Difference between revisions of "Abbreviations"

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** '''CAIC – Changhe Aviation Industries Corporation [Factory 372]''' (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
 
** '''CAIC – Changhe Aviation Industries Corporation [Factory 372]''' (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 [Factory 132]''' (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
 
** '''CAC – Chengdu Aerospace Industry [Factory 132]''' (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
−
** '''GAIC – Guizhou Aircraft Industry Corporation [Factory 162]''' (中航贵州机飞机(责任)有限公司)in Anshun, Guizhou (贵州省安顺市); specialized on UCAV and trainer jets, previously interceptors.
+
** '''GAIC – Guizhou Aircraft Industry Corporation [Factory 162]''' (中航贵州机飞机(责任)有限公司) in Anshun, Guizhou (贵州省安顺市); specialized on UCAV and trainer jets, previously interceptors.
 
** '''HAIG Hafei – Harbin Aircraft Industry Group [Factory 122]''' (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 Hafei – Harbin Aircraft Industry Group [Factory 122]''' (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 [Factory 320]''' (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
 
** '''HAIG Hongdu – Hongdu Aircraft Industry Group [Factory 320]''' (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)
 
*** previously '''NAMC – Nanchang Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation''' (南昌飞机制造厂)
 
** '''SAC – Shenyang Aircraft Industry [Factory 112]''' (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
 
** '''SAC – Shenyang Aircraft Industry [Factory 112]''' (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[Factory 172]''' (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
+
** '''XAC – Xi'an Aircraft Industry [Factory 172]''' (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))
 
* '''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)
 
* '''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)

Revision as of 10:43, 21 December 2021

‎‎

Abbreviations per language A-Z (quicklinks)
A N
B O
C Chinese
Czech 		P Polish
D Q
E English R Romanian
Russian
F Finnish
French 		S Swedish
G German T
H U
I Italian V
J Japanese W
K X
L Y
M Z

Contents

Chinese

Chinese abbreviations (quicklinks)‎
Back to the language table
Chinese is spoken as a military language in the following countries:
  • (PRC) People's Republic of China
Listed as (CN) Mainland China
  • (ROC) Republic of China
Listed as (TW) Island of Taiwan

Vehicle

Weaponry and munition

Manufacturer/Designer

Military

(CN) Vehicle

(CN) Air

Prefix Chinese Full title Meaning Example
First Second
C J 初教 初级教练机 Basic Trainer CJ-6
H - 轰 轰炸机 Bomber H-5
J - 歼 歼击机 Fighter/Interceptor J-6A
H 歼轰 歼击轰炸机 Fighter-Bomber JH-7A
L 教练 教练机 Trainer JL-9
Z 歼侦 歼击侦察机 Fighter-Reconnaissance JZ-8F
K J 空警 空中预警机 AEWCS KJ-2000
Q - 强 强击机 Attacker Q-5A
S H 水轰 水上轰炸机 Hydroplane Bomber SH-5
Y - 运 运输机 Transport Y-20
Z - 直 直升机 Helicopter Z-9

(CN) Ground

This list is in accordance to the now obsolete GJB 4528-2002 《装甲车辆命名规则》 (Standard Nomenclature Details of Armored Vehicles) accepted on 01/05/2003. A new standard was issued on 01/10/2012 (currently classified). See User:Sakaban_Sharkigu's page.

(Strikethroughs need further clarification under current naming standards)

* Wheeled assault guns were counted as artillery in the early 2000s, but were counted as heavy composite armoured brigades from 2016.

1st Letter 2nd Letter 3rd Letter Number Example
Z – 装甲车辆 – AFV B – 步兵战车 – IFV D – 履带 – Tracked

L – 轮式 – Wheeled

1900-2099

(The first 2 digits can be ignored in normal use)

ZBD86
G – 工程保障车辆 – Engineering support vehicle Q – 架桥 – Bridge layer

L – 扫(布)雷 – Mine sweeper/layer

G – 工程作业车 – Engineering operation

ZGQ84


ZGG84

S – 装甲输送车 – APC D – 履带 – Tracked

L – 轮式 – Wheeled

ZSD63

ZSL92

T – 坦克 – Tank D – 履带 – Tracked

L – 轮式 – Wheeled

Q – 轻型 – Light

Z – 主战/中型坦克 – Main battle/medium tank

S – 水陆 – Amphibious (literally: Water and land)

