[Lone Sentry: WWII Photographs, Documents and Research]
©2010
 
[Lone Sentry: World War II Photographs, Documents and Research]
Home Page  |  Site Map  |  What's New  |  Search  |  Contact Us

TM-E 30-480: Handbook on Japanese Military Forces
Technical Manual, U.S. War Department, October 1, 1944
[DISCLAIMER: The following text and illustrations are taken from a WWII U.S. War Department Technical Manual. As with all wartime manuals, the text may be incomplete or inaccurate. No attempt has been made to update or correct the contents of the original technical manual. Any views or opinions expressed do not necessarily represent those of the website.]
 

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«ha (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] Back to Table of Contents
 

   
 
LONE SENTRY | Home Page | Site Map | What's New | Search | Contact Us