Expert: MARK A. HOWELL - 7/31/2009

Question
Hello sir,

Sorry to ask such a weird question, but I'm writing a military science fiction book, and for realism I would prefer to introduce APP symbols for future things that we don't have today. Harold Coyle had illustrations with TO&E and APP symbols in his novels about the Cold War era, Robert Heinlein in his "Starship Troopers" and also Joseph Haldeman in his "The Forever War," included TO&E.

Could you take a wild guess at what the future APP unit icon might be for "aircraft (flapping wing)" i.e., manned ornithopter? What about an APP symbol for "laser," for when they become common and practical enough that we will need to have an icon for them, to distinguish from rocket, missile, or slugthrower?

I realize this is not the kind of question you would have expected. I really apologize.

Answer
Julian,
Wow, you're right, I don't usually get this kind of question.  But that's what makes my job interesting.  No apology necessary.

An APP symbol is an Allied Procedural Publication used for the standardization of military symbols for land based systems.  That way the average soldier can look at a map and quickly assess the situation.  Since you're talking about airborne assets, we're obviously talking about their ground terminals, since they will be tied to runways or at least small airfields.

Are you familiar with the unit icon for an unmanned aerial vehicle?    I'd say take it and turn it upside down for an ornithopter unit.  As for the laser unit, assuming it's mobile, take the symbol for Wheeled Multiple Rocket Launcher equipment, like a HIMARS or Pinaka, and replace the 2 inverted "V" with a diagonal lightning bolt.

Good luck with your book.  Both "Starship Troopers" and "The Forever War" were required reading in Air War College.  Maybe yours will be in that category.

Colonel H