# Military term for incoming cruise missile **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 17, 2016, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-term-for-incoming-cruise-missile/755026 "2016-05-17T19:43:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![GreedySmurf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a698b9/32.png) [@GreedySmurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreedySmurf)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2016, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-term-for-incoming-cruise-missile/755026/1 "2016-05-17T19:43:00Z")
Based on Tom Clancy, and other recent research I’ve done, I know that the US Navy uses the term ‘Vampire’ for incoming Anti-Ship missiles. Is there a term used by the military for other types of incoming missiles. I’m particularly interested in any terms/codenames for cruise missiles attacking land targets? ---
**Author:** ![JerrySTL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e274bd/32.png) [@JerrySTL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JerrySTL)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2016, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-term-for-incoming-cruise-missile/755026/2 "2016-05-17T22:54:18Z")
Oh shit! ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2016, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-term-for-incoming-cruise-missile/755026/3 "2016-05-18T00:51:24Z")
A lot of entertaining terminology can be found by Googling “Multi Service Brevity Codes”. Some versions of this suggest that “QUAIL” is the term for an enemy cruise missile, and “GREYHOUND” for a friendly. In the case of SAMs, friendly launches seem to be “BIRD”; whereas just “SAM” along with a direction/location is used when a hostile launch is detected. [I have no expertise whatsoever; I just found it entertaining reading.] ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2016, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-term-for-incoming-cruise-missile/755026/4 "2016-05-18T15:32:15Z")
Thanks, Riemann. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2016, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-term-for-incoming-cruise-missile/755026/5 "2016-05-18T15:46:45Z")
**Moderator Note** > [@JerrySTL](#): > > Oh shit! Just a friendly reminder to hold off on less serious answers in GQ until the question has had a chance to be answered factually. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2016, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-term-for-incoming-cruise-missile/755026/6 "2016-05-18T15:53:06Z")
I’d just like to note that in my experience, **Jerry** ’s answer is factually correct, if none too helpful. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2016, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-term-for-incoming-cruise-missile/755026/7 "2016-05-18T16:40:22Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > I’d just like to note that in my experience, **Jerry** ’s answer is factually correct, if none too helpful. 😃 You’ve served in the military and been under attack by a cruise missile?:dubious: ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2016, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-term-for-incoming-cruise-missile/755026/8 "2016-05-18T16:48:25Z")
According to my various video game logs, hundreds of times! 😉