ZTD05

ZTL11

ZTQ62

ZTZ99

ZTS63

Z – 战斗勤务车辆 – Combat service vehicle Z – 指挥 – Command

C – 侦察 – Scout

T – 通信 – Communication

D – 电子对抗 – ECM

M – 密钥加注 – Battlefield cryptography

F – 防爆 – EOD (literally: Anti-explosion)

X – 综合信息 – Integrated battlefield information

ZZZ81

ZZC81

ZZT1

P – 炮 – Artillery G – 高射炮 – Anti-aircraft gun (literally: High firing gun) L – 轮式 – Wheeled

Z – 自走 – Self-propelled

PGZ04A
H – 火箭弹 – Rocket PHL03

PHZ89

L – 榴弹炮 – Howitzer / Gun-mortar (literally: grenade gun) PLL05

PLZ05

T – 突击炮 – Assault gun PTL97

*PTL02

Additionally, numerous vehicles come with an "industrial code", such as WZ123 for the ZTZ99 series. These are typically indicative of the manufacturer and purpose of the vehicle, for example the second letter "W" indicates an export model, while most "WZ" series vehicles are intended for domestic service only.

Designation Example
WZ – 五机部装甲车辆 – 5th Ministry of Machine Building armoured vehicle WZ120 (ZTZ59A)
BW – 包头外贸 – Baotou Foreign Trade (Export) BW121 (ZTZ69-II)
BK – 包头科研 – Baotou Scientific Research BK1990
YW – 永定外贸 – Yongding Foreign Trade (Export) YW531 (ZSD63)

(CN) Weaponry and munition

  • 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)
  • 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)
  • 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 [Factory 372] (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 [Factory 132] (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
    • GAIC – Guizhou Aircraft Industry Corporation [Factory 162] (中航贵州机飞机(责任)有限公司) in Anshun, Guizhou (贵州省安顺市); specialized on UCAV and trainer jets, previously interceptors.
    • HAIG Hafei – Harbin Aircraft Industry Group [Factory 122] (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 [Factory 320] (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 [Factory 112] (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 [Factory 172] (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)‎
Back to the language table
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

Manufacturer/Designer

(CS) Vehicle

(CS) Air

  • C – Cvicna letadla: Trainer
  • S – Stihaci: Fighter
  • 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

Manufacturer/Designer

Weaponry

Munition

Military

(AU) Vehicle

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

(CA) Vehicle

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

(NZ) Vehicle

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

(UK) Vehicle

(US) Vehicle

(US) Ground

(US) Air

(US) Army (pre-1962)

  • A – Attack
  • P – Pursuit
  • B – Bomber
  • F – Fighter
  • H – Helicopter
  • X – Experimental
    • XA-38: Experimental Attacker 38
  • Y – Pre-production test

(US) Navy (pre-1962)

  • A – Attacker
  • F – Fighter
  • BT – Bomber (torpedo)
  • P – Patrol
  • PB – Patrol Bomber
  • SB – Scout Bomber (Dive bomber):
  • TB – Torpedo Bomber
  • OS – Observation Scout
    • OS2U-1: Navy Observation Scout 2, Vought No.1

(US) Post 1962

  • AH – Attack Helicopter
  • UH – Utility Helicopter

(US) Naval

(AU) Manufacturer/Designer

(UK) Manufacturer/Designer

(US) Manufacturer/Designer

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

(US)(Army) Air Force

  • BN – Boeing (Renton plant, Washington)
  • CO – Consolidated (San Diego plant, California)
  • DT – Douglas (Tulsa plant, Oklahoma)
  • DB – Douglas Bomber (company designation)
  • LO – Lockheed (Burbank plant, California)
  • NA – North American (Inglewood plant, California)
  • RE – Republic (Farmingdale plant, New York)
  • VE – Vega (Burbank plant, California)

(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)
  • Y – Consolidated

(UK) Weaponry

  • BL – Breech-loading (cannon): Usually for (naval) guns of 5 inch calibre and upwards.
  • QF – Quick-firing (cannon): Usually for (naval) guns of up to 5 inch calibre.
  • 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)
  • ADEN – Armament Development Establishment, Enfield
  • RARDEN – Royal Armament, Research and Development Establishment, Enfield
  • pdr – Pounder: Gun designations based on the pound (lb) weight of their projectiles.
  • cwt – Hundredweight (centum weight): Gun designations based on weight (barrel and breech) in cwt (1 cwt = 112 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
  • AGM – Air-launched, Ground-attack, Missile
  • AIM – Air-launched, Interception, Missile
  • BGM – Multi-launched, Ground-attack, Missile
  • VADS – Vulcan Air Defense System
  • AN – Army/Navy
  • HB – Heavy Barrel

