12 across
Very
faint-hearted,
not
quite
returning
salvo
(6)
Very faint-hearted, not quite returning salvo (6)
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The definition is at the end of the clue.
How the clue works
The definition is salvo — a burst of shots. Very gives you V, then faint-hearted is YELLOW (cowardly), which loses its last letter not quite to give YELLO, and returning reverses that to OLLEY. Stick V in front and there you have it.