Military Glossary

Hostage
(DOD) A person held as a pledge that certain terms or agreements will be kept. (The taking of hostages is forbidden under the Geneva Conventions, 1949.)

Hostile environment
See operational environment.

Hot photo interpretation report
(DOD) A preliminary unformatted report of significant information from tactical reconnaissance imagery dispatched prior to compilation of the Initial Photo Interpretation Report. It should pertain to a single objective, event, or activity of significant interest to justify immediate reporting.

Hound Dog
(DOD) A turbojet-propelled, air-to-surface missile designed to be carried externally on the B-52. It is equipped with a nuclear warhead and can be launched for either high or low altitude attacks against enemy targets, supplementing the internally carried firepower of the B-52. Designated as AGM-28B.

Hovering ceiling
(DOD, NATO) The highest altitude at which the helicopter is capable of hovering in standard atmosphere. It is usually stated in two figures: hovering in ground effect and hovering out of ground effect.

Humanitarian and civic assistance
(DOD) Assistance to the local populace provided by predominantly US forces in conjunction with military operations and exercises. This assistance is specifically authorized by title 10, United States Code, section 401, and funded under separate authorities. Assistance provided under these provisions is limited to (1) medical, dental, and veterinary care provided in rural areas of a country; (2) construction of rudimentary surface transportation systems; (3) well drilling and construction of basic sanitation facilities; and (4) rudimentary construction and repair of public facilities. Assistance must fulfill unit training requirements that incidentally create humanitarian benefit to the local populace.

Hydrofoil patrol craft
(DOD) A patrol combatant, missile, fast surface patrol craft, capable of quick reaction and offensive operations against major enemy surface combatants. Designated as PHM.

Hypergolic fuel
(DOD, NATO) Fuel which will spontaneously ignite with an oxidizer, such as aniline with fuming nitric acid. It is used as the propulsion agent in certain missile systems.

Hyperstereoscopy
(DOD, NATO) Stereoscopic viewing in which the relief effect is noticeably exaggerated, caused by the extension of the camera base.

Hypsometric tinting
(DOD, NATO) A method of showing relief on maps and charts by coloring in different shades those parts which lie between selected levels.

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