Chapter XII: Conventional Signs and Abbreviations

Section IV: Military Abbreviations

NOTE. The abbreviations are arranged alphabetically.

1. ARMY ABBREVIATIONS.

Abbreviation		Japanese		English
A		Gun		Army.
A		Yahohei		Field artillery.
AA		Koshahotai; koshaho jinchi		Antiaircraft artillery unit; antiaircraft artillery position.
AAS		Dokuritsu koshahotai		Independent AA unit.
ab		Hikojo daitai		Airfield battalion.
ac		Hikojo chutai		Airfield company.
AE		Yasen kisho butai		Field meteorological unit.
AL		Hyoteitai		Plotting unit (artillery).
AM		Hohei danyaku		Artillery ammunition.
		Note. The kind of ammunition is represented as follows:    BAM, Mountain artillery ammunition.    SAM, Medium artillery ammunition.
AMT		Hohei danyaku chutai		Artillery ammunition company.
AN		Hohei johotai		Artillery intelligence unit.
AP		Keikyu shugojo		Alarm post.
AQ		Shokutai		Searchlight unit.
AQS		Dokuritsu shokutai		Independent searchlight unit.
AS		Ongentai		Sound locator unit (artillery).
AT		Sokuchitai		Land survey unit (artillery).
ATK		Hosensha (tai)		Tank destroyer (unit).
ATL		Tsushintai hombu		Army signal unit headquarters.
B		Ryodan, mata wa kore ni junzuru mono		Brigade, or its equivalent.
b		Daitai		Battalion.
BA		Sampohei		Mountain artillery.
BAS		Dokuritsu sampohei		Independent mountain artillery.
BAM		Sampohei danyaku		(See AM above).
BG		Yasen sakuseitai		Field well-construction unit.
biA		Daitaihotai		Infantry battalion gun unit.
BiZ		Hohei ryodan gasu butai		Infantry brigade gas unit.
BK		Gakyo zairyo chutai		Bridging materiel company.
BM		Ryodan danyakuhan		Brigade ammunition section.
Bo (BO)		Boeki kyusuibu		Water supply and purification unit.
BS		Dokuritsu konsei ryodan		Independent mixed brigade.
BSAA		Dokuritsu konsei ryodan koshahotai		Independent mixed brigade AA unit.
BSP		Dokuritsu konsei ryodan kohei		Independent mixed brigade engineer unit.
BTL		Hohei ryodan tsushintai (han)		Infantry brigade signal unit (section).
C		Gundan		Corps (not part of the Japanese Army organization).
c		Chutai		Company.
D		Shidan		Division.
DK		Shidan kihei		Division cavalry.
DO		Yasen dorotai		Field road unit.
DP		Shidan kohei		Division engineers.
DT		Shidan shicho		Division transport.
DTL		Shidan tsushintai		Division signal unit.
E		Tetsudotai		Railway unit.
EB		Tetsudo ryodan		Railway brigade.
F		Teki		Enemy.
FA		Kokugun (formerly kokuheidan)		Air army.
FA		Yosai hohei		Fortress artillery.
FB		Hiko (ryo) dan		Air brigade.
Fc		Hikochutai		Air company.
FD		Hikoshidan		Air division.
FeA		Juhohei		Heavy artillery.
FeAS		Dokuritsu juhohei		Independent heavy artillery.
FIS		Dokuritsu koku chikutai		Independent air sector unit.
FL		Yasen byoin		Field hospital.
FM		Hikobutai		Air unit.
FN		Koku johotai		Air intelligence unit.
FP		Yosai kohei		Fortress engineers.
FR		Hikosentai (rentai)		Air regiment.
		Note. Reconnaissance, fighter, or bomber aircraft are shown by putting O, C, or B respectively on the lower right side of the abbreviation. Similarly light, heavy, or long-range aircraft are shown by L, S, or T, respectively.    Examples:       FRO, Air regiment (reconnaissance aircraft).       FRSC, Air regiment (heavy fighter aircraft).       FRLB, Air regiment (light bomber aircraft).
