Slang translation, please

[jnyork]

What is the meaning and origins of the current military slang term "tangos"? Thanks.

 

[CapnMac]

It's "T" for target, plus Phonetic alphabet (Sierra, Tango, Uniform, etc.) pronunciation of "T."

Phonetic alphabets change, too, in WWII, "T" was "Tare". A patrol torpedo boat was a "Peter Tare", today that would be a "Papa Tango."

 

[jnyork]

Thanks, I am former military and am aware of the phonetic meaning. I see the term used today seemingly when talking about talibans and other enemy., and am not familiar with that usage.

 

[dovedescending]

Weeeeeeell, I mean, I think CapnMac pretty much explained it. Tango for T, T being the first letter in target, terrorist, Taliban...

And now "Tango" means "Bad Guy". Any bad guy, I reckon. The development of language is a funny thing, for sure.

 

[earlthegoat2]

I tend to think it means human "targets" more so than vehicles or such.

When I was in, I never heard the term tango to describe any target at all. There were much cruder names we used. Not racist, just crude.

 

[jnyork]

OK, begins to make sense now. A fellow I know has a black rifle parts company called Tangodown, I thought when he started it that was a strange name but now see the connection. Thanks.

 

[Nushif]

Also Tango refers to a target. Ya know? T for Target?

 

[Sunray]

'Tango' is also a NATO radio term for a tank. In Malaya, Communist Terrorist's were called CT's. Shortened, later, to 'terr'.
Has nothing to do with targets. A 'Target' can be anything from a tank to a guy with an AK.

 

[BADSBSNF81]

Generally, normally,usually means "terrorist" in my experience from 80-07. Can be localized according to what groups are in your AO. We used to call the Red Army Faction folks "Reds", not to be confused with "Ivans" for our Russian counter parts.

 

[Ohio Gun Guy]

Wisky Tango Foxtrot......


Had to use it somewhere and this post was perfect.

 

[mljdeckard]

Richard Marcinko uses it to refer to terrorists.

 

[Zundfolge]

"Tango Down!" as a radio call term for "terrorist down" or "target eliminated" entered our lexicon in several Tom Clancy novels ... he picked it up from spec-ops guys that may or may not have used it often, but since he used it (particularly in the video game version of Rainbow 6) it became a common term.

Eventually it got picked up by journalists, video game makers and "tactical" gear manufacturers.

 

[Tinpig]

Military phonetic alphabet...same reason we called Viet Cong "Victor Charlie" or just plain old "Charlie."

Tinpig

 

[The Bushmaster]

And "Bravo-Zulu" to you all...

 

[Travis McGee]

Terrorist.

 

[easyg]

You're a real "pro" when you know what this means....

"Tango two one this is mike tree niner, what is your location, over"

"Mike tree niner this is tango two one, location is lima lima mike foxtrot, over"

 

[Tim the student]

Hey, I've been to lima lima mike foxtrot once myself.

 

[Jorg Nysgerrig]

While some of you may think this topic is sierra hotel, it really is oscar tango for tango hotel romeo, therefore I'm going to shut this charlie foxtrot down.