Abbreviations

‎‎

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

Chinese

Chinese abbreviations (quicklinks)‎
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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 (CN) Vehicle (CN) Air (CN) Ground Weaponry and munition (CN) Weaponry and munition (TW) Weaponry and munition Manufacturer/Designer (CN) Manufacturer/Designer (TW) Manufacturer/Designer Military (CN) Military structure (TW) Military structure

(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.
** This is one of the few exceptions to the year-naming convention.

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. There are also numerous variations, including WMZ (e.g. WMZ551), WZG (e.g. WZG121), WXLZ (e.g. WXLZ602), and more.

Designation	Example
WZ – 五机部装甲车辆 – 5th Ministry of Machine Building armoured vehicle	WZ120 (ZTZ59)
WA - Unknown	WA320 (PTZ89)
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)
YD - Unknown	YD801

(CN) Weaponry and munition

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• 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)
• FM – 飞蠓: Export sea and land based SAM (literally: Flying midge)
• 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

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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

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• 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

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• 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
• GR – Ground attack/Reconnaissance
  • Harrier GR.1
• B – Bomber
  • Lancaster B Mk III
• B(I) – Bomber (Interdictor)
  • Canberra B (I) Mk 6
• MR – Maritime Reconaissance
  • Shackleton MR. 2
• S – Strike
  • Buccanneer S.2
• 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

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(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
• LST – Landing Ship, Tank
• LVT – Landing Vehicle, Tracked
  • LVT(A)(1)
• (A) – Armored
  • LVT(A)(1)
• HMC – Howitzer Motor Carriage
  • M8 HMC
• 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
• CFV – Cavalry Fighting Vehicle
  • M3A3 CFV
• IFV – Infantry Fighting Vehicle
• MBT – Main Battle Tank
  • MBT-70
• MGS – Mobile Gun System
  • M1128 MGS
• HC – Heavy Common
  • M1A1 HC
• IP – Improved Performance
  • IPM1
• (RISE) – Reliability Improved Selected Equipment
  • M60A1 RISE (P)
• (AOS) – Add-On Stabilization
  • M60A1 (AOS)
• TTS — Tank Thermal Sight
  • M60A3 TTS
• 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

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(US) Army (pre-1962)

Code	Meaning	Example
A	Attacker	A-26
B	Bomber	B-17
F	Fighter	F-100
H	Helicopter	H-34
P	Pursuit	P-38
X-	Experimental	XA-38
Y-	Pre-production test	YP-38

(US) Navy (pre-1962)

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• 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

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• USS – United States Ship: Honorific styling
  • USS Pensacola (CA-24)
• AM – Minesweeper
  • USS Candid (AM-154)
• DD – Destroyer
  • Fletcher (DD-445)
• DL – Destroyer Leader
  • USS Wilkinson (DL-5)
• 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)
• PF - Patrol Frigate
  • USS Hoquiam (PF-5)
• PG – Patrol Gunboat
  • PG 02
• PGH – Patrol Gunboat Hydrofoil
  • PGH-2
• PGM – Patrol Gunboat Motor (later PG)
  • USS Asheville (PGM-84)
• 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)
• (L) – Large
  • LCS(L)(3)
• SS – Submarine
• SSN – Submarine, Nuclear-powered
• SSBN – Ballistic Missile Submarine, Nuclear-powered

(AU) Manufacturer/Designer

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• 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
  • BAe Swingfire
• G – Gloster
  • Meteor F Mk 8 G.41K
• MB – Martin-Baker
  • MB.5

