Copy 2
WAR DEPARTMENT
vj
1
FM 21-30
BASIC FIELD MANUAL
CONVENTIONAL SIGNS,
MILITARY SYMBOLS, AND
ABBREVIATIONS
UNITED STATES
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
WASHINGTON : 1941
nx
FM 21-50
BASIC FIELD MANUAL
CONVENTIONAL SIGNS. MILITARY SYMBOLS, AND
ABBREVIATIONS
Railroad, crossing_———_______________
(grade—RR above—RR beneath)
Submarine-—————. __________
General symbol.
Foot.
Suspension.
Arch.
•|* *
Ponton.
Ferries. f=r-»-•
Fords Equestrian-
Pedestrian__ _.
Dam——_—-________
Buildings in general____________.,
Ruins.
Cliff dwellings.
Church-
Church (optional symbol for nautical charts) ——————— *
Hospital___________________________———O
Schoolhouse ________________________— f «-«»„
Temple, pagoda——___________——_———— x •«*
Windmill______________.____________——— «
Port_______________________________X
419767°
4 CORPS OF ENGINEERS
Capital___.__ @
City, town, or village (small-scale maps). County seat———- ®
Other towns___ 0
Prospect—_____.._„_--______________.___ x
Shaft________________________________ B
[Opening————_—__————_——___— A
Mine tunnel j
[Showing direction.-_——_—_—_—_ ^_
Tanks-...,.....—..„.__„„_..__.„„___.„„_. .£;;.
Coke ovens__________________________
County line.———_———————————. ——
Civil township, district, precinct, or barrio. __
Reservation line___————__—____. ——
Land-grant line—__———————————. —•
U. S. mineral monument———__—______________ A
Observation spot (astronomic position)___________ «
Any located station or object (with explanatory note) ——__ o
c. Marginal information.—Where practicable the following
data are shown in the margins of all maps, photomaps, or
aerial photographs, and usually in the places indicated by
the encircled figures. On military maps, overlays, and field
7
CORPS OF ENGINEERS
©
© y/- Descriptive title, name, and location.
©
2. file or index number.
3. Representative fraction and/or graphic scale.
_. Meridian and grid orientation.
5. Particular legend.
6. Contour interval.
7.
© 8.
9.
Maker and source of material.
Projection used.
Horizontal datum. H> ©
10. Vertical datun.
11. Control used.
12. Zones of military grid.
13. Designations of geographic grid.
UV. Designations of nUitary "grid.
15. Names and index of adjoining sheets.
^^^^^?^^
§>
© ® ® ®
®,
®@
©
d. Drainage.
Streams in general
Intermittent streams-
Spring-
Glaciers
Hachures.
4 CORPS OF ENGINEERS
Cuts-
Pills________.
Tailings————__.
Bluffs,
Ridge line-
Washes————__...._-
/. Land, classification.
Overflowed land-_~_
10
SIGNS, SYMBOLS, AND ABBREVIATIONS
Cypress swamp.__———'____.
Palm________________
Palmetto_______———____.
Mangrove_____———————-.
11
CORPS OF KNGINRRS
Bamboo.
C?.CtUS-
Banana.
Orchard-
Grassland in general.
Cotton.
i.j, -U-UJ. J; 1
tU.i~a-U.i-
Rice.
- ^
J . I ) \ i ;
12
SIGNS, SYMBOLS, AND ABBREVIATIONS
Sugar cane_
Corn
Land
In general-
Rocky ledges——
>£•-.£. Land
419767°- 13
CORPS OF ENGINEERS
Mud-
14
SIGNS, SYMBOLS, AND ABBREVIATIONS
Submarine cable______________
Current, not tidal, velocity 2 knots-
Special usage)—___———__
'Flood, iy_ knots—
Ebb, 1 knot.———
Tidal currents
Flood, second hour-
Ebb, third hour__________—
No bottom at 50 fathoms_______________——— fo
Depth curves:
1-fath'om or 6-foot line________. ........................«,/t&m:»,i:«>u,.
2-fathom or 12-foot line—-____. ................ «/»^«»^/a^
3-fathom or 18-foot line_____.. ..................™,™*,,,,.,.,/..
4-fathom line——__———__—. ....................................
5-fathom line_____—______. ...... ............... ..... .....
6-fathom line..______.____— - — —— —— —-
10-fathom line——____————_——— _._._._._._._._._._._
20-fathom line__________—. _.._.._.._.._.._.._.._.._
30-fathom line._____________. _..._..._..._..._..._..._....
40-fathom line_____________. ._...._...._...._..._...._.
50-fathom line.___________„ __....__...._...._.. -
100-fathom line____________. - ——————— --
h. Aids to navigation, etc.
