Difference between revisions of "Abbreviations"

DTW – 弹-坦克-尾翼: APFSDS (literally: Shell-tank-tail)
DYW – 弹-尾翼-稳定: APFSDS (for anti-tank guns only) (literally: Shell-tail-stable)
DTP – 弹-坦克-破甲: HEAT-FS (literally: Shell-tank-breaker)
DTB – 弹-坦克-爆破: HE-FS (literally: Shell-tank-blast)
FN – 飞弩: Export MANPADS (literally: Flying crossbow)
- FN-6, domestic version known as HN-6
HF – 火发: Rocket pod (literally: Fire-launching)
HJ – 红箭: Land-based ATGM (literally: Red arrow)
- HJ-73E
HN – 红缨: Domestic MANPADS (literally: Red tassel)
- HN-6, exported as FN-6
(H)HQ – (海)红旗: Sea and land-based SAM (literally: (Sea) Red banner) (from the ideology of “三面红旗” [Three Red Banners] in the Great Leap Forward)
HY – 海鹰: SM (before 1980s) (literally: Sea eagle)
KD – 空地: AGM (literally: Air-ground)
PL – 霹雳: AAM (literally: Lightning)
- PL-5B
QW – 前卫: A series of MANPADS family in parallel with HN series (literally: Vanguard)
SY – 上游: ASM (literally: Upstream) (from Mao Zedong's “鼓足干劲，力争上游” [Go all-out and aim high] slogan in the Great Leap Forward)
TY – 天燕: Helicopter-carried AAM (literally: Sky swallow)
YJ – 鹰击: Tri-service ASM (after 1980s) (literally: Eagle strike)

(TW) Weaponry and munition

Character	Pinyin/Bopomofo (Romanised)	Literal meaning	Weapon system	Examples
擎	qíng / ㄑㄧㄥˊ	to raise	SRBM up to ICBM
雄	xióng / ㄒㄩㄥˊ (Hsiung)	powerful	Cruise missile	雄風 Hsiung Feng-2E (HF-2E)
風	fēng / ㄈㄥ	wind	ASM	雄風 Hsiung Feng-3 (HF-3)
玄	xuán / ㄒㄩㄢˊ (Hsian)	mysterious	ECM
劍	jiàn / ㄐㄧㄢˋ (Chian)	sword	AAM	天劍 Tian Chian-1 (TC-1) – IR AAM 天劍 Tian Chian-2 (TC-2) – ARH AAM
萬	wàn / ㄨㄢˋ	10 thousand	Cluster munition	萬劍 Wan Chian cluster bomb dispenser
迅	xùn / ㄒㄩㄣˋ (Hsiun)	rapid	Naval vessel	Project 迅海 Hsiun Hai – Tuo Chiang-class corvette
評/昇	píng / shēng / ㄆㄧㄥˊ / ㄕㄥ	evaluate / rise	Upgrade program	Project 翔昇 Hsiang Sheng – F-CK-1 (IDF) C/D upgrade
捷	jié / ㄐㄧㄝˊ (Che)	swift	Land-based system	捷羚 Che Ling – Antelope Air Defense System
翔	xiáng / ㄒㄧㄤˊ (Hsiang)	to soar	Aircraft	Project 安翔 An Hsiang – F-CK-1 (IDF)
安	ān / ㄢ	safe	AA system
隼	sǔn / ㄙㄨㄣˇ or ㄓㄨㄣˇ	falcon	Missile system	紅隼 Hong Zhun – Kestrel anti-tank rocket

(CN) Manufacturer/Designer

AVIC – AViation Industry Corporation of China (中国航空工业集团有限公司 (中航工业)), previously Ministry of Aviation Industry (航空工业部)
- CAIC – Changhe Aviation Industries Corporation (昌河飞机工业 (集团) 有限责任公司) in Jingdezhen, Jiangxi (江西省景德镇市): specialised on helicopters
- CAC – Chengdu Aerospace Industry (成都飞机工业 (集团) 有限责任公司) in Chengdu, Sichuan (四川省成都市): specialised on interceptors and fighters
- HAIG Hafei – Harbin Aircraft Industry Group (哈尔滨飞机工业 (集团) 有限责任公司) in Harbin, Heilongjiang (黑龙江省哈尔滨市): specialised on helicopters, previously bombers
- HAIG Hongdu – Hongdu Aircraft Industry Group (洪都航空工业集团有限责任公司) in Nanchang, Jiangxi (江西省南昌市): specialised on attackers and trainers
  - previously NAMC – Nanchang Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation (南昌飞机制造厂)
- SAC – Shenyang Aircraft Industry (沈阳飞机工业 (集团) 有限公司) in Shenyang, Liaoning (辽宁省沈阳市): specialised on interceptors and fighters
- XAC – Xi'an Aircraft Industry (西安飞机工业 (集团) 有限责任司) in Xi'an, Shaanxi (陕西省西安市): specialised on bombers and transporters
CSGC – China South Industries Group Corporation (中国南方工业集团公司 (中国兵器装备集团公司))
NORINCO – China North Industries Group Corporation Limited (中国兵器工业集团有限公司 / 中国北方工业集团有限公司)
- Factory 256 – Chongqing Tiema Industry Group (重庆铁马工业集团) in Chongqing (重庆市): specialised on APCs and IFVs
- Factory 617 – Inner Mongolia First Machinery Group (内蒙古第一机械集团) in Baotou, Inner Mongolia (内蒙古自治区包头市): specialised on combat vehicles
- Factory 627 – Jianglu Machinery and Electronics Group Co. Ltd (江麓机电集团有限公司) in Xiangtan, Hunan (湖南湘潭市): specialised on tracked vehicles
- Institute 201 – China North Vehicle Research Institute (中国北方车辆研究所) in Beijing (北京市): designer of MBTs

(TW) Manufacturer/Designer

AIDC – Aviation Industry Development Corporation (漢翔航空工業股份有限公司 (漢翔)) previously Aviation Industry Development Center (航空工業發展中心) in Xitun District, Taichung City (台中市西屯區): specialised on aircraft and jet engines
NCSIST – National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (國家中山科學研究院) in Longtan District, Taoyuan City (桃園市龍潭區): main developer of military equipment
ORDC – Ordnance Research Development Center, ROCA ((中華民國陸軍) 兵工整備發展中心) in Jiji Township, Nantou County (南投縣集集鄉): armoured vehicles manufacturer

(CN) Military structure

MoDPRC – Ministry of Defense of the People's Republic of China (中华人民共和国国防部): Military development
CMC – Central Military Commission of the Chinese Communist Party (中国共产党中央军事委员会): Supreme command
PLA – People's Liberation Army (中国人民解放军)
- PLAGF – People's Liberation Army Ground Force (中国人民解放军陆军)
- PLAAF – People's Liberation Army Air Force (中国人民解放军空军)
- PLAN – People's Liberation Army Navy (中国人民解放军海军) and the Marine Corps (海军陆战队)
- PLARF – People's Liberation Army Rocket Force (中国人民解放军火箭军)
- PLASSF – People's Liberation Army Strategic Support Force (中国人民解放军战略支援部队)

(TW) Military structure

MND – Ministry of National Defense, Republic of China (中華民國國防部): Supreme command and military development
Army Headquarters (國防部陸軍司令部)
- ROCA – Republic of China Army (中華民國陸軍)
- Army Aviation and Special Forces Command (陸軍航空特戰指揮部)
Air Force Headquarters (國防部空軍司令部)
- ROCAF – Republic of China Air Force (中華民國空軍)
- Air Force Air Defense and Artillery Command (空軍防空暨飛彈指揮部)
Navy Headquarters (國防部海軍司令部)
- ROCN – Republic of China Navy (中華民國海軍)
- ROCMC – Republic of China Marine Force (中華民國海軍陸戰隊)

Czech

Czech abbreviations (quicklinks)‎
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Czech is spoken as a military language in the following countries: (CS) (Former) Czechoslovakia (today Czech republic) (CZ) Czech republic (part of former Czechoslovakia)
Vehicle (CS) Vehicle (CS) Air (CS) Ground Manufacturer/Designer (CS) Manufacturer/Designer

(CS) Vehicle

(CS) Air

C – Cvicna letadla: Trainer
S – Stihaci: Fighter
- S-199
CS – Cvicna stihaci: Fighter trainer
B – Bitevni letadla: Bomber
LB – Lehka bombardovaci: Light bomber
CB – Cvicna bitevni: Bomber trainer
D – Dopravni: Transport
K – Kuryrni: Liaison
NK – Nakladni Kluzak: Glider
VR – Vrtulník: Helicopter

Notes: This system was only adopted in 1945 and used until 1958, replaced later by simply using manufacturer type designations.

