German Abbreviations pertaining to ORDNANCE

**Bill Grist** · 12-04-2008, 02:53 PM

GERMAN MILITARY ABBREVIATIONS: As Used in WW2

Al. Aluminum indicates inclusion of a granular aluminum flash composition in filling of shell
Az. or A.Z. Aufschlagzünder percussion fuze
B Büsche rifle
Bd. Z Bodenzünder base percussion fuze; base detonator fuze
B. Patr. Patrone mit Beobachtungs Geschoss an observation bullet containing a smoke producer and explosive
D Dauerfeuer sustained fire
Digl. Diglykolnitrat diglycolnitrate
Digl. Bl. P. Diglykolnitrat Blattchen Pulver. diglycolnitrate flaked powder
Dopp. Z. (S/60) Doppelzünder (60 Sek. unden Brennlänge) combination fuze (60 seconds burning time)
D.Z. Druckzünder pressure fuse, pressure igniter
E Ersatzstücke spare parts, replacements
Ex. Exerzier dummy (used to indicate dummy or practice ammunition)
F Feuer fire
Flak Flugabwehrkanone antiaircraft gun
Geb. Gebirgs- mountain
Gesch Geschoss projectile, bullet
Gew. Gewehr rifle
Gr. Patr. Hl - Granate Patrone Hohlladung- hollow charge (AP) shell (the third standard type of large-caliber projectile, along with Sprgr. and Pzgr.)
H. or 'H gehärtet hardened (tungsten carbide core)
I. G. Infanteriegeschütz infantry gun
Igr. Infanteriegranate infantry grenade
I.Gr.Z. (s.I.Gr.Z.) Infanteriegranatz zünder (schwerer Infanteriegranatz zünder) infantry grenade fuze (heavy infantry grenade fuze)
i.L. in Ladestreifen in clips (rifle)
k kurz short
Kar. Karbiner carbine
Kar. 98B Karbiner 98B carbine 98B
Kar. 98K Karbiner 98 kurz short carbine 98
Kart. Kartatsche case shot; canister shot (semi-fixed ammunition)
Kart. Kartusche cartridge
L. Lieferung delivery
L Ladung charge, propelling charge, load
l.F.H. leichte Feldhaubitze light field howitzer
l.Geb.I.G. leichtes Gebirgsinfanteriegeschütz light mountain infantry howitzer
l.Gr.W leichter Granatwerfer light mortar
l.I.G. leichtes Infanteriegeschütz light infantry gun (howitzer)
l.S. leichtes Spitzgeschoss light weight, pointed bullet
m Meter meter
M Mark, Modell model
M.G. Maschinengewehr machine gun
Mod. Modell pattern, model
M.P. Maschinenpistole machine pistol, submachine gun
m.V. mit Verzögerung with delay action (fuze)
N Nebel smoke, fog (used to designate gas as well as smoke)
n.A. neuer Art new type
Nb. Nebel smoke, fog
Ngl. Nitroglyzerin nitroglycerine
Ngl.Bl.P. Nitroglyzerin-Blättchenpulver nitroglycerine, flaked powder
Nz. Nitrozellulose nitrocellulose
Nz.Gew.Bl.P. Nitrozellulose Gewehr Blättchenpulver nitrocellulose rifle powder (flaked)
o.L. ohne Ladestreifen without clips; not in clips
o.V. ohne Verzögerung without delay, instantaneous
P. Pulver powder
Pak Panzerabwehrkanone antitank gun
Patr. Patrone cartridge; semi-fixed shell; round of ammunition
Patrh.S. Patronenhülse-Stahl brass cartridge case
Patr. l.S. Patrone leichtes Spitzgeschoss light, pointed ball ammunition with core of aluminum
Patr. P.m.K. Patrone Phospor mit Stahlkern incendiary armor-piercing cartridge with steel core
Patr. S.m.E. Patrone Spitzgeschoss mit Eisenkern steel-core, pointed bullet cartridge with iron or mild
Patr. S.m.K. Patrone Spitzgeschoss mit Stahlkern cartridge with steel-core, pointed bullet
Patr. S.m.K.H. Patrone Spitzgeschoss mit Stahlkern gehärtet cartridge with pointed armor-piercing (tungsten carbide core) bullet
Patr. S.m.K. L'Spur Patrone Spitzgeschoss mit Stahlkern und Leuchtspur cartridge with pointed armor-piercing bullet and tracer
Patr. s.S. Patrone schweres Spitzgeschoss heavy, pointed ball ammunition
Patr. s.S. L'Spur Patrone schweres Spitzgeschoss mit Leuchtspur cartridge with heavy tracer bullet
Patr. 318 S.m.K. Patrone 318 Spitzgeschoss mit Stahlkern cartridge 318, bullet with steel core
Patr. 318 S.m.K.(H) Patrone 318 Spitzgeschoss mit Stahlkern gehärtet cartridge 318, bullet with hardened steel core
Patr. 318 (P) Patronen 318 Polnisch Polish cartridge No. 318
Pist. Pistole pistol
Pist. Patr. Pistolpatrone pistol cartridge
Pz. Panzer armor, armor-plate
Pz.B. Panzerbüchse antitank rifle
Pzgr. Panzergranate armor-piercing shell
Rbl.F. Rundblickfernrohr panoramic sight
Rdf. Rheindorf an arsenal
Rh Rheinmetal arms manufacturing company
Rs. Reizstoff irritant gas
s. schwerer heavy, medium (artillery)
S sicher safe
S* manufacturer's mark for brass cartridge case (72% copper and 28% zinc)
S 274, 222, etc. manufacturer's mark for a type of alloy
s.F.H. schwere Feldhaubitze heavy (medium) field howitzer
s.Gr.W. schwerer Granatenwerfer heavy mortar
s.I.G. schweres Infanteriegeschütz heavy infantry gun (howitzer)
S.Inf.G. schweres Infanteriegeschütz heavy infantry gun (howitzer)
S.K. Schnellfeuerkanone rapid-fire cannon
S.K.D. Selve-Kornbegel-Dornheim, A. G. small-arms ammunition factory
S.m.K. Spitzgeschoss mit Stahlkern pointed bullet with steel core
S.m.K.(H) Spitzgeschoss mit Stahlkern gehärtet super armor-piercing bullet with hardened steel core
S.m.K. L'Spur Spitzgeschoss mit Stahlkern und Leuchtspur pointed bullet with steel core and tracer effect
Spgr. Sprenggranate high-explosive shell
Spr. Spreng- explosive
St. Stahl mark for steel cartridge
Ub. Ubungsmunition practice ammunition
Wgr. Werfergranate mortar shell
Wgr.Z. Werfergranatzunder mortar shell fuze
Z. Zunder fuze
Zdlg. Zundladung primer charge
Zdh:88 Zundhütchen 88 primer capsule 88

