# New Navy Acronym(initialism) that really takes the cake. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 14, 2015, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-navy-acronym-initialism-that-really-takes-the-cake/720037 "2015-05-14T14:51:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Damfino](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Damfino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damfino)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-navy-acronym-initialism-that-really-takes-the-cake/720037/21 "2015-05-14T20:52:36Z")
Is it true that Commander in Chief US Navy was once abbreviated CINCUS ? Read it in Reader’s Digest once . ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-navy-acronym-initialism-that-really-takes-the-cake/720037/22 "2015-05-14T21:19:57Z")
At White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, there is an area called the High Energy Laser Systems Test Facility. [http://www.wsmr.army.mil/testcenter/testing/landf/Pages/HighEnergyLaserSystemsTestFacility.aspx](http://www.wsmr.army.mil/testcenter/testing/landf/Pages/HighEnergyLaserSystemsTestFacility.aspx) The official acronym is HELSTF. As a D&D geek, I though it would be really cool to work for something called “the Hellstaff”. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2015, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-navy-acronym-initialism-that-really-takes-the-cake/720037/23 "2015-05-15T03:30:56Z")
I was once stationed at US Naval Station, Treasure Island, San Francisco – or NAVSTA TISFRAN, spoken “nav stay tiss fran”. NAVSTA TISFRAN, BTW, had the best PFT course I ever ran in my career. It’s a little more than 3 miles around its perimeter, and so the course ran the perimeter, and along the north end of the island the course went atop the sea wall. It’s usually cool in SF, so there’s no hot and humid weather, and you’re at sea level where the air is thick, and you’d just enjoy the great scenery of sparkling blue water close to you and the skylines of San Francisco and Oakland and Angel Island and Alcatraz, the Bay Bridge, and Golden Gate Bridge off in the distance, all while doing your 3 miles. It was beautiful, just beautiful. NAVSTA TISFRAN. Years later after they closed down the base, one of the big hangar buildings was used by the film industry. One year I was looking around, and a large diorama for _James and the Giant Peach_ filled the building. That was in Building 2, if you knew the (small) base. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2015, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-navy-acronym-initialism-that-really-takes-the-cake/720037/24 "2015-05-15T07:02:22Z")
Re: Navy abbreviations. It’s always been my understanding that CINC in an abbreviation stands for “Commander IN Charge.” “Commander IN Chief” always refers to POTUS. ---
**Author:** ![tonyfop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/85f322/32.png) [@tonyfop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tonyfop)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2015, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-navy-acronym-initialism-that-really-takes-the-cake/720037/25 "2015-05-15T14:44:42Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Re: Navy abbreviations. > > It’s always been my understanding that CINC in an abbreviation stands for “Commander IN Charge.” “Commander IN Chief” always refers to POTUS. No, the Navy used to use terms like CINCPACFLT and CINCLANTFLT for Commander-in-Chief, Pacific (or Atlantic) Fleet. It was very early in my career, probably around '94 or '95 that they said that CINC was reserved for the President, and the titles became COMPACFLT and COMLANTFLT Commander, Pacific or Atlantic Fleet. Actually, Wikipedia tells me the designation changed October 24, 2002… [Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commander,_U.S._Pacific_Fleet) ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2015, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-navy-acronym-initialism-that-really-takes-the-cake/720037/26 "2015-05-15T18:41:49Z")
I once worked on a project that had to extract information from a massive automobile database and generate reports about said data. I called it the **V** ehicle **R** ecord **O** utput **O** rganizing **M** achine. Still proud of that one. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2015, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-navy-acronym-initialism-that-really-takes-the-cake/720037/27 "2015-05-16T00:24:08Z")
For once, you would have been okay with the pedants if you just used Acronym. (Though, personally, I think acronym should mean any pronounceable abbreviation and initialism mean any abbreviation made from initials. Some just happen to be both. But I’m not the king of English.) ---
**Author:** ![chacoguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/50afbb/32.png) [@chacoguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chacoguy)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2015, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-navy-acronym-initialism-that-really-takes-the-cake/720037/28 "2015-05-16T00:39:49Z")
> [@Damfino](#): > > Is it true that Commander in Chief US Navy was once abbreviated CINCUS ? > > Read it in Reader’s Digest once . [Yes.](http://www.acronymfinder.com/Commander_in_Chief%2c-US-Fleet-%28US-Navy%29-%28CINCUS%29.html) (Sink Us) Heh. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Damfino](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Damfino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damfino)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2015, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-navy-acronym-initialism-that-really-takes-the-cake/720037/29 "2015-05-16T21:20:41Z")
😃 ---