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

(US) Munition

(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
  • USN – United States Navy
  • VMF – Marine Fighter Squadron: V – Fixed-wing aircraft, M – Marine Corps, F – Fighter
  • VMA – Marine Attacker Squadron: V – Fixed-wing aircraft, M – Marine Corps, A – Attacker

Finnish

Finnish abbreviations (quicklinks)‎
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Vehicle

Weaponry

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)
  • 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)
    • 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)
  • MT – Messerschmitt (Designation for the Messerschmitt Bf 109 series)
  • 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

  • LKk – LentoKonekivääri : Aircraft machine gun (literally: Air Machine rifle)
  • 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

Weaponry

Munition

Prefix/Suffix

Manufacturer/Designer

Military

(FR) Vehicle

  • Char – Char de bataille: Battle tank
  • AMC – Automitrailleuse de Combat: Combat machine gun (vehicle)
  • AMD – Automitrailleuse de Découverte: Scout machine gun (vehicle)
  • AMR – Automitrailleuse de Reconnaissance: Scout machine gun (vehicle)
  • AML – Automitrailleuse Légère: Light machine gun (vehicle)
  • DCA – Défense contre avions: Anti-air defense
  • 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)
  • CAu – Canon automoteur: Self-propelled gun
  • TRC – Tracteur de ravitaillement pour chars: Tank supply tractor
  • RC – Roues-Canon: Wheeled gun (carrier)
  • Mle – Modèle: Model

(FR) Weaponry

  • AAT – Arme Automatique Transformable: general-purpose machine gun
  • SA – Semi-automatique: Semi-automatic (cannon)
  • CA – Canon antiaérien: Anti-aircraft cannon
  • CN – Canon: cannon (tank)
  • CAD – Canon antiaérien double: Twin (mount) anti-aircraft cannon
  • CAQ – Canon antiaérien quadruple: Quad (mount) anti-aircraft cannon
  • T – Tourelle: turret-mounted (aircraft)

(FR) Munition

  • ACRA – Anti-Char Rapide Autopropulsé:Anti-Tank Quick Self-propelled (missile)
  • 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)
  • 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)
  • AS – Air-Sol: Air-to-ground (missile)
  • SS – Sol-Sol: Ground-to-ground (missile)
  • TP – Traceuse Perforante: Armour-piercing Tracer shell

(FR) Prefix/Suffix

  • bis: Second (iteration)
  • ter: Third (iteration)

(FR) Manufacturer/Designer

  • AMX – Atelier de Construction d'Issy-Les-Moulineaux: Issy-Les-Moulineaux construction workshop
  • APX – Atelier de Puteaux
  • ACL – Atelier et Chantiers de la Loire
  • ARL – Atelier de Construction de Rueil: Rueil construction workshop
  • GIAT – Groupement Industriel de l'Armement Terrestre Industrial group for land weapon systems
  • 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
  • SA/SNCASE – Société Nationale de Constructions Aéronautiques du Sud-Est
  • SO/SNCASO – Société Nationale de Constructions Aéronautiques du Sud-Ouest
  • FCM – Forges et Chantiers de la Méditerranée
  • DEFA – Direction des Études et Fabrications d'Armes
  • MAC – Manufacture d'Armes de Châtellerault: Châtellerault weapons manufacturer
  • FN – Fabrique Nationale
  • FL – Fives-Lille
  • R – Renault
  • H – Hotchkiss
  • L – Lorraine
  • D – Dewoitine
  • C/CR – Caudron(-Renault)
  • MS – Morane-Saulnier
  • F – Farman
  • MB – Marcel Bloch (renamed to Dassault in 1949)
  • MD – Marcel Dassault
  • LeO – Lioré-et-Olivier
  • VG – Arsenal (named after Michel Vernisse and Jean Galtier)
  • VB – Arsenal (named after Michel Vernisse and Michel Badie)
  • HS – Hispano-Suiza