Life-saving station (in general).-____——____—^ L.S.S
Life-saving station (Coast Guard)__________-.+ c.a. IBS
15
CORPS OF ENGINEERS
16
SIGNS, SYMBOLS, AND ABBREVIATIONS
17
5-6 CORPS OF ENGINEERS
SECTION III
SYMBOLS FOR AIR NAVIGATION MAPS
• 5. CHARACTERISTICS.—The conventional signs for use on air
navigation maps differ from those used on topographic maps
as follows:
a. The features on the ground which are easily discernible
from high altitudes are the ones which are emphasized on the
air navigation map and the other features are subordinated or
entirely omitted. In this way the aviator is provided with a
map showing landmarks visible from the air, permitting him
to direct his flight by these landmarks.
b. All symbols adopted are larger and more striking to the
eye so that the aviator may easily read his map under difficult
conditions.
B 6. LIST. (Symbols usually reproduced in Red)
18
SIGNS, SYMBOLS, AND ABBREVIATIONS
Radio station with call letters and frequency Y " ° RS (wur IMO)
Radio direction-finder station with call letters and
frequency (radio-compass station). —————— o BCINOW 30101
Radio beacon with call letters ——————————— Q RBn(wRO)
Radio range beacon ——————————————————— Q RRBr,
fMarked.
High explosive area
I Unmarked- __ - __________ &
Highway, prominent_____
Highway, less prominent-
19
6-7 CORPS OF ENGINEERS
Obstruction_______________——————__——— 257
(numerals indicate height above ground in feet)
Prominent elevation-________———————_
(numerals indicate height in feet)
GRADIENT OF ELEVATIONS
MAXIMUM 9000 7000 6000 3000 2000 1000 0 FEET
SECTION IV
MILITARY SYMBOLS
• 7. GENERAL RULES.—a. Color.—When colors are used, mili
tary symbols representing objects in territory occupied or
controlled by our forces are shown in blue, and those in ter
ritory occupied or controlled by the enemy are shown in red.
The only exceptions are the following:
(1) Symbols for areas to be covered by friendly fire or gas,
although generally located in enemy territory, are executed
in blue.
(2) Symbols for gassed areas, wherever located, are always
executed in red.
b. Unit designations.—The positions of various letters,
numbers, or abbreviations designating definite units with
respect to the symbol representing the type of unit are as
follows:
(1) Serial numbers of armies and corps are placed within
the symbol for troop units when considered collectively.
Army is shown by number spelled out. Corps is shown by
roman numerals. Serial numbers of divisions, brigades, regi
ments, separate battalions, separate companies, or similar
separate units are placed on the right, using arable numerals.
When separate units are designated in this manner, the
number of the unit will be followed by an abbreviated ex
planation showing the size of the unit thus designated.
20
SIGNS, SYMBOLS, AND ABBREVIATIONS 7
419767'—42——4 21
7-8 CORPS OF ENGINEERS
Symbol indicating
size
(c) Army or corps
Example: Second Army-
• 8. LIST OP BASIC SYMBOLS.—a. To indicate purpose or
character of activity.
Military post or station; command post or r—i
headquarters ____ ————— _ ————— [——
(lower end of staff terminates at location
of establishment represented)
Troop unit.. _____ .. _ __. — -. ———— | J
(On large-scale maps where troop units
can be shown to scale, this symbol
may be modified as follows so as to
show area occupied by units in column
or line and direction in which they
are facing:
Line
Airdrome
Balloon bed-————_———————————
Demolitions----—_-____-------— -.
23
8 CORPS OF ENGINEERS
Leader gear_______________———.
(An energized cable which may be pro
vided to aid the safe pilotage of vessels
through free passages in mine fields.
Symbol is used on chart to show exact
location.)
Message center______________— Msg
Mines:
Individual (layout shown if practicable
or area included) ________----- 9 or V7'5'
Contact mines___-_____________
(This symbol is used to indicate the
actual number of mines and their
locations. The arabic figures indi
cate the contemplated number of
mines in each line.)
Controlled mines______________
(This symbol Indicates one 19-mine
group, and a separate symbol is
used for each group. As it ap
pears here, the upper edge of this
page is assumed to be seaward;
and on charts the symbols should
be correspondingly placed. The
length of a mine group being 1800
feet, the symbol is drawn to scale.
Its position represents the contem
plated disposition of the mine
group.)
Mobilization point or area (capacity in
figures) —————————————————————————————————————
24
SIGNS, SYMBOLS, AND ABBREVIATIONS 8
Net:
Torpedo net (with gate) _______________
Antisubmarine net (with gate) __________
Obstacle:
Individual _________________ X
Road block ———————————— _ ———— ^^
Bridge out ________________ . ^<
Post:
Observation- —— ___________ — . /\
Fixed underwater listening. ______ _. (IT)
Visual signal-- ——— __ _____ __ _-- OC
Point, any located (suitable description) — ————— . Q
Point, distributing:
For class I supplies.- __________ ———— . (3)dp
Ammunition —————— _____ __ ——————— . 'Jl,1 dp
Artillery ammunition —— __ _ __ —— —— ... U-Jdp
Small-arms ammunition ________ ———— . (I,1 dp
Water__—_ _ . ___ _ _____________ . (w) dp
Prisoners of war ———————— __ ___ — ————— PVI
Procurement district, headquarters _____ _ ___ . ^
Railway center.
