Military Dictionary (Letter Group H)

See times.

(*) Thickness of absorbing material necessary to reduce by one-half the intensity of radiation which passes through it.

(*) The time required for the activity of a given radioactive species to decrease to half of its initial value due to radioactive decay. The half-life is a characteristic property of each radioactive species and is independent of its amount or condition. The effective half-life of a given isotope is the time in which the quantity in the body will decrease to half as a result of both radioactive decay and biological elimination.

(*) As applied to delayed fallout, it is the time required for the amount of weapon debris deposited in a particular part of the atmosphere to decrease to half of its initial value.

Applies to those individuals who engage in the breakout, lifting, or repositioning of ordnance or explosive devices in order to facilitate storage or stowage, assembly or disassembly, loading or downloading, or transporting. See also assembly; downloading; loading; ordnance. (JP 3-04.1)

The passing of control authority of an aircraft from one control agency to another control agency. Handover action may be accomplished between control agencies of separate Services when conducting joint operations or between control agencies within a single command and control system. Handover action is complete when the receiving controller acknowledges assumption of control authority. Also called hand-off.

(*) A control feature, preferably following easily defined terrain features, at which responsibility for the conduct of combat operations is passed from one force to another.

In evasion and recovery operations, the transfer of evaders between two recovery forces. See also evader; evasion; evasion and recovery; recovery; recovery operations. (JP 3-50.3)

A malfunction that causes an undesired delay in the functioning of a firing system.

(*) Fire designed to disturb the rest of the enemy troops, to curtail movement, and, by threat of losses, to lower morale. See also fire.

An incident in which the primary objective is to disrupt the activities of a unit, installation, or ship, rather than to inflict serious casualties or damage.

A restricted body of water, an anchorage, or other limited coastal water area and its mineable water approaches, from which shipping operations are projected or supported. Generally, a harbor is part of a base, in which case the harbor defense force forms a component element of the base defense force established for the local defense of the base and its included harbor.

The defense of a harbor or anchorage and its water approaches against external threats such as: a. submarine, submarine-borne, or small surface craft attack; b. enemy minelaying operations; and c. sabotage. The defense of a harbor from guided missiles while such missiles are airborne is considered to be a part of air defense. See also port security.

A portion of a beach especially prepared with a hard surface extending into the water, employed for the purpose of loading or unloading directly into or from landing ships or landing craft.

(*) A launching base that is protected against a nuclear explosion.

(*) A site, normally constructed under rock or concrete cover, designed to provide protection against the effects of conventional weapons. It may also be equipped to provide protection against the side effects of a nuclear attack and against a chemical or a biological attack.

(*) 1. A paved or stabilized area where vehicles are parked. 2. Open ground area having a prepared surface and used for the storage of materiel.

1. The generic term dealing with physical items as distinguished from its capability or function such as equipment, tools, implements, instruments, devices, sets, fittings, trimmings, assemblies, subassemblies, components, and parts. The term is often used in regard to the stage of development, as in the passage of a device or component from the design stage into the hardware stage as the finished object. 2. In data automation, the physical equipment or devices forming a computer and peripheral components. See also software.

The process and/or results of adjusting differences or inconsistencies to bring significant features into agreement.

(*) In land operations, an attack in which preparation time is traded for speed in order to exploit an opportunity. See also deliberate attack.

(*) The rapid creation of a route through a minefield, barrier, or fortification by any expedient method.

The creation of lanes through enemy minefields by expedient methods such as blasting with demolitions, pushing rollers or disabled vehicles through the minefields when the time factor does not permit detailed reconnaissance, deliberate breaching, or bypassing the obstacle.

(*) The crossing of an inland water obstacle using the crossing means at hand or those readily available, and made without pausing for elaborate preparations. See also deliberate crossing.

(*) A defense normally organized while in contact with the enemy or when contact is imminent and time available for the organization is limited. It is characterized by improvement of the natural defensive strength of the terrain by utilization of foxholes, emplacements, and obstacles. See also deliberate defense.

