Tankerace


Posts: 6400
Joined: 3/21/2003
From: Stillwater, OK, United States
Status: offline 		See above. Z for Zepplin, V for "Volplane" (Winged Aircraft).

_____________________________

Designer of War Plan Orange
Allied Naval OOBer of Admiral's Edition
Naval Team Lead for War in the Med

Author of Million-Dollar Barrage: American Field Artillery in the Great War coming soon from OU Press.

(in reply to ctangus)
Post #: 9
RE: Squadron Abbreviations - 12/1/2005 5:49:51 AM   
Feinder


Posts: 6589
Joined: 9/4/2002
From: Land o' Lakes, FL
Status: offline 		See above (again).



This is amusing. Would you like us to read your mind again?

-F-

_____________________________

"It is obvious that you have greatly over-estimated my regard for your opinion." - Me


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Post #: 10
RE: Squadron Abbreviations - 12/1/2005 5:50:26 AM   
Tankerace


Posts: 6400
Joined: 3/21/2003
From: Stillwater, OK, United States
Status: offline 		fThe answer to your next question is trout

_____________________________

Designer of War Plan Orange
Allied Naval OOBer of Admiral's Edition
Naval Team Lead for War in the Med

Author of Million-Dollar Barrage: American Field Artillery in the Great War coming soon from OU Press.

(in reply to Feinder)
Post #: 11
RE: Squadron Abbreviations - 12/1/2005 5:51:28 AM   
Feinder


Posts: 6589
Joined: 9/4/2002
From: Land o' Lakes, FL
Status: offline 		42

-F-

_____________________________

"It is obvious that you have greatly over-estimated my regard for your opinion." - Me


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Post #: 12
RE: Squadron Abbreviations - 12/1/2005 5:51:51 AM   
ctangus


Posts: 2153
Joined: 10/13/2005
From: Boston, Mass.
Status: offline 		Tankerace - you answered my question b4 I asked it too. I need to learn to type faster.


(in reply to Tankerace)
Post #: 13
RE: Squadron Abbreviations - 12/1/2005 5:53:33 AM   
ctangus


Posts: 2153
Joined: 10/13/2005
From: Boston, Mass.
Status: offline 		LOL

What's the next winning number for the Mega Millions?

(in reply to ctangus)
Post #: 14
RE: Squadron Abbreviations - 12/1/2005 5:54:31 AM   
Feinder


Posts: 6589
Joined: 9/4/2002
From: Land o' Lakes, FL
Status: offline 		"Please phrase your answer in the form of a question..."

so that we can answer it before you ask it.



-F-

_____________________________

"It is obvious that you have greatly over-estimated my regard for your opinion." - Me


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Post #: 15
RE: Squadron Abbreviations - 12/1/2005 5:59:48 AM   
YankeeAirRat


Posts: 633
Joined: 6/22/2005
Status: offline 		Because the USN has associated the letter Z with dirgiables and other lighter then air units. Primarly since they had recieved a couple of thier intial dirgiables as war prizes following World War 1 from the Zepplin company.


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Post #: 16
RE: Squadron Abbreviations - 12/1/2005 6:14:07 AM   
ctangus


Posts: 2153
Joined: 10/13/2005
From: Boston, Mass.
Status: offline 		What is my favorite fish?

What year did the P-38G arrive in the Pacific?

EDIT: Looks like you answered those too.


(in reply to YankeeAirRat)
Post #: 17
RE: Squadron Abbreviations - 12/1/2005 7:27:57 AM   
GaryChildress

 

Posts: 6830
Joined: 7/17/2005
From: The Divided Nations of Earth
Status: offline 		Hi ctangus, check out the link below almost at the bottom of the page is a comprehensive list of Marine and Navy air classifications.

http://members.aol.com/brimiljeep/WebPages/SquadronPatchUSMCPg.html

Gary

(in reply to ctangus)
Post #: 18
RE: Squadron Abbreviations - 12/1/2005 11:50:02 AM   
TheElf


Posts: 3870
Joined: 5/14/2003
From: Pax River, MD
Status: offline 		With the advent of the Helicopter in more modern times the "V" took on the meaning "Fixed-wing" as opposed to "H" meaning "rotary-wing". "Heavier than air" thus not being used anymore,

or is it...

