WW2
Main Page		 WW2 Unit Code Names
  To keep the identity of units some what secure, each numbered American unit had a code name. These names were generally assigned by division or similar types (such as independent tank battalions) all starting with the same letter. Thus all elements of the 8th Infantry Division (or 'Granite') had code names starting with the letter 'G'.

These code names did not change during the fighting, and were used on signposts, documents, and radio transmissions. In many cases there is a logical sense to why a name was chosen (Grandmother- as the Hq company looked after everyone, Gypsy for the wide ranging recon troops, Gobbler for the men who made sure there was enough food..."
 

           

 

            

GRANITE                             Hq. 8th Infantry Division

GRANDMOTHER                Hq. 8th Div. HQ Company

GOAT                                    Hq. 8th Signal Company

GOBBLER                             Hq. 8th Quartermaster Company

GONDOLA                            Hq. 12th Engr. Combat Bn.

GOVERNOR                         Hq. 708th Ordnance Co.

GUILLOTINE                        Hq. 8th Medical Battalion  

GYPSY                                  Hq. 8th Inf. Div. Recon Troop  

 

GRINDSTONE                      (Hq. 8th Inf. Div. Artillery)

GORILLA                              Hq. 8th Div. Arty., Hq. Btry.

GUNSHOT                            Hq. 28th F.A. Bn.

GOPHER                               Hq. 43rd F.A. Bn.

GREENBACK                       Hq. 45th F.A. Bn.

GOLDENROD                      Hq. 56th F.A. Bn. 

    

GRASSHOPPER                   Hq. 28th Infantry Regiment

GREYHOUND                      Hq. 13th Infantry Regiment

GRAPEFRUIT                       Hq. 121st Infantry Regiment

         

    In the Infantry Regiments there were three rifle battalions. They were further code named 'Red' (1st Bn.) 'White' (2nd Bn.)  and 'Blue'(3rd Bn.). Thus the 2nd battalion of the 13th Infantry would be known as 'GREYHOUND BLUE.'

To further identify senior officers in these units, the Numbers one through six were used to indicate:
ONE - Personnel Officer (the S-1)
TWO - Intelligence Officer (the S-2)
THREE - Training and Operations Officer (the S-3)
FOUR - Supply Officer (the S-4)
FIVE - The Executive Officer
SIX - The Commanding Officer.


The S-1 to S-4 were the staff officer of battalion and above units responsible for the four major areas of responsibility. At division level they became General Staff Officers (G-1 through G-4) but the numbers stayed the same.

Thus the commanding officer of the 8th Infantry Division would always be referred to as 'GRANTE SIX' no matter who was currently commanding the division. The executive officer of the 43rd Field Artillery would be 'GOPHER FIVE.' The Operations Officer of the 121st Infantry would be 'GRAPEFRUIT THREE'. In this way you would not need to know who was actually in that position, but would know by the codename who to ask for, or what the position was of someone calling you.
    There was one more level of codenames in the Division. Every company or battery was known by the phonetic alphabet word for their company (or battery) letter. These were based upon the standard WW2 era phonetic alphabet which has changed periodically over the years. (see here for some of the changes)
A - ABLE B - BAKER
C - CHARLIE D- DOG
E - EASY F - FOX
G - GEORGE H - HOW
I - INTER J - JIG
K - KING L -LOVE
M - MIKE N - NAN
O - OBOE P - PETER
Q - QUEEN R - ROGER
S - SUGAR T - TARE
U - UNCLE V - VICTOR
W - WILLIAM X - X-RAY
Y - YOKE Z - ZEBRA

Thus the commanding officer of Company L of the 28th Infantry would be 'GRASSHOPPER LOVE SIX'. The Executive officer of Battery B of the 45th Artillery would be 'GREENBACK BAKER FIVE.' Companies did not have the four staff officers).

 

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