(CS) Ground

LT – Lehký tank: Light tank
- LT vz. 38
ST – Střední tank: Medium tank
- ST vz. 39
OA – Obrněný automobil: Armoured car
vz. – vzor: Version

(CS) Manufacturer/Designer

ČKD – Českomoravská Kolben-Daněk
ZB – Zbrojovka Brno

English

English abbreviations (quicklinks)‎
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English is spoken as a military language in (among others) the following countries: (AU) Australia (CA) Canada (NZ) New Zealand (UK) United Kingdom (US) United States of America
Vehicle (AU) Vehicle (CA) Vehicle (NZ) Vehicle (UK) Vehicle (US) Vehicle (US) Ground (US) Air (US) Army (pre-1962) (US) Navy (pre-1962) (US) Post 1962 (US) Naval Manufacturer/Designer (AU) Manufacturer/Designer (UK) Manufacturer/Designer (US) Manufacturer/Designer (US)(Army) Air Force (US Navy Weaponry (UK) Weaponry (US) Weaponry Munition Munition (UK) Munition (US) Munition Military (AU) Military (CA) Military (NZ) Military (UK) Military (US) Military

(AU) Vehicle

HMAS – His/Her Majesty's Australian Ship: Honorific styling
- HMAS Tobruk

(CA) Vehicle

HMCS – His/Her Majesty's Canadian Ship: Honorific styling
- HMCS Haida

(NZ) Vehicle

HMNZS – His/Her Majesty's New Zealand Ship: Honorific styling
- HMNZS Leander

(UK) Vehicle

A – Armour Index of the General Staff (historical index number)
- Infantry Tank Mk IV A22 "Churchill" Mk I
FV – Fighting Vehicle (modern index number)
- FV4202
F – Fighter
- Spitfire F Mk 24
FR – Fighter-Reconnaissance
- Firefly FR Mk V
FAW – Fighter All-Weather
- Sea Venom FAW 20
FG – Fighter/Ground attack
- Phantom FG.1
FGA – Fighter/Ground Attack
- Sea Hawk FGA.6
FGR – Fighter/Ground attack/Reconnaissance
- Phantom FGR.2
LF – Long-range Fighter or LF – Low-altitude Fighter
- Spitfire LF Mk IX
FB – Fighter-Bomber
- Sea Fury FB 11
B – Bomber
- Lancaster B Mk III
B(I) – Bomber (Interdictor)
- Canberra B (I) Mk 6
TB – Torpedo Bomber
- Hampden TB Mk I
TF – Torpedo-Fighter
- Firebrand TF Mk IV
HMS – His/Her Majesty's Ship: Honorific styling
- HMS Southampton
HMT – His/Her Majesty's Trawler: Honorific styling
- HMT Liscomb

(US) Vehicle

(US) Ground

M – Model
- Medium Tank, M4 Sherman: Model 4 medium tank
T – Trial (model)
- Heavy Tank T26E1-1 "Super Pershing": Trial model 26 medium tank
A – Advancement
- Medium Tank, M4A1 Sherman: Model 4, Advancement 1 medium tank
E – Experimental
- Assault Tank M4A3E2 Jumbo: Model 4, Advancement 3, Experimental 2 assault tank
LVT – Landing Vehicle, Tracked
- LVT(A)(1)
LST – Landing Ship, Tank
(A) – Amphibious
- LVT(A)(1)
HMC – Howitzer Motor Carriage
- 75 mm Howitzer Motor Carriage M8
GMC – Gun Motor Carriage
- M18 GMC
CGMC – Combination Gun Motor Carriage
- M15A1 CGMC
MGMC – Multiple Gun Motor Carriage
- M16 MGMC
SPG – Self-Propelled Gun
SPH – Self-Propelled Howitzer
- Type 75 SPH
SPRG – Self-Propelled Recoilless Gun
- Type 60 SPRG (C)
SPAA – Self-Propelled Anti-Air
MLRS – Multiple Launch Rocket System
- Type 75 MLRS
ATM – Anti-Tank Missile
- Type 60 ATM
MBT – Main Battle Tank
- MBT-70
(RISE) – Reliability Improved Selected Equipment
- M60A1 RISE (P)
(AOS) – Add-On Stabilization
- M60A1 (AOS)
W – Wet munition storage
- M4A2 (76) W
HVSS – Horizontal Volute Spring Suspension
- Medium Tank M4A3 (105) HVSS Sherman
CCKW – General Motors designation: C – designed in 1941, C – conventional cab, K – all-wheel drive, W – dual rear axles
- CCKW 353 AA

(US) Air

(US) Army (pre-1962)

A – Attack
- A-36
P – Pursuit
- P-38E
B – Bomber
- B-25J-1
F – Fighter
- F-80A-5
H – Helicopter
- H-34
X – Experimental
- XA-38: Experimental Attacker 38
Y – Pre-production test
- YP-38

(US) Navy (pre-1962)

A – Attacker
- AD-4
F – Fighter
- F4F-3
BT – Bomber (torpedo)
- BTD-1
P – Patrol
- PV-2D
PB – Patrol Bomber
- PBY-5a Catalina
SB – Scout Bomber (Dive bomber):
- SB2U-2
TB – Torpedo Bomber
- TBD-1
OS – Observation Scout
- OS2U-1: Navy Observation Scout 2, Vought No.1

(US) Post 1962

AH – Attack Helicopter
- AH-1Z
UH – Utility Helicopter
- UH-1B

(US) Naval

USS – United States Ship: Honorific styling
- USS Pensacola (CA-24)
DD – Destroyer
- Fletcher (DD-445)
DE – Destroyer, Escort
CL – Cruiser, Light: Light cruiser
- USS Brooklyn (CL-40)
CA – Cruiser, Armoured: Heavy cruiser
- USS Pensacola (CA-24)
CV – Cruiser, Voler: Aircraft carrier (historically based on aviation cruisers)
- USS Lexington (CV-2)
CB – Cruiser, Battle: Battlecruiser
BB – Battleship
- USS North Dakota (BB-29)
PG – Patrol Gunboat
- PG 02
PGH – Patrol Gunboat Hydrofoil
- PGH-2
PT – Patrol Torpedo boat
- Elco 77 ft PT-20
PTF – Patrol Torpedo boat, Fast
- 80 ft Nasty (PTF-7)
PC – Patrol Chaser
- 165 ft PC-451
SC – Submarine Chaser
- 110 ft SC-497
LCS – Landing Craft Support
- LCS(L)(3)
SS – Submarine
SSN – Submarine, Nuclear-powered
SSBN – Ballistic Missile Submarine, Nuclear-powered

(AU) Manufacturer/Designer

CAC – Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation
- CAC Boomerang Mk I
DAP – Department of Aircraft Production
- DAP Beaufort Mk VIII

(UK) Manufacturer/Designer

AEC – Associated Equipment Company
- AEC Mk.II
BAe – British Aerospace
G – Gloster
- Meteor F Mk 8 G.41K
MB – Martin-Baker
- MB.5

(US) Manufacturer/Designer

GMC – General Motors Company (not to be confused with Gun Motor Carriage)

(US)(Army) Air Force

BN – Boeing (Renton plant, Washington)
- B-29A-BN
CO – Consolidated (San Diego plant, California)
- B-24D-25-CO
DT – Douglas (Tulsa plant, Oklahoma)
- A-26C-45DT
DB – Douglas Bomber (company designation)
- DB-7 (Great Britain)
LO – Lockheed (Burbank plant, California)
- P-38L-5-LO
NA – North American (Inglewood plant, California)
- P-51H-5-NA
RE – Republic (Farmingdale plant, New York)
- F-84G-21-RE
VE – Vega (Burbank plant, California)
- B-17G-60-VE

(US) Navy

A – Brewster
- F2A-1 Buffalo: Navy Fighter 2, Brewster No. 1
C – Curtiss
- SB2C-4 Helldiver: Navy Scout Bomber 2, Curtiss No. 4
D – Douglas
- SBD-3 Dauntless: Navy Scout Bomber, Douglas No. 3
F – Grumman
- F6F-5 Hellcat: Navy Fighter 6, Grumman No. 5
H – McDonnell
- F2H-2 Banshee: Navy (Jet) Fighter 2, McDonnell No. 2
J – North American
- PBJ-1H Mitchell: Navy Patrol Bomber, North American No. 1
M – Martin
- PBM-3 Mariner: Navy Patrol Bomber, Martin No. 3
U – Vought (military designation)
- OS2U-1 Kingfisher: Navy Observation Scout 2, Vought No.1
V – Vought (company designation)
- V-156-B1
Y – Consolidated
- PBY-5 Catalina: Navy Patrol Bomber, Consolidated No. 5