FS		Yasen kanja shuyotai		Field casualty collecting unit.
FTL		Koku tsushintai		Air signal unit.
FW		Hikojo setteitai		Airdrome construction unit.
G		Konoe		Imperial Guards.
GAP		Keikyu daishugojo		Grand alarm post.
Gr		Jido則a (hikoki) nenryo		Automobile (aviation) fuel.
H		Ryudampo		Howitzer.
HA		Koshaho		AA gun.
HeF		Hansui sagyotai		Boat launching unit.
HFL		Heitan byoin		Line of communications hospital.
HMA		Kosha kikanho		Antiaircraft machine cannon.
HMG		Kosha kikanju		Antiaircraft machine gun.
Hr		Eisei zairyo		Medical supply.
i		Hohei		Infantry.
iA		Hohei hotai		Infantry gun unit.
iB		Hohei ryodan		Infantry brigade.
iH		Kyokusha hoheiho		Infantry mortar.
iK		Heisha hoheiho		Infantry cannon (gun).
iM		Hohei danyaku		Infantry ammunition.
		Note. The kind of ammunition is represented as follows:    iM (MG), Machine gun ammunition.    iM (TA), Antitank gun ammunition.
iMT		Hohei danyaku chutai		Infantry ammunition train.
iP		Sagyotai		Labor unit (infantry pioneers).
iR		Hohei rentai		Infantry regiment.
iRS		Dokuritsu hohei rentai		Independent infantry regiment.
IS		Dokuritsu hohei		Independent infantry.
iTL		Hohei rentai tsushintai (han)		Infantry regimental signal unit (section).
K		Kanon		Cannon (gun).
K		Kihei		Cavalry.
KA		Kihohei		Cavalry (Horse) artillery.
KaY		Kaijo yuso daitai hombu		Sea transport battalion headquarters.
KB		Kihei ryodan		Cavalry brigade.
KBA		Kihei ryodan hotai		Cavalry brigade artillery unit.
KBAA		Kihei ryodan koshahotai		Cavalry brigade AA unit.
KBT		Kihei ryodan shicho		Cavalry brigade transport.
KBTAS		Kihei ryodan dokuritsu sokushahotai		Cavalry brigade independent antitank unit.
KBTK		Kihei ryodan senshatai		Cavalry brigade tank unit.
KBTL		Kihei ryodan tsushinhan (tai)		Cavalry brigade signal section (unit).
KD		Kihei shidan		Cavalry division.
Kg		Shubitai		Guard detachment, garrison.
KgS		Dokuritsu shubitai		Independent garrison.
Ki		Kikyutai		Balloon unit.
KK		Kihei shudan		Cavalry group.
KKTL		Kihei shudan tsushinhan		Cavalry group signal section.
KS		Dokuritsu kihei		Independent cavalry.
KTK				(See TK below.)
KTL		Kihei rentai tsushinhan (tai)		Cavalry regimental signal section (unit).
LBK		Toka zairyo chutai		River crossing materiel company.
LG		Keikikanju		Light machine gun.
LM		Keihakugekihotai		Light trench mortar unit.
LTK				(See TK below.)
M		Kyuho		Mortar.
M		Danyakuhan (shotai)		Ammunition section (platoon).
MA		Kikanhotai		Machine cannon unit.
MD		Kido shidan		Motorized division.
MG		Kikanjutai		Machine gun unit.
MM		Chuhakugekihotai		Medium trench mortar unit.
MS		Dokuritsu hakugekihotai		Independent mortar unit.
MTK				(See TK below.)
MW		Tekidanto, tekidanju		Grenade discharger, grenade rifle.
N		Kori		Baggage or train.
N		Johotai		Army intelligence unit.
NA		Kaigunho		Naval gun.
NSF		Kotei musentai		Fixed radio (wireless) unit.
P		Kohei		Engineers.
PA		Kikogun		Mechanized army.
