92 replies to this topic

[ForcestormX]

The_Chieftain, on Dec 06 2012 - 04:04, said:

Of course, like many, I suspect they figured out what they wanted the acronym to be first, and then found words to suit.

You always have to wonder. Although I'm fairly confident both Radar and Laser were just ones where they later realized it came off the tongue well.

[Zergling]

The_Chieftain, on Dec 06 2012 - 04:04, said:

Hawk was one of those clever acronyms. "Homing All The Way Killer".

Of course, like many, I suspect they figured out what they wanted the acronym to be first, and then found words to suit.

Much better acronym than 'HARM' for 'High Speed Anti-Radiation Missile' though.


The US Military appears to be using nicknames a lot less for missiles now though... most are just acronyms.

Eg, ESSM, ATACMS, JASSM, SRAW.

[raywood]

The_Chieftain, on Dec 05 2012 - 22:50, said:

Actually, I had heard the name 'Scott' used for M8 before, but very infrequently.

I hope WG changes the ingame name to "Scott" .Then we can call it the "Scooter" as a nickname.

Very apt I think....

[Zergling]

raywood, on Dec 06 2012 - 04:40, said:

I hope WG changes the ingame name to "Scott" .Then we can call it the "Scooter" as a nickname.

Very apt I think....

I would absolutely call mine Scootaloo in that case.

[FaustianQ]

Makes me wonder what the M6 and M10 were called and what the T29 might have been called. Also, how did the M103 get exempt from this naming convention? Was it possible it was named and it's imply lost to time? M103 McClellan   ?

[Killertomato]

FaustianQ, on Dec 06 2012 - 05:43, said:

Also, how did the M103 get exempt from this naming convention? Was it possible it was named and it's imply lost to time? M103 McClellan   ?

Bad tanks don't get cool names. And McClellan? Come on- at least the M103's gun was good, it doesn't deserve that.

[CrazyFPSEric]

raywood, on Dec 06 2012 - 04:40, said:

I hope WG changes the ingame name to "Scott" .Then we can call it the "Scooter" as a nickname.

Very apt I think....

well I call it scotty

[raywood]

Zergling, on Dec 06 2012 - 04:54, said:

I would absolutely call mine Scootaloo in that case.

Im not ashamed that I know that reference....

Edited by raywood, Dec 06 2012 - 06:09.

[FaustianQ]

Killertomato, on Dec 06 2012 - 05:51, said:

Bad tanks don't get cool names. And McClellan? Come on- at least the M103's gun was good, it doesn't deserve that.

We'll call it the M103 Arnold then  

[Killertomato]

FaustianQ, on Dec 06 2012 - 06:33, said:

We'll call it the M103 Arnold then  

I was thinking more Custer- did some things well but utterly doomed in the end.  

[Zergling]

How about the McNair?

Given General McNair's opposition to all things Heavy Tank, that would be the perfect 'screw you' message ;)

[Salinity]

VG article, great to see actual source documents appear.  Excellent bit of research guys.

[cwjian90]

FaustianQ, on Dec 06 2012 - 05:43, said:

Makes me wonder what the M6 and M10 were called and what the T29 might have been called. Also, how did the M103 get exempt from this naming convention? Was it possible it was named and it's imply lost to time? M103 McClellan   ?

The 3 inch GMC M10? British name for it was 'Wolverine' or 'Achilles', although 'Achilles' is now mostly associated with the 17-pounder-armed versions. Americans just called it the 'TD'.

[FaustianQ]

cwjian90, on Dec 06 2012 - 11:15, said:

The 3 inch GMC M10? British name for it was 'Wolverine' or 'Achilles', although 'Achilles' is now mostly associated with the 17-pounder-armed versions. Americans just called it the 'TD'.

I already knew that, however I was personally wondering if it had/was going to be named after a general. Keep in mind unlike the M3 it was still in inventory till the end. Mostly thinking out loud.

[cwjian90]

FaustianQ, on Dec 06 2012 - 11:49, said:

I already knew that, however I was personally wondering if it had/was going to be named after a general. Keep in mind unlike the M3 it was still in inventory till the end. Mostly thinking out loud.

Eh. the TDs never really got names during WW2. M36 didn't actually have a name either, IIRC.

[FaustianQ]

cwjian90, on Dec 06 2012 - 11:52, said:

Eh. the TDs never really got names during WW2. M36 didn't actually have a name either, IIRC.

You say that in the article which clearly outlines the M36 having a name. :notsure:

[cwjian90]

FaustianQ, on Dec 06 2012 - 11:56, said:

You say that in the article which clearly outlines the M36 having a name. :notsure:

Ah right! Though it does say that it wasn't used by troops, only by Ordnance. I'm not sure where the name Slugger comes from, though.

[jaybobca]

interesting to see such articles from the past

[Duty_Remains]

FaustianQ, on Dec 06 2012 - 05:43, said:

Makes me wonder what the M6 and M10 were called and what the T29 might have been called.
Also, how did the M103 get exempt from this naming convention? Was it possible it was named and it's imply lost to time? M103 McClellan   ?

Funny you should speculate on that... I did some brainstorming to come up with stuff form (WoT inspired) alternate history fiction.

I pegged the M6 as McClellan... because if it would be late getting to field of battle if it made it at all.
I figured the T34 would be the variant that got fielded so I was thinking it'd be the M34 Chamberlain but that's just personal bias on my part.

I didn't think about the M103 since this brainstorming was pre-7.2 (even though I knew the M103 was coming).
Still by the time the M103 entered service the US military had already moved on to World War I generals... and I can't think of any right now.

[US_Cavalryman]

Quote

Bad tanks don't get cool names. And McClellan? Come on- at least the M103's gun was good, it doesn't deserve that.

Well considering that McClellan was the best general the Confederacy had (tongue in cheek), maybe it's appropriate?

I do recall the M7 getting the nickname Priest because it's cupola reminded someone of a priest's pulpit.