(UK) Weaponry

BL – Breech-loading (cannon): Usually for (naval) guns of 5 inch calibre and upwards.
- 6 inch/45 BL Mark XII (152 mm)
QF – Quick-firing (cannon): Usually for (naval) guns of up to 5 inch calibre.
- 6 inch/50 QF Mark N5 (152 mm)
RP – Remote-powered (control): System of direct unified control of turrets (RP.10: Hydraulic, RP.50: Electric)
HA – High-angle (mount): Mounting for large-calibre AA guns.
CP – Central-pivot (mount): Mounting for naval guns.
BD – Between decks (mount): Low profile mountings, noticeably for being flush with the flight decks on carriers
STAAG – Stabilized tachymetric anti-aircraft gun (mount)
- QF STAAG Mark II (40 mm)
ADEN – Armament Development Establishment, Enfield
- ADEN (30 mm)
RARDEN – Royal Armament, Research and Development Establishment, Enfield
- L21A1 RARDEN (30 mm)
pdr – Pounder: Gun designations based on the pound (lb) weight of their projectiles.
- 20pdr OQF Mk.I (84 mm)
cwt – Hundredweight (centum weight): Gun designations based on weight (barrel and breech) in cwt (1 cwt = 112 lb)
- OQF 3in 20cwt (76 mm) (20 cwt = 2,250 lb)
GO – Gas Operated

(US) Weaponry

MCLOS – Manual Command to Line of Sight
SACLOS – Semi-Automatic Command to Line of Sight
TOW – Tube-launched, Optically-tracked, Wire-guided
- BGM-71 TOW
AGM – Air-launched, Ground-attack, Missile
- AGM-12B Bullpup
AIM – Air-launched, Interception, Missile
- AIM-9B Sidewinder
BGM – Multi-launched, Ground-attack, Missile
VADS – Vulcan Air Defense System
AN – Army/Navy
- AN/M2 (20 mm)
HB – Heavy Barrel
- M2HB (12.7 mm)

Munition

B – Ball-Point
I – Incendiary
I-T – Incendiary Tracer
IAI – Immediate Action Incendiary
FI – Fragmentation Incendiary
FI-T – Fragmentation Incendiary Tracer
T – Tracer
P – Practice
PT – Practice Tracer
SAP – Semi-Armour-Piercing
SAPI – Semi-Armour-Piercing Incendiary
AP – Armour-Piercing
API – Armour-Piercing Incendiary
AP-T – Armour-Piercing Tracer
API-T – Armour-Piercing Incendiary Tracer
APC – Armour-Piercing Capped
APCBC – Armour-Piercing Capped Ballistic Capped
APCR – Armour-Piercing Composite Rigid
APHE – Armour-Piercing High-Explosive
APDS – Armour-Piercing Discarding Sabot
APFSDS – Armour-Piercing Fin-Stabilized Discarding Sabot
HVAP – High-Velocity Armour-Piercing
HVAP-T – High-Velocity Armour-Piercing Tracer
HE – High-Explosive
HEF – High-Explosive Fragmentation
HE-I – High-Explosive Incendiary
HEFI – High-Explosive Fragmentation Incendiary
HEF-T – High-Explosive Fragmentation Tracer
HEFI-T – High-Explosive Fragmentation Incendiary Tracer
HESH – High-Explosive Squash-Head
HEAT – High-Explosive Anti-Tank
HEAT-FS – High-Explosive Anti-Tank Fin-Stabilized
ATGM – Anti-Tank Guided Missile
GP – General Purpose (bomb)
MC – Medium Capacity (bomb)
HC – High Capacity (bomb)

(UK) Munition

RP – Rocket Projectile
- RP-3

(US) Munition

HVAR – High Velocity Aircraft Rocket
- HVAR
FFAR – Folding-Fin Aerial Rocket
- FFAR Mighty Mouse

(AU) Military

RAAF – Royal Australian Air Force

(CA) Military

RCAF – Royal Canadian Air Force

(NZ) Military

RNZAF – Royal New Zealand Air Force

(UK) Military

RAF – Royal Air Force
RN – Royal Navy
FAA – Fleet Air Arm: Royal Navy Air Force

(US) Military

USAAF – United States Army Air Force
USAF – United States Air Force
USMC – United States Marine Corps
- M3A1 (USMC)
USN – United States Navy
VMF – Marine Fighter Squadron: V – Fixed-wing aircraft, M – Marine Corps, F – Fighter
- F4U-4B VMF-214: Marine Fighter Squadron No. 214
VMA – Marine Attacker Squadron: V – Fixed-wing aircraft, M – Marine Corps, A – Attacker

Finnish

Finnish abbreviations (quicklinks)‎
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Vehicle (FI) Vehicle (FI) Air Force designations Weaponry (FI) Weaponry Manufacturer/Designer (FI) Manufacturer/Designer

(FI) Vehicle

(FI) Air Force designations

Finnish Air Force designations are painted on the side of aircraft and acts as the prefix to their airframe number.

BL – Blenheim (Designation for the Bristol Blenheim, Mk I, Blenheim Mk IV)
BU – Bulldog (Designation for the Bristol Bulldog series)
BW – Brewster (Designation for the Brewster Buffalo model 239 (F2A (Family)))
CA – Caudron (Designation for the Caudron C.R.714)
CU – Curtis (Designation for the Curtiss Hawk 75 series)
- CUc – Curtis Cyclone (Designation for the Curtiss Hawk 75 series with Wright R-1820 Cyclone engine)
- CUw – Curtis Wasp (Designation for the Curtiss Hawk 75 series with Pratt & Whitney R-1830 Twin Wasp engine
  - ▀Hawk H-75A-2
DK – Draken (Designation for the Saab 35 Draken series)
DN – Dornier (Designation for the Dornier Do 17 series)
FA – Freccia (Designation for the Fiat G.50 series)
FK – Fokker (Designation for the Fokker C.X)
FR – Fokker (Designation for the Fokker D.XXI series)
- FRm – Fokker Mercury (Designation for the Fokker D.XXI with Bristol Mercury engine)
  - Fokker D.XXI series 1
- FRw – Fokker Wasp (Designation for the Fokker D.XXI with Pratt & Whitney R-1535 Twin Wasp Junior engine)
GL – Gladiator (Designation for the Gloster Gladiator series)
GN – Gnat (Designation for the Folland Gnat)
GT – Gauntlet (Designation for the Gloster Gauntlet)
HC – Hurricane (Designation for the Hawker Hurricane series)
HM – Humu (Designation for the VL Humu)
HW – Hawk (Designation for the BAE Systems Hawk)
IH – Istrebitel Hävittäjät: Istrebitel (Истребитель) Fighter (Designation for the Polikarpov I-15 M-22, I-15bis)
IT – Istrebitel Tiedustelulentokoneet: Istrebitel (Истребитель) Reconnaissance aircraft (Designation for the Polikarpov I-153 M-62)
JF – Jaktfalken (Designation for the Svenska Aero Jaktfalken series)
JK – Junkers (Designation for the Junkers Ju 88 series)
KH – Kittyhawk (Designation for the Curtis P-40 Kittyhawk series)
LG – LaGG (Designation for the Lavochkin-Gorbunov-Gudkov LaGG-3 series)
MG – MiG (Designation for the MiG-21 series)
- MGT – MiG Tiedustelu: MiG Reconnaissance (Designation for the Finnish reconnaissance version of the MiG-21F-13)
- MGBT – MiG Bis Tiedustelu: MiG Bis Reconnaissance (Designation for the Finnish reconnaissance version of the MiG-21bis)
MS – Morane-Saulnier (Designation for the Morane-Saulnier M.S.406C1, M.S.410)
- MSv – Morane-Saulnier VK or Morane-Saulnier Venäläinen: Morane-Saulnier Russian (Designation for the Morane-Saulnier M.S.406 with Russian VK-105 engine)
  - Mörkö-Morane
MT – Messerschmitt (Designation for the Messerschmitt Bf 109 series)
- ▄Bf 109 G-6
MY – Myrsky (Designation for the VL Myrsky series)
NH – Neuvostoliittolainen Hinauskone: Soviet Towing-plane (Designation for the IL-28, IL-28R)
PE – Petlyakov (Designation for the Petlyakov Pe-2 series and Pe-3 series)
PM – Pyörremyrsky (Designation for the VL Pyörremyrsky)
SB – Skorostnoi Bombardirovschik: (Скоростной бомбардировщик) High-speed Bomber (Designation for the Tupolev SB 2M series)
VA – Vampire (Designation for the de Havilland Vampire Mk 52)
VH – Venäläinen Hävittäjät: Russian Fighter (Early designation for the Polikarpov I-15 series)
VP – Vänäläinen Pommikoneet: Russian Bomber (Early designation for the Tupolev SB 2M series)
VT – Vampire Trainer (Designation for the de Havilland Vampire Mk 55)

(FI) Weaponry

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LKk – LentoKonekivääri : Aircraft machine gun (literally: Air Machine rifle)
- 12.7 mm LKk/42 machine gun
ItO – Ilmaturjuntaohjus: Anti-air missile (literally: Air protection missile)
- ItO 90M (vehicle named after its weapon system)

(FI) Manufacturer/Designer

IVL – Ilmailuvoimien Lentokonetehdas: The Air Force's aircraft factory
VL – Valtion Lentokonetehdas: State Aircraft factory
VKT – Valtion Kivääritehdas: State Rifle factory