(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

Weaponry

Munition

Prefix/Suffix

Manufacturer/Designer

Military

(DE) Vehicle

(DE) Ground

  • Pz. – Panzer: Tank (literally: Armour)
  • Pz.Kpfw. – Panzerkampfwagen: Tank (literally: Armour combat vehicle)
  • Sd.Kfz. – Sonderkraftfahrzeug: Special purpose vehicle (index number assigned to all armed forces vehicles)
  • Pz.Sp.Wg. – Panzerspähwagen: Armoured scout vehicle
  • KPz – Kampfpanzer: Battle tank (modern designation)
  • FlaKPz – Flugabwehrkanonenpanzer: Anti-air cannon tank
  • StuG – Sturmgeschütz: Assault gun
  • StuH – Sturmhaubitze: Assault howitzer
  • Bfw. – Befehlswagen: Command vehicle
  • Pz.Bfw./Pz.Bef.Wg. – Panzerbefehlswagen: Command tank
  • JPz/JgPz/JgdPz – Jagdpanzer: (Tank based) tank destroyer (literally: Hunting tank)
  • RakJPz – Raketenjagdpanzer: (Missile-carrier based) tank destroyer (literally: Missile hunting tank)
  • PzJg – Panzerjäger: (SPG based) tank destroyer (literally: Tank hunter)
  • Pz.W./Pz.Wfr. – Panzerwerfer: Anti-tank rocket launcher (literally: Tank thrower)
  • SpPz – Spähpanzer: Scout tank
  • SPz – Schützenpanzer: Infantry fighting vehicle (literally: Protective tank)
  • VK – Versuchskonstruktion: Trial design (literally: Experimental construction) or Vollketten/Vollkettenfahzeug: Fully tracked/Fully tracked vehicle
  • VT – Versuchsträger: Test-bed (literally: Experiment carrier)
  • WT – Waffenträger: Self-propelled gun (literally: Weapon carrier)
  • Ausf. – Ausführung: Model
  • E – Entwicklung: Development (refers to the proposed standardised tank development projects)
  • Fgst. – Fahrgestell: Chassis
  • Sfl. – Sonderfahrgestell: Special chassis
  • Sf. – Selbstfahrend: Self-propelled
  • 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

(DE) Naval

  • Z – Zerstörer: Destroyer
  • K – Kanonenboot: Gun boat
  • T – Torpedoboot: Torpedo boat
  • R – Räumboot: Mine sweeper
  • S – Schnellboot: Fast attack craft
  • LS – Leichte-Schnellboot: Light fast attack craft
  • VS – Versuchs-Schnellboot: Experimental fast attack craft
  • SF – Siebelfähre: Siebel ferry (named after Friedrich Siebel)
  • AF/AFP – Artilleriefährprahm: Artillery ferry barge
  • MZ – Mehrzweckboot: Multi-purpose boat
  • U – Unterseeboot: Submarine

(CH) Weaponry

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

(DE) Weaponry

  • FH – Feldhaubitze: Field howitzer
  • IG – Infanteriegeschütz: Infantry gun
  • Sfl – Selbsfahrlafette: Self-propelled gun (literally: Self-propelled mount/chassis/underlayer)
  • KwK – Kampfwagenkanone: Tank gun (literally: Combat vehicle cannon)
  • PaK – Panzerabwehrkanone: Anti-tank gun (literally: Armour-defense cannon)
  • FlaK – Flugabwehrkanone: Anti-air gun (literally: Air-defense cannon)
  • MG – Maschinengewehr: Machine gun (literally: Machine rifle)
  • MG FF – Maschinengewehr Flügel-Fest: Machine gun wing-fixed
  • MG FF/M – Maschinengewehr Flügel-Fest/Minengeschoß: Machine gun wing-fixed/mineshot
  • MK – Maschinenkanone: Auto-cannon (literally: Machine cannon), occasionally Motorkanone, cannon firing through engine
  • SK – Schiffskanone: Ship cannon (originally used as Schnellfeuerkanone: Quick-firing cannon during WWI)
  • TbtK – Torpedobootskanone: Torpedo boat cannon (also used for some destroyer turrets/guns)
  • BK – Bordkanone: Board cannon (large calibre guns equipped to aircraft)
  • 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)
  • C/ – Construktionsjahr: Year of construction (archaic spelling of Konstruktion)
  • 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