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**Adrian Stevenson** · 12-04-2008, 05:03 PM

That is a really useful post. It might be worth pinning the thread Bill.

Cheers, Ade.

**Ben Evans** · 12-04-2008, 08:14 PM

by Adrian Stevenson

That is a really useful post. It might be worth pinning the thread Bill.

Cheers, Ade.

I echo that Ade, a thread well worth pinning

Johnnie · 08-13-2009, 08:14 PM

Thanks Bill,

This knowledge is almost lost now. Were it not for dedicated custidians of history like you, it would truely be lost.
When we were kids, for those of us who were interested, this was common knowledge. Not now.
Sorry for being a stranger on the board. I hope to be able to share more often.
Busy setting up business. Now have a small arms training school set up here in Arizona. Hope to be doing CCW classes in Sep., and more advanced training to come. It is truely good to be back home and to be able to work out with my weapons again!
Ade, thank you for a decent and enjoyable website. As you know, I was finally "WAFED" out. Hopefully when I get back home to Germany I might be able to jump the channel and attend one of your re-enactments. The first pint is on me!
Best regards to all,

Cheers,

Johnnie

**flak 18** · 03-29-2012, 05:12 PM

Zundladung is nothing to do with a primer. It is a fuze gaine that sits below the fuze and serves as the initiator of the explosive charge of the shell. In other words, the fuze functions, and it's explosive power is increased by the gaine.