(US) Manufacturer/Designer

Back to the English table

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

(US)(Army) Air Force

Code	Manufacturer	Location	Example
AD	Aero Design & Engineering Co.	Bethany, OK
AE	Aeronca	Middletown, OH
AG	Air Glider	Akron, OH
AH	American Helicopter	Manhattan Beach, CA
AV	Avro Canada	Montreal, QC, Canada
BA	Bell Aircraft Co.	Atlanta, GA
BB	Babcock Aircraft	DeLand, FL
BC	Bell Aerosystems	Buffalo, NY
BE	Bell Aircraft Co.	Buffalo, NT
BF	Bell Aircraft Co.	Fort Worth, TX
BH	Beechcraft Aircraft Co.	Wichita, KS
BL	Bellanca	New Castle, DE
BN	Boeing	Renton, WA	B-29A-BN
BO	Boeing	Seattle, WA
BR	Briegleb Sailplane	Beverley Hills, CA
BS	Bowlus	San Francisco, CA
BU	Budd	Philadelphia, PA
BV	Boeing-Vertol	Morton, PA
BW	Boeing	Wichita, KS
CA	Chase Aircraft	West Trenton, NJ
CC	Canadian Commercial Corp.	Toronto, ON, Canada
CE	Cessna	Wichita, KS
CF	Convair / Consolidated-Vultee	Fort Worth, TX
CH	Christopher Aircraft	St. Louis, MO
CK	Curtiss-Wright	Louisville, KY
CL	Culver	Wichita, KS
CM	Commonwealth Aircraft	Kansas City, MO
CN	Chase Aircraft	Willow Run, MI
CO	Convair / Consolidated-Vultee	San Diego, CA	B-24D-25-CO
CR	Cornelius	Dayton, OH
CS	Curtiss-Wright	St. Louis, MO
CU	Curtiss-Wright	Buffalo, NY	P-40F-10-CU¹
CV	(Chance) Vought	Dallas, TX
CAN	Canadair Ltd.	Canada
DA	Doak Aircraft	Torrance, CA
DC	Douglas Aircraft Co.	Chicago, IL
DE	Douglas Aircraft Co.	El Segundo, CA
DH	De Havilland Canada	Toronto, ON, Canada
DJ	SNCA Sud-Ouest	Marignane, France
DK	Douglas Aircraft Co.	Oklahoma City, OK
DL	Douglas Aircraft Co.	Long Beach, CA
DM	Doman Helicopter	Danbury, CT
DO	Douglas Aircraft Co.	Santa Monica, CA
DT	Douglas Aircraft Co.	Tulsa, OK	A-26C-45-DT
FA	Fairchild	Hagerstown, MD
FB	Fairchild	Burlington, NC
FE	Fleet	Fort Erie, ON, Canada
FL	Fleetwings	Bristol, PA
FO	Ford	Willow Run, MI
FR	Frankfort	Joliet, IL
FS	Firestone	Los Angeles, CA
FT	Fletcher Aviation	Pasadena, CA
FIAT	Fiat Aviation	Italy	F-86K-FIAT¹
GA	G & A Aircraft	Willow Grove, PA
GC	General Motors (Fisher)	Cleveland, OH
GE	General Aircraft	Astoria, Long Island, NY
GF	Globe	Fort Worth, TX
GK	General Motors	Kansas City, KS
GM	General Motors (Fisher)	Detroit, MI
GN	Gibson Refrigerator	Greenville, MI
GO	Goodyear Aircraft Co.	Akron, OH
GR	Grumman Aircraft Engineering Co.	Bethpage, Long Island, NY
GT	Grand Central Aircraft Eng.	Tucson, AZ
GY	Gyrodyne Co., of America	St. James, Long Island, NY
HE	Helio	Norwood, MA
HI	Higgins Aircraft	New Orleans, LA
HI	Hiller	Palo Alto, CA
HO	Howard Aircraft	Chicago, IL
HP	Handey Page	Radlett, Herts, UK
HS	Hawker Siddeley Aviation	Kingston, Surrey, UK
HU	Hughes Aircraft	Culver City & San Diego CA
IN	Interstate A. & Eng.	El Segundo, CA
KA	Kaman	Windsor Locks, CT
KE	Kellet	Philadelphia, PA
KM	Kaiser Manufacturing	Willow Run, MI
LK	Laister-Kauffman	St. Louis, MO
LM	Lockheed Aircraft	Marietta, GA
LO	Lockheed Aircraft	Burbank, CA	P-38L-5-LO
MA	Glenn L. Martin Co.	Baltimore, MD
MC	McDonnell Aircraft Co.	St. Louis, MO
MD	Glenn L. Martin Co.	Baltimore, MD
MF	Glenn L. Martin Co.	Orlando, FL
MH	McCulloch Motors	Los Angeles, CA
MM	McDonnell Aircraft Co.	Memphis, TN
MIT	Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd.	Japan	F-86F-40-MIT¹
MO	Glenn L. Martin Co.	Omaha, NE
NA	North American Aviation	Inglewood, CA	P-51H-5-NA
NC	North American Aviation	Kansas City, KS
ND	Noorduyn Aviation	Montreal, QC, Canada
NF	North American Aviation	Fresno, CA
NH	North American Aviation	Columbus, OH
NI	North American Aviation	Downey, CA
NK	Nash-Kelvinator	Detroit, MI
NO	Northrop Co.	Hawthorne, CA	P-61C-1-NO¹
NT	North American Aviation	Dallas, TX	P-51C-11-NT
NW	Northwestern Aeronautical Co.	St. Paul, MN
OM	On Mark Engineering	Van Nuys, CA
PA	Piper	Lock Haven, PA
PH	Piasecki	Morton, PA
PI	Piper	Lockhaven, PA
PI	Piasecki	Philadelphia, PA
PL	Platt-LePage	Eddystone, PA
PR	Pratt, Read & Co.	Deep River, CT
RA	Republic Aircraft Co.	Evansville, IN	P-47D-23-RA
RD	Read-York	Kenosha, WI
RE	Republic Aircraft Co.	Farmingdale, Long Island, NY	F-84G-21-RE
RI	Ridgefield Mfg.	Ridgeville, NJ
RO	Robertson Aircraft	St. Louis, MO
RP	The Radioplane Co.	Van Nuys, CA
RY	Ryan Aeronautical	San Diego, CA
SA	Stroukoff	West Trenton, NJ
SE	Seibel Helicopter	Wichita, KS
SI	Sikorsky Aircraft Co.	Stratford, CT
SL	St. Louis Aircraft	St. Louis, MO
SP	Spartan	Tulsa, OK
SW	Schweizer	Elmira, NY
TA	Taylorcraft	Alliance, OH
TE	Temco	Dallas, TX
TG	Texas Engineering & Manufacturing	Greenville, TX
TI	Timm	Van Nuys, CA
TP	Texas Engineering & Manufacturing	Grand Prairie, TX
UH	United Helicopter	Palto Alto, CA
UN	Universal Molded Products	Bristol, VA
VE	Vega Aircraft Corp.	Burbank, CA	B-17G-60-VE
VI	Canadian Vickers	Montreal, Canada
VL	Vertol Aircraft	Morton, PA
VN	Vultee	Nashville, TN
VO	Chance Vought	Dallas, TX
VU	Vultee	Downey, CA
VW	Vultee	Wayne, MI
WA	Ward Furniture Co.	Fort Smith, AR
WI	Wichita Engineering	Wichita Falls, TX
WO	Waco	Troy, OH