An opening in a ship?s deck giving access to cargo holds. (JP 4-01.6)

A list showing, for each hold section of a cargo ship, a description of the items stowed, their volume and weight, the consignee of each, and the total volume and weight of materiel in the hold.

See moving havens.

A condition with the potential to cause injury, illness, or death of personnel; damage to or loss of equipment or property; or mission degradation. See also injury; risk. (JP 5-00.2)

The danger of accidental actuation of electro-explosive devices or otherwise electrically activating ordnance because of radio frequency electromagnetic fields. This unintended actuation could have safety (premature firing) or reliability (dudding) consequences. Also called HERO. See also electromagnetic radiation; HERO SAFE ordnance; HERO UNSAFE ordnance; ordnance. (JP 3-04.1)

(*) A display of flight, navigation, attack, or other information superimposed upon the pilot?s forward field of view. Also called HUD. See also flight; horizontal situation display. (JP 3-09.1) health service logistic support ? A functional area of logistic support that supports the joint force surgeon?s health service support mission. It includes supplying Class VIII medical supplies (medical materiel to include medical peculiar repair parts used to sustain the health service support system), optical fabrication, medical equipment maintenance, blood storage and distribution, and medical gases. Also called HSLS. See also health service support; joint force surgeon. (JP 4-02.1)

In a flight control system, a control mode that automatically maintains an aircraft heading that exists at the instant of completion of a maneuver.

(*) An instrument which displays heading transmitted electrically from a remote compass system.

A flight control system feature that permits selection or preselection of desired automatically controlled heading or headings of an aircraft.

All services performed, provided, or arranged by the Services to promote, improve, conserve, or restore the mental or physical well-being of personnel. These services include but are not limited to the management of health services resources, such as manpower, monies, and facilities; preventive and curative health measures; evacuation of the wounded, injured, or sick; selection of the medically fit and disposition of the medically unfit; blood management; medical supply, equipment, and maintenance thereof; combat stress control; and medical, dental, veterinary, laboratory, optometric, medical food, and medical intelligence services. Also called HSS. (JP 4-02)

A composite of ongoing or potential enemy actions; environmental, occupational, and geographic and meteorological conditions; endemic diseases; and employment of nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons (to include weapons of mass destruction) that can reduce the effectiveness of joint forces through wounds, injuries, illness, and psychological stressors. (JP 4-02)

A weapon capable of operating from ground or vehicle, used to defeat armor and other material targets.

See field artillery.

A system of delivery of heavy supplies and equipment by parachute.

1. Any single cargo lift, weighing over 5 long tons, and to be handled aboard ship. 2. In Marine Corps usage, individual units of cargo that exceed 800 pounds in weight or 100 cubic feet in volume.

(*) A ship specially designed and capable of loading and unloading heavy and bulky items. It has booms of sufficient capacity to accommodate a single lift of 100 tons.

See altitude datum.

See altitude delay.

See altitude hole.

(*) The vertical distance from the Earth?s surface or target to the point of burst. Also called HOB. See also optimum height of burst; safe burst height; types of burst.

(*) A task organization combining helicopters, supporting units, and helicopter-borne troop units for use in helicopter-borne assault operations.

A shipboard aircraft control tower or, on ships not equipped with a control tower, the communications installation that serves as such. On all Coast Guard cutters, the helicopter control station is located in the pilot house. Also called HCS. See also station. (JP 3-04.1)

(*) In amphibious operations, the primary direct control agency for the helicopter group/unit commander operating under the overall control of the tactical air control center.

A designated point within a landing zone where helicopters are unable to land because of the terrain, but in which they can discharge cargo or troops while hovering.

A designated subdivision of a helicopter landing zone in which a single flight or wave of assault helicopters land to embark or disembark troops and/or cargo.

A specified ground area for landing assault helicopters to embark or disembark troops and/or cargo. A landing zone may contain one or more landing sites. Also called HLZ.

(*) A safety air corridor in which helicopters fly to or from their destination during helicopter operations. See also helicopter retirement route.

(*) The track or series of tracks along which helicopters move from a specific landing site or landing zone. See also helicopter lane.