French

French abbreviations (quicklinks)‎
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French is spoken as a military language in (among others) the following countries: (BE) Belgium (CA) Canada (CH) Switzerland (FR) France
Vehicle (FR) Vehicle Weaponry (FR) Weaponry Munition (FR) Munition Prefix/Suffix (FR) Prefix/Suffix Manufacturer/Designer (FR) Manufacturer/Designer Military (FR) Military

(FR) Vehicle

Char – Char de bataille: Battle tank
- Char 25t
AMC – Automitrailleuse de Combat: Combat machine gun (vehicle)
- AMC.34 YR
AMD – Automitrailleuse de Découverte: Scout machine gun (vehicle)
- AMD.35
AMR – Automitrailleuse de Reconnaissance: Scout machine gun (vehicle)
- AMR.35 ZT3
AML – Automitrailleuse Légère: Light machine gun (vehicle)
- AML-90
DCA – Défense contre avions: Anti-air defense
- AMX-30 DCA
EBR – Engin Blindé de Reconnaissance: Armoured reconnaissance vehicle
VTT – Véhicule de transport de troupe: Armoured personnel carrier (literally: Troop transport vehicle)
CA – Canon d'assaut: Tank destroyer (literally: Assault cannon)
- CA Lorraine
CAu – Canon automoteur: Self-propelled gun
- CAu SAu 40
TRC – Tracteur de ravitaillement pour chars: Tank supply tractor
RC – Roues-Canon: Wheeled gun (carrier)
- AMX-10RC
Mle – Modèle: Model
- Mle 1923 (7.5 mm)

(FR) Weaponry

AAT – Arme Automatique Transformable: general-purpose machine gun
SA – Semi-automatique: Semi-automatic (cannon)
- SA35 L/32 (47 mm)
CA – Canon antiaérien: Anti-aircraft cannon
CN – Canon: cannon (tank)
- CN-105-F1 (105 mm)
CAD – Canon antiaérien double: Twin (mount) anti-aircraft cannon
CAQ – Canon antiaérien quadruple: Quad (mount) anti-aircraft cannon
T – Tourelle: turret-mounted (aircraft)
- MAC 1934T (7.5 mm)

(FR) Munition

ACRA – Anti-Char Rapide Autopropulsé:Anti-Tank Quick Self-propelled (missile)
- ACRA (142 mm)
Ch.F – Charge Forte: (literally: Strong charge) Designates a shell whose propellant charge is bigger than usual shells. Effects are a higher initial speed, increased penetration but more stress and heating for the cannon.
HOT – Haut Subsonique Optiquement Téléguidé: High Subsonic, Optical Remote-Guided, Tube-Launched (missile)
- HOT
OE – Obus Explosif: High-explosive shell
OEA – Obus Explosif Acier: High-explosive fuzed (AA) shell
OEcl – Obus Eclairant: Illumination shell
OPf – Obus Perforant: Armour-piercing shell
OPfK – Obus Perforant (avec colorant) K: Armour-piercing naval shell (with type K spotting dye)
OFl – Obus Flèche: APDS shell (literally: Dart shell)
OCC – Obus Charge Creuse: HEAT shell (literally: Hollow charge shell)
PCOT – Perforant Coiffé Ogive Traceur: Armour-piercing Capped Tracer shell
POT – Perforant Ogive Traceur: Armour-piercing Tracer shell
AA – Air-Air: Air-to-air (missile)
- AA-20 Nord
AS – Air-Sol: Air-to-ground (missile)
- AS-20 Nord
SS – Sol-Sol: Ground-to-ground (missile)
- SS.11
TP – Traceuse Perforante: Armour-piercing Tracer shell

(FR) Prefix/Suffix

bis: Second (iteration)
- B1 bis
ter: Third (iteration)
- B1 ter

(FR) Manufacturer/Designer

AMX – Atelier de Construction d'Issy-Les-Moulineaux: Issy-Les-Moulineaux construction workshop
- AMX-13
APX – Atelier de Puteaux
ACL – Atelier et Chantiers de la Loire
- ARL-44 (ACL-1)
ARL – Atelier de Construction de Rueil: Rueil construction workshop
- ARL-44
GIAT – Groupement Industriel de l'Armement Terrestre Industrial group for land weapon systems
- GIAT M781 (30 mm)
S/SOMUA – Société d'outillage mécanique et d'usinage d'artillerie: Mechanical tooling and artillery machining company
- Char de cavalerie SOMUA 1935 S (S.35)
NC/SNCAC – Société Nationale de Constructions Aéronautiques du Centre
- NC.900
SA/SNCASE – Société Nationale de Constructions Aéronautiques du Sud-Est
- SA.313B Alouette II
SO/SNCASO – Société Nationale de Constructions Aéronautiques du Sud-Ouest
- S.O.8000 Narval
FCM – Forges et Chantiers de la Méditerranée
- FCM.36
DEFA – Direction des Études et Fabrications d'Armes
- DEFA 551 (30 mm)
MAC – Manufacture d'Armes de Châtellerault: Châtellerault weapons manufacturer
- MAC 1934 (7.5 mm)
FN – Fabrique Nationale
- FN M3P (12.7 mm)
FL – Fives-Lille
- M4A1 (FL10)
R – Renault
- R.35 (SA38)
H – Hotchkiss
- H.35
L – Lorraine
D – Dewoitine
- Dewoitine D.520
C/CR – Caudron(-Renault)
- Caudron C.R.714
MS – Morane-Saulnier
- Morane-Saulnier M.S.405C1
F – Farman
- Farman F.222.2
MB – Marcel Bloch (renamed to Dassault in 1949)
- Bloch M.B.174A-3
MD – Marcel Dassault
- Dassault M.D.452 IIA
LeO – Lioré-et-Olivier
- Lioré-et-Olivier LeO 451 early
VG – Arsenal (named after Michel Vernisse and Jean Galtier)
- Arsenal V.G.33C-1
VB – Arsenal (named after Michel Vernisse and Michel Badie)
- Arsenal VB.10C-1
HS – Hispano-Suiza
- Hispano HS.9 (20 mm)

(FR) Military

BCC – Battalion de Chars de Combat: Battle tank battalion
RCC – Régiment de Chars de Combat: Battle tank regiment
DCr – Division Cuirassée: Armoured division
MN – Marine Nationale: French navy (literally: National navy)
FNFL – Forces Navales Françaises Libres: Free French naval forces
FAFL – Forces Aériennes Françaises Libres: Free French air forces

German

German abbreviations (quicklinks)‎
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German is spoken as a military language in (among others) the following countries: (AT) Austria (CH) Switzerland (DE) Germany
Vehicle (DE) Vehicle (DE) Ground (DE) Air (DE) Naval Weaponry (CH) Weaponry (DE) Weaponry Munition (DE) Munition Prefix/Suffix (DE) Prefix/Suffix Manufacturer/Designer (DE) Manufacturer/Designer Military (DE) Military

(DE) Vehicle

(DE) Ground

Pz. – Panzer: Tank (literally: Armour)
- Pz.IV F2
Pz.Kpfw. – Panzerkampfwagen: Tank (literally: Armour combat vehicle)
- Pz.Kpfw. Churchill (Germany)
Sd.Kfz. – Sonderkraftfahrzeug: Special purpose vehicle (index number assigned to all armed forces vehicles)
- Sd.Kfz. 6/2
Pz.Sp.Wg. – Panzerspähwagen: Armoured scout vehicle
- s.Pz.Sp.Wg. (5 cm 39/1 L60) (Sd.Kfz.234/2)
KPz – Kampfpanzer: Battle tank (modern designation)
- KPz-70
FlaKPz – Flugabwehrkanonenpanzer: Anti-air cannon tank
- FlaKPz IV Wirbelwind
StuG – Sturmgeschütz: Assault gun
- StuG III A
StuH – Sturmhaubitze: Assault howitzer
- StuH 42 G
Bfw. – Befehlswagen: Command vehicle
- Bfw. Jagdpanther
Pz.Bfw./Pz.Bef.Wg. – Panzerbefehlswagen: Command tank
- Pz.Bfw.IV
- Pz.Bef.Wg.VI P
JPz/JgPz/JgdPz – Jagdpanzer: (Tank based) tank destroyer (literally: Hunting tank)
- JPz 4-5
RakJPz – Raketenjagdpanzer: (Missile-carrier based) tank destroyer (literally: Missile hunting tank)
- RakJPz 2
PzJg – Panzerjäger: (SPG based) tank destroyer (literally: Tank hunter)
- PzJg I
Pz.W./Pz.Wfr. – Panzerwerfer: Anti-tank rocket launcher (literally: Tank thrower)
- 15 cm Pz.W.42
SpPz – Spähpanzer: Scout tank
- SpPz Ru 251
SPz – Schützenpanzer: Infantry fighting vehicle (literally: Protective tank)
- SPz BMP-1
VK – Versuchskonstruktion: Trial design (literally: Experimental construction) or Vollketten/Vollkettenfahzeug: Fully tracked/Fully tracked vehicle
- VK 45.01 (P)
VT – Versuchsträger: Test-bed (literally: Experiment carrier)
- VT1-2
WT – Waffenträger: Self-propelled gun (literally: Weapon carrier)
- Waffentrager
Ausf. – Ausführung: Model
E – Entwicklung: Development (refers to the proposed standardised tank development projects)
- E-100
Fgst. – Fahrgestell: Chassis
- Flakpanzer 38, 2 cm, Pz.Fgst.38 (t) Sf.
Sfl. – Sonderfahrgestell: Special chassis
- Pz.Sfl.Ic
Sf. – Selbstfahrend: Self-propelled
- 8,8 Pak 43/1 Sf. "Nashorn"
GW – Geschützwagen: (Heavy) self-propelled gun (literally: Heavy gun vehicle)
ZgKw – Zugkraftwagen: Truck
Zug – Zugkraftwagen: Truck