Notes:

1. Not designated as such in-game.

(US) Navy

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• 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

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• 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

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• 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
• VADS – Vulcan Air Defense System
• AN – Army/Navy
  • AN/M2 (20 mm)
• HB – Heavy Barrel
  • M2HB (12.7 mm)

The 1963 tri-service designation system introcued 3-letter coddes for all unmanned guided vehicles (missiles, drones, and probes). This is not a complete list and only contains relevant listings.

First Letter (launch environment)	Second Letter (mission type)	Third Letter (projectile type)	Examples
A – Air-launched	G – Surface-Attack	M – Missile	BGM-71A TOW AIM-9B Sidewinder AGM-12B Bullpup UGM-133 Trident II MGM-51B Shillelagh MIM-146 ADATS
B – Multiple-launched
M – Mobile-launched	I – Intercept-Aerial
U – Underwater-launched

Munition

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• 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 – Forward-Firing Aircraft Rocket or Folding-Fin Aerial Rocket
  • FFAR Mighty Mouse
• WAFAR – Wrap-Around Fin Aerial Rocket
• SSWAFAR – Spin-Stabilized Wrap-Around Fin Aerial Rocket

(AU) Military

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• 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

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• 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
  • E.B.R. (1954)
• 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
• CC – Chasseur de Chars:' Tank destroyer (literally: Tank hunter)
  • CC Lorraine
• 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

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• 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

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• 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

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• 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
  • Lorraine 37L
• 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

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• 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 most 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
• SPW — Schützenpanzerwagen: Armoured personnel carrier (literally: Protective armoured vehicle)
• 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: Weapons 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. – Selbstfahrlafette: Self-propelled gun (literally: Self-propelled carriage)
  • Pz.Sfl.Ic
• Sf. – Selbstfahrlafette: Self-propelled gun (literally: Self-propelled carriage)
  • 8,8 Pak 43/1 Sf. "Nashorn"
• GW – Geschützwagen: (Heavy) self-propelled gun (literally: Gun vehicle)
• ZgKw – Zugkraftwagen: Truck
• Zug – Zugkraftwagen: Truck (not to be confused with "Zug", train, or "Zug", platoon)

(DE) Air

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• 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

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• 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

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• 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

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• le – leicht/leichte/leichter: Light
• m — mittlere/mittlerer: Medium
• s – schwer/schwereschwerer: 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

