Kampfpanzerwagen Designation Convention

The Kampfpanzerwagen Designation Convention is quite confusing and inefficient right? For example, the name of the Großbär is Panzer IV Sturmjägerausführung F, which when translated to English means Tank IV Assault Hunter Version F. You might be are confused about this designation name since this is the only version of the Großbär, so what gives? Why is it called that? This article will explain the meanings of the names and designations of Panzers.
== Designations ==
This will explain the meanings of panzer designations.
=== No Designations ===
Including Panzers like: Panzer IV Ausf. F and H, Panzer V Panther, Panzer VI Tiger.
These are normal turreted panzers which are usually jacks-of-all-trades when against any enemy.
=== Jäger ===
Including Panzers like: Panzer V Polenwagen, Panzer X Dongtiger.
The German word Jäger means Hunter in English. A tank with the designation panzerjäger (for long) is supposed to be a tank hunter, as in, it destroys tanks.
=== Sturm ===
Including Panzers like: Panzer IV Dicker Max, Panzer VI Sturmtiger
The German word Sturm means Storm in English, as in assault. However, this category also refers to some artillery vehicles that don't assault, but support infantry in assaulting. 
== Doctrines ==
=== Normal Doctrine ===
Panzers with no designations follow the normal panzer doctrine that Hitler wrote a blurb about: 
Panzerdoktrin
Shoot everything you see, but you have to use the right tank munition if you want to quickly defeat enemy tanks, by using anti-tank rounds, and enemy infantry, by using anti-infantry rounds. It is recommended that you use your MGs when against infantry, but use what you want, we probably won't monitor you, this is war, after all. Oops! You did a war crime? We didn't see it, we aren't responsible, you aren't responsible.
=== Jäger Doctrine ===
Jäger panzer doctrine includes an action called Pack Hunting, which means "hunting" for tanks with nearby allied jäger panzers. It is specified that the maximum distance an allied jäger panzer should be away from another is 70 meters while the minimum is up to the driver or commander. 
Jäger panzers usually have thick front armor to have the best chance against enemy cannons. The armament of a jäger is usually a big anti-tank gun that uses rounds that are excellent against tanks but have lame anti-infantry capabilities since the high explosive shells aren't really high explosive.
Hitler wrote this in a brochure about panzer doctrine:
Panzerjägerdoktrin
Panzerjäger panzers are typically turretless moving bunkers, so you should advance the enemy using your front armor, as if you have a choice! You can't advance the enemy using your side armor, you have no turret! The best position for a panzerjäger is a medium distance away from the target while next to a structure that will protect your sides or flank, i.e., a house. The best panzerjäger is an offensively defensive panzerjäger. You should wait in a cubby until an enemy tank rolls into your crosshairs, then you should shoot and destroy the tank immediately. Against infantry, do your best, you may or may not have an MG. If you are caught rolling forward, the best thing you can do is angle your tank, so the effective front armor is maximized. 
=== Sturm Doctrine ===
Sturmpanzer doctrine includes fighting with the infantry in order to help take strategic points by destroying enemy fortifications, like blowing up rooms in a building. 
Sturmpanzers usually have good frontal armor if less thick than Jäger frontal armor. They need to have lighter and worse armor because they need to be able to assault quickly with the infantry, as a part of the Blitzkrieg doctrine. Sturmpanzers are usually armed with a large howitzer cannon, or, in the case of the Sturmtiger, a mortar. These howitzers use shells that are super highly explosive, which are über at destroying swathes of infantry, but when they need to confront a tank, they have the capability to do so, just worse than Jäger panzers, again.
Hitler wrote in an album about assault panzer doctrine:
Sturmpanzerdoktrin
Sturmpanzers are like Panzerjäger panzers, in that they are usually turretless, so you should read my brochure about Panzerjäger doctrine because the armor tactics still apply. Sturmpanzers should provide fire support for the infantry, perhaps from another angle or from a hill or something, just don't kill my infantry. Sturmpanzers should always blow up enemy fortifications and enemy infantry battalions using the high explosive shells. And hey, maybe you can destroy the house in the infantry's way. It might be an orphanage but who cares about innocent children who've only experienced hardship? Blow them up! Against tanks, use the anti-tank round of course.
== Designation Application ==
Sturm and Jäger are used to describe a tank. Like, Panzer IV Sturmausführung F and Panzer V Jägerausführung. Sturm and Jäger are abbreviated to Stu. and Jg., respectively. The confusion comes from the syntax of the words, like, "Sturmausführung F" means "Assault Variant F" or "Version F of the Assault Variant" but what it truly means in this tanking context is "Assault version of Variant F" or "Variant F Assault version."
In terms of jäger panzers, the form and syntax of "Jäger" tells what type of jäger it is. These are defined by the shape of the vehicle and the placement of the gun. The term "Jagdpanzer" refers to a tank destroyer with angled frontal armor being designed to fight tanks specifically and forward gun. "Panzerjäger" refers to lightly armored anti-tank guns strapped on top of a tank chassis. "Jägerpanzer" refers to tanks with a rear casemate that may have paper armor or big chungus armor and usually have minimal angling. 
In terms of sturm panzers, the same applies as well as diction. These are defined by the purpose of the vehicle rather than how it looks. The term "Stürmerwagen" refers to indirect-fire artillery or mortar carriers which are lightly armored. "Sturmpanzer" refers to armor that assaults alongside infantry and directly fires on targets. "Sturmmörser" refers to armored derp guns that assault with infantry. 
These more defined versions of jäger and sturm aren't reflected in the naming scheme and Hitler uses the words interchangeably to the annoyance of the battalion leaders. 
=== Alleviation ===
To alleviate the pain, just say "version of" before the Ausf. Here, try it:
Panzer IV Stu.Ausf. F. Did you say "Panzer Four Sturm version of Ausführung F"? If so, then you win. 
Or if you're smart enough to understand the designation naming scheme, ignore this article.
Category:German
Category:Panzer Battalion
Category:Vocabulary
Category:Nazi
Category:German Origin