US Military Operation Code Names, Organized by War and/or Conflict

Descriptions of these operations available at the Army's official "Index of Operational and Code Names."

World War II

• Operation Argument
• Operation Backhander
• Operation Blackcock
• Operation Boston (constructed an airfield in, you guessed it, the Abau-Mullins region of New Guinea)
• Operation Carpetbagger
• Operation Casanova (a "diversionary" operation)
• Operation Clean Slate
• Operation Fivesome
• Operation Frantic
• Operation Huddle ("a sub-task of PESTILENCE")
• Operation Kaput
• Operation Magneto
• Operation Pig Stick
• Operation Plunder
• Operation Providence
• Operation Super-Gymnast
• Operation Toenails

The Korean War

• Operation Big Switch (a.k.a. "The Korean War")

Miscellaneous Military Disasters

• Operation Blue Spoon
• Operation Continue Hope (Somalia)
• Operation Eastern Exit (because Hope didn't Continue all that long in Somalia)
• Operation Fiery Vigil
• Operation Golden Pheasant
• Operation Hawkeye XVIII (followed smashing success of Operation Hawkeye XVII)
• Operation Nimrod Dancer ("Operation Nimrod Dancer?"  "OPERATION NIMROD DANCER!")
• Operation Productive Effot
• Operation Provide Promise
• Operation Purple Storm
• Operation Sand Flea
• Operation Sharp Edge

Gulf War I

• Operation Bump
• Operation Desert Calm (a.k.a. "The Gulf War")
• Operation Desert Shield (a.k.a. "The Gulf War")
• Operation Desert Storm (a.k.a. "The Gulf War")
• Operation Desert Sword (code named used in early phases of "The Gulf War")
• Operation Friction (Canadian code name for its naval contribution)
• Operation Larry

Various Operations and Projects Whose War and Point Escape Me*

• Operation Brown Bag
• Operation Bad Gas
• Operation Electric Avenue
• Operation Wingit
• Operation ProFraud
• Operation Baited Hook
• Operation Bad Back
• Project Can't Be
• Operation Shrinkwrap
• Operation Barndoor
• Project Broken Rule
• Operation Blood Money
• Operation PC Scam
• Operation Busted Dreams
• Project Forgery
• Operation Treasure Trolls
• Operation Barrel Roll
• Project Excess
• Project Crank Call
• Project Makeover
• Project Easy Pickings
• Project Oil Slick
• Project Bad Lab
• Project Stolen Secrets
• Operation Fake Fuel
• Project Back Orifice
• Operation Wise Cracker
• Operation Head Game
• Project Kickback
• Operation Rhumba
• Operation Kill-Dare
• Operation Kick the Can
• Project Core Values
• Project Hot Dog
• Operation Fatcat
• Operation Hands Off
• Project Walk Along
• Operation Chosen Path
• Project Dropbox
• Project Blue Lagoon
• Operation Deception
• Project X-Files
• Operation Hack in the Box
• Operation Sign-Off
• Operation Kaboom

*Courtesy of Michael Ravnitzky, a freelance journalist, who took them from a list of closed investigations provided by the office of the inspector general of the U.S. Defense Department.

Comments

[David]

Operation Treasure Trolls is officially a keeper. That's true talent.

[Brian]

Operation Nimrod Dancer. Operation Nimrod Dancer? Operation Nimrod Dancer!

Operation Pig Stick is my other favorite. Operation Provde Promise and Productive Effort seem to be part of the military's short-lived campaign to pummel the enemy with positivity.