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Ever wonder what some of the abbreviations you see in conjunction with some Swiss Army literature mean? Thanks to PTHYCRP, you can wonder no more! Here is a list of Swiss Army abbreviations for reference.


Military abbreviations

Listed below are some of the abbreviations for the tags.

  • Arb. (Arbeitsdienst) Workers Service
  • Abt. (Abteilung) Detachment
  • Ach. (Anti-char) Anti-tank
  • Adj. (Adjutant) Warrant officer
  • A.FL.Pk. (Armeeflugpark) Army Airforce Supply/support
  • A.H.V. (Alters-und Hinterlassenenversicherung) Soc. Security
  • A.K. (Armee-Korps) Army Corps
  • Amb. (Ambulance) Ambulance
  • A.R. (Arrondissement) District
  • A.Stab (Armeestab) Army Staff
  • Art. (Artillerie) Artillery
  • Territorial Region
  • Aufkl. (Auflaerung) Reconnaissance
  • Ausz. (Auszug) Categ. Of younger (<30) troops
  • Auto. (Automobiliste) Motor Car Driver
  • Auto(s) (Automobile(s) Car(s)/Truck(s)
  • Bahnbewachung (Bahnbewachung) Railway Security
  • Bat. (Bataillon) Battalion
  • Bau. (Baudienst) Build Service
  • Beob. (Beobachter) Observer
  • Betrst. (Betriebsstof) Fuel
  • Bew. (Bewachung) Guard
  • Bft. (Brieftauben) Carrier-pigeons
  • Bk. (Baecker) Baker
  • Bm. (Buechsenmacher) Armourer
  • B.m.d. (Beobachtungs- und Meldedienst) Observer & Reporting Service
  • Boul. (Boulanger) Baker
  • Br. (Brigade) Brigade
  • Brt. (Brieftauben) Carrier-pigeons
  • Bttr. (Batterie) Battery
  • Cam. (Camion) Truck
  • Camp. (Campagne) Field
  • Can. (Canon/Cannonier) Cannon/Gunner
  • Can.inf. (Canon d’Infanterie) Infantry Cannon
  • Car. (Carabinier) Carbineer
  • Carb. (Carburant) Fuel
  • Chauf. (Chauffeur) Driver
  • Chir. (Chirurgie) Surgery
  • Col. (Colonne) Column
  • Cp. (Compagnie) Company
  • C.P. (Compagnie parc) Company Supply/Support
  • Cpl. (Caporal) Corporal
  • Cv.fr. (Couverture frontire) Border Guard
  • Cyc. (Cycliste) Cyclist
  • D.C.A. (Defense contre avions) AA
  • Dep. (Depot) Depot
  • Det./Dt. (Detachement) Detachment
  • Div. (Division) Division
  • Drag. (Dragoner) Dragooner
  • Edentaten (Kp. der Zahnlosen) Dentist
  • Ei (Einsatz) Employment
  • Eidg.Zeughaus (Eidgenoessisches Zeughaus) Federal Arsenal
  • E.M. (Etat-Major) Staff’s
  • EPRA (Eidgenoessisches Pferderaegie Anstalt) Federal Equestrian Supply Institute
  • E.R. (Ecole de recrues) Recruit school
  • Esc. (Escadron) Squadron
  • ESM. (Etablissement sanitaire-militaire) Military Medical Establishment
  • Exploit (Exploit) Reclaim (Land)
  • F. (Feld) Field
  • FAK. (Feldarmeekorps) Field Army Corps
  • Fant. (Fanteria) Infantry
  • Fest. (Festungs) Fortress
  • FHD. (Frauenhilfsdienst) Womens Complementary Service
  • Fhr. (Fahrer) Driver or Guide
  • Fk. (Funker) Radio Operator
  • Fl. (Flieger) Air force
  • Flab. (Fliegerabwehr) AA
  • Fl.Beob. (Fliegerbeobachter) Air force Observer
  • Flpl. (Flugplatz) Airbase
  • Flwaf. (Flugwaffe) Air force
  • Fort. (Fortification) Fortress
  • Four. (Fourier) Quartermaster Sergeant
  • F.P. (Feldpost) Postal Service
