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:
      FR_O, Air regiment (reconnaissance aircraft).
      FR_SC, Air regiment (heavy fighter aircraft).
      FR_LB, 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.

Abbreviation

Japanese

English

A

Koku bokan

Aircraft carrier.

a

Suijo hikoki

Seaplane.

Aa (A^a)

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 A^s

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 C^A

Itto junyokan; kojunyokan.

Heavy cruiser.

CAS or C^AS

Sentai

Heavy cruiser division.

CB or C^B

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 (f^b)

Bakugekiki; kogekiki

Bomber aircraft.

fb (f^b)

Kanjoki

Ship-borne plane.

fc (f^c)

Sentoki

Fighter aircraft.

fd (f^d)

Hikotei

Flying boat.

f^d 大

Ogata hikotei

Large flying boat.

fg

Kokutai

Air unit.

fg BG

Kichi kokutai

Base air unit.

fl (f^l)

Rikujo hikoki (rikujoki)

Land-based aircraft.

flo (f^lo)

Rikujo kogekiki

Land-based attack plane.

f^lo 中

Chugata rikujo kogekiki

Land-based attack plane, medium.

fo (f^o)

Kogekiki

Attack plane.

fR

Renshuki

Training aircraft.

fr (f^r)

Kansokuki; ka (abbr.); teisatsuki

Reconnaissance or observation aircraft.

fs (f^s)

Suijo hikoki (suijoki)

Seaplane.

f^sr

Suijo teisatsuki

Reconnaissance seaplane.

f^sr/2

Nizo suijo teisatsuki

2-seater reconnaissance seaplane.

ft (ff^t)

Raigekiki

Torpedo plane.

ftb (ff^tb)

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.