Railway
Searchlight
Sound locator.
Signal:
Radio station _ .... _ . — . ______ . ""J" or RSO
Direction-finder station (radio com
pass) ————————————————————————— Rco or "»
Traffic:
One-way-
Two-way-
Tank:
Barrier...
Trap.
Trench for one squad- ——— ————— .____
(For each additional squad add one
traverse.)
Weather station.
b. To indicate arm or service or its activity.—These symbols
are placed within the symbols shown in a above when appro
priate, except when otherwise noted.
Air Corps
Airship
Balloon
Balloon (motorized)
Armored Force- _ __ —— ————————— ——— _ — — -_ C J
(When used with arm or service symbol, indicates
mechanized unit.)
Artillery
Cavalry:
Horse
Horse and mechanized
Mechanized __
Chemical Warfare Service.
27
8 CORPS OF ENGINEERS
Coast Artillery:
Antiaircraft.—
Harbor Defense —————— —————————————— «HD
Railway __ _ --- _ _ -- ——————— ————— • • Ry
Tractor-drawn _ _.. ________ —————— -«CAi55-mm
Engineers — ————— ... — _ ————._ ————— — ——— E
Infantry __ — ____ .. ____ ________ ——————— X
Motorized _____________________ X Mtz
Parachute _____ _______________ — X Prcht
Medical Corps.... ____________ ———— _ — _|—
Military Police __ __ .. ___________ — __ — . MP
Ordnance Department. ___ ___ ________ ... $
Quartermaster Corps..... _ _ — __ ————— — .. Q
Bakery... _ ______ __________ . ___ — JX
Class I supplies.- __________ — ___ __. )
Gasoline and oil only _______________ *f
Remount Service _________________ . Q
Signal Corps—.— _____ ______________ S
Signal Corps (aviation) ________________ ._ <=^f=>
Tank Destroyer.. ____________ ________ . TD
28
SIGNS, SYMBOLS, ADD ABBREVIATIONS 8
30
SIGNS, SYMBOLS, AND ABBREVIATIONS 8
31
8 CORPS OF ENGINEERS
Gun———— . ——. * 6
Gun battery-
Howitzer or t±H
• mortar.— Open when em •6-
placement is
' unoccupied,
Howitzer or or thus——————' or
mortar battery. .^^ 4- -u
4.2-in. chemical
mortar-.- — . 4.42 cm, ] -<i-4.80itii
re
Livens projector.—————————————————————. |"-P
Brush__.-.._-..
Cultivated land
Stream
Woods
g. Roads.—Suggested road classification is shown below.
This classification will not apply in all cases. When addi
tional types are indicated suitable identification should be
made by improvised notation or legend.
Hard surface-____.
Graded and improved-
Graded, not improved-
32
SIGNS, SYMBOLS, AND ABBREVIATIONS 8-9
Poor road.
Trail.
• 9. APPLICATION OF SPECIAL SYMBOLS.—The following ex
amples show the use of special symbols as applied to various
military organizations and activities. These examples are
intended to illustrate the method of combining basic symbols
and abbreviations in order to show the desired information.
These are only a few of the possible combinations. Many
are more complete than necessary. Often the number of a
unit, to those familiar with it, will indicate its activity.
a. Air Corps.
3d Air Force_________________-
33
a CORPS OF ENGINEERS
35
CORPS OF ENGINEERS
37
9 CORPS OF ENGINEERS
38
SIGNS, SYMBOLS, AND ABBREVIATIONS 9
39
9 CORPS OF ENGINEERS
40
SIGNS, SYMBOLS, AND ABBREVIATIONS 9
43
10 CORPS OF ENGINEERS
SECTION V
GENERAL ABBREVIATIONS
• 10. GENERAL USE.—The abbreviations listed below are pre
scribed for use on all United States maps:
A____________. Arch or arroyo
abut——___.___.._. Abutment
b__________.._. Brick
BS____________. Blacksmith shop
bot_________..__ Bottom
Br___________.._. Branch
br____________ Bridge
C———————————___. Cape
cem___________ Cemetery
con________.... Concrete
cov___.__.____ Covered
Cr_-____.________. Creek
cul___________ Culvert
DS___________ Drug store
E_.__________.._. East
Est___________ Estuary
f—_.__________. Pordable
Ft___________. Fort
GS___________ General store
gir___________. Girder
GM____________. Grist mill
i___________._ Iron
I.__._______.. Island
Jc__________. Junction
kp___________.._. King-post
L____________. Lake
Lat-_________.... Latitude
Ldg__________. Landing
LSS___________ Life-saving station
LH____________ Lighthouse
Long___________. Longitude
Mt____________ Mountain
Mts___________. Mountains
N____________. North
nf___________. Not fordable
p_____________- Pier
pk__________. Plank
44
SIGNS, SYMBOLS, AND ABBREVIATIONS 10-11
45
11 CORPS OF ENGINEERS
Gp.____-_______.. Group
R____________.. Red
W____________. White
G____________.. Green
B____________.. Blue
Sec___________. Sector
(U) __________. Unwatched
ev_______-___. Every
m______ _____.. Miles
min_—__———_-_—.. Minutes
sec_-___.-_______.. Seconds
vis__________-_-,. Visible
c. Relating to buoys.