I read an article in a professional periodical at work the other day that says we, the Navy, are bringing back the lighter than air community. Scary.

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IN PERPETUUM SINGULARIS SEDES



(in reply to ctangus)
Post #: 19
RE: Squadron Abbreviations - 12/1/2005 2:58:19 PM   
Feinder


Posts: 6589
Joined: 9/4/2002
From: Land o' Lakes, FL
Status: offline 		Yeah, I saw the same article Elf (courtesy of Knavey). Scarey... Funny...

It's all the same.
-F-

_____________________________

"It is obvious that you have greatly over-estimated my regard for your opinion." - Me


(in reply to TheElf)
Post #: 20
RE: Squadron Abbreviations - 12/1/2005 7:52:27 PM   
panda124c

 

Posts: 1692
Joined: 5/23/2000
From: Houston, TX, USA
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Feinder

Yeah, I saw the same article Elf (courtesy of Knavey). Scarey... Funny...

It's all the same.
-F-

Oh I don't know about that, a ZO squadron with a 24 hour loiter time and the Radar antenna "in the Bag" would have a wonderful view over the horizon particular if it was an UZO (Unmanned Lighter-than-air Observation).

(in reply to Feinder)
Post #: 21
RE: Squadron Abbreviations - 12/1/2005 9:31:43 PM   
cassius44

 

Posts: 42
Joined: 1/6/2005
Status: offline 		A fun mod would be to incorporate the ZRCVs - the zeppelin aircraft carriers: Snenandoah, Akron, Macon, and Los Angeles. Note that these airships were actually commissioned as USS - United States Ships.

As ZRCVs, carried HTA fighters. Concept in the 20s was long-distance air attacks across the Pacific, much like Moorcock's fantasies. In one case, they mock-raided Prez FDR a 1,000 miles off the coast when no other aircraft could do that.

Does anyone know if these are in WPO? (Haven't checked it out yet).

Ideally, there should be some squadrons of blimps in WitP. Claim to fame: no ship was lost to submarine activity that was escorted by an airship during WW2!

As for modern times - the 24 hr stay time for a radar platform is very appealing! Navy almost brought them back several times.

Germans had another go commerically recently, but didn't fly!

Finally, Navy aviator insignia for a "Naval Balloonist" has half-a-wing. Rather funny to see.

(in reply to panda124c)
Post #: 22
RE: Squadron Abbreviations - 12/1/2005 10:30:11 PM   
Tankerace


Posts: 6400
Joined: 3/21/2003
From: Stillwater, OK, United States
Status: offline 		Nope, no Zepplin CVs in WPO, they were all commissioned in the early 1930's, just after WPO ends.

We are thinking about adding blimps, but are pondering every possible method of adding them. (where they work good, and not unrealistically).

_____________________________

Designer of War Plan Orange
Allied Naval OOBer of Admiral's Edition
Naval Team Lead for War in the Med

Author of Million-Dollar Barrage: American Field Artillery in the Great War coming soon from OU Press.

(in reply to cassius44)
Post #: 23
RE: Squadron Abbreviations - 12/2/2005 3:26:48 AM   
YankeeAirRat


Posts: 633
Joined: 6/22/2005
Status: offline 		There are a bunch of radar blimps that operate just like that out in the Flordia Keys and used to be stationed at various points along the Gulf Coast. They were/are operated by the DEA and the US Border Patrol to catch low flying smugglers. If I remember right they were about the size of a WW2 barge ballon and had either a radar from an E-2 or an F-16 in them and were tethered into location and reported to a tracking station.
quote:

ORIGINAL: pbear


quote:

ORIGINAL: Feinder

Yeah, I saw the same article Elf (courtesy of Knavey). Scarey... Funny...

It's all the same.
-F-

Oh I don't know about that, a ZO squadron with a 24 hour loiter time and the Radar antenna "in the Bag" would have a wonderful view over the horizon particular if it was an UZO (Unmanned Lighter-than-air Observation).