(DE) Air

StuKa – Sturzkampfflugzeug: Dive bomber (literally: Dive attack airplane)
PAH – Panzerabwehrhubschrauber: Anti-tank helicopter
- BO 105 PAH-1

(DE) Naval

Z – Zerstörer: Destroyer
- Z20 Karl Galster
K – Kanonenboot: Gun boat
- Kanonenboot K-2
T – Torpedoboot: Torpedo boat
- Type 1939 (T31)
R – Räumboot: Mine sweeper
- R-boot R-41
S – Schnellboot: Fast attack craft
- S-100 (1945)
LS – Leichte-Schnellboot: Light fast attack craft
- LS 3
VS – Versuchs-Schnellboot: Experimental fast attack craft
- VS-10
SF – Siebelfähre: Siebel ferry (named after Friedrich Siebel)
- SF40 Leichte
AF/AFP – Artilleriefährprahm: Artillery ferry barge
- AF D1
MZ – Mehrzweckboot: Multi-purpose boat
- MZ1
U – Unterseeboot: Submarine

(CH) Weaponry

KDA – Kanone, Kalibergruppe D, Ausführung A: Cannon, calibre group D (30 mm+), variant A (belt-fed)
- Oerlikon KDA (35 mm)
KAD – Kanone, Kalibergruppe A, Ausführung D: Cannon, calibre group A (20 mm), variant D
- Oerlikon KAD (20 mm)

(DE) Weaponry

FH – Feldhaubitze: Field howitzer
IG – Infanteriegeschütz: Infantry gun
- s.I.G.33 (150 mm)
Sfl – Selbsfahrlafette: Self-propelled gun (literally: Self-propelled mount/chassis/underlayer)
KwK – Kampfwagenkanone: Tank gun (literally: Combat vehicle cannon)
- KwK42 (75 mm)
PaK – Panzerabwehrkanone: Anti-tank gun (literally: Armour-defense cannon)
- PaK39 L48 (75 mm)
FlaK – Flugabwehrkanone: Anti-air gun (literally: Air-defense cannon)
- FlaK43 (37 mm)
MG – Maschinengewehr: Machine gun (literally: Machine rifle)
- MG34 (7.92 mm)
MG FF – Maschinengewehr Flügel-Fest: Machine gun wing-fixed
- MG FF (20 mm)
MG FF/M – Maschinengewehr Flügel-Fest/Minengeschoß: Machine gun wing-fixed/mineshot
- MG FF/M (20 mm)
MK – Maschinenkanone: Auto-cannon (literally: Machine cannon), occasionally Motorkanone, cannon firing through engine
- MK 108 (30 mm)
SK – Schiffskanone: Ship cannon (originally used as Schnellfeuerkanone: Quick-firing cannon during WWI)
- 10.5 cm SK C/32 (105 mm)
TbtK – Torpedobootskanone: Torpedo boat cannon (also used for some destroyer turrets/guns)
BK – Bordkanone: Board cannon (large calibre guns equipped to aircraft)
- BK 3.7 (37 mm)
BR – Bordrakete: Board rocket (rockets equipped to aircraft)
K – Kanone: Cannon
T – Torpedo
LT – Lufttorpedo: Aerial torpedo (torpedoes used by aircraft)
L/ – Länge: Length (refers to calibre-length of gun barrels)
- 8.8 cm L/56 KwK 36 (barrel length of 56 x 88 mm = 4.928 m)
C/ – Construktionsjahr: Year of construction (archaic spelling of Konstruktion)
- 2 cm/65 C/38 (20 mm) (model of 1938)
L – Lafette: Gun mount
DopL – Doppellafette: Twin gun mount (literally: Double mount)
DrhL – Drehturmlafette: Turret gun mount (literally: Turntable turret mount)
Pz.B. – Panzerbüchse: Anti-tank rifle
- s.Pz.B.41 (28/20 mm)

(DE) Munition

Gr – Granate: Grenade (synonymous with shell)
Br – Brandkörper: Incendiary charge (literally: Blaze body)
KGr – Kanonengranate: Cannon shell (literally: Cannon grenade)
PzGr – Panzergranate: Armour-piercing shell (literally: Armour grenade)
BrGr – Brandgranate: Incendiary shell (literally: Burn grenade)
PzBrGr – Panzerbrandgranate: Armour-piercing incendiary shell (literally: Armour burn grenade)
SpGr – Sprenggranate: High-explosive fragmentation shell (literally: Burst grenade). Sometimes spelled Sprgr.
PzSpGr – Panzersprenggranate: Armour-piercing high-explosive shell (literally: Armour burst grenade)
HlGr – Hohlladungsgranate: High-explosive anti-tank shell (literally: Hollow-charge grenade)
Patr – Patrone: Bullet
GrPatr – Granatpatrone: Shell (for 15 and 20 mm munition)
SC – Sprengbombe Cylindrisch: General-purpose bomb (archaic spelling of zylindrisch, literally: Burst bomb, cylindrical)
SD – Sprengbombe Dickwandig: Semi-armour-piercing bomb (literally: Burst bomb, thick-walled)
PC – Panzersprengbombe Cylindrisch: Armour-piercing high-explosive bomb (literally: Armour-bursting bomb, cylindrical)
PD – Panzersprengbombe Dickwandig: Heavy armour-piercing bomb (literally: Armour-bursting bomb, thick-walled)
LFK – Lenkflugkörper: (Anti-tank) guided missile (literally: Guided flight body)
F5W – Torpedo designation: F – 17.7 inch (450 mm) calibre, 5 – roughly 5 meter length, W – whitehead (German designation of Italian F200/450 torpedo)
G7a/T 1 – Torpedo designation: G – 21 inch (533 mm) calibre, 7 – roughly 7 meter length, a – steam propulsion, T 1 – Torpedo model number 1
L'spur – Leuchtspur: Tracer
Zerl. – Zerleger: Self-destroying (literally: Disassambler)
Fp – Füllpulver: Explosive filling (literally: Filling powder)
DM – Deutsches Modell: German Model (modern designation to differentiate between American M munition)
Zt.Z – Zeitzünder: Time fuze
Lh – Lichtspurhülse: Base tracer
Bd.Z – Bodenzünder: Base fuze. Sometimes spelled Bdz
m.Hb – mit Haube: Capped

(DE) Prefix/Suffix

le – leicht: Light
s – schwer: Heavy
gp – gepanzert: Armoured
nA – neuer Art: Modernized (literally: New type)
(r) – russisch: Russian captured vehicle
- T 34 747 (r) (Germany)
(e) – englisch: British captured vehicle
(t) – tschechisch: Czech captured vehicle
- Pz.35(t)
(a) – amerikanisch: American captured vehicle
- M4 748 (a) (Germany)
(f) – französisch: French captured vehicle
U – Umbau: Conversion (kit)
- Me 410 A-1/U2
R – Rüstsatz: Upgrade (kit)
- Me 410 B-6/R3
/Trop – Tropen: Tropic (variant with air filters)
- Bf 109 G-2/trop
(Mob) – Mobilmachung: Mobilization (design modification aimed at simplified and thus faster construction)
- Type 1936A (Mob)

(DE) Manufacturer/Designer

Ar – Arado
- Ar 234 B-2
Bf – Bayerische Flugzeugwerke (BFW): Bavarian Airplane Factory (renamed to Messerschmitt in 1938)
- Bf 109 K-4
BMW – Bayerische Motorenwerke: Bavarian Motor Factory
Bo – Bölkow (from the alternative spelling Boelkow)
- BO 105 PAH-1
BV – Blohm & Voss
- BV 238
DB – Daimler-Benz
- DB 601
Do – Dornier
- Do 217 E-2
Fw – Focke-Wulf
- Fw 190 A-5
Ha – Hamburger Flugzeugbau
He – Heinkel
- He 111 H-3
Ho – Horten
- Ho 229 V3
Hs – Henschel
- Hs 129 B-3
Ju – Junkers
- Ju 87 D-5
Me – Messerschmitt
- Me 410 A-1
Ta – Focke-Wulf (named after Kurt Tank)
- Ta 152 C-3
Rh – Rheinmetall
- Rh202 (20 mm)
Ru – Ruhrstahl
- Ru 251
(P) – Porsche
- Tiger II (P)
(H) – Henschel
- Tiger II (H)
(A) – Alkett (Altmärkische Kettenwerk GmbH)
- Panzer IV/70(A)
(V) – VOMAG (Vogtländische Maschinenfabrik Aktiengesellschaft)
- Panzer IV/70(V)