(*) A task organization formed and equipped for employment in a landing zone to facilitate the landing and movement of helicopter-borne troops, equipment, and supplies, and to evacuate selected casualties and enemy prisoners of war. Also called HST.

Areas to the seaward and on the flanks of the outer transport and landing ship areas, but preferably inside the area screen, used for launching and/or recovering helicopters. (JP 3-02)

See wave.

(*) A prepared area designated and used for takeoff and landing of helicopters. (Includes touchdown or hover point.)

(*) A facility designated for operating, basing, servicing, and maintaining helicopters.

A chemical compound that will kill or damage plants.

Any ordnance item that is percussion initiated, sufficiently shielded or otherwise so protected that all electro-explosive devices contained by the item are immune to adverse effects (safety or reliability) when the item is employed in its expected radio frequency environments, provided that the general hazards of electromagnetic radiation to ordnance requirements defined in the hazards from electromagnetic radiation manual are observed. See also electromagnetic radiation; hazards of electromagnetic radiation to ordnance; HERO SUSCEPTIBLE ordnance; HERO UNSAFE ordnance; ordnance. (JP 3-04.1)

Any ordnance item containing electro-explosive devices proven by test or analysis to be adversely affected by radio frequency energy to the point that the safety and/or reliability of the system is in jeopardy when the system is employed in its expected radio frequency environment. See also electromagnetic radiation; hazards of electromagnetic radiation to ordnance; HERO SAFE ordnance; HERO UNSAFE ordnance; ordnance. (JP 3-04.1)

Any ordnance item containing electro-explosive devices that has not been classified as HERO SAFE or HERO SUSCEPTIBLE ordnance as a result of a hazards of electromagnetic radiation to ordnance (HERO) analysis or test is considered HERO UNSAFE ordnance. Additionally, any ordnance item containing electro-explosive devices (including those previously classified as HERO SAFE or HERO SUSCEPTIBLE ordnance) that has its internal wiring exposed; when tests are being conducted on that item that result in additional electrical connections to the item; when electro-explosive devices having exposed wire leads are present and handled or loaded in any but the tested condition; when the item is being assembled or disassembled; or when such ordnance items are damaged causing exposure of internal wiring or components or destroying engineered HERO protective devices. See also electromagnetic radiation; hazards of electromagnetic radiation to ordnance; HERO SAFE ordnance; HERO SUSCEPTIBLE ordnance; ordnance. (JP 3-04.1)

See chemical horn.

See high value asset control items.

The fallout safe height of burst for a nuclear weapon that increases damage to or casualties on soft targets, or reduces induced radiation contamination at actual ground zero. See also types of burst.

Horizontal bombing with the height of release over 15,000 feet.

(*) The explosion of a nuclear weapon which takes place at a height in excess of 100,000 feet (30,000 meters). Also called HAB. See also types of burst.

(*) In artillery and naval gunfire support, an order or request to obtain high angle fire.

(*) Fire delivered at angles of elevation greater than the elevation that corresponds to the maximum range of the gun and ammunition concerned; fire, the range of which decreases as the angle of elevation is increased.

Cargo such as artillery ammunition, bombs, depth charges, demolition material, rockets, and missiles.

See oblique air photograph.

A defensive counterair mission that defends airborne national assets which are so important that the loss of even one could seriously impact US warfighting capabilities or provide the enemy with significant propaganda value. Examples of high value airborne assets are Airborne Warning and Control System, Rivet Joint, Joint Surveillance and Target Attack Radar System, and Compass Call. Also called HVAA protection. See also defensive counterair. (JP 3-01)

Items of supply identified for intensive management control under approved inventory management techniques designed to maintain an optimum inventory level of high investment items. Also called hi-value asset control items.

(*) A drop procedure in which the drop velocity is greater than 30 feet per second (low velocity drop) and lower than free drop velocity. See also airdrop.