**Author:** ![tonyfop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/85f322/32.png) [@tonyfop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tonyfop)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2015, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-navy-acronym-initialism-that-really-takes-the-cake/720037/30 "2015-05-17T22:26:05Z")
If anyone cares, NAVAIR just released a promotional video about MAGIC CARPET. It can be found here: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/FMTf_Z9rMh0/maxresdefault.jpg "Flight Ready: Magic Carpet") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMTf_Z9rMh0) ---
**Author:** ![Daylate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9dc877/32.png) [@Daylate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daylate)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2015, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-navy-acronym-initialism-that-really-takes-the-cake/720037/31 "2015-05-19T02:20:36Z")
Not the Navy - this was done by some bureaucrats here in Seattle. At great expense, and with much fanfare, Seattle built a trolley line in the north end of town, extending, I think, about a mile and a half. This magnificent project went around the south end a body of water named Lake Union. In a burst of enthusiasm, the bureaucrats named it officially the “South Lake Union Trolley”. Guess how many nanoseconds before tee shirts were selling like hotcakes, with a picture of the trolley, and the words “I rode the S.L.U.T.” emblazoned just beneath. I forget what they changed the name to, but it was done very rapidly. Who says we never have any fun in Seattle? ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2015, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-navy-acronym-initialism-that-really-takes-the-cake/720037/32 "2015-05-20T21:23:23Z")
Wouldn’t it be a conflict of interest if CINCUS were also named Lord of the Cinque Ports? (yes, I know the “que” is silent, but shut up.) ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2015, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-navy-acronym-initialism-that-really-takes-the-cake/720037/33 "2015-05-20T22:48:59Z")
The term the Army has for command level simulations is TEWT (pronounced toot). Tactical Exercise Without Troops. We renamed it a Practical Exercise Not Included Soldiers. I heard the same joke come back around to me over the years. I doubt I invented it. Probably multiple smart asses came up with it when they heard the original ridiculous acronym. ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2015, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-navy-acronym-initialism-that-really-takes-the-cake/720037/34 "2015-05-21T13:45:49Z")
> [@Damfino](#): > > Is it true that Commander in Chief US Navy was once abbreviated CINCUS ? > > Read it in Reader’s Digest once . Yes. It was changed just before the start of 1942 to COMINCH. Edit: Dammit. WW2 history is the only thing I’m good at. Why can’t you guys give me a chance?? (I’m too damn slow.) ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2015, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-navy-acronym-initialism-that-really-takes-the-cake/720037/35 "2015-05-26T14:11:17Z")
Great thread. In “–All You Zombies–,” Heinlein refers to the Women’s Hospitality Order Refortifying and Encouraging Spacemen, the Women’s Emergency National Corps, Hospitality and Entertainment Section, and the Auxiliary Nursing Group, Extraterrestrial Legions. > [@Bullitt](#): > > Marines use fewer letters. My wife is simply the CO. I’ve also heard CINCHOME used. ---
**Author:** ![CaptMurdock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/captmurdock/32/11736_2.png) [@CaptMurdock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptMurdock)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2015, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-navy-acronym-initialism-that-really-takes-the-cake/720037/36 "2015-05-28T00:30:13Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > The only thing missing from “Maritime Augmented Guidance with Integrated Controls for Carrier Approach and Recovery Precision Enabling Technologies” is and Retractor Indication Designator Equipment." > > Yeah that’s right, MAGIC CARPET RIDE. > > Gotta let you know if your tail hook is down or not. Does that interface with the **S** pecialized **T** actical **E** quipment for **P** lanned **P** ersonnel\*\* E\*\*xtended **N** avy, **W** orldwide **O** perations **L** ogistical **F** orce? ---
**Author:** ![Valgard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/7feea3/32.png) [@Valgard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valgard)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2015, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-navy-acronym-initialism-that-really-takes-the-cake/720037/37 "2015-05-28T15:03:18Z")
When I was a kid I loved to read the Guinness Book Of World Records and they had an extremely long abbreviation which I remember to this day: ADCOMSUBORDCOMPHIBSPAC Which has to do with the administrative command, amphibious forces, pacific fleet subordinate command. Back in my RPG days when every agency in a superhero game had to have a cool acronym (VIPER! SHIELD!) I came up with the Zealous Underground Criminal Command Headquarters International Network of Intrigue. I wish I could have had the heroes caught in the middle of a firefight between ZUCCHINI and BANANA. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2015, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-navy-acronym-initialism-that-really-takes-the-cake/720037/38 "2015-05-28T15:37:12Z")
Heheh. I was once in a _Champions_ RPG campaign, and the anti-mutant bad guys were in HOGPUS - the Holy Order [for] Genetic Purity [in the] United States. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-navy-acronym-initialism-that-really-takes-the-cake/720037.md?page=1)