| sabotage |
to deliberately damage or destroy an object during a war
|
| salient |
a battlefield feature or bulge that projects into enemy territory, making troops vulnerable to enemy troops on multiple sides |
| salvage |
to save useful or valuable items from a damaged ship or building
|
| salvo |
the firing of several guns or missiles at the same time in a battle
|
| sanctions |
measures taken by countries to restrict trade and official contact with a country that has broken international law
|
| sapper |
a soldier whose job is to do building, digging and similar construction work
|
| scapegoat |
a person who is publicly blamed for something bad that has happened, even though it was not their fault
|
| screening |
a military tactic that uses either a body of cavalry to screen the advance of an attacking infantry force or a naval force to protect the main body of ships
|
| scuttle |
to sink a ship deliberately
|
| separatist |
a person who wants their own separate government or is involved in separatist activities |
| serge |
a strong woollen cloth used to make clothes, such as nurses' uniform dresses
|
| shell |
a metal container full of an explosive substance and fired from a large gun; (verb) to fire shells at something from a large gun - shelled, shelling, shellfire
|
| shell shock |
a confused or nervous mental condition of people who have been under fire in a war
|
| shrapnel |
consists of small pieces of metal that are scattered from exploding bombs or shells
|
| siege |
a military tactic where soldiers surround a place in an attempt to force its people to come out or give up control of the place
|
| signaller |
a radio or telephone operator in the armed forces who relays messages from the battle field to headquarters, governments or non-government organisations
|
| skirmish |
a small short-lived military battle
|
| sloop |
a small sailing boat with one mast |
| smoke shell |
a shell filled with white phosphorus fired by artillery to screen advancing troops
|
| sniper |
a person who shoots at people from a hidden position
|
| Somme |
a river in northern France where battles took place during World War I
|
| sovereignty |
the power a country has to govern itself or another country or state |
| squalor |
very dirty, unpleasant conditions
|
| stalemate |
a military situation where two opposing forces find that further action is either impossible or pointless
|
| stall |
a compartment in a stable or shed for confining or feeding an animal
|
| Stolen Generations |
describes the children of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent who were forcibly removed from their families from the mid-1800s to the 1970s under various federal and state laws
|
| strafe |
to attack a place from an aircraft by flying low and firing a lot of bullets - also 'ground strafing'
|
| stretcher case |
someone who has to be taken away on a stretcher because they are too injured or sick to walk
|
| strong-point |
a crucial point in a defensive position, usually strongly fortified and heavily armed, and protected by other positions nearby
|
| supply line |
a route for transporting goods and equipment to an armed force during a war, conflict or war-like operation. |
| surrender |
to give up to an enemy or to relinquish control or power over something
|