A method of delivering personnel, equipment, or supplies from airlift aircraft that must fly at altitudes above the threat umbrella. Also called HALO. (JP 3-17)

See weapon engagement zone. (JP 3-52)

Airspace designated in an airspace control plan or airspace control order, in which there is a concentrated employment of numerous and varied weapons and airspace users. A high-density airspace control zone has defined dimensions which usually coincide with geographical features or navigational aids. Access to a high-density airspace control zone is normally controlled by the maneuver commander. The maneuver commander can also direct a more restrictive weapons status within the high-density airspace control zone. Also called HIDACZ. (JP 3-52)

A target whose loss to the enemy will significantly contribute to the success of the friendly course of action. High-payoff targets are those high-value targets that must be acquired and successfully attacked for the success of the friendly commander?s mission. Also called HPT. See also high-value target; target. (JP 3-60)

A prioritized list of high-payoff targets by phase of the joint operation. Also called HPTL. See also high-payoff target; target. (JP 3-60)

Personnel who, by their grade, assignment, symbolic value, or relative isolation, are likely to be attractive or accessible terrorist targets. Also called HRP. See also antiterrorism. (JP 3-07.2)

US personnel whose position or assignment makes them particularly vulnerable to capture by hostile forces in combat, by terrorists, or by unfriendly governments. See also hostile; terrorist. (JP 3-50.3)

A target the enemy commander requires for the successful completion of the mission. The loss of high-value targets would be expected to seriously degrade important enemy functions throughout the friendly commander?s area of interest. Also called HVT. See also high-payoff target; target. (JP 3-09)

Properly, a mark left on a beach by wave wash at the preceding high water. It does not necessarily correspond to the high-water line. Because it can be determined by simple observation, it is frequently used in place of the high-water line, which can be determined only by a survey. When so used, it is called the high-water line. (JP 3-10)

(*) A method of representing relief on a map by depicting the shadows that would be cast by high ground if light were shining from a certain direction.

That region surrounding a beach or terminal operation to the extent that it has characteristics that affect the operation ? normally within 100 miles. (JP 4-01.6)

The area of land within an operational area of a specific beach or terminal operation ? usually within 5 miles. (JP 4-01.6)

(*) In helicopters, the mechanism by which external loads may be raised or lowered vertically.

(*) 1. A cargo stowage compartment aboard ship. 2. To maintain or retain possession of by force, as a position or an area. 3. In an attack, to exert sufficient pressure to prevent movement or redisposition of enemy forces. 4. As applied to air traffic, to keep an aircraft within a specified space or location which is identified by visual or other means in accordance with Air Traffic Control instructions. See also fix; retain.

(*) An anchorage where ships may lie: a. if the assembly or working anchorage, or port, to which they have been assigned is full; b. when delayed by enemy threats or other factors from proceeding immediately on their next voyage; c. when dispersed from a port to avoid the effects of a nuclear attack. See also assembly anchorage; emergency anchorage; working anchorage.

An attack designed to hold the enemy in position, to deceive the enemy as to where the main attack is being made, to prevent the enemy from reinforcing the elements opposing the main attack, and/or to cause the enemy to commit the reserves prematurely at an indecisive location.

(*) A geographically or electronically defined location used in stationing aircraft in flight in a predetermined pattern in accordance with air traffic control clearance. See also orbit point.

(*) A specified location on the airfield, close to the active runway and identified by visual means, at which the position of a taxiing aircraft is maintained in accordance with air traffic control instructions.

(*) A shaped charge producing a deep cylindrical hole of relatively small diameter in the direction of its axis of rotation.

A mission profile that involves the recovery of an aircraft at its permanent or temporarily assigned operating base.

The permanent location of active duty units and Reserve Component units (e.g., location of armory or reserve center). See also active duty; Reserve Components. (JP 4-05)

The physical region that includes the continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii, United States territories and possessions, and surrounding territorial waters and airspace. (JP 3-26)

The protection of United States sovereignty, territory, domestic population, and critical infrastructure against external threats and aggression or other threats as directed by the President. Also called HD. (JP 3-0)

Homeland security, as defined in the National Strategy for Homeland Security, is a concerted national effort to prevent terrorist attacks within the United States, reduce America?s vulnerability to terrorism, and minimize the damage and recover from attacks that do occur. The Department of Defense contributes to homeland security through its military missions overseas, homeland defense, and support to civil authorities. Also called HS. (JP 3-26)

(*) The technique whereby a mobile station directs itself, or is directed, towards a source of primary or reflected energy, or to a specified point.