_____________________________

Take my word for it. You never want to be involved in an “International Incident”.

(in reply to panda124c)
Post #: 24
RE: Squadron Abbreviations - 12/2/2005 4:30:18 AM   
ctangus


Posts: 2153
Joined: 10/13/2005
From: Boston, Mass.
Status: offline 		Thanks for the link Gary.

---

I know for a fact that blimps were regularly used on ASW patrol off the east coast. Anyone know if they were used in the PTO?

(in reply to YankeeAirRat)
Post #: 25
RE: Squadron Abbreviations - 12/2/2005 6:24:09 AM   
ChezDaJez


Posts: 3436
Joined: 11/12/2004
From: Chehalis, WA
Status: offline
quote:

I read an article in a professional periodical at work the other day that says we, the Navy, are bringing back the lighter than air community. Scary.


They've been saying that for years. The thinktanks say that the navy could save millions a year in fuel costs.

The trouble is that their is no mission they can do that no other type craft can't do better. They are very much subject to the whims of the weather. A head wind kills their speed to virtually nothing. They can stay out for a long time but they just don't have the speed to respond to significant tactical changes. Plus an enemy submarine equipped with a modified SubSam could take them out without them ever knowing what hit them.

Plus if they were such a good low-cost alternative, I would think nations that don't have a large military budget would have already begun using them.

I just don't see it ever happening here. Just my opinion of course.

Chez

_____________________________

Ret Navy AWCS (1972-1998)
VP-5, Jacksonville, Fl 1973-78
ASW Ops Center, Rota, Spain 1978-81
VP-40, Mt View, Ca 1981-87
Patrol Wing 10, Mt View, CA 1987-90
ASW Ops Center, Adak, Ak 1990-92
NRD Seattle 1992-96
VP-46, Whidbey Isl, Wa 1996-98

(in reply to TheElf)
Post #: 26
RE: Squadron Abbreviations - 12/2/2005 6:47:24 AM   
bradfordkay

 

Posts: 8683
Joined: 3/24/2002
From: Olympia, WA
Status: offline 		I read an article in a professional periodical at work the other day that says we, the Navy, are bringing back the lighter than air community. Scary.

They need someplace for those politicians who want to get back in the sky. These guys will provide their own lift...

_____________________________

fair winds,
Brad

(in reply to ChezDaJez)
Post #: 27
RE: Squadron Abbreviations - 12/2/2005 6:47:29 AM   
diesel7013


Posts: 245
Joined: 5/2/2002
From: Texas
Status: offline 		Actually,

There was a great article in either Pop Sci or Pop Mech that delt with Lighter than Air for the US Military and I have an uncle who works in the aerospace industry as a designer / eng and is working on those progjects...

Right now - they have designs for airships that can sortie above a target higher than almost any surface to air missle can target... also, the blimps are designed with composites to make them invisible to radar, ect... they can then drop LGB at will over a target or target for other ordenance... The ability to orbit over a target like Iraq for an unlimited time period and use high powered optics make them a great addition to Predator planes, ect...

The article was very interesting and made some very good points - also my uncle has hinted at some very impressive capabilities...

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Post #: 28
RE: Squadron Abbreviations - 12/2/2005 6:50:01 AM   
diesel7013


Posts: 245
Joined: 5/2/2002
From: Texas
Status: offline 		Also - to the reply about low cost - these would really be high cost high altitude craft - not the low level sub hunters of Post WWI era... Not something many 2nd or 3rd world counties could use or afford to build.
To be realistic, they would have to be survivable in todays environment, and when you think of WWI blimps - no way man, game over...



_____________________________



We few, We happy few, We band of brothers

(in reply to diesel7013)
Post #: 29
RE: Squadron Abbreviations - 12/2/2005 7:04:18 AM   
Feinder


Posts: 6589
Joined: 9/4/2002
From: Land o' Lakes, FL
Status: offline 		Yeah, but which one, the Eagle Driver or the Blimp Driver, get's to brag about his ride to a prospective hottie...

-F-

_____________________________

"It is obvious that you have greatly over-estimated my regard for your opinion." - Me


(in reply to diesel7013)
Post #: 30
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