  • Fr. (Frontire) Border
  • Freiw. (Freiwillige) Volunteer
  • Fuc. (Fuciliere) Fusilier
  • Funk. (Funker) Radio Operator
  • Fs./fus. (Fuesilier/Fusilier) Fusilier (Infantryman)
  • Fw. (Feldweibel) Sergeant-major
  • Fwk./F.W.K. (Festungswachtkorps) Fortress Guards
  • G. (Genie) Corps of Engineers
  • Geb. (Gebirgs) Mountain
  • G.f. (Garde-frontière) Border Guard
  • Gfr. (Gefreiter) Lance Corporal
  • Gr. (Gruppe, Groupe) Group
  • Gren. (Grenadier) Grenadier
  • Gst. (Generalstab) General’s staff
  • Gz. (Grenz) Border
  • Hb. (Haubitze) Howitzers/Artillery
  • HD. (Hilfsdienst) Complementary Service
  • Hepo. (Heerespolizei) Military Police
  • Hfs. (Hufschmied) Farrier
  • Hptm. (Hauptmann) Captain
  • Ik. (Infanterie-Kanone) Infantry Cannon
  • Inf. (Infanterie) Infantry
  • Kan. (Kanone/Kannonier) Cannon/gunner
  • Kar. (Karabiner) Carbine
  • Kav. (Kavallerie) Cavalry
  • Kol. (Kolonne) Column/Convoy
  • Kp. (Kompanie) Company
  • Kpl. (Korporal) Corporal
  • Kr. (Kreis) Region
  • L. (Leicht(e) Light
  • Lastw. (Lastwagen) Truck
  • Laz. (Lazarett) Military hospital
  • Ld. (Lourd) Heavy
  • Lg. (Leger) Light
  • Legg. (Leggiero) Light
  • Lmg. (Leichtes Maschinengewehr) Light machinegun
  • Lst./Ls. (Landsturm) Home Defense Troops 46+ (lit. land storm)
  • Lt. (Leutnant) Second Lieutenant
  • Lufts. (Luftschutz) Air Raid Protection
  • Lw. (Landwehr) Home Defense Troops 30+ (lit. land resistance)
  • M. (Mittel) Medium
  • Mech. (Mechaniker) Mechanic
  • Mg. (Maschinengewehr) Machine Gun
  • Mi. (Mineur) Miner
  • Mil. (Militair) Military
  • Mitr. (Mitrailleur) Machine Gun, Gunner
  • Mont. (Montagne) Mountain
  • Mot. (Motorisiert) Motorized
  • Motf. (Motorfahrer) Motorcar Driver
  • Motfz. (Motorfahrzeuge) Motor Vehicles
  • Moto. (Motocyclette) Motor Bike
  • Motrd. (Motorrad) Motor Bike
  • Motrdf. (Motorradfahrer) Motor-Cyclist
  • MP. (Militärpolizei) Military Police
  • MSA. (Militärsanitaets-anstalt) Military Medical Institute
  • Mun. (Munition) Munitions
  • MVP. (Militärische Verkehrspolizei) Military Traffic Police
  • Mw. (Minenwerfer) Mortar
  • Na. (Nachrichten) Intelligence
  • Nd. (Nachrichtendienst) Intelligence Service
  • Ob. (Obusier) Howitzer/Artillery
  • Oberstlt. (Oberstleutnant) Lieutenant Colonel
  • Oblt. (Oberleutnant) First Lieutenant
  • Obs. (Observateur) Observer
  • Of. (Offizier) Officer
  • Of.Ord. (Offiziersordonnanz) Officer’s Valet
  • Ord. (Ordonnanz) Ordnance
  • Patr. (Patrouille) Patrol
  • P. (Park) SupplySupport
  • P.A. (Protection Aerienne) Air Raid Protection
  • Pak. (Panzerkanone) Anti-tank Cannon
  • Pc. (Parc) Supply/Support
  • Pf. St. (Pferdestellung) Equestrian Depot (lit. Horse position)
  • Pig.Voy. (Pigeon voyageur) Carrier-Pigeon
  • Pi. (Pionier) Pioneer/Engineer
  • Pil. (Pilot) Pilot
  • Pk. (Park) Supply/Support
  • Pol. (Polizei) Police
  • Pont. (Pontonier) Pontoon
  • Pw. (Motor)Personenwagen) Car
  • Pz. (Panzer) Tank
  • Pzaw. (Panzerabwehr) Anti Tank
  • Pzj. (Panzerjaeger) Tank Destroyer
  • Pzw. (Panzerwagen) Tank/Armoured.vehicle