A system by which a missile or torpedo steers itself towards a target by means of a self-contained mechanism which is activated by some distinguishing characteristics of the target. See also active homing guidance;passive homing guidance; semi-active homing guidance.

(*) In naval mine warfare, a mine fitted with propulsion equipment which homes on to a target. See also mine.

In general, the apparent or visible junction of the Earth and sky, as seen from any specific position. Also called the apparent, visible, or local horizon. A horizontal plane passing through a point of vision or perspective center. The apparent or visible horizon approximates the true horizon only when the point of vision is very close to sea level.

(*) In land mine warfare, a mine designed to produce a destructive effect in a plane approximately parallel to the ground.

(*) The error in range, deflection, or in radius, which a weapon may be expected to exceed as often as not. Horizontal error of weapons making a nearly vertical approach to the target is described in terms of circular error probable. Horizontal error of weapons producing elliptical dispersion pattern is expressed in terms of probable error. See also circular error probable; delivery error; deviation; dispersion error.

(*) Loading of items of like character in horizontal layers throughout the holds of a ship. See also loading.

(*) An electronically generated display on which navigation information and stored mission and procedural data can be presented. Radar information and television picture can also be displayed either as a map overlay or as a separate image. See also head-up display.

(*) An instrument which may display bearing and distance to a navigation aid, magnetic heading, track/course and track/course deviation.

The lateral distribution of unit equipment or categories of supplies so that they can be unloaded simultaneously from two or more holds. (JP 3-02.2)

(*) In naval mine warfare, a projection from the mine shell of some contact mines which, when broken or bent by contact, causes the mine to fire.

A medical treatment facility capable of providing inpatient care. It is appropriately staffed and equipped to provide diagnostic and therapeutic services, as well as the necessary supporting services required to perform its assigned mission and functions. A hospital may, in addition, discharge the functions of a clinic.

A nation which permits, either by written agreement or official invitation, government representatives and/or agencies of another nation to operate, under specified conditions, within its borders. (JP 2-01.2)

A nation that receives the forces and/or supplies of allied nations, coalition partners, and/or NATO organizations to be located on, to operate in, or to transit through its territory. Also called HN.

Civil and/or military assistance rendered by a nation to foreign forces within its territory during peacetime, crises or emergencies, or war based on agreements mutually concluded between nations. Also called HNS. See also host nation. (JP 4-0)

Basic agreement normally concluded at government-togovernment or government- to-combatant commander level. These agreements may include general agreements, umbrella agreements, and memoranda of understanding. See also host nation; host-nation support. (JP 4-01.8)

A person held as a pledge that certain terms or agreements will be kept. (The taking of hostages is forbidden under the Geneva Conventions, 1949.)

In combat and combat support operations, an identity applied to a track declared to belong to any opposing nation, party, group, or entity, which by virtue of its behavior or information collected on it such as characteristics, origin, or nationality contributes to the threat to friendly forces. See also neutral; suspect; unknown.

1. A hostile act is an attack or other use of force by any civilian, paramilitary, or military force or terrorist(s) (with or without national designation) against the United States, US forces and, in certain circumstances, US nationals, their property, US commercial assets, or other designated non-US forces, foreign nationals, and their property. 2. Force used directly to preclude or impede the mission and/or duties of US forces, including the recovery of US personnel and vital US Government property. When a hostile act is in progress the right exists to use proportional force, including armed force, in self-defense by all necessary means available to deter or neutralize the potential attacker or, if necessary, to destroy the threat.