(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
  • (e) – englisch: British captured vehicle
  • (t) – tschechisch: Czech captured vehicle
  • (a) – amerikanisch: American captured vehicle
  • (f) – französisch: French captured vehicle
  • U – Umbau: Conversion (kit)
  • R – Rüstsatz: Upgrade (kit)
  • /Trop – Tropen: Tropic (variant with air filters)
  • (Mob) – Mobilmachung: Mobilization (design modification aimed at simplified and thus faster construction)

(DE) Manufacturer/Designer

(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

Manufacturer/Designer

Weaponry

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)
  • SIDAM – Sistema Italiano di Difesa Aerea Mobile: Italian system for mobile air-defense

(IT) Manufacturer/Designer

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
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
Castoldi named after Mario Castoldi
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
Zappata named after Filippo Zappata
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

Affix Meaning Translation Example
A Artigliere Artillery P.108A
AS Aerosilurante Air torpedo G.55S
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
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

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
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
  • 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.

(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

(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

Polish

(PL) Vehicle

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

Romanian

(RO) Manufacturer/Designer

  • IAR – Industria Aeronautică Română: Romanian Aeronautic Industry

Russian

Russian abbreviations (quicklinks)‎
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Vehicle

Weaponry

Munition

Prefix/Suffix

Historical Name

Manufacturer/Designer

Military

(RU) Vehicle

(RU) Ground

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

(RU) Air

  • BB – Blizhny Bombardirovschik: Short-range bomber
  • DB – Dalny Bombardirovschik: Long-range bomber
  • I – Istrebitel: Fighter (airplane)
  • ITP – Istrebitel Tyazholiy Pushechniy: Heavy Cannon Fighter (literally: Fighter Heavy Cannon)
  • MBR – Morskoi Blizhny Razvedchik: Naval short-range reconnaissance (airplane)
  • SB – Skorostnoi Bombardirovschik: Fast bomber
  • TB – Tyazholy Bombardirovschik: Heavy bomber
  • TIS – Tyazholyy Istrebitel Soprovozhdeniya: Heavy Escort Fighter (literally: Heavy Fighter Escort)
  • U – Uchebny: Trainer (airplane)
    • Polikarpov U-2 (original designation of the Po-2)

(RU) Naval

  • MO – Malyi Okhotnik: Small submarine chaser (literally: Small hunter)
  • BMO – Bronirovanny Malyi Okhotnik: Armoured small submarine chaser (literally: Armed small hunter)
  • MPK – Malyi Protivolodochnoi Korabl: Small anti-submarine ship
  • MBK – Morskoi Bronekater: Armoured gunboat (literally: Naval combat cutter)
  • SKR – Storozhevoi Korabl: Observation ship

(RU) Weaponry

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

(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)
  • E – Ekranami: Up-armoured (literally: With screens)
  • M – Modernizirovany: Modernized
  • S – Skorokhodnuyu: Lightened (literally: Fast)
  • SP – Soprovzhdeniya Pekhoty: Infantry support
  • U – Uluchshenny: Improved
  • V – Vzryvnoy: Explosive (Reactive Armour)
  • T – Torpedonosets: Torpedo bomber

(RU) Historical Name

  • IS – Iosef Stalin (tank)
  • KV – Kliment Voroshilov (tank)
  • SMK – Sergey Mironovich Kirov (tank)

(RU) Manufacturer/Designer

  • ACh – Aleksei Charomsky
  • AM – Aleksandr Mikulin
  • ANT – Andrei Nikolaevich Tupolev
  • Ar – Arkhangelsky
  • BI – Bereznyak-Isayev
    • Bereznyak-Isayev BI
  • GAZ – Gorkovsky Avtomobilny Zavod: Gorky Automobile Factory
  • Il – Ilyushin
  • KS – Krasnoye Sormovo
  • La – Lavochkin
  • LaGG – Lavochkin-Gorbunov-Gudkov
  • M – Myasishchev
  • MAI – Moskovsky Avyatsyonny Instytut Moscow Aviation Institute
  • Mi – Mil
  • MiG – Mikoyan-Gurevich
  • OKB – Opytno-Konstruktorskoye Buro: Experimental Design Bureau
  • Pe – Petlyakov
  • Po – Polikarpov
  • STZ – Stalingradsky Traktoriy Zavod: Stalingrad Tractor Factory
  • Su – Sukhoi
  • Tu – Tupolev
  • VK – Vladimir Klimov
  • Yak – Yakovlev
  • Yer – Yermolayev
  • ZiS – Zavod imeni Stalina: Factory named after Stalin

