operational casualty

8.8

Damage or loss of military equipment during field operations

noun
/ˌɑːpəˈreɪʃənl ˈkæʒuəlti/

Specialized

: pérdida operativa

The loss of two tanks was recorded as an operational casualty in the official report.

Examples

Several vehicles became operational casualties after the convoy hit a minefield.
During the exercise, a helicopter was written off as an operational casualty due to mechanical failure.
The unit suffered an operational casualty during the ambush.
Many operational casualties were reported after the attack.
The loss of two tanks was recorded as an operational casualty in the official report.
Several vehicles became operational casualties after the convoy hit a minefield.
During the exercise, a helicopter was written off as an operational casualty due to mechanical failure.

Synonyms

battle damage

vsoperational casualty

Specialized

2 4.5

Harm to military vehicles or equipment caused in combat

focuses on equipment losses in field operations broadly, not only combat impairment

combat casualty

vsoperational casualty

Specialized

1 7.9

Loss or damage to military equipment during battle

applies more widely to losses across field operations, not only in battle

equipment casualty

vsoperational casualty

Jargon

8.1

Loss or serious damage to military equipment caused by an enemy attack

is about such losses specifically during active field operations including mishaps

operational damage

vsoperational casualty

Specialized

6.6

Harm to military equipment like tanks during fighting or missions, not from accidents

also includes losses from mishaps and enemy action, not only non-accidental causes

Antonyms

preservation

90 3.8

Keeping things safe and in good condition, for example food or buildings

How Severe

destruction

849 3.0

operational casualty

Specialized

8.8

operational damage

Specialized

6.6

to damage

885 1.4

Surface Forms

operational casualty singular

operational casualties plural

Morphology

operational + casualty

The phrase is a straightforward adjective+noun composition: 'operational' (occurring during military operations) modifies 'casualty' (loss of personnel or equipment), so the meaning 'loss/destruction occurring in operations' is directly inferable from the parts. This literal, technical combination follows normal English modification patterns and is cross-linguistically transparent, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents should understand it.

Etymology

Operational casualty comes from military language where operational means 'during a mission' and casualty means something lost or damaged. Imagine a tank hit in battle and taken out of action — it becomes an operational casualty, so the phrase means equipment 'lost' or 'destroyed' while in use.