C____________________. Can
AT_____________. Nun
S_____________. Spar
HS-. _________. Horizontal stripes
B_____________ Black
R____________________ Red
W___________________. White
VS____________ Vertical stripes
G____________ Green
y_____________ Yellow
Cfi ___________ Checkered
d. Relating to log signals.
FB --_---__———__._ Fog bell
FD_______.___ Fog diaphone
FG_____——___ Fog gun
FH. ___________ - Fog horn
FS__________... Fog siren
FT,. __________... Fog trumpet
FW___________. Fog whistle
SB______.. Submarine fog bell
e. Relating to bottoms.
Cl_____________ Clay
Co___________. Coral
G-________.. Gravel
M_____________ Mud
O2____________ Ooze
P____________.. Pebbles
S_____________. Sand
46
SIGNS, SYMBOLS, AND ABBREVIATIONS 11-12
Sh ____________ Shells
Sp ____________ Specks
St ____________. Stones
brk... -_________. Broken
Cal....... _______ Calcareous
crs.......... _____ Coarse
dec_-______ Decayed
dk____________. Dark
fly____________. Flinty
fne. ____________ Fine
grd---.-....... -__ Ground
gty.. _______________ Gritty
hrd ___________. Hard
Irg. _________. Large
..._„_—.——-_—. Light
rky___________. Rocky
rot-...-.. _______ Rotten
sft -__——-___-___—. Soft
sml__________. Small
spk..... ________. Speckled
stf__.__—_—-_-_. Stiff
sir___________________. Streaky
vol............—-.... Volcanic
bfc—_—________. Black
br_____________. Brown
bu -___---_-________. Blue
gn. ______--_. Green
gy___________.. Gray
rd ____________ Red
wh............ ____ White
yl.................... Yellow
stk......-———— Sticky
SECTION VI
MILITARY ABBREVIATIONS
• 12. LIST.—The abbreviations listed below are authorized for
use in combat orders, messages, records, and reports in the
field. With few exceptions all are written without spacing
and periods. Dates, when abbreviated, are written thus:
1 Jan 24. Usually a single word is represented by a single
capital letter, or by a capital and lower case.
47
12 CORPS OF ENG1NEEES
Acting___——_———-—_-___—_-.. Actg
Adjutant General----_________ AG
Adjutant's (section)_..______ Adj (Sec) '
Adjutant (1st staff section, brigades
and lower units)—-.---____._. S-l
Adjutant General's Department___. AGD
Administrative (orders).______ Adm (O)
Advance_-__---________ Adv
Advance guard___.._______. AdvGd
Advance Message Center_______. AdvMsgCen
Afternoon (i. e., from 12:00 noon to
12:00 midnight)__.___.___ PM
Aide-de-camp————....__—___. ADC
Air base_____———_________- AB
Air Corps_____-_________. AC
Aircraft warning service____--_-. AWS
Air Defense Command_____------ AD Comd
Airdrome——_——_________- Adnn
Air District...——„_____.._— ADist
Air Force_-_———_________- AF
Air Force Combat Command--—_. AFCC
Air Intelligence (section) (officer) __ Alnt(Sec) (O)
Airplane————————_—_—-_... AP
Airship__.__._—_.._______. Ash
Ambulance (company) (company,
motor) (section) __________. Amb(Co) (CoM) (Sec)
Ambulance loading post____——— ALP
American Expeditionary Forces.—— AEF
Ammunition (company) (distribu
tion point) (train)._____.__. Am (Co) (DP) (Tn)
Animal (animal-drawn)——————— Anl-d
Antiaircraft—————_—_._—__._. AA
Antiaircraft Artillery_________. AAA
Antiaircraft Artillery Intelligence
Service——————————__————— AAAIS
Antiaircraft Intelligence Service..— AAIS
Antimechanized———______.. AMecz
Antitank________________ AT
Appendix————————————————— App
April———————————————————— Apr
Armorer——————————————— Armr
Artificer————————_—_—..... Artif
48
SIGNS, SYMBOLS, AND ABBREVIATIONS 12
49
12 CORPS OF ENGINEERS
Blacksmith_____.._________ Blksm
Bombardment (squadron) (group) Bomb (Sq) (Gp) (Wg)
