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Useful Information about German Tanks in World War II

German WW II Tank Numbering

The regulations stated that the call sign or identification numbers were to be made up of numbers 30cm high. The number was to be 3cm wide in black outlined in 1cm of white. In the field, colour of the numbers and outlines vary. Some tanks had red number on white outlines and blue numbers on yellow outlines.

The first number is the company, the second number is the platoon and the third number is the order of the tank in the section. For example 414 would be the number for the fourth tank in the first platoon of the fourth company. On the company commander's and deputy commander's tanks, the second digit was 0 and the third digit 0, 1 or 2. Staff company normally had the numbers 001 to 003. In some units, roman numerals I, II and III were used.

Tanks at the regimental level was prefixed by the letter R instead of the first digit. For example R01 would be the tank belonging to the regimental commander and subsequent tanks by his staff. Tanks at the battalion level was prefixed by a roman numerals in sequence. For example I01 would belong to the commander of the first battalion. There were also some unusual non-regulation numbering of tanks found on the battlefield. For example X7 found on a Jagdtiger. The significant of X7 was not documented.



Some Examples of German WW II Tank Numbering


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See also: WW II German Tanks WW II German Tanks WW II Allies Tanks WW II German Tanks Heavy Tank Battalions Dragon 1/144 Can.Do Tanks SS Panzer Divisions SS Panzer Divisions Army Panzer Divisions WW II German Tanks German Tank Useful Information WW II German Tanks

Guide to German WW II Tank Abbreviations & Terminology

Abteilung
Abt.
Battalion. A formation containing a number of companies.
Ausfuhrung
Ausf.
Variant of model of a vehicle. For example, the Tiger 1 tank is officially known as the Panzerkampfwagen Tiger Ausf. E and the King Tiger that follows it is known as the Panzerkampfwagen Tiger Ausf. B.
Balkenkreuz
-
The cross painted on German vehicles during World War II. Usually black with white outline.
Bergepanzer
Tank recovery vehicle.
Blitzkrieg
-
Lightning war. The method of mobile warfare used by the German armed forces at the beginning of the second World War.
Brigade
-
Brigade. A formation containing two or more regiments.
Division
-
Division. A formation containing two or more regiments.
Flieger Abwehr Kanone
FLAK
Anti-aircraft gun.
Flakpanzer
-
Anti-aircraft tank.
Grenadier
-
German term for infantry or rifleman.
Gross Deutschland
GD
Greater Germany. The name of an elite German army panzergrenadier division.
Heer
-
The German Army in World War II.
Hitlerjugend
-
Hitler Youth. The SS Panzer Division of this name consisted mainly of Hitler Youth.
Jagd-
-
German meaning hunting. A jgdpanzer was a tank hunter or tank destroyer.
Kampfgruppe
-
Battle group. A task force formed specifically to carry out a mission named after their commander. For example Kampfgruppen Peiper for the Ardennes offensive..
Kompanie
-
Company. A formation containing a number of platoons.
Korps
-
A formation containing a number of divisions.
L/xx
-
The Germans during World War II expressed the length of a gun as a multiple of its Calibre. Calibre is the internal diamension of the gun. For example, 50mm L/60 means the length of the gun was 60 x 50mm=3 metres.
Panzer Abwehr Kanone
PAK
Anti-tank gun.
Panzer Abteilung
Pz.Abt.
Tank battalion.
Panzerbefehlswagen
Pz.Bef.Wg.
Command tank.
Panzerfaust
-
Tank Fist. A German single shot, anti-tank grenade projector weapon.
Panzergrenadiers
-
Mechanised or motorised infantry.
Panzerjager
-
Tank hunter or tank destroyer.
Panzerkampfwagen
PzKpfw
Battle tank.
Panzerkeil
-
The wedge formation in which tank attached.
Panzerkorps
-
A formation containing at least two panzer divisions.
Panzer Lehr
-
A tank training or demonstration division.
Panzerschreck
-
Tank Terror. The German version of the American Bazooka anti-tank weapon. It is larger, more powerful and fired an 88mm hollow charge projectile.
Panzerspahwagen
-
Armoured reconnaissance vehicles.
Panzertruppen
-
Armoured troops.
Regiment
-
A formation containing a number of battalions.
Schurzen
-
Side skirts added to tanks to protect their tracks.
Schwere Panzer Abteilung
s.Pz.Abt.
Heavy tank battalion containing Tiger tanks.
Schutzstaffel
SS
Defence squadron. The Nazi Party's para-military elite led by Himmler.
Sonderkraftfahrzeug
SdKfz
Special motor vehicle. Every German Army vihicle has its own designated number. For example, the Panther was SdKfz 171.
Sturmeschutz
StuG
Assault gun. Self-propelled artillery originally designed for direct fire support for infantry but also used in an anti-tank role.
Totenkopf
-
Death's Head. A division of the Waffen-SS. Waffen mean weapons or armed. Waffen SS is the military arm of the SS.
Wehrmacht
-
The German armed forces in World War II including Heer (Army), Luftwaffe (Air Force) and Kriegsmarine (Navy).


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See also: WW II German Tanks WW II German Tanks WW II Allies Tanks WW II German Tanks Heavy Tank Battalions Dragon 1/144 Can.Do Tanks SS Panzer Divisions SS Panzer Divisions Army Panzer Divisions WW II German Tanks German Tank Useful Information WW II German Tanks

 
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