PD		Shidan byobasho		Division veterinary hospital.
Pr		Ryomatsu		Provisions and forage.
PrT		Ryoshoku chutai		Provision train.
PS		Dokuritsu kohei		Independent engineers.
PT		Hatotai; shikyutai		Carrier pigeon unit.
PW		Sokoshatai		Tankette unit.
PWS		Dokuritsu sokoshatai		Independent tankette unit.
R		Rentai		Regiment.
RD		Tokushu musentai		Special radio unit.
RiA		Rentai hotai		Infantry regimental gun unit.
RSt		Rentai danretsu		Regimental ammunition train.
S		Dokuritsu		Independent.
		Note. Added at the end of the unit abbreviation.
S		Kanja shuyotai		March casualties collecting unit.
SA		Yasen juhohei		Medium artillery.
SAM		Yasen juho danyaku		(See AM above).
SAS		Dokuritsu yasen juhohei		Independent medium artillery.
SeA		Sempaku hohei rentai		Shipping artillery regiment.
SeAA		Sempaku koshahotai		Shipping antiaircraft unit.
SeC		Sempaku shireibu		Shipping headquarters.
SeD		Sempaku dan shireibu		Shipping group headquarters.
SeE		Sempaku eiseitai hombu		Shipping medical unit headquarters.
SeH		Sempaku heidan shireibu		Large shipping group headquarters.
SeK		Sempaku kosakusho		Shipping repair depot.
SeP		Sempaku kohei rentai		Shipping engineers regiment.
SeS		Byoinsen eiseihan		Hospital ship medical section.
SeT		Teihakujo shireibu		Anchorage headquarters.
SeTi		Sempaku yuso chikutai shireibu		Shipping transportation area unit headquarters.
SeTL		Sempaku tsushin rentai		Shipping signal regiment.
SeU		Sempaku yuso shireibu		Shipping transportation headquarters.
SeUb		Kaijo yuso daitai		Sea transport battalion.
SeY		Yorikutai		Disembarkation unit.
SF		Musentai		Radio unit.
SM		Juhakugekihotai		Heavy trench mortar unit.
SO		Sosakutai		Reconnaissance unit.
STK				(See TK below.)
St		Danretsu		Ammunition train.
SuB		Suijo shireibu		Headquarters at sea.
SW		Yasen shomeitai		Field searchlight unit.
T		Shicho		Transport.
TA		Sokushahotai		Antitank gun unit.
TAS		Dokuritsu sokushahotai		Independent antitank gun unit.
TD		Sensha sidan		Armored division.
TG		Yusosentai		Group of transport; convoy.
TG				Tommy gun.
TK		Sensha (tai)		Tank (unit.)
		Note. Light medium, or heavy tanks are represented by putting L, M, or S, respectively, in front of the abbreviation. For example, STK represents a heavy tank unit. A tank unit employed as cavalry is represented by KTK.
TKP		Senshatai kohei		Tank unit engineers.
TKS		Dokuritsu senshatai		Independent. tank unit.
TKTL		Senshatai tsushintai		Tank unit signal unit.
TL		Tsushin chutai, mata wa yusentai		Signal company; wire unit.
TLS		Dokuritsu tsushin chutai		Independent signal company.
TP		Kikaika butai		Mechanized unit.
TZ		Senshatai no seibi butai		Tank unit maintenance unit.
V		Yasen sokuryotai		Field surveying unit (engineers).
Vr		Jui zairyo		Veterinary supply.
Z		Gasu butai		Gas unit.
Zid		Jidohotai		Automatic gun unit.
Zr		Kagakusen shizai		Chemical warfare.
ZS		Dokuritsu gasu butai		Independent gas unit.

2. NAVY ABBREVIATIONS.

Abbreviation		Japanese		English
A		Koku bokan		Aircraft carrier.
a		Suijo hikoki		Seaplane.
Aa (Aa)		Hikotei (hikosen ?)		Flying boat (dirigible ?)