(DE) Military

KM – Kriegsmarine: German navy (literally: War navy)
LW – Luftwaffe: German air force (literally: Air weapon)
BW – Bundeswehr: (Modern) German army (literally: Federation defense)
RLM – Reichsluftfahrtministerium: Ministry of national aviation
OKW – Oberkommando der Wehrmacht: High command of the armed forces
JG – Jagdgeschwader: Fighter division (literally: hunting division)
NJG – Nachtjagdgeschwader: Night fighter division (literally: night hunting division)
ZG – Zerstörergeschwader: Heavy fighter division (literally: destroyer division)
KG – Kampfgeschwader: Bomber division (literally: attack division)
SKG – Schnellkampfgeschwader: Fast bomber division (literally: fast attack division)
StG – Sturzkampfgeschwader: Dive bomber division (literally: dive attack division)

Italian

Italian abbreviations (quicklinks)‎‎
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Vehicle (IT) Vehicle Manufacturer/Designer (IT) Manufacturer/Designer Weaponry (IT) Weaponry Prefix/Suffix (IT) Prefix/Suffix

(IT) Vehicle

P – Pesante: Heavy (tank)
- P26/40: Heavy tank, 26 tons, model 1940
M – Medio: Medium (tank)
- M15/42: Medium tank, 15 tons, model 1942
L – Leggero: Light (tank)
- L6/40: Light tank, 6 tons, model 1930
AB – Autoblinda: Armoured car
- AB 41: Armoured car, model 1941
R – Ricognizione: Reconnaisance (vehicle)
- R3 T106 FA
SIDAM – Sistema Italiano di Difesa Aerea Mobile: Italian system for mobile air-defense
- SIDAM 25

(IT) Manufacturer/Designer

Back to the Italian table

Abbreviation	Company	Note / Translation	Example
Air vehicles
C.R.	Caccia Rosatelli	(Fighter) named after Celestino Rosatelli	FIAT C.R.42
B.R.	Bombardiere Rosatelli	(Bomber) named after Celestino Rosatelli	FIAT B.R.20
G.		named after Giuseppe Gabrielli	FIAT G.50
S. S.M.	Società Anonima Costruzioni Aeronautiche Savoia	Savoy Aeronautical Constructions Company	Savoia S.81
S. S.M.	Marchetti	named after Alessandro Marchetti	Savoia-Marchetti S.M.79
P.	Piaggio		Piaggio P.108
M.C.	(Aeronautica) Macchi	Aeronautics Machi	Macchi M.C.200
M.C.	Castoldi	named after Mario Castoldi	Macchi M.C.200
Ba.	Società Italiana Ernesto Breda	Italian Company Ernesto Breda	Breda Ba.65
Re.	Officine Meccaniche Reggiane SpA	Technical Bureau Reggiane Subsidiary	Reggiane Re.2000
CANT Z.	Cantieri Aeronautici e Navali Triestini	Aeronautical and naval yard Trieste	CANT Z.1007
CANT Z.	Zappata	named after Filippo Zappata	CANT Z.1007
Ground vehicles
OTO	Odero-Terni-Orlando		OTOMATIC
FIAT	Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino	Italian automobile factory Turin	FIAT 6614
OF	OTO-FIAT		OF-40
Armament
SAFAT	Società Anonima Fabbrica Armi Torino	Turin arms factory incorporated company	Breda-SAFAT (12.7 mm)

(IT) Weaponry

SR – Senza Rinculo: Recoilless (gun)

(IT) Prefix/Suffix

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Affix	Meaning	Translation	Example
A	Artigliere	Artillery	P.108A
AS	Aerosilurante	Air torpedo	G.55S
AS	Africa Settentrionale	North Africa (trop. Filter)	Bf 109 G-14/AS
B	Bombardiere	Bomber	P.108B
CB	Caccia Bombardiere	Fighter-Bomber	Re.2001 CB
CC	Contro Carro	Anti-Tank (rifle)	L3/33 CC
CN	Caccia Notturno	Night-Fighter	Re.2001 CN
EC	Esperimento Cannoni	Experimental Cannons	C.202EC
N	Normale	Normal	S.M.79 bis/N
N	Nuovo	New	C.205N2
TM	Totalmente Modificato	Completely Modified	S.M.79 bis/T.M

Japanese

Japanese abbreviations (quicklinks)‎
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Japanese is spoken as a military language in the following countries: (JP) Japan (IJA) Imperial Japanese Army (IJN) Imperial Japanese Navy (SDF) Japanese Self Defense Forces (MAN) (Former) Manchukuo/Manchuria (MEN) (Former) Mengjiang/Mengkiang (KR) (Former) Chōsen/Japanese Korea
Vehicle (JP) Vehicle (JP) Air (IJA) Army (IJA) Nicknames (IJN) Navy (IJN) First letters (role) (IJN) Second letters (manufacturers/designers) (IJN) Full and Model designation (IJN) Official name designation (IJA) Ground (IJA) Vehicle type (IJA) Order system Manufacturer/Designer (IJN) Manufacturer/Designer
(JP) Calendar and Type Numbers
Japanese Imperial Year: Starts with the founding of Japan in 660 BC Japanese Era Name (年号): Literally "year name" are names given to (usually) reign periods of Japanese Emperors. Shisaku number: After the shift of using nengō years, the navy re-adopted the use of nengō for their prototype planes to distinguish them from adopted models.
Year	Japanese Imperial Year	Nengō Era	Type Number	Shisaku Number
1868 ⋮ 1912	2528 ⋮ 2572	Meiji 1 ⋮ Meiji 44	Type 1 ⋮ Type 44
1912	2572	Taishō 1	Type 1
1913	2573	Taishō 2	Type 2
1914	2574	Taishō 3	Type 3
1915	2575	Taishō 4	Type 4
1916	2576	Taishō 5	Type 5
1917	2577	Taishō 6	Type 6
1918	2578	Taishō 7	Type 7
1919	2579	Taishō 8	Type 8
1920	2580	Taishō 9	Type 9
1921	2581	Taishō 10	Type 10
1922	2582	Taishō 11	Type 11
1923	2583	Taishō 12	Type 12
1924	2584	Taishō 13	Type 13
1925	2585	Taishō 14	Type 14
1926	2586	Taishō 15 Shōwa 1	Type 15
1927	2587	Shōwa 2	Type 87
1928	2588	Shōwa 3	Type 88
1929	2589	Shōwa 4	Type 89
1930	2590	Shōwa 5	Type 90
1931	2591	Shōwa 6	Type 91	6-Shi
1932	2592	Shōwa 7	Type 92	7-Shi
1933	2593	Shōwa 8	Type 93	8-Shi
1934	2594	Shōwa 9	Type 94	9-Shi
1935	2595	Shōwa 10	Type 95	10-Shi
1936	2596	Shōwa 11	Type 96	11-Shi
1937	2597	Shōwa 12	Type 97	12-Shi
1938	2598	Shōwa 13	Type 98	13-Shi
1939	2599	Shōwa 14	Type 99	14-Shi
1940	2600	Shōwa 15	Type 100 Type 0	15-Shi
1941	2601	Shōwa 16	Type 1	16-Shi
1942	2602	Shōwa 17	Type 2	17-Shi
1943	2603	Shōwa 18	Type 3	18-Shi
1944	2604	Shōwa 19	Type 4	19-Shi
1945	2605	Shōwa 20	Type 5	20-Shi
Post-War
1946 ⋮ 1960 ⋮ 1989	2606 ⋮ 2620 ⋮ 2649	Shōwa	Type 46 ⋮ Type 60 ⋮ Type 89
1989 1990 ⋮ 1993 ⋮ 2019	2649 2450 ⋮ 2453 ⋮ 2679	Heisei	Type 89 Type 90 ⋮ Type 93 ⋮ Type 19
2019 ⋮ Present	2679 ⋮ Present	Reiwa	Type 19 ⋮ Present

(JP) Vehicle

(JP) Air

(JP) Variants (small-scale modifications)
	Heavenly Stems	Japanese
	Heavenly Stems	Kanji	Romaji
1	甲	コウ	Kō
2	乙	オツ	Otsu
3	丙	ヘイ	Hei
4	丁	テイ	Tei
Not used in practice
5	戊	ボ	Bo
6	己	キ	Ki
7	庚	コウ	Kō
8	辛	シン	Shin
9	壬	ジン	Jin
10	癸	キ	Ki
Other
Improved		改 (改善)	Kai (Kaizen)

(IJA) Army

Ki – Kitai: Airframe
- Ki-10-I – Army Type 95 Model 1 Fighter
- Ki-43-II – Army Type 1 Model 2 Fighter

Notes:

Kitai numbering is purely for Airframe/Prototype numbering. Official designation of planes went through Type designation + role.
Japanese names for Army planes are popular nicknames for pilots and civilians alike, as they were popularized with Japanese documentaries and propaganda. Unlike Navy planes, these are not part of the official plane designation.
- Other Japanese nicknames for planes are:

(IJA) Nicknames

Ki-43 – Hayabusa (隼, Peregrine falcon)
Ki-44 – Shoki (鍾馗, Demon)
Ki-45 – Toryū (屠龍, Dragonslayer)
Ki-49 – Donryū (呑龍, Storm Dragon)
Ki-61 – Hien (飛燕, Flying Swallow)
Ki-67 – Hiryū (飛龍, Flying Dragon)
Ki-84 – Hayate (疾風, Gale)
Ki-200 – Shusui – (秋水, Sharp Sword)

(IJN) Navy

In the late 1920s, The navy adopted a short designation naming scheme to indicate the role and manufacturer of the plane.