(RU) Military

  • VVS – Voyenno-Vozdushnye Sily: Soviet air force (literally: Military air force)
  • VMF – Voyenno-Morskoy Flot: Soviet Navy (literally: Military maritime fleet)
  • SA – Sovetskaya Armiya: Soviet army
  • IAP – Istrebitelny Aviatsionny Polk: Fighter air regiment
  • GvIAP – Gvardeysky Istrebitelny Aviatsionny Polk: Guards fighter air regiment
  • ShAP – Shturmovoy Aviatsionny Polk: Ground attack air regiment

Swedish

Swedish abbreviations (quicklinks)‎
Back to the language table
Swedish is spoken as a military language in the following countries:
  • (FI) Finland
  • (SE) Sweden

Vehicle

Prefix/Suffix

Weaponry

Munition

(SE) Vehicle

(SE) Ground

vagn (wagon) indicates that the vehicle is "tracked" while bil (from Automobile, car) indicates that the vehicle is "wheeled".

  • strv – stridsvagn: Tank (literally: Combat wagon)
  • strf – stridsfordon: (Heavy) infantry fighting vehicle (literally: Combat vehicle)
  • tgdb – terrängdragbil: Off-road tractor unit (literally: Terrain pull-car)
  • sav – stormartillerivagn: Assault gun (pre 1950s designation, literally: Assault artillery wagon)
  • ikv – infanterikanonvagn: Assault gun (post 1950s designation, literally: Infantry cannon wagon)
  • pvkv – pansarvärnskanonvagn: Tracked self-propelled anti-tank gun (literally: Anti-armour cannon wagon)
  • lvkv – luftvärnskanonvagn: Tracked self-propelled anti-air gun (literally: Anti-air cannon wagon)
  • lvrbv – pansarvärnsrobotvagn: Tracked self-propelled anti-tank missile (literally: Anti-armour robot wagon)
  • lvrbv – luftvärnsrobotvagn: Tracked self-propelled anti-air missile (literally: Anti-air robot wagon)

(SE) Air

  • fpl – flygplan: Aeroplane
  • hkp – helikopter Helicopter

(SE) Prefix/Suffix

(SE) Air force

  • A – Attack: Strike Aircraft/Attacker
  • B – Bomb: Bomber
  • J – Jakt: Pursuit Aircraft/Fighter (Jakt = Pursuit)
  • S – Spaning: Reconnaissance Aircraft (Spaning = Scouting)
  • SK – Skol: Trainer Aircraft (Skol = School)
  • T – Torped: Torpedo Bomber
  • Ö – Övning: Advanced Trainer Aircraft (Övning = Practice)

(SE) Ground projects

  • VEAK – Vagn Eldledning AutomatKanon: Wagon Fire-control AutoCannon (literall)
  • UDES – Underlagsgrupp Direkt Eld Stridsfordon: Material group Direct Fire Combat vehicle (literall)

(SE) Weaponry

(SE) Munition

  • gr – granat: Grenade (synonymous with shell)
  • prj – projektil: Projectile (often as a substitute for fullprj – fullprojektil) Solid projectile (literally: Full projectile)
  • sl – spårljus: Tracer (literally: Track light)
  • pprj – pansarprojektil: Armour-piercing projectile (literally: Armour projectile)
  • pgr – pansargranat: Armour-piercing shell (literally: Armour grenade)
  • hpgr – halvpansargranat: Semi-armour-piercing shell (literally: Half armour grenade)
  • sgr – spränggranat: High-explosive shell (literally: Burst grenade)
  • spgr- sprängpansargranat: High-Explosive Squash-Head shell (literally: Burst armour grenade)
  • psgr – pansarspränggranat: High-Explosive Anti-Tank shell (literally: Armour burst grenade)
  • rökgr – rökgranat: Smoke shell (literally: Smoke grenade)
  • rb – robot: Missile (literally: "robot")
  • srak – sprängraket: High-explosive rocket (literally: Burst rocket)
  • psrak – pansarsprängraket: High-Explosive Anti-Tank rocket (literally: Armour burst rocket)
  • hprak – Halvpansarraket Semi-armour-piercing High-Explosive rocket (literally: Half-armour rocket)
  • mb – minbomb High capacity / General purpose bomb (literally: Mine bomb)
  • sb – sprängbomb High-Explosive Fragmentation bomb (literally: Burst bomb)
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