(wing) (light) (medium) (heavy). (L) (M) (H)
Bomb service truck__________. BSTrk
Boundary__________———————. Bd
Bridge train (heavy) (light)_____ BrTn(HvXL)
Brigade (commander)..—_————— Brig (Comdr)
Brigade adjutant___.___————. S-l
Brigade intelligence officer______. S-2
Brigade plans and training officer__ S-3
Brigade supply officer.________. S-4
Brigade headquarters______——. BHQ
Brigadier general____________ Brig Gen
Browning automatic rifle_______ BAR
Bugler__________________. Bglr
Caliber....__________..._— cal
Camouflage (battalion) (company)... Cam (Bn) (Co)
Captain..______________———. Capt
Carpenter._____...___..___ Cptr
Carrier..-.______________. Carr
Cavalry (brigade) (division) _____ Cav (Brig) (Div)
Cavalry division headquarters_——. CavDHQ
Cemetery.._______________.. Cem
Center__________________ Cen
Centimeter_______________ cm
Chaplain (section) ___________ Ch (Sec)
Chauffeur______________. Cfr
Chemical (ammunition train) (bat- Cml(AmTn) (Bn) (Co)
talion) (company) (officer) (regi- (O) (Regt) (Sec)
ment) (section).
Chemical agent, nonpersistent____ G-NP
Chemical agent, persistent______. G-P
Chemical mortar, 4.2-inch_______ 4.2CmlMort
Chemical Warfare Service______ CWS
Chief of artillery____________. C of A
Chief of aviation____________. Cof Avn
Chief Signal Officer_________.. CSigO
Chief of Staff______________. Cof S
Circular...________________ Cir
Class——________________ Cl
Class I supplies___..________ ClISup
50
SIGNS, SYMBOLS, AND ABBREVIATIONS 12
51
12 CORPS OF ENGINEERS
Department—__——..._————-——. Dept
Depot (battalion).—_________. Dep (Bn)
Deputy chief of staff-..________ DC of S
Detachment————— —————__——. Det
Distant surveillance (section) ____. DS (Sec)
Distributing point—..————————. DP
Division..——-———__——___ Div
Division (adjutant) (aviation) (com- Div (Adj) (Avn)
mander) (engineer). (Comdr) (Engr)
Division headquarters-________ DHQ
Division (headquarters commandant
and provost marshal) _______ Div (Hq Comdt & PM)
Division (judge advocate) (munitions
officer).——————___-____ Div (JA) (MunO)
Division ordnance officer_—____. DivOO
Division (quartermaster) (signal of- Div (QM) (Sig O)
fleer) (surgeon). (Surg)
Draftsman———————————————. Drftm
Drawn..————————————————— Dr
Dump (truck)—————.————_.—— Dp (Trk)
East————————————————————. E
Echelon________________... Ech
Electrician——-————__———_—. Electn
Element..————_—————————— Elm
Eliminate-——-. ——————_—. Elim
Embarkation-—————_—————_—. Emb
Engineer (battalion) (company) (of- Engr (Bn) (Co) (O)
fleer) (train). (Tn)
Engineers (combat) (general service) _ Engrs (C) (Gen Serv)
Enlisted men.-_____________. EM
Entrucking point———____._____. EP
Evacuation (hospital)-_________ Evac (Hosp)
Exclusive———————.-._———____. Excl
Executive (officer)——________. Ex (O)
February.———_______________ Peb
Feet or foot—____________. ft
Field Artillery (brigade) ________ FA (Brig)
Field laboratory____________. FLab
52
SIGNS, SYMBOLS, AMD ABBREVIATIONS 12
.Field manual____________——— FM
Field orders______________— FO
Field (remount depot) _______—. F(RmtDep)
Field Train__________————— F Tn
Fighter________________- Fi
Finance (Department) (officer) __„ Fin (Dept) (O)
First lieutenant_______—-——— IstLt
Fixed_________________— Fxd
Flash ranging_________—_——. FR
Flight (commander)________— Fit (Comdr)
Film strip______________— FS
Forward echelon._____„„__—— FwdEch
Garage________________—— Gar
Gas noncommissioned officer—————. GasNCO
Gas officer_______________~ GasO
Gasproof dugout or building-——— G-PF
