Book of the Week
Allied Warships
Check out our new extensive section on all the Allied Warships during WWII in all theatres of the war.Over 11.300 ships
Special Sections
Abbrevations
| AK | Äusserste Kraft (voraus). Command for "full speed". |
| Ato | Atmosphärisch getriebener Torpedo (also A-Torpedo) A compressed-air-driven torpedo. |
| BdU | Befehlshaber der Unterseeboote Commander-in-Chief for submarines, Karl Dönitz from 19 September, 1939. |
| BRT | Bruttoregistertonne Gross register ton (also as GRT). |
| ES | Erkennungssignal Recognition signal given by flags, Morse signal or by signal pistol (the last was usual by U-boats). |
| Eto | Elektrischer Torpedo Electric-driven torpedo. |
| FAT | Flächenabsuchender Torpedo A torpedo that was capable of running in pre-programmed patterns and loops. |
| FdU | Führer der Unterseeboote Chief/Leader/Head/Commander of U-boats. |
| FT | Funktelegramm Wireless message. |
| FuMB | FUnk-Mess-Beobachtung Radar detection. |
| FuMO | FUunk-Mess-Ortung Radio detecting or Radar. |
| G 7a | Geradlaufapparat 7 (meters length) a (atmosphärisch) A compressed-air-driven torpedo. |
| G 7e | Geradlaufapparat 7(meters length) e (elektrisch) Electric-driven torpedo. |
| GHG | GruppenHorchGerät The underwater sound detector. |
| I WO | Erster Wachoffizier First Watch Officer. |
| II LI | Zweiter Ingenieur Second Engineering Officer. |
| II WO | Zweiter Wachoffizier Second Watch Officer. |
| III WO | Dritter Wach-Offizier Third Watch Officer (as a rule the "Obersteuermann"). |
| Kaleu | Kapitänleutnant (also Kaleun or Kaleunt). |
| Kaptlt. | Kapitänleutnant (also Kl, KL, Kptlt.) Lieutenant Commander. |
| Korvkpt. | Korvettenkapitän Commander (also KK). |
| KTB | Kriegstagebuch War Log Book (War diary). |
| LI | Leitender Ingenieur Chief Engineering Officer. |
| Ltnt. z. S. | Leutnant zur See Lieutenant (also L, Ltn. or Lt.). |
| LUT | Lagenunabhängiger Torpedo A torpedo that was possible to shoot every position and bearing. |
| MND | Marine-Nachrichten-Dienst German Naval radio intelligence service. |
| ObdM | Oberbefehlshaber der Marine Commander-in-Chief of Navy. |
| Oblt. z. S. | Oberleutnant zur See Lieutenant-Senior (also OL, Oblnt. z. S.). |
| OKM | Oberkommando der Marine Equal to Britain's Admiralty. |
| OKW | Oberkommando der Wehrmacht High Command of the Armed Forces. |
| SKL | Seekriegsleitung German Supreme Naval Command. |
| TEK | Torpedo-Erprobungs-Kommando An institution for testing the new developed torpedoes. |
| TVA | Torpedo-Versuchs-Anstalt An Institution for torpedo experiments |
| UAA | Unterseeboots-Ausbildung-Abteilung A department for training men to become U-boat men. |
| UAK | Unterseeboots-Abnahme-Kommando This unit took over the recently constructed and commissioned U-boats at the shipyards. |
| UJ | Unterseeboots-Jäger German submarine chasers, often old trawlers. |
| ULD | U-Boots-Lehr-Division U-boats training division. |
| UT | Unterwasser-Telefonie Underwater telephone. |
| UZO | U-Boot-Ziel-Optik The U-boat target optic (aiming binoculars). |
| VO | Verwaltungsoffizier Administrative officer. |