AB		Kushu butai		Air attack force.
aBg		Tokubetsu konkyochitai		Special base unit.
AdB		Zenshin butai		Advancing force.
AF		Koku kantai		Air fleet.
AG		Tokusetsu hokan		Auxiliary gunboat.
As or As		Suijoki bokan		Seaplane tender.
AtB		Fuzoku butai		Attached force.
B		Sentokan; senkan		Battleship.
BC		Junyo senkan		Battle-cruiser.
BG		Bobitai		Naval defense force.
Bg		Konkyochitai		Base unit.
bg		Keibitai		Guard unit.
BS		Senkan sentai		Battleship division.
C		Junyokan		Cruiser.
C1 (?)		Itto junyokan		Heavy cruiser.
CA or CA		Itto junyokan; kojunyokan.		Heavy cruiser.
CAS or CAS		Sentai		Heavy cruiser division.
CB or CB		Otsu junvokan		Light cruiser (2d class cruiser).
CB		Tsushin butai		Communication unit.
CD		Kaibokan		Coast defence vessel.
cdg		Kuchiku rentai		Combined destroyer group.
CF		Kenshi kantai		China Expeditionary Fleet.
cfg		Koku rentai		Combined air unit.
Cg		Tsushintai		Communication unit.
ch		Kusentei		Sub-chaser.
chg		Kusentai		Sub-chaser group.
Cl or CL		Denran fusetsusen		Cable layer.
CM		Kirai fusetsusen		Minelayer.
CS		Junyokan sentai		Cruiser division.
CsF		Shina homen kantai		China Area Fleet.
cwg		Sokai rentai		Combined mine-sweeper group.
D		Shotai		Division.
d		Kuchikukan		Destroyer.
Df		Koku bokan; kobo (abbr.)		Aircraft carrier.
dg		Kuchikutai; kuchi or ku (abbr.)		Destroyer group.
Dp		Bokan		Depot ship.
Dpd		Suirai bokan		Destroyer (mine) depot ship.
Dpf		Koku bokan		Aircraft tender or depot ship.
Dps		Sensui bokan		Submarine tender.
Dpw		Sokai bokan		Mine-sweeper depot ship.
EB		Senken butai		Advance force.
EF		Goei kantai		Escorting fleet.
Eg		Goei tai		Escort unit.
EV		Gosokan		Escort vessel.
F		Kantai		Fleet.
f		Hikoki; ki (abbr.)		Aircraft.
fB		Koku butai		Naval Air Force.
fb (fb)		Bakugekiki; kogekiki		Bomber aircraft.
fb (fb)		Kanjoki		Ship-borne plane.
fc (fc)		Sentoki		Fighter aircraft.
fd (fd)		Hikotei		Flying boat.
fd		Ogata hikotei		Large flying boat.
fg		Kokutai		Air unit.
fg BG		Kichi kokutai		Base air unit.
fl (fl)		Rikujo hikoki (rikujoki)		Land-based aircraft.
flo (flo)		Rikujo kogekiki		Land-based attack plane.
flo		Chugata rikujo kogekiki		Land-based attack plane, medium.
fo (fo)		Kogekiki		Attack plane.
fR		Renshuki		Training aircraft.
fr (fr)		Kansokuki; ka (abbr.); teisatsuki		Reconnaissance or observation aircraft.
fs (fs)		Suijo hikoki (suijoki)		Seaplane.
fsr		Suijo teisatsuki		Reconnaissance seaplane.
fsr/2		Nizo suijo teisatsuki		2-seater reconnaissance seaplane.
ft (fft)		Raigekiki		Torpedo plane.
ftb (fftb)		Raigekiki		Torpedo bomber (carrier type).
fT		Yusoki		Transport plane.
fTg		Yusokitai		Transport plane unit.
fvb		Kyukoka bakugekiki		Dive bomber (carrier type ?).
fw		Suijo hikoki		Seaplane.
G		Hokan		Gunboat.
g		Tai		Unit, group.