General (hospital) (service).__—— Gen (Hosp) (Serv)
General Headquarters_______-..- GHQ
General service___________—. Gen Serv
General Staff (Corps) _________ GS (C)
First section___________.. G-l
Second section_____.___—. G-2
Third section__________'_. G-3
Fourth section_____.__—— G-4
General Headquarters Air Force. _—— GHQ AF
Geological (survey)________-. Geol (Surv)
Graves registration (battalion) (com
pany)__________________ GrReg(Bn) (Co)
Group.____________——-——. Gp
Groupment-__.____..__—— Gpmt
Guard.—_________—————. Gd
Gun-——____________———. G
Gunner__-_______—__—. Gnr
Harbor defense_______-___— HD
Headquarters (battery) (company) Hq (Bty) (Co) (Tr)
(troop) (platoon) (section). (Plat) (Sec)
Headquarters and headquarters (bat- Hq&Hq(Btry) (Co)
tery) (company) (troop). (Tr)
Headquarters commandant___— HqComdt
53
12 CORPS OF ENGINEERS
Lights_-_________________. Lgts
Line of departure________—— LD
Line of communication______- LC
Lineman._____________. Lmn
Livens projector____________. LP
Machine-gun (company) (troop) (of
ficer)__________________. MG (Co) (Tr) (O)
Machinist_________________ Machst
Main line of resistance_____——. MLR
Main supply road_________—— MSR
Maintenance (section) ______——. Maint (Sec)
Maintenance of equipment___——. Maint of E
Maintenance party___________—— Maint Py
Maintenance of way_______——. Maint of W
Maintenance and supply____—— M&S
Major (General) __________—. Maj (Gen)
March————__________—_———. Mar
Master——_____________—— Mr
Material_______________—— Mat
Mechanic______________—— Mech
Mechanized____________——. Mecz
Medical (regiment) (supply depot)— Med(Regt) (SupDep)
Medical Corps___________—— MC
Medical Department_—————,——. MD
Medium (tank) (ponton) ___——. M (Tk) (Pon)
Message (center) ________—————. Msg (Cen)
Message dropping and pick-up ground- Msg CPU
Messenger (section) ______———- Msgr (Sec)
Meteorological (company) (officer)
(section)_________________ Met (Co) (O) (Sec)
Mile__________________——. mi
Miles per hour___________——— mph
Military intelligence._______——. MI
Military police (battalion) (company). MP (Bn) (Co)
Millimeter______________—— mm
Mobilization Regulations_—————. MR
Mobilization Training Program__——. MTP
Mobile____________________. Mbl
Months______________———. mos
Morning (i. e., from 12:00 midnight to
12:00 noon)__________———. AM
55
12 CORPS OF ENGINEERS
Mortar_________.__________ Mort
Motor Transport (Service) ______. MT (S)
Motor___________________ Mtr
Motor-tricycle__—...________ Mtricl
Motorcycle______.._______. Mtrcl
Motorized_______.._______. Mtz
Mounted.——————.._—__———_ Mtd
Munitions (officer)__________ Mun(O)
Navigation (officer) __...__._____ Nav (O)
Net control station..._________ NCS
Night__________..________ Nt
Noncommissioned officer_______. NCO
North______.__________ N
November———————..——————_. Nov
Number—_————..._______ No
Observation (ba 11a 1 ion) (flash) Obsn (Bn) (Bl) (Gp)
(group) (squadron). (Sq)
Observer....—_———__———_. Obsr
Observation post__.________ OP
October————————..——————— Oct
Officer, order, or orders__———__ O
Operation.__________....__ Opn
Operator.____——__—.——.___ Opr
Orderly-——_—————_——1———__.. Odly
Ordnance....__——___—_—_—. Ord
Ordnance officer———..—————__.. OO
Organization——————————————. Orgn
Outpost line____.._.__.__. OPL
Outpost line of resistance————.— OPLB
Pack (troop) (train)—.._______ Pk(Tr)(Tn)
Parachute_______.-____—__ Prcht
Park_______________—__ Prk
Party...—__._———__—-—————. Py
Personnel (carrier) (officer) (section). Pers(Car) (O) (Sec)
Photographic (section) (squadron) _ Photo (Sec) (So.)
