What does 'Tally' refer to in military communications?

In military communications, the term 'Tally' is used to indicate that an individual has visually identified a target or an enemy position. This acknowledgment is crucial in tactical environments as it helps to confirm the presence of an enemy force or asset. By using 'Tally,' personnel communicate to their team that they have eyes on the objective, which allows for better coordination in decision-making and engagement strategies. This is particularly important for air-to-air or air-to-ground operations where visual identification can significantly impact the success of a mission.

The other choices do not accurately reflect the meaning of 'Tally.' The loss of communication with base does not relate to visual identification, non-contact with friendly forces does not convey the confirmed sighting of a target, and confirmation of friendly forces’ positions is a different aspect of communication, usually involving other specific terms to indicate that friendly forces are located and accounted for. Thus, 'C' is the correct interpretation of 'Tally' in military parlance.