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• 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

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• 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
• AS – Autocarro Sahariano: Saharan Truck
  • AS42
• CV – Carro Veloce: Tankette (literally: Fast cart)
  • CV-33
• 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

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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

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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 (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		Latin equivalent
		Kanji	Romaji
1	甲	コウ	Kō	a
2	乙	オツ	Otsu	b
3	丙	ヘイ	Hei	c
4	丁	テイ	Tei	d
Not used in practice
5	戊	ボ	Bo	e
6	己	キ	Ki	f
7	庚	コウ	Kō	g
8	辛	シン	Shin	h
9	壬	ジン	Jin	i
10	癸	キ	Ki	j
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

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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

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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」)
    • A7M Reppū (烈風, Strong Wind)
    • N1K Kyōfū (強風, Strong Wind)
    • J6K Jinpū (陣風, Squall)
  • Interceptors: Lightning names (usually ending in den「電」)
    • J2M Raiden (雷電, Lightning Bolt)
    • J5N Tenrai (天雷, Heavenly Thunder)
    • J7W Shinden (震電, Magnificent Lightning)
    • N1K Shiden (紫電, Violet Lightning)
  • 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」)
  • B6N Tenzan (天山, Heavenly Mountain)
  • G5N Shinzan (深山, Deep Mountain)
  • G8N Renzan (連山, Mountain Range)
• 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

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(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

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• 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
• BMD – Boyevaya Mashina Desanta: Airborne infantry fighting vehicle (literally: Airborne combat machine)
  • BMD-4
• 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

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Prior to 1941, the USSR used a letter code system to identify aircraft by their role and function. This was phased out quickly in favor of manufacturer codes, although numerous aircraft retained their letter codes.
The list below is by no means comprehensive. The naming system was done more on a "case-by-case" basis and was less methodical than this list may imply, and also had numerous exceptions or one-off design classifications.

Base Models

• A – Avtozhir (Autogyro)
  • A-4
• ARK – Arktichyeskii (Arctic Exploration Aircraft)
  • ARK-3
• B - Bombardirovshchik (Bomber)
  • No aircraft were assigned the index "B" only
• I – Istrebitel (Fighter)
  • I-16
• G – Gruzovoi (Cargo)
  • G-3
• R – Razvedchik (Reconaissance)
  • R-5
• S – Samolyot (Aircraft)
  • No aircraft were assigned the "S" index only
• Sh – Shturmovik (Ground attacker)
  • No aircraft were assigned the index "Sh" only
• T – Torpedonosets (Torpedo (bomber))
  • T-1
• U – Uchebny (Trainer)
  • U-2
• VIT – Vozdushnyi Istrebitel Tankov (Flying Tank Destroyer)
  • VIT-2

Prefix Modifiers

• B – Blizhniy (Short-range)
  • BB-1 (Short-range bomber)
  • BI (Short-range fighter)
• B – Bronirovannyi (Armoured)
  • BSh-2 (Armoured ground attacker)
• D – Dvukhmestnyi (Two-seat)
  • DI-8 (Two-seat fighter)
• D – Dalniy (Long-range)
  • DB-3 (Long-range bomber)
• F – Frontovoy (Frontline)
  • FB (Frontline bomber)
• G – Gydro (Hydro)
  • GST (Hydroplane transport)
• K – Korablennyi (Shipborne)
  • KR-1 (Shipborne reconnaissance)
• K – Kreiser (Cruiser)
  • KR-6 (Cruiser reconnaissance)
• KO – Korablennyi (Shipborne)
  • KOR-1 (Shipborne reconnaissance)
• L – Lyogki (Light)
  • LBSh (Light armoured ground attacker)
• M – Morskoi (Marine/seaplane)
  • MBR-2 (Marine short-range reconnaissance)
  • MDR-2 (Marine long-range reconnaissance)
• P – Pikiruyuschii (Dive)
  • PB (Dive bomber)
• P – Passazhirskii (Passenger)
  • PS-41 (Passenger aircaft)
• S – Skorostnoi (Fast)
  • SB (Fast bomber)
  • SPB (Fast dive bomber)
• Sh – Shturmovoi (Ground attack)
  • ShB (Ground attack bomber)
• T – Tiazholyi (Heavy)
  • TB-3 (Heavy bomber)
  • TIS (Heavy fighter-escorter)