Pigeon company———...__———_—. PgnCo
Pioneer—_—_———__————_. Pion
Pioneer and demolition section—___. P&DSec
Plans and training officer——————. S-3
56
SIGNS, SYMBOLS, AND ABBREVIATIONS 12
57
12 CORPS OF ENGINEERS
Reinforced_______..———————. Reinf
Remount (depot) (officer) (service) __ Rmt (Dep) (O) (Serv)
Repair (section) _________——— Rep (Sec)
Replacement——___..———-———. Repl
Replacement Training Center———. RTC
Reproduction________________ Repro
Reserve————————..———————, Res
Rifle (company) (platoon) (squad)—. R (Co) (Plat) (Sqd)
Road_________.._______. Rd
Road bend-______..___—_____. RB
Road Junction_____________ RJ
Road space_______________ RS
Sales commissary (battalion) (com
pany)__________________ Sales Comm (BnMCo)
Salvage (battalion) (company) ___. Salv (Bn) (Co)
Sanitary_________________. Sn
Scheduled_______________ Scd
School_______.._______. Sch
Scout__________.._______ Set
Scout car_____,.__________. SctC
Scout car, half-track_________ SctCHt
Searchlight________________ Sit
Second lieutenant——._—_______ 2dLt
Section.__—_____________. Sec
Self-propelled mount__________ SPM
Semiautomatic rifle.—.—______ SAR
Semimobile—————__——__..__. Sem
Separate—.______________ Sep
September_______________. Sept
Sergeant-_______.._______ Sgt
Service (battalion) (battery) (com- Serv (Bn) (Btry) (Co)
pany) (troop). (Tr)
Shoe repair_______________. SRep
Side car.________________ Sc
Signal (battalion) (company) (troop) Sig (Bn) (Co) (Tr)
(depot) (officer) (section). (Dep) (O) (Sec)
Signal Corps______________. SigC
Signal operations instructions____. SOI
Small arms (ammunition) ______. SA (Am)
Sound and Plash (battalion)_____ S &P (Bn)
Sound locator————_________. S-L.
58
SIGNS, SYMBOLS, AND ABBREVIATIONS 12
Sound ranging____——_———— SR
South____________________ S
Special troops_____—_____—. SpTrs
Special weapons (troop) (platoon) _. Sp Wpn (Tr) (Plat)
Squad_________——_______ Sqd
Squadron (headquarters) (headquar
ters and headquarters detachment). Sq (Hq) (Hq & Hq Dct)
Staff (group) (squadron)———————. Stf (Gp) (Sq)
Standing operating procedure_____. SOP
Station.—_______——_____. Sta
Stenographer____———_—__—__. Steno
Sterilization and bath———_———— S&B
Straggler line_____—_———__. StragL
Submachine gun___————————— SMG
Supply (company) (section) __———— Sup (Co) (Sec)
Supply officer_____——______ S-4orSupO
Support line_____——_________. SL
Supply point_____——________. SupPt
Surgeon—————————————————— Surg
Surgical (hospital) _———_———... Surg (Hosp)
Survey——_______——_———— Surv
Switchboard____._————————— Sb
Switching central__——_____—— SwC
Tables of Basic Allowances______. T/BA
Tables of Organization—_________ T/O
Tank (battalion) (company) _____. Tk (Bn) (Co)
Tank destroyer_——————————— TD
Technical.._____—————————. Tech
Technical Manual——————————. TM
Technical Regulations————————. TR
Technician-_______————————— Techn
Telegraph (section).-—————_——— Tg (Sec)
Telegraph printer.——————————. Tgp
Telephone (section) _—_____——. Tp (Sec)
Theater headquarters^————————— THQ
Theater of operations—————————. Tof Opns
Time lengths_____————————— TL
Toolmaker________—_——————. Tlmkr
Topographic___———————————— Top or Topo
Tractor_________——————— Trac
59
12 CORPS OF ENGINEERS
Tractor-drawn______________ Tr Dr
Traffic_________-________ Traf
Train__________..———————— Tn
Trailer________..—__——— Tlr
Training________..____—__ Tng
Training Circular__————————— TC
Training film.____—————————. TP
Transport or transportation (com
pany) (officer) (platoon) _____ T (Co) (O) (Plat)
Trench mortar (battery) _______ TMort(Btry)
Tricycle, motor____..————————. TriclMtr
Troop(s) ________..————_.—— Tr(s)
Truck (battalion) (company) (sec- Trk (Bn) (Co) (Sec)
tion) (truck head) (Trkhd)
Truck-drawn_____————————— Trk-Dr
Truck head______________. Trkhd
Veterinary or veterinarian._______ Vet
Veterinary Corps___———-—___. VC
Veterinary (company) (evacuation Vet (Co) (Evac Hosp)
hospital) (service). (Serv)
Visual-—————————————————— Vis
Wagon (battalion) (company) (mas- Wag (Bn) (Co) (Mr)
ter) (section) (train). (SecMTn)
War Department———————————. WD
Warrant officer_____________ WO
Water supply____—————————— W Sup
Water tank (battalion) (train) _—. WTk (Bn) (Tn)
Weapon carrier____..________ WpnCarr
Weapons (troop) (platoon) ________ Wpn (Tr) (Plat)
Weather (group) (officer) (squadron) _ Wea (Gp) (O) (Sq)
Welder__________________ Wldr
West___________.————___- W
Winch__________________ Wn
Wing___________________. Wg
Yard_________-———-__- Yd
Year___________________ Yr
Zone________________— Z
Zone of the interior_———_______ Zof I
60
SIGNS, SYMBOLS, AND ABBREVIATIONS 13
61
13 CORPS OF ENGINEERS
62
SIGNS, SYMBOLS, AND ABBREVIATIONS 13
63
APPENDIX
LIST OP REFERENCES
AR 850-150, Authorised Abbreviations for Military Records.