A person who is the victim of a terrorist activity or who becomes a casualty ?in action.? ?In action? characterizes the casualty as having been the direct result of hostile action, sustained in combat or relating thereto, or sustained going to or returning from a combat mission provided that the occurrence was directly related to hostile action. Included are persons killed or wounded mistakenly or accidentally by friendly fire directed at a hostile force or what is thought to be a hostile force. However, not to be considered as sustained in action and not to be interpreted as hostile casualties are injuries or death due to the elements, self-inflicted wounds, combat fatigue, and except in unusual cases, wounds or death inflicted by a friendly force while the individual is in an absent-without-leave, deserter, or dropped-from-rolls status or is voluntarily absent from a place of duty. See also casualty; casualty type; nonhostile casualty.

Operational environment in which hostile forces have control as well as the intent and capability to effectively oppose or react to the operations a unit intends to conduct. (JP 3-0)

Any civilian, paramilitary, or military force or terrorist(s), with or without national designation, that have committed a hostile act, exhibited hostile intent, or have been declared hostile by appropriate US authority.

The threat of imminent use of force by a foreign force, terrorist(s), or organization against the United States and US national interests, US forces and, in certain circumstances, US nationals, their property, US commercial assets, and other designated non-US forces, foreign nationals, and their property. When hostile intent is present, the right exists to use proportional force, including armed force, in self-defense by all necessary means available to deter or neutralize the potential attacker or, if necessary, to destroy the threat. A determination that hostile intent exists and requires the use of proportional force in self-defense must be based on evidence that an attack is imminent. Evidence necessary to determine hostile intent will vary depending on the state of international and regional political tension, military preparations, intelligence, and indications and warning information.

See hostile.

A preliminary unformatted report of significant information from tactical reconnaissance imagery dispatched prior to compilation of the initial photo interpretation report. It should pertain to a single objective, event, or activity of significant interest to justify immediate reporting. Also called HOTPHOTOREP.

Pursuit commenced within the territory, internal waters, the archipelagic waters, the territorial sea, or territorial airspace of the pursuing state and continued without interruption beyond the territory, territorial sea, or airspace. Hot pursuit also exists if pursuit commences within the contiguous or exclusive economic zones or on the continental shelf of the pursuing state, continues without interruption, and is undertaken based on a violation of the rights for the protection of which the zone was established. The right of hot pursuit ceases as soon as the ship or hostile force pursued enters the territory or territorial sea of its own state or of a third state. This definition does not imply that force may or may not be used in connection with hot pursuit. NOTE: This term applies only to law enforcement activities.

(*) Region in a contaminated area in which the level of radioactive contamination is considerably greater than in neighboring regions in the area.

(*) A self-sustaining maneuver whereby a fixed, or nearly fixed, position is maintained relative to a spot on the surface of the Earth or underwater.

(*) The highest altitude at which the helicopter is capable of hovering in standard atmosphere. It is usually stated in two figures: hovering in ground effect and hovering out of ground effect.

1. A cannon that combines certain characteristics of guns and mortars. The howitzer delivers projectiles with medium velocities, either by low or high trajectories. 2. Normally a cannon with a tube length of 20 to 30 calibers; however, the tube length can exceed 30 calibers and still be considered a howitzer when the high angle fire zoning solution permits range overlap between charges. See also gun; mortar.

An organization that sorts and distributes inbound cargo from wholesale supply sources (airlifted, sealifted, and ground transportable) and/or from within the theater. See also hub and spoke distribution; spoke. (JP 4-01.4)

A physical distribution system developed and modeled on industry standards to provide cargo management for a theater. It is based on a ?hub? moving cargo to and between several ?spokes?. It is designed to increase transportation efficiencies and in-transit visibility and reduce order ship time. See also distribution; distribution system; hub; in-transit visibility; spoke. (JP 4-01.4)

In information operations, the psychological, cultural, behavioral, and other human attributes that influence decision making, the flow of information, and the interpretation of information by individuals or groups at any level in a state or organization. (JP 3-13)

(*) A category of intelligence derived from information collected and provided by human sources. Also called HUMINT. See also human resources intelligence.

The intelligence derived from the intelligence collection discipline that uses human beings as both sources and collectors, and where the human being is the primary collection instrument. Also called HUMINT.