(IJN) First letters (role)

Letter	Japanese	Role	Example
A	艦上戦闘機	Carrier-based fighter plane	A6M
B	艦上攻撃機	Carrier-based attack bomber	B5N
C	艦上偵察機	Carrier-based reconnaissance plane	C6N³
D	艦上爆撃機	Carrier-based dive bomber	D4Y
E	水上偵察機	Ship-based reconnaissance hydroplane	E13A
F	水上観測機	Ship-based observation hydroplane	F1M
G	陸上攻撃機	Land-based attack bomber	G4M
H	飛行艇	Flying boat	H6K
J	陸上戦闘機	Land-based fighter plane	J2M
K	練習機	Trainer	K10W³
L	輸送機	Transport	L2D²
M	特殊機	Special purpose	M6A³
N	水上戦闘機	Fighter hydroplane	N1K
P	陸上爆撃機	Land-based bomber	P1Y
Q	哨戒機	Patrol plane	Q1W³
R	陸上偵察機	Land-based reconnaissance plane	R2Y
S	夜間戦闘機	Night fighter	S1A³
X	実験	Special purpose (Always after other designations)	JXFw¹ (Fw 190)

Notes:

All (But X) can be added to an already existing plane as a suffix to indicate a role refit
- A6M-N
- N1K-J
- G5N-L
- ...
¹ – X (Special Purpose) is used as second letter for experimental aircraft or imported technology demonstrators not intended for service
² – Planes that aren't playable in-game
³ – Planes that aren't in-game

(IJN) Second letters (manufacturers/designers)

Letter	Japanese Manufacturer	Foreign Manufacturer	Foreign Example
A	Aichi	North American	KXA (NA-16)
B		Boeing	AXB (P-12 / F4B)
Bu		Bücker	KXBu (Bü 131)
C		Consolidated	HXC (P2Y)
D	Showa	Douglas Dewoitine Northrop	LXD (DC-4E) AXD (D.500) DXD (Northrop BT)
F		Fairchild	LXF (Fairchild 91)
Fw		Focke-Wulf	JXFw (Fw 190)
G	Hitachi	Grumman	AXG (Grumman F)
H	Hiro	Hawker	AXH (Nimrod)
He		Heinkel	AXHe (He 100)
J	Nihon	Junkers	LXJ (Ju 86)
K	Kawanishi	Kinner	LXK (Kinner Envoy)
M	Mitsubishi	Airspeed	LXM (Airspeed Envoy)
N	Nakajima
P	Nihon
S	Sasebo
Si	Showa
V		Vought	AXV (V-141)
W	Wanatabe (Kyushu)
Y	Yokosuka
Z	Mizuno

(IJN) Full and Model designation

After 1929, aircraft of the Japanese navy were designated by Type designation same as army planes together with model designation to indicate variant information.

A6M3 mod. 22Ko – Type 0 Carrier Fighter Model 22A (Kō)
- mod. 22Ko – 2nd airframe / wing refit
- mod. 22Ko – 2nd engine refit
- mod. 22Ko – 1st small-scale refit (armament) (check Heavenly stems)

(IJN) Official name designation

After July 1943, adopted planes got a name instead of a full type and model designation.

Fighters: Weather and meteorological names
- Naval fighters: Wind names (usually ending with pū or fū「風」)
- Interceptors: Lightning names (usually ending in den「電」)
- Night fighters: Light names (usually ending in ko「光」)
  - J1N-S Gekkō (月光, Moonlight) (not in-game variant)
Bombers: Mountains names (usually ending in zan「山」)
Landbased Bombers: Galaxy names (usually ending in ga「河」)
- P1Y Ginga (銀河, Galaxy)
Attack planes: Star or constellation names (usually ending in sei「星」)
- D4Y Suisei (彗星, Comet)
- B7A Ryūsei (流星, Shooting Star)
Patrol: Sea or ocean names (usually ending in kai「海」or yo「洋」)
Reconnaissance: Cloud names (usually ending in un「雲」)
- R2Y Keiun (景雲, Cirrus Cloud)
Trainers: Trees, plants and flowers
Transports: Sky names (usually ending in ku「空」)
Miscellaneous: Landscape names
Purpose-built kamikaze aircraft: Flower names (usually ending in ka「花」)
- Kikka (橘花, Orange Blossom)

(IJA) Ground

(IJA) Vehicle type

Japanese			English
Romaji	Katakana	Kanji	Literal	Role
Ke	ケ	軽 (Kei)	Light	Light tank
Chi	チ	中 (Chū)	Medium	Medium tank
O	オ	大 (Ō)	Large	Heavy Tank
Ho	ホ	砲 (Hō)	Gun	SPG

Other (Don't follow order system):

Ka: Amphibious (tank) (IJN)
- Type 2 Ka-Mi (Was named after the designer, Kamishi)
- Type 3 Ka-Chi
- Type 4 Ka-Tsu

Na: Testbed
- Type 5 Na-To

(IJA) Order system

	Japanese
	Romaji	Katakana
1	I	イ
2	Ro	ロ
3	Ha	ハ
4	Ni	ニ
5	Ho	ホ
6	He	ヘ
7	To	ト
8	Chi	チ
9	Ri	リ
10	Nu	ヌ
11	Ru	ル
12	O	オ

The chosen order of vehicles was based on the Japanese poem Iroha (いろは), which contains each character of the Japanese syllabary exactly once. (A total of 47)
Early Japanese tanks were designated only by order without a role:
- Type 89 I-Go – 1st model of the Imperial Japanese year 2589 (1929)
- Type 95 Ro-Go – 2nd model of the Imperial Japanese year 2595 (1935)
- Type 95 Ha-Go – 3rd model of the Imperial Japanese year 2595 (1935)

(IJN) Manufacturer/Designer

HI: Vickers (UK)
- 40 mm/62 "HI" Type 91 AA (40 mm), based on the QF 2pdr Mk VIII
RU: Lewis (UK)
- 7.7 mm RU Type 92 MG, based on the .303 in Lewis MG

Polish

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(PL) Vehicle

ORP – Okręt Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej: Warship of the Republic of Poland (honorific styling)
- ORP Garland

Romanian

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(RO) Manufacturer/Designer

IAR – Industria Aeronautică Română: Romanian Aeronautic Industry
- IAR-81C

Russian

Russian abbreviations (quicklinks)‎
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Vehicle (RU) Vehicle (RU) Ground (RU) Air (RU) Naval Weaponry (RU) Weaponry Munition (RU) Munition Prefix/Suffix (RU) Prefix/Suffix Historical Name (RU) Historical Name Manufacturer/Designer (RU) Manufacturer/Designer Military (RU) Military

(RU) Vehicle

(RU) Ground

T – Tank
- T-34
SU – Samokhodnaya Ustanovka: Self-propelled mount
- SU-122
ISU: Self-propelled mount based on IS heavy tank
- ISU-122
ZSU – Zenitnaya Samokhodnaya Ustanovka: Anti-aircraft self-propelled mount
- ZSU-37
ZRPK – Zenitny Raketno-Pushechny Kompleks: Anti-aircraft missile-gun system
- ZPRK 2S6
ASU – Aviadesantnaya Samokhodnaya Ustanovka: Airborne self-propelled mount
- ASU-85
BT – Bystrokhodny Tank: Light tank (literally: Fast-moving tank)
- BT-7
BTR – Bronev Transporter: Armoured personnel carrier (literally: Armoured transport)
- BTR-152A
RBT – Raketny Bystrokhodny Tank: Rocket tank (literally: Fast-moving rocket tank)
- RBT-5
BA – Bronev Avtomobil: Armoured car
- BA-11
BM – Boyevaya Mashina: Rocket launcher vehicle (literally: Combat machine)
- BM-8-24
BMP – Boyevaya Mashina Pekhoty: Infantry fighting vehicle (literally: Infantry combat machine)
- BMP-1
PT – Plavayushchy Tank: Amphibious tank (literally: Floating tank)
- PT-76B
IT – Istrebitel Tankov: (Missile) tank destroyer (literally: Tank fighter)
- IT-1