AR 300-15, Maps and Mapping.
FM 21-25, Elementary Map and Aerial Photograph Reading.
FM 21-35, Sketching.
TM 5-230, Topographic Drafting.
FM 4-155, Coast Artillery, Reference Data.
FM 6-130, Field Artillery, Reference Data.
FM 21-105, Engineer Soldier's Handbook.
FM 21-100, Soldier's Handbook.
FM 8-55, Medical Department Reference Data.
FM 21-6, List of Publications for Training.
FM 21-26, Advanced Map and Aerial Photograph Reading.
FM 5-35, Engineer, Reference Data.
64
INDEX
Abbreviations: Paragraph Page
For general use.__-_________- — ___ 10 44
For use with hydrographic symbols:
Bottoms._______________.. lie 46
Buoys.___._____________.___ lie 46
Fog signals-__________________ ll<i 46
General._____-..______________ llo 45
Lights________________________. lib 45
List-——-________________________ 12 47
Military—examples of units:
Armored division-____________. 13a 61
Attached to an infantry division______. 13/ 63
Cavalry division, horse__-____— — _. 13b 61
Infantry division (square)-________. 13c 62
Infantry division (triangular)_____ 13d 63
Infantry division (triangular, motorized).. 13e 63
Air Corps symbols.--_____ — _... ——— --. 9a 33
Air navigation maps:
Characteristics________________- 5 18
List of symbols_________________ 6 18
Application of special military symbols._.———.. 9 33
Basic military symbols_____———-—————— 8 22
Boundaries:
Military_____________________-„——— 8d 29
Topographic-______...___ ——— — 4b 7
Cavalry symbols————————————————————— 9c 34
Chemical Warfare Service symbols.-__————— 9<J 35
Coast Artillery Corps symbols.______......... 9e 36
Color of symbols:
Military____________________.___ 7a 20
Topographic.--______________... 3b 1
Drainage——.. ——————————— ———— — ——— 4tt 8
Engineers' symbols------- — — ...--........ — -_. 9/ 36
Examples of military abbreviations—————————. 13 61
Field Artillery symbols.______________ Og 37
General abbreviations...____.—__.——_. 10 44
Hydrography-———.______________... 4? 13
Infantry symbols______________.-.„ 9h 38
Land classification..._____________. 4/ 10
Lettering of topographic symbols________„ 3o 2
List of—
Abbreviations_______________. 10 44
Basic military symbols_____________ 8 22
Military abbreviations_____________... 12 47
Topographic symbols____________. 4 2
Marginal information-________________.. 4c 7
Medical Department symbols____________ 9i 39
65
INDEX
Paragraph Page
Navigation, aids..—— ———————————————— 4ft 15
Ordnance symbols._..--_____—_______ 9j 40
Purpose of manual—-———————————————... 1 1
Quartermaster Corps sjTnbols.___________. 9fc 41
Belief__________.._________________ 4e 9
Scope of manual-__________________. 2 1
Signal Corps symbols.._____.__—_______ 91 42
Size of topographic symbols.——————____..— 3a 1
Structures...__...———————————_———— 4o 2
Symbols:
Air navigation maps:
Characteristics..———————————————— 5 18
List.______________________ 6 18
Military:
Basic, list of, to indicate—
Activities____________________ 8a 22
Arms or services._____________ 8b 27
Boundaries_________________ 8d 29
Hasty sketches______________ 8/ 32
Size of units_________________. 8c 28
Weapons___________________ 8e 31
General rules for_______-_______ 7 20
Special:
Application to—
Air Corps_______________. Sa 33
Armored Force.————______——. 9b 33
Cavalry____________.. 9c 34
Chemical Warfare Service_____ 3d 35
Coast Artillery Corps_______. 9e 36
Corps of Engineers_______ 9/ 36
Field Artillery._____________ 9<7 37
Infantry_________________. 9fi 38
Medical Department________. 9t 39
Ordnance—______—_______. Sj 40
Quartermaster Corps._____.. 9fc 41
Signal Corps____________. 91 42
For use In sketches___________. 8/ 32
Topographic:
Characteristics——————————————————— 3 1
List:
Boundaries, marks, and monuments———. 4b 7
Drainage____________._____ Id 8
Hydrography-___...—.——_____.. 4jr 13
Land classification———————____——... 4/ 10
Marginal information————————————— 4c 7
Navigation, aids to__________... 4/> 15
Relief__——..——————————______— 4e 9
Works and structures.——————————— 4a 2
Unit designations______——————______. 7b 20
o
66