Assistance to the local populace provided by predominantly US forces in conjunction with military operations and exercises. This assistance is specifically authorized by title 10, United States Code, section 401, and funded under separate authorities. Assistance provided under these provisions is limited to (1) medical, dental, and veterinary care provided in rural areas of a country; (2) construction of rudimentary surface transportation systems; (3) well drilling and construction of basic sanitation facilities; and (4) rudimentary construction and repair of public facilities. Assistance must fulfill unit training requirements that incidentally create humanitarian benefit to the local populace. Also called HCA. See also foreign humanitarian assistance. (JP 3-05.1)

A temporary center established by a geographic combatant commander to assist with interagency coordination and planning. A humanitarian assistance coordination center operates during the early planning and coordination stages of foreign humanitarian assistance operations by providing the link between the geographic combatant commander and other United States Government agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and international and regional organizations at the strategic level. Also called HACC. See also foreign humanitarian assistance; interagency coordination. (JP3-57)

Department of Defense and Department of State program to promote the foreign policy interests of the United States by assisting other nations in protecting their populations from landmines and clearing land of the threat posed by landmines remaining after conflict has ended. The humanitarian demining program includes training of host nation deminers, establishment of national demining organizations, provision of demining equipment, mine awareness training, and research development. (JP 3-07.6)

An interagency policymaking body that coordinates the overall relief strategy and unity of effort among all participants in a large foreign humanitarian assistance operation. It normally is established under the direction of the government of the affected country or the United Nations, or a United States Government agency during a United States unilateral operation. The humanitarian operations center should consist of representatives from the affected country, the United States Embassy or Consulate, the joint force, the United Nations, nongovernmental and intergovernmental organizations, and other major players in the operation. Also called HOC. See also operation. (JP 3-08)

Those weapons or stores on an aircraft that the pilot has attempted to drop or fire but could not because of a malfunction of the weapon, rack or launcher, or aircraft release and control system. (JP 3-04.1)

(*) In naval mine warfare, the track to be followed by the hunter (or sweeper) to ensure that the hunting (or sweeping) gear passes over the lap track.

See thermonuclear weapon.

(*) A nautical chart showing depths of water, nature of bottom, contours of bottom and coastline, and tides and currents in a given sea or sea and land area.

Reconnaissance of an area of water to determine depths, beach gradients, the nature of the bottom, and the location of coral reefs, rocks, shoals, and manmade obstacles.

(*) The science which deals with the measurements and description of the physical features of the oceans, seas, lakes, rivers, and their adjoining coastal areas, with particular reference to their use for navigational purposes.

(*) A chamber used to induce an increase in ambient pressure as would occur in descending below sea level, in a water or air environment. It is the only type of chamber suitable for use in the treatment of decompression sickness in flying or diving. Also called compression chamber; diving chamber; recompression chamber.

(*) A radio navigation system which enables the position of an aircraft equipped with a suitable receiver to be fixed by two or more intersecting hyperbolic position lines. The system employs either a time difference measurement of pulse transmissions or a phase difference measurement of phase-locked continuous wave transmissions. See also loran.

(*) Fuel which will spontaneously ignite with an oxidizer, such as aniline with fuming nitric acid. It is used as the propulsion agent in certain missile systems.

(*) Of or pertaining to speeds equal to, or in excess of, five times the speed of sound. See also speed of sound.

Term used to describe the imagery derived from subdividing the electromagnetic spectrum into very narrow bandwidths. These narrow bandwidths may be combined with or subtracted from each other in various ways to form images useful in precise terrain or target analysis. Also called HSI.

(*) Stereoscopic viewing in which the relief effect is noticeably exaggerated, caused by the extension of the camera base. Also called exaggerated stereoscopy.

(*) A chamber used to induce a decrease in ambient pressure as would occur in ascending to altitude. This type of chamber is primarily used for training and experimental purposes. Also called altitude chamber; decompression chamber.

(*) A method of showing relief on maps and charts by coloring in different shades those parts which lie between selected levels. Also called altitude tint; elevation tint; layer tint.

Military Dictionary (Letter Group H)

All official U.S. DoD military terms, and their definitions, beginning with the letter H.