Designations & Abbreviations | Finland

Abbreviations

• Psv. — Panssarivaunu: Tank
• Psv.K — Panssarivaunu Kanuuna: Tank Cannon
• Psv.H — Panssarivaunu Haupitsi: Tank Howitzer
• LKk — LentoKoneKivääri: Aircraft machine gun
• ItO — Ilmatorjuntaohjus: Anti-air missile
• ItPsv — Ilmatorjuntapanssarivaunu: Anti-air tank

Manufacturer / Designer

• IVL — Ilmailuvoimien Lentokonetehdas: Finnish Air Force Aircraft Factory
• VL — Valtion Lentokonetehdas: State Aircraft factory
• VKT — Valtion Kivääritehdas: State Rifle factory

Air Force designations

Initially, Finnish aircraft designations began with the country’s first military aircraft, a Thulin Typ D donated by Swedish Count Eric von Rosen, designated F.1 (Flygmaskin—Swedish for “aircraft”) in 1918. As the Finnish Air Force expanded its fleet, the system was revised several times to include additional details such as aircraft role, type, origin, and year of acquisition.

The fifth designation system, introduced in 1927 and still in use today, is structured as follows:

• Each aircraft series is assigned a two-letter code*, derived from the manufacturer’s name, original designation, or nickname.
• This is followed by a sequential number identifying the airframe.

Armour Registry

The Panssarirekisteri (Armour Registry), formally known as Suomen puolustusvoimien panssariajoneuvojen rekisterimerkinnät, serves as the official index for Finnish armoured vehicles. This registry began with a numerical system denoted by the prefix R, which was later replaced by the current Ps-based system introduced in 1927. The Ps system separates the vehicle type and individual number, providing a more structured classification.

Registration markings

Before the Winter War, the Finnish Defence Forces did not use standardized registration markings on their tanks. The Renault F.T. tanks retained their original French (Numéro de Matricule) registration numbers, painted either on the glacis or on the lower suspension frame. In addition, a Finnish serial number, following the French model, was painted in a white square on the inside of the driver’s left hatch, visible only when the hatch was open. Captured armored cars from the Civil War carried improvised markings, generally similar to those used on military automobiles.

The first standardized Finnish registration numbers were introduced with the Vickers 6-ton tanks, using a three-digit number painted in white on a registration plate mounted on the left rear fender. During the Winter War, this system was expanded to captured tanks as well. The revised format consisted of a one- to four-digit consecutive number, painted in white 100 mm-high digits on the front and rear of the hull. In official documents, the number was prefixed with the letter “R” (Rekisterinumero), for example R-210, although only the digits were painted on the vehicles themselves.

This system remained in use until the adoption of the Ps. code in 1943, though the last R-registered vehicles did not receive new Ps. codes until after the war in 1945, when they were repaired for peacetime service. The following sequences were used for R-numbers:

Ps.

In the summer of 1943, the new Ps. registration system (Panssarivaunu, “armoured vehicle”) was adopted, replacing the earlier R-system with a more structured approach. Each code consisted of three parts: the prefix Ps., a 1—3 digit model number assigned in organized blocks by vehicle type, and a hyphen followed by the individual vehicle number (for example, Ps. 221-6 — Pz.IV (No.6)).

• Ps. 1 — 99 | Armoured car
• Ps. 101 — 349 | Battle tanks (light/medium/main battle tanks)
• Ps. 351 — 399 | Amphibious tanks
• Ps. 401 — 449 | Flamethrower tanks
• Ps. 451 — 499 | Anti-Air
• Ps. 501 — 549 | Assault guns
• Ps. 551 — 599 | Command vehicles
• Ps. 601 — 649 | Training tanks
• Ps. 651 — 699 | Transporters
• Ps. 701 — 749 | Recovery vehicles
• Ps. 751 — 799 | Armored tractors

In 1959, new vehicle categories such as bridge layers, mine-clearing tanks, and anti-tank vehicles were added to the Ps. register, though these types were never actually fielded, making the additions largely irrelevant. In 1978, the Ps. 800 block was created to include unarmoured tracked artillery tractors and tank transporters, which had previously been listed in the SA automotive register. Since 1967, with the arrival of the BTR-50PU command vehicles, certain vehicles also began to receive type codes that deviated from the established system. By the early 1990s, however, the introduction of modern tanks that did not fit within the older structure prompted a complete reform of the register. The new system was officially ordered in February 1992.

Ps (1992—)

• Ps 100 — 199 | Light vehicles (scout tanks, IFVs, light tanks <20t)
• Ps 200 — 299 | Main battle tanks (>20t)
• Ps 300 — 399 | Anti-tank vehicles
• Ps 400 — 499 | Air-defense vehicles (missile & support)
• Ps 500 — 599 | Artillery vehicles (SPGs, mortar carriers, artillery support)
• Ps 600 — 699 | Armoured personnel carriers & transports
• Ps 700 — 799 | Engineering, repair & recovery vehicles
• Ps 800 — 899 | Unarmoured tracked tractors & transporters
• Ps 900 — 999 | Command, signals & command post vehicles

In-Game Vehicle Ps. Numbers