(RU) Air

BB – Blizhny Bombardirovschik: Short-range bomber
- Sukhoi BB-1
DB – Dalny Bombardirovschik: Long-range bomber
- Ilyushin DB-3B
I – Istrebitel: Fighter (airplane)
- Polikarpov I-15 M-22
ITP – Istrebitel Tyazholiy Pushechniy: Heavy Cannon Fighter (literally: Fighter Heavy Cannon)
- Polikarpov ITP (M-1)
MBR – Morskoi Blizhny Razvedchik: Naval short-range reconnaissance (airplane)
- Beriev MBR-2-M-34
SB – Skorostnoi Bombardirovschik: Fast bomber
- Tupolev SB 2M-100
TB – Tyazholy Bombardirovschik: Heavy bomber
- Tupolev TB-3M-17-32
TIS – Tyazholyy Istrebitel Soprovozhdeniya: Heavy Escort Fighter (literally: Heavy Fighter Escort)
- Polikarpov TIS MA
U – Uchebny: Trainer (airplane)
- Polikarpov U-2 (original designation of the Po-2)

(RU) Naval

MO – Malyi Okhotnik: Small submarine chaser (literally: Small hunter)
- MO-4
BMO – Bronirovanny Malyi Okhotnik: Armoured small submarine chaser (literally: Armed small hunter)
- BMO
MPK – Malyi Protivolodochnoi Korabl: Small anti-submarine ship
- MPK pr.122A
MBK – Morskoi Bronekater: Armoured gunboat (literally: Naval combat cutter)
- MBK pr.186
SKR – Storozhevoi Korabl: Observation ship
- SKR Groza, Uragan type (1943)

(RU) Weaponry

UB – Universalniy Berezina: Berezin universal (MG)
- Berezin UB (12.7 mm)
DP – Degtyarov Pulemyot: Degtyarov MG
DT – Degtyarov Tankovy: Degtyarov tank (MG)
- DT (7.62 mm)
DA – Degtyarov Aviatsonny: Degtyarov airplane (MG)
- DA (7.62 mm)
PV – Pulemet Vozdushny: Airborne MG
- PV-1 (7.62 mm)
ShKAS – Shpitalny-Komaritski Aviatsionny Skorostrelny: Shpitalny-Komaritsky airplane rapid-fire (MG)
- ShKAS (7.62 mm)
DShK – Degtyaryova-Shpagina Krupnokaliberny: Degtyarov-Shpagin large-calibre (MG)
- DShK (12.7 mm)
A – Afanasev (MG)
- A-12.7 (12.7 mm)
B – Berezin (auto-cannon)
- B-20 (20 mm)
Yak-B – Yakushev-Borzov (MG)
- YaK-B (12.7 mm)
ShVAK – Shpitalny-Vladimirov Aviatsionny Krupnokaliberny: Shpitalny-Vladimirov airplane large-calibre (auto-cannon)
- ShVAK (20 mm)
TNSh – Tankovy Nudelman-Shpitalny: Nudelman-Shpitalny tank (auto-cannon)
- TNSh (20 mm)
PTB – Pushka Taubin-Baburin: Taubin-Baburin cannon
- PTB-23 (23 mm)
VYa – Volkov-Yartsev (auto-cannon)
- VYa-23 (23 mm)
NS – Nudelman-Suranov (auto-cannon)
- NS-23 (23 mm)
NR – Nudelman-Rikhter (auto-cannon)
- NR-30 (30 mm)
GSh – Gryazev-Shipunov (auto-cannon)
- GSh-23-2 (23 mm)
N-37D – Nudelman 37 mm Dulny tormoz: Nudelman 37 mm (auto-cannon with) muzzle brake
- N-37D (37 mm)
KPVT – Krupnokaliberniy Pulemyot Vladimirova Tankovy: Vladimirov large-calibre tank MG
- KPVT (14.5 mm)
ZPU – Zenitnaya Pulemotnaya Ustanovka: Anti-aircraft MG mount
NSVT – Nikitina-Sokolova-Volkova Tankovy: Nikitin-Sokolov-Volkov tank (MG)
- NSVT (12.7 mm)
PKT – Pulemyot Kalashnikova Tankovy: Kalashnikov tank MG
- PKT (7.62 mm)
SGMT – Stankovy Goryunova Modernizirovany Tankovy: Goryunov modernized mounted tank (MG)
- SGMT (7.62 mm)
20-K – Gun No. 20 of the Korolyov factory
- 20-K (45 mm)
L-11 – Gun No. 11 of the Leningrad factory
- L-11 (76 mm)

(RU) Munition

BR – Broneboynye: Armour-piercing (shell)
BZ – Broneboyny Zazhigatelny: Armour-piercing incendiary (shell)
BZT – Broneboyny Zazhigatelny Trassiruyushchy: Armour-piercing incendiary tracer (shell)
PB – Polu Broneboynye: Semi armour-piercing (shell)
O – Oskolochno: Fragmentation (shell)
OZ – Oskolochno Zazhigatelny: Fragmentation incendiary (shell)
OZT – Oskolochno Zazhigatelny Trassiruyushchy: Fragmentation incendiary tracer (shell)
OF – Oskolochno Fugasny: High-explosive fragmentation (shell)
Sh – Shrapnel (shell)
FAB – Fugasnaya Aviatsionnaya Bomba: High-explosive aircraft bomb
OFAB – Oskolochno Fugasnaya Aviatsionnaya Bomba: High-explosive fragmentation aircraft bomb
RS – Reaktivny Snaryad: Rocket (literally: Rocket-powered projectile)
RBS – Reaktivny Broneboyny Snaryad: Armour-piercing rocket (literally: Rocket-powered armour-piercing projectile)

(RU) Prefix/Suffix

Oby. – Obyekt: Object (tank prototype)
Pr. – Proyekt: Project (ship design program)
- Pr.1124 (1940)
E – Ekranami: Up-armoured (literally: With screens)
- KV-1E
M – Modernizirovany: Modernized
- IS-4M
S – Skorokhodnuyu: Lightened (literally: Fast)
- KV-1S
SP – Soprovzhdeniya Pekhoty: Infantry support
- T-126(SP)
U – Uluchshenny: Improved
- Pr. 7U
V – Vzryvnoy: Explosive (Reactive Armour)
- T-64BV
T – Torpedonosets: Torpedo bomber

(RU) Historical Name

IS – Iosef Stalin (tank)
- IS-1
KV – Kliment Voroshilov (tank)
- KV-2 (1939)
SMK – Sergey Mironovich Kirov (tank)
- SMK

(RU) Manufacturer/Designer

ACh – Aleksei Charomsky
- Yer-2 (ACh-30B) (e): Yermolayev Yer-2 with 2 Charomsky ACh-30B diesel engines
AM – Aleksandr Mikulin
- Su-6 (AM-42): Su-6 with Mikulin AM-42 V-12 engine
ANT – Andrei Nikolaevich Tupolev
Ar – Arkhangelsky
- Arkhangelsky Ar-2
BI – Bereznyak-Isayev
- Bereznyak-Isayev BI
GAZ – Gorkovsky Avtomobilny Zavod: Gorky Automobile Factory
- GAZ-AAA (4M)
Il – Ilyushin
- Ilyushin IL-2M (1943)
KS – Krasnoye Sormovo
La – Lavochkin
- Lavochkin La-5
LaGG – Lavochkin-Gorbunov-Gudkov
- Lavochkin-Gorbunov-Gudkov LaGG-3-66
M – Myasishchev
MAI – Moskovsky Avyatsyonny Instytut Moscow Aviation Institute
- Tandem MAI
Mi – Mil
- Mil Mi-24A
MiG – Mikoyan-Gurevich
- Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15
OKB – Opytno-Konstruktorskoye Buro: Experimental Design Bureau
Pe – Petlyakov
- Petlyakov Pe-2-1
Po – Polikarpov
- Polikarpov Po-2
STZ – Stalingradsky Traktoriy Zavod: Stalingrad Tractor Factory
- T-34E STZ
Su – Sukhoi
- Sukhoi Su-2 MV-5
Tu – Tupolev
- Tupolev Tu-2S-44
VK – Vladimir Klimov
- Yak-3 (VK-107): Yakovlev Yak-3 with Klimov VK-107 V-12 engine
Yak – Yakovlev
- Yakovlev Yak-1
Yer – Yermolayev
- Yermolayev Yer-2 (M-105)
ZiS – Zavod imeni Stalina: Factory named after Stalin
- ZiS-30

(RU) Military