Suffix Modifiers

• OM – Otkrytogo Morya (Open sea)
  • ROM-1
• P – Pushechny (Cannon)
  • ITP (Fighter heavy cannon)
• PL – dlya Podvodnikh Lodok (for Submarines)
  • SPL (Aircraft for submarines)
• S – Soprovozhdenya (Escorter)
  • TIS (Heavy fighter escorter)
  • DIS (Twin-seat fighter escorter)
• S – Skladnoi (Folding)
  • IS-1
• T – Transportnyj (Transporter)
  • GST (Hydroplane transporter)
• T – Trenirivochnyi (Advanced (trainer))
  • UT-3 (Advanced trainer)
  • UTI-26 (Advanced trainer fighter)

(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

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• 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

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• 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

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• 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

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• 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)‎
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Swedish is spoken as a military language in the following countries: (FI) Finland (SE) Sweden
Vehicle (SE) Vehicle (SE) Ground (SE) Air Prefix/Suffix (SE) Prefix/Suffix (SE) Air force (SE) Ground projects Weaponry (SE) Weaponry Munition (SE) 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)
  • Strv m/38
• strf – stridsfordon: (Heavy) infantry fighting vehicle (literally: Combat vehicle)
  • Strf 9040C
• tgdb – terrängdragbil: Off-road tractor unit (literally: Terrain pull-car)
  • Lvtgdb m/40
• sav – stormartillerivagn: Assault gun (pre 1950s designation, literally: Assault artillery wagon)
  • Sav m/43 (1946)
• ikv – infanterikanonvagn: Assault gun (post 1950s designation, literally: Infantry cannon wagon)
  • Ikv 103
• pvkv – pansarvärnskanonvagn: Tracked self-propelled anti-tank gun (literally: Anti-armour cannon wagon)
  • Pvkv m/43 (1946)
• lvkv – luftvärnskanonvagn: Tracked self-propelled anti-air gun (literally: Anti-air cannon wagon)
  • Lvkv 42
• lvrbv – pansarvärnsrobotvagn: Tracked self-propelled anti-tank missile (literally: Anti-armour robot wagon)
  • Pvrbv 551
• lvrbv – luftvärnsrobotvagn: Tracked self-propelled anti-air missile (literally: Anti-air robot wagon)
  • Lvrbv 701

(SE) Air

• fpl – flygplan: Aeroplane
• hkp – helikopter Helicopter

(SE) Prefix/Suffix

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(SE) Air force

• A – Attack: Strike Aircraft/Attacker
  • A21A-3
• B – Bomb: Bomber
  • B3C
• J – Jakt: Pursuit Aircraft/Fighter (Jakt = Pursuit)
  • J26
• S – Spaning: Reconnaissance Aircraft (Spaning = Scouting)
• SK – Skol: Trainer Aircraft (Skol = School)
  • SK60B
• T – Torped: Torpedo Bomber
  • T18B-1
• Ö – Övning: Advanced Trainer Aircraft (Övning = Practice)

(SE) Ground projects

• VEAK – Vagn Eldledning AutomatKanon: Wagon Fire-control AutoCannon (literall)
  • VEAK 40
• UDES – Underlagsgrupp Direkt Eld Stridsfordon: Material group Direct Fire Combat vehicle (literall)
  • UDES 33

(SE) Weaponry

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• ksp – kulspruta: Machine gun (literally: Bullet sprayer)
  • 8 mm ksp m/22
• kan – kanon: Cannon
  • 75 mm kan m/41
• akan – automatkanon: Autocannon
  • 30 mm akan m/55
• pvkan – pansarvärnskanon: Anti-tank cannon
  • 75 mm pvkan m/43
• lvkan – luftvärnskanon: Anti-aircraft cannon
  • 75 mm lvkan m/37
• fsthaub – fästningshaubits: Fortress howitzer
  • 150 mm fsthaub m/02
• rbs – robotsystem: Missile system
  • Rbs 55

(SE) Munition

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• 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")
  • Rb24
• srak – sprängraket: High-explosive rocket (literally: Burst rocket)
  • 15 cm srak m/51
• psrak – pansarsprängraket: High-Explosive Anti-Tank rocket (literally: Armour burst rocket)
  • 14,5 cm psrak m/49A
• hprak – Halvpansarraket Semi-armour-piercing High-Explosive rocket (literally: Half-armour rocket)
  • 18 cm hprak m/49
• mb – minbomb High capacity / General purpose bomb (literally: Mine bomb)
  • 600 kg mb m/50
• sb – sprängbomb High-Explosive Fragmentation bomb (literally: Burst bomb)
  • 120 kg sb m/61