Kampfpanzerwagen Designation Convention

The **Kampfpanzerwagen Designation Convention** is quite confusing 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 p*anzerjäger* (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, but in this context, storm and sturm are synonyms to assaulting. *Sturmpanzers* assault, or s*turm*, alongside infantry.

## 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 that have less thickness 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. Sturmpanzer are usually armed with a large howitzer cannon, or, in the case of the Sturmtiger, a mortar. These howitzers use shells that are super high 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 **Sturm**ausführung F and Panzer V **Jäger**ausführung. *Sturm* and *Jäger* are abbreviated to *Stu.* and *Jg.*, respectively. The confusion comes from the syntax of the words, like, "***Sturm**ausführung 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."

### 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.