  • Qm. (Quartiermeister) Quartermaster
  • Radio (Radiotelegraphie) Radio operator
  • Reg.________________Regiment_____________Regiment
  • Rdf.________________Radfahrer____________Cyclist
  • Rekr._______________Rekrut______________Recruit
  • Rem._______________Remonten-___________Horse breeding / stabling
  • Rep.______________Reparatur_______________Repair
  • Res.______________Reserve_________________Reserve
  • Rgt.______________Regiment_______________Regiment (also Reg., Regt.)
  • R.S./RS__________Rekrutenschule___________Recruit school
  • S.________________Schuetzen_______________ Infantryman (also shooter)
  • San._______________Sanitaet_________________Medical
  • Sat._______________Sattler_________________Saddler
  • Sap._______________Sappeur________________Sapper
  • SC ___________Service Complémentaire_________Complementary Service (member of)
  • Schnw.___________Scheinwerfer_____________Search Lights
  • Sch./schw.__________Schwere_______________Heavy
  • Schw.______________Schwadron_____________Squadron
  • Sct.________________Section________________Section
  • Sdt.________________Soldat_________________Soldier
  • Sec.________________Section________________Section
  • Sez.________________Sezione________________Section
  • Sgt.________________Sergent________________Sergeant
  • Sig._______________Signal/Signalist___________Signal/Signaler
  • St.________________Stellung________________Fortified position
  • Stabs._____________Stabs__________________Staff's
  • Str.Pol.____________Strassenpolizei___________Street Police
  • Strapo.____________Strassenpolizei___________Street Police
  • Subs._____________Subsistance_____________Food service/Logistics
  • Surv.______________Surveillance____________Surveillance
  • Tamb._____________Tambour_______________Drummer
  • Ter._______________Territorial______________Territorial
  • Tf.________________Telefon________________Telephone
  • Tg.________________Telegraph_____________Telegraph
  • Tr.________________Train_________________Transport Unit
  • Tromp._____________Trompeter____________Bugler
  • Trp._______________Truppe_______________Troups
  • Trsp.______________Transport_____________Transport
  • TT_______________Tout Terrain____________All-Terrain
  • Uem.____________Uebermittlung___________Communication
  • Uof______________Unteroffizier___________Non Commissioned-Officer
  • U.O.S./UOS______Unteroffziersschule_______Non Commissioned-Officers School
  • Volont.____________Volontaires___________Volunteers
  • Vpf.______________Verpflegung___________Food service/Logistics
  • Vsg.______________Versorgung___________Supply
  • Wafm.___________Waffenmechaniker_______Weapons Mechanic
  • We._______________Werkstatt____________Workshop
  • Wm.______________Wachtmeister__________Sergeant
  • Wk._______________Werk_______________Fortification / Bunker
  • W.K._________Wiederholungskurs__________Refresher course
  • Z.________________Zug___________________Platoon
  • Zerst.____________Zerstoerung______________Destruction