GB		Keikai hutai		Screening force.
GCg		Rengo tsushintai		Combined communications unit.
GF		Rengo kantai		Combined fleet.
Gfg		Rengo kokutai		Combined air unit.
Gg		Hokantai		Gunboat group.
GKF		Nansei homen kantai		Southwest Area Fleet.
GLg		Rengo tokubetsu rikusentai		Combined special naval landing force.
H		Byoinsen		Hospital ship.
HB		Hokuho butai		Northern Force.
HG		Juho		Heavy guns.
Hr		Kochotei		Harbor master's craft.
J		Saihyosen		Ice-breaker.
KCS		Koku chiku shireibu		Air sector (headquarters).
KdB		Kido butai		Striking force.
KEg		Kaijo goeitai		Surface escort unit.
KF		Nanken kantai		Southern Expeditionary Fleet.
Lg		Tokubetsu rikusentai		Special naval landing force.
		E.g., K6Lg: Kure 6th Special Naval Landing Force.
M		Fusetsukan		Minelayer.
m		Shosen		Merchant ship.
MB		Shuryoku butai		Main force.
MC		Jishinro		Magnetic course.
mg		Shosentai		Merchant ship group.
MTB		Kosoku gyoraitei		Motor torpedo boat.
N				Number _ _ _ _ _ _ unit.
n		Mosen		Net tender.
NA		Kaigunho		Naval gun.
NB		Yasen butai		Night combat force.
Ng		Yasentai		Night combat unit.
NPB		Nampo butai		Southern Force.
NTF		Nanto homen kantai		Southeast Area Fleet.
P		Kirai sentai		Mine squadron.
P		Shokaitei		Patrol boat.
PB		Shokai butai		Patrol force.
Pg		Shokaitai		Patrol unit.
R		Kosakusen		Repair ship.
RG		Kayo hokan		River gunboat.
S		Sentai		Squadron, division.
		Note. Used as a prefix.
s		Sensuikan		Submarine.
SB		Sakuteki butai		Searching force.
sB		Sensui butai		Submarine force.
SCg		Tanshi sototai		Search and mopping-up unit.
Sd		Suirai sentai; suisen (abbr.)		Destroyer squadron.
5f		Koku sentai; kosen (abbr.)		Air wing or carrier division.
sg		Sensuitai		Submarine group.
sM		Fusetsu sensuikan		Mine-laying submarine.
SNB		Gai nanyo butai		Outer South Seas Force.
SO		Sokaitai		Minesweeper group.
		Note. See also wg.
Ss		Sensui sentai		Submarine squadron.
Sf		Koku sentai		Air division.
Sv		Kyunansen		Salvage ship.
Sy		Sokuryokan		Surveying ship.
T or Tv		Unsosen		Transport ship.
t		Suiraitei		Torpedo boat.
Ta or Tva		Kyuheisen		Munitions carrier.
Ta		Rikugun yusosen		Army transport ship.
TB		Hokyu butai		Supply (replenishment) force.
TC		Shin hoi		True course; true bearing.
Tc		Kyutansen		Coaler.
Tco		Kyutan oyobi kyuyusen		Coal and oil supplying ship.
Tg		Unsosentai		Transport ship group (convoy).
tg		Suiraiteitai		Torpedo-boat group.
Tm		Tsushinsen		Communications ship.
To		Kyuyusen		Tanker.
Tp		Kyuryosen		Provisions ship.
Tv		Unsosen		Transport ship.
Tva		Kyuheisen		Ammunition ship.
Tw		Kyusuisen		Water supply ship.
V		Chutai		Squadron.
va		Taiki sokudo		Air speed.
vb		Doinokuhyo sokudo		Speed of moving target.
vg		Taichi sokudo		Ground speed.
vw		Fusokudo		Wind speed.
w		Sokaitei; sokaisen		Mine-sweeper.
wg		Sokaitai		Mine-